SMALL GROUP CURRICULUM
TABLE OF WE BELIEVE SMALL GROUP CURRICULUM CONTENTS
week 1 We Believe God is Calling Us to Dynamic Faith
week 2 We Believe God is Leading Us to Great Sacrifce
week 3 We Believe God is Inviting Us to Long-Term Faithfulness
week 4 We Believe God is Guiding Us into the Unknown
week 5 We Believe God Rewards the Faithful
week 6 We Believe God Has Prepared Us to Cross Over WE BELIEVE week 1 SMALL GROUP CURRICULUM HEBREWS 11:1–3, 6
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MAIN POINT: We Believe God is Calling Us to Dynamic Faith
Daniel Eugene “Rudy” Ruettiger grew up in Joliet, Illinois, dreaming of playing college football at the University of Notre Dame. Though he achieved some success with his local high school team he lacked the grades or money to attend Notre Dame, not to mention the physical ability to play football for a major intercollegiate program. Following his dream, he traveled to South Bend, Indiana, but failed to get admitted to Notre Dame. With the help and sponsorship of a local priest, Rudy enrolled at Holy Cross College, and, after two years and three rejections, was fnally admitted to Notre Dame during his fnal semester of transfer eligibility.
After “walking on” as a non-scholarship player for the football team, Ruettiger convinced coach Ara Parseghian to give him a spot on the practice squad. Coach Parseghian agreed to Rudy’s request to suit up for one home game his senior year. Parseghian, however, resigned as coach following the 1974 season, replaced by former NFL coach Dan Devine. Coach Devine kept Rudy on the team, but refused to list him on the active playing roster. After a series of events that are still disputed to this day, Devine let Rudy dress for the last game of that season.
This story is a great example of dynamic faith. In spite of nearly every circumstance stacked against Rudy, he pressed on with assurance and conviction with the object of his faith, which was to become a member of the Fighting Irish.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(1) How do we see Rudy exhibit dynamic faith as he pursues his dream to become a member of the Fighting Irish?
(2) How does Rudy’s story capture the essence of faith? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudy_(flm) >BOOK HEBREWS 11:1–3, 6
MAIN POINT: We Believe God is Calling Us to Dynamic Faith
Text Summary: Hebrews 11 centers on the essence of demonstrated faith.
1) God should be the object of our faith.
True faith is demonstrated by real action. If we are convinced that joy is on the other side of action we will take said action, sometimes at great cost. The opposite of this is true too. When we don’t believe joy is on the other side of action, we won’t move toward it.
The “root” of Christian sacrifce is found in the assurance of joy in a better and abiding possession, Jesus Christ. Many times we put the object of our faith on things or people that do not have the capacity for sustaining such weight and we usually fnd this out the hard way.
C. F. Pfeifer rightly notes that, “The guiding principle of the Christian life is faith. This is not simply a psychological factor, however. To some people faith means believing that you can do a job better than you have done it in the past, or believing that a loved one will rise from his bed of sickness. There may be real value in such “positive thinking,” but this is not the meaning of faith. True Biblical faith has God as its object.”
Have you ever asked yourself what the real object of your faith is? You might best discover this question by asking yourself what’s the one thing you could never live without?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(1) What was the object of Rudy’s faith? What would have become of Rudy’s life if he had never reached his goal?
(2) How could you go about discovering the false object(s) of faith in your life?
(3) Why is God the only true object of faith?
2) Biblical faith has a one-two punch.
When we look closely at Hebrews 11:1-3 we fnd the essence of real faith.
The word “assurance” in Hebrews 11:1 is the Greek word hupostasis, which also appears in Hebrews 1:3 as “exact representation.” The word hupostasis refers to “real essence” or “real content” rather than just the pithy appearance of something. The writer of Hebrews is telling us that real faith has real substance and this real substance is found in the real promises of God.
______1 Pfeifer, C.F. The Epistle to the Hebrews. Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1962. The essence of faith also includes the “conviction of things not seen.” This phrase points us to demonstrated faith as a response to our assurances. When our faith is rooted in the assurance of God’s promises our lives demonstrate faith in those promises. We see this illustrated by the writer of Hebrews in verse 3 regarding creation.
