Sermon-Based Small Group Lessons

“I Will”

Rev. Rick Swing

November 23, 2008

 

Focus Passage

Exodus 3:14, Exocus 6:6-8 (New International Version)

 

3:14 God said to Moses, "I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.' "

 

6:6 "Therefore, say to the Israelites: 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD.' "

 

 

Outline of Sermon (The Life Changing Lessons)

This is for the leader’s use.  You don’t have to read through these for the group.

           

            1.  When God invades your life, there will be opposition.

 

            2.  The God of the Bible is still the God of today.

 

            3.  God is not intimidated by the size of your needs.

 

            4.  Obedience is the only answer to our revelation from God.

 

 

Opening Question

(If you are a relatively new group, ask group members to give their name before answering the question.)

 

            At what point in your life have you seen God show up in the greatest way?

 

 

Digging for Truth

 

1.  Life-changing lesson #1 says, “When God invades your life, there will be opposition.”  Name one place in your life where you see opposition to being obedient to God.

 

2.  Rick said, “If you don’t face opposition, you might not be in the center of God’s will.”  We know that Satan can ignore us when we don’t threaten him.  Is there anything you think God might be calling you to do that would bring opposition from others?

 

3.  Sometimes opposition is from the inside, sometimes from the outside.  Which is more frustrating, when opposition comes from inside or outside?

 

4.  Lesson #2 says, “The God of the Bible is still the God of today.”  Is it a challenge for us to believe the supernatural God of the Bible desires to do supernatural things in our lives?

 

5.  Lesson #3 says, “God is not intimidated by the size of your needs.”  It is good to remember that when the backs of God’s people were against the Red  Sea, God parted the water for them to walk through.  What sea in your life would you like to see God part?

 

6.  Rick shared a story when as a youth pastor, God led him to do a tent revival for 1,200 students on property the church didn’t own in which there was no electricity, the church didn’t own a tent, and many other obstacles.  The leadership team almost laughed at it, but in faithfulness God provided and a thousand teenagers received Christ as a result of Rick’s obedience.  We need to realize that God wants to accomplish great things through us.  When we look at the obstacles, instead of God’s power, we get scared to obey.

 

7.  Lesson #4 says, “Obedience is the only answer to our revelation from God.”  Have you ever felt God wanted us to do something that seemed really challenging?  Once we know His will, if Christ is Lord in our lives, we have no option but to obey.  If we focus on the obstacles and face fear, then we are disobedient if we don’t obey.

 

8.  What do you think happens in the heart of God when we don’t have the faith in Him to obey?

 

9.  What do we miss when we don’t obey God?  (the joy of seeing Him work, the faith we’d develop by trusting him, our own growth in obedience and trust not to mention the immediate results of whatever God wants to accomplish)

 

10.  Do you believe that God will use others to accomplish His will when we say no?

 

 

Closing Thought

 

What is God calling you to do as a result of today’s sermon & study?