Faith for the sake of faith is not real faith. Real faith is a rooted assurance giving life to deep conviction in the promises of God.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(1) What is the essence of hope that is so often peddled to us by our culture?
(2) Discuss the one-two punch of assurance and conviction and how they are together the essence of real biblical faith in God.
(3) Discuss how assurance and conviction are demonstrated in the diferent facets of our lives as Christians.
3) Dynamic faith pleases God.
Hebrews chapter 11, verses 2 and 6 show us that faith is relying on what God has done rather than on one’s own eforts. Jerry Bridges’ practical defnition of faith is that which “involves both a renunciation and a reliance. First, we must renounce any trust in our own performance as the basis of our acceptance before God. Second, we must place our reliance entirely on the perfect obedience and sin-bearing death of Christ as the sole basis of our standing before God—on our best days as well as our worst.”
How does it make you feel when someone takes you at your word? If you are a parent, you know how frustrating it is when your child seems to question everything you have to say. It is easy to begin to wonder how it is possible for a small child to have such doubt that you as the parent might be wrong or not trustworthy. Imagine what God must think when His children question or doubt what He has to say about their lives or their circumstances?
Faith in simple terms is believing that God will keep His promises, despite circumstances that seem to be to the contrary! In short, “looks can be deceiving!” We can take heart in knowing that we have not seen the end of the story, no matter how bleak things may seem at the moment.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(1) Why does a life of demonstrated faith please God?
(2) In what areas or under what circumstances of our lives do we struggle most to trust God?
(3) Are you so assured of God’s promises that you would joyfully accept the plundering of your dreams, your fnances, or your life itself because you know Christ is better?
______2 Bridges, Jerry. The Bookends of the Christian Life. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2009. >TOOK
MAIN POINT: We Believe God is Calling Us to Dynamic Faith
We started this lesson by considering the dynamic faith demonstrated in the movie, Rudy. The shortcoming of Rudy’s faith was its object. Rudy’s faith was ultimately rooted in himself and his ability to accomplish his dreams – playing football at Notre Dame. What happened when Rudy failed to accomplish something? What happened when circumstances, to which Rudy was powerless, rose up in his life? If we are not careful, our hearts will lead us to objects of faith that can’t satisfy and will ultimately fail us. Only God is strong enough to sustain the weight of faith.
For many people, the hardest part of their lives to show complete faith in God is in the area of their fnances. Usually we end up authoring excuse after excuse of why God wouldn’t want me to give my money to someone else. These excuses can turn into false objects of faith, just like Rudy’s false object of his faith was himself.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(1) Can you think of someone whose open displays of faith have had a lasting impact on your Christian life? What did they do and how did it impact you?
(2) How can you move toward a more dynamic faith in God, especially in the area of your fnances? WE BELIEVE week 2 SMALL GROUP CURRICULUM HEBREWS 11:4
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MAIN POINT: We Believe God is Leading Us to Great Sacrifce
Kerri Strug became an instant celebrity during the 1996 Olympic games. With the U.S. team’s gold medal on the line, Strug stepped on the mat to execute a second vault even though she had torn two ligaments in her foot on her frst try. Her commitment to the team and her frm belief that Olympians fnish strong pushed her to vault again. She scored a 9.712 and America took home the gold.
What most people forget about that magical moment is that Strug didn’t necessarily have to perform her last vault. The American team already had enough of a lead before her second try that they would likely have won the gold medal, even though the Russian team could have mathematically snuck in front. Strug’s vault put that possibility to rest, and made it impossible for America to lose. We still know her name 20 years later because of her display of the Olympic spirit.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) What pushes some people to give their best efort even when those around them say it isn’t necessary?
2) If you watched this Olympic moment 20 years ago, what were the reactions you saw from Strug’s coach, from her teammates, and from the commentators? Why do we naturally admire people who go the extra mile?
3) In what areas do you commonly struggle to give your best for God’s glory? >BOOK HEBREWS 11:4, GENESIS 4:1–12
MAIN POINT: We Believe God is Leading Us to Great Sacrifce
Text Summary: Hebrews 11:4 introduces the frst member of the “Hall of Faith.” Abel’s story only takes up part of chapter 4 in Genesis, but his sacrifce through faith lives on as an example for us today. Though Abel sufers a dire fate at his brother’s hand, his proper behavior shines more brightly for every generation that follows him.
Genesis 4:1-12 (read)
1) A high-quality gift to God reflects a deep love for God.
In the story of Cain and Abel, we fnd that God cares most about the attitude of the person ofering something to Him, not the gift itself. Cain brought something he had, but Abel brought the best he had. God saw the hearts of the two men, and He accepted or rejected their oferings based on their attitudes. 1 Should we be surprised that God cares more about our hearts than He does about rote adherence to laws? What did Jesus say was the greatest commandment?
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37, NASB)
The great part is that joy follows from love. When we love God with all of our being, as the greatest command states, we will experience joy when we ofer Him the best we have. If we begrudgingly give whatever we feel will minimally meet His demand, we betray the fact that we don’t love Him with all of our being. Great danger lies on the road of hatred and disdain, though. Sin will overtake anyone who refuses to do what is right. Cain rejects the Lord’s reminder. In anger, he lures Abel into the feld— Cain’s territory as a farmer—and he kills him. Abel became a living reminder of Cain’s shortcoming, and Cain couldn’t take it. He would rather destroy the reminder than change his own heart.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(1) In what ways do we ofer our resources to the Lord today like Abel and Cain did in their time?
(2) Which resources are easy for you to give and which are hard?
(3) Would you say you experience joy when you give your resources? Describe what that looks or feels like?
______1 Kenneth A. Mathews, Genesis 1-11:26, The New American Commentary 1A Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 1996. Hebrews 11:4 (read)
2) Faith in God leads to love for God, which Abel displayed by joyfully offering his best.
Abel’s outlook stands as a pristine model for us to mimic. He loved God with all of his heart, his soul, and his mind; and he saw the potential for a great display of his love. In this way, his ofering could properly be called an act of faith. 2 He gave what would have been his best means of temporary prosperity as an ofering to God. He had faith that God would provide what he needed, and he proved it by ofering his best money-generating animals. When Cain refused to ofer his best, he demonstrated a lack of faith in who God is and what God can do.
We might think that God did not actually honor Abel’s faith. After all, Abel died shortly after ofering his gift. The author of Hebrews gives us good insight, though. Abel’s reward was not physical. God did not make him rich because he showed faith. Rather, he was declared righteous because of the faith that he showed through his offering. 3 No amount of money can buy a right standing with God. We fnd salvation and are declared righteous only if we have faith. Abel’s faith came on full display because he ofered a “greater sacrifce than Cain.” How do you display your faith?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(1) What (if anything) would you need to change about your attitude before you could experience joy through giving rather than regret?
(2) What are common excuses people make for why they give nothing to the local church?
______2 William L. Lane, Hebrews 9-13, Word Biblical Commentary 47B, Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2000.
3 For more on this idea, see Gareth Lee Cockerill, The Epistle to the Hebrews, The New International Commentary on the New Testament, Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdman’s, 2012. >TOOK
MAIN POINT: We Believe God is Leading Us to Great Sacrifce
In a 2015 interview with Kerri Strug about how she has been remembered and has even inspired Halloween costumes, she said:
“It means a lot. I think initially it seemed a little strange, but as I’ve gotten older I’ve come to really embrace it. And think, that’s pretty cool because I’ve idolized other people to think that I’ve had a lasting impact. I never thought 20 years later young girls would still remember that. I understand that, thank goodness for YouTube, and the other changes in technology that have assisted with reliving that vault over and over again.” 4
We like to immortalize great acts of athleticism. Kerri Strug vaulted on a broken ankle. Michael Phelps won 23 gold medals over fve Olympic games. Buzzer-beaters, Hail Mary’s, holes-in-one, and all the rest make it into the highlight reel for years after the fact. Unfortunately, time erodes all things. One day, Strug’s name will no longer be remembered any more than we remember Olympians from the 1920s and 30s. All the greatest games will be eclipsed by still greater games to come.
What can we do that matters, then? How can we make an impact that never fades? Hebrews 11:4 says that faith displayed through sacrifce does just that. Abel, a man who died thousands of years ago, lives on in the testimony of his love for God shown by one faithful act of giving. God commended him, and that commendation will outlast any gold medal and any savings account.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(1) Can you think of someone whose open displays of faith through cheerful giving have had a lasting impact on your Christian life? What did they do and why did it impact you? Do you want the same to be said of you?
(2) What should you be doing right now to receive the commendation from God that outlasts worldly treasures?
______4 http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/kerri-strug-magnifcent-seven-interview WE BELIEVE week 3 SMALL GROUP CURRICULUM HEBREWS 11:7
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MAIN POINT: We Believe God is Inviting Us to Long-Term Faithfulness
By now we all know the story of the greatest swimmer to ever live… The 2016 Olympic Games in South America saw United States swimmer Michael Phelps complete a career in the pool ending one of the greatest (if not THE greatest) Olympic careers ever recorded. He fnished with a staggering 28 medals (23 of them gold). What many may not know, however, is how Phelps got his start. Phelps started swimming at the age of 7, experiencing his frst Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000. Phelps’ road to becoming the best swimmer in the world was lengthy and difcult.
In a recent interview, Phelps’ coach, Bob Bowman, talked about the training regimen that Phelps goes through each week when preparing for the Olympics. His training consists of swimming at least 4 hours, 6 days a week averaging close to 50 miles each week in the pool. He also does “dry-land” exercises where he lifts weights and does bodyweight exercises 4 to 5 days per week. He does this for multiple years while preparing for one week of Olympic competition. Olympians work for years to prepare for a competition that comes around once every four years. Phelps was quoted in an interview a few years ago saying that the biggest thing that kept him motivated was his pursuit of being the best swimmer ever. His coach would remind him constantly to be committed to the process and that would lead him to realize his goals. To be successful requires hard work, continued motivation, and faith that what you are doing will lead you to the goals that you are trying to achieve.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(1) Has there ever been anything that you had to work for (or train for) for long periods of time before you saw the fruit of your labor come to pass?
(2) Was it hard to maintain the intensity necessary to keep working toward your end goal?
(3) What were some things that you were able to do to keep motivated? >BOOK HEBREWS 11:7
MAIN POINT: We Believe God is Inviting Us to Long-Term Faithfulness
Text Summary: “The faith of Noah was based on God’s warning that He was going to destroy the world with a food. There had never been a food in human experience; in fact, there is some reason to believe that there had never been rainfall up to that time. Noah believed God and built an ark, even though he was probably very far from navigable waters. Doubtless he was the butt of many a joke. But Noah’s faith was rewarded: his household was saved, the world was condemned by his life and testimony, and he became heir of the righteousness which is received on the basis of faith.” 1
1) Long-term faithfulness starts by responding to the Word of God.
As we look today at Hebrews 11:7, our conversation should begin in James 2:26 where James writes, “Faith without works is dead.” John MacArthur writes, “True faith always has actions to support its claim. Earlier in the second chapter of his letter, James condemns the man who says he has faith but who does nothing to help a fellow Christian in need. In order for faith to be valid, it must visibly radiate itself in good deeds. If you really believe in God, there will be evidence of it in the way you live, in the things you say, and in the things you do. Abel illustrates the worship of faith, and Enoch the walk of faith. Noah, perhaps more than any other person in history, illustrates the work of faith – obedience.” 2
In Hebrews 11:7, the author continues his testimonial to the faith displayed by the Old Testament fgures, specifcally in the life of Noah. Steven Ger, in his commentary on Hebrews writes, “The third paragon of faith is Noah, the exemplar of those who exhibit the personal conviction that what is at present not yet personally seen will, nonetheless, become objectively realized in the future.” 3
Referencing Genesis 6:9-21, the author of Hebrews reminds the readers of the Word from the Lord that Noah had received concerning the impending food upon the earth, something that required Noah to exhibit extraordinary faith since the food was, most decidedly, something that was “not yet seen.” (cf Heb. 11:1)
Noah, apparently knowing that God’s character was something to be trusted implicitly, began building the ark. There is no mention here of Noah questioning God, or quibbling with God about why, or asking God where the funds were going to come from to build the ark. Instead, Noah immediately acquiesces to God’s instructions, and begins the process of building the ark.
______1 William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: 2nd Edition, Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989. 2 John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Hebrews, Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 1983. 3 Steven Ger, The Book of Hebrews, Christ is Greater, Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishing Company, 2009. MacArthur writes, “He did not question God, but simply began obeying Him. He spent over one hundred years fulflling this single command. True faith does not question, and Noah did not question. Among the countless faithful saints who have endured and persisted in obedience to God, Noah stands supreme, if for nothing else than the shear magnitude and time span of his one incredible assignment from the Lord.” 4
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(1) Has there ever been a time in your life that you would want to share, when you have had to do something that required extraordinary faith?
Noah had a 120-year warning before the flood. Imagine what it must have been like for Noah to receive a vision that didn’t take place for over a century.
(2) What do you think some of Noah’s emotions were during that time?
(3) Have you ever had to wait and be faithful for a long period of time before God gave you what you needed? How did you work to remain faithful during that time?
2) Long-term faithfulness allows us opportunities to share the Gospel with others, and allows us opportunity to deepen our faith in God.
One of Noah’s jobs within this assignment was to pass on God’s message of impending judgment on mankind through his faithfulness to God’s call on his life. The time that Noah lived was one of the most evil times in the history of mankind. Part of Noah’s calling included preaching the righteousness of God. 2 Peter 2:5 calls Noah a “preacher of righteousness.” Noah not only followed God faithfully by building the ark, he followed God faithfully by preaching the righteousness of God to those around him. It was Noah’s faithfulness, exhibited tangibly through his actions and his words, that allowed him to inherit eternal life, and landed him in Hebrews 11.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(1) The world we live in today is not completely unlike Noah’s day. What are some ways that our obedience to God could faithfully preach the righteousness of God to those around us? How could this also be true in the area of tithing and fnancial stewardship?
(2) Have you ever experienced faithfulness to God in your own life allowing you an opportunity to share your faith? What was the outcome?
(3) How can long-term faithfulness lead us to deeper faith in God?
______4 John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Hebrews, Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 1983. >TOOK
MAIN POINT: We Believe God is Inviting Us to Long-Term Faithfulness
We don’t always operate with long-term vision, especially in this culture of instant gratifcation that we live in today. The cry of the younger generation seems to be to do whatever feels right for you at the moment. But that’s not what Scripture calls us to do. Long-term faithfulness is not easy, but it is achievable. This is evident in the assignment given to Noah. 120 years of building, praying, hoping, and trusting that God was going to come through on His promise to Noah.
Long-term thinking is also difcult when it comes to our fnances. The vast majority of the country we live in pushes us to spend money, borrow for what we don’t have, and want what we don’t need, leav- ing most people precious little left to give for Kingdom work. This is not the way we are instructed to live. Ger continues, “Having received a divine warning of future disaster, Noah reverently snapped into action, preparing ‘an ark for the salvation of his household.’ If construction had been delayed until after the initial raindrops had splashed to the ground, Noah’s family would have been lost. This extraordinary, unprecedented venture surely invited community ridicule, but scorn never trumps faith; rather, faith condemns the faithless.” 5
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(1) What does it mean to walk by faith? How did “walking by faith” play out in the life of Noah?
(2) Is there something in your life that you know God is calling you to do that you have been putting of doing?
This series has been dealing with faithfulness particularly in regard to our finances. Is there something that God has been telling you to do with your finances that would take a step of faith?
What would it look like for you to take that step of faith and follow God’s instructions?
______5 Steven Ger, The Book of Hebrews, Christ is Greater, Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishing Company, 2009. WE BELIEVE week 4 SMALL GROUP CURRICULUM HEBREWS 11:8-19
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MAIN POINT: We Believe God is Guiding Us into the Unknown
William Carey (1761-1834) is known as the father of modern missions. Carey, a shoemaker and pastor in England, felt the strong conviction that he had the call on his life to travel to a foreign land to share the gospel with those who had never heard it. Being so convinced of this calling, he took his family and headed towards a place he had never been-India. His 41 years in India were tough. At one point he wrote, “I am in a strange land. No Christian friend, a large family, and nothing to supply their wants.” However, Carey remained hopeful: “Well, I have God, and his word is sure.” 1
In his frst seven years, Carey labored and toiled without a single convert. The average man would have given up this call of going into the unknown; however, Carey kept his eforts focused. When he died in India 41 years later, he did not have a large number of converts. Nevertheless, what Carey had done is lay the groundwork for the missionary work in India that is still taking place today. He had translated the entire Bible into India’s major languages and worked on social and education reform in the country. He trained others to share their faith and the gospel spread. Carey has been one of the biggest infuences on missions to this day. Without the groundwork laid, mission work would not have exploded in India.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(1) Have you ever felt the draw to do something, but afraid to follow through because you didn’t know the exact plan?
(2) If you were William Carey, would you have kept going in your work? What do you think kept him going?
(3) In what ways do you believe that God could be leading you to follow him into an unknown situation?
______1 http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/missionaries/william-carey.html >BOOK HEBREWS 11:8–19
MAIN POINT: We Believe God is Guiding Us into the Unknown
Text Summary: Hebrews 11:8-16 gives a brief summary of the story of Abraham and Sarah. God called him out to go to a place that he did not know. By faith he went; all the while, keeping his eyes frmly placed on the better country- a heavenly one. Sarah, who was well past childbearing age, was also able to bear children because she considered God faithful. Abraham, by faith, trusted God so much that he was willing to sacrifce his one and only son as an ofering to God.
1) Faith is trusting God even when we cannot see the future outcome (11:8-16)
The story of Abraham provides us an illustration of what faith looks like. In verse 8, not only does Abraham trust God, but he also acts on His call. Having faith is not just trusting God, but also acting on that trust. Abraham trusts God so much that he was willing to venture out not knowing where he would end up. Our tendency is to often wait until you have all the facts before you decide to act on a calling from God. Imagine the blessing that Abraham would have missed if he waited to follow God until he had the roadmap all laid before him.
Why would Abraham act on this call? Verses 14-16 give the answer. He had his eyes on an unknown heavenly country. And, as Christians, we are called to do the same thing. We are called to trust God and follow His call; keeping our eyes on the heavenly realm. This world is not our home. We should be look- ing forward to the city whose architect and builder is God. The world can never live up to our expecta- tions. We minister to the world knowing that only God can provide what we really need.
Sarah, by her faith, received the ability to conceive. God had promised her that she would make Abraham a father of a great multitude. Sarah put her faith and trust in God who had promised her that even though she was well past childbearing age, she would have a son. Through this son, a great multitude of worshippers of God were promised. By faith, Sarah received this.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(1) Talk about some experiences that have strengthened your faith in God and His promises. How should these experiences strengthen us to follow God even though it can seem like a blind faith?
(2) What would it look like to live in a way that showed that our home is ultimately in Heaven? What would a lifestyle look like if it were focused on the heavenly realm?
2) Real faith is a tested faith (11:17-19)
Real faith is willing to lay down your most prized possession for the cause of Christ. Isaac was Abraham’s beloved son. God was asking Abraham to lay down his most prized possession, Isaac, as a sacrifce to Him. Abraham had such a strong faith that he believed if he were to sacrifce Isaac that God would raise him from the dead. Abraham was willing to lay all that he had on the altar for God. There is also a great parallel between Isaac and Jesus Christ. God sent His only begotten Son to die in your place on the cross. God gave His dearest thing in the world for you. God did not spare anything in order for salvation to be given to us. When we view faith in this light, we are free to follow God with everything. A life of true faith is a life that is willing to entrust everything to God, even the things that are the most precious to us in this life. There should be nothing in this world that is more precious to us than Christ.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(1) What is most dear to you in your life? Do you trust that person, place, or thing to God? How can our idols keep us from receiving the blessings that God wants to give to us?
(2) How does our assurance of salvation lead to us being free to lay our most precious on the altar? How does our faith in the goodness of God allow us to lay our most precious on the altar? >TOOK
MAIN POINT: We Believe God is Guiding Us into the Unknown
Our God is a good God. He wants the best for His children. God called Abraham out to a land that he did not know. What is He calling you to do? Abraham was able to follow this call because he had his eyes set on his real home: Heaven. He realized that nothing he had on this earth was eternal. He was outwardly focused instead of inwardly focused.
Abraham had so much faith in God that he was willing to ofer up his son as a sacrifce; however, in God’s love and kindness, God did not require that of Abraham and provided a sacrifce in Isaac’s place. Today, we have salvation because of the sacrifce of God’s only son Jesus Christ on the cross and His subsequent resurrection.
The choice is yours today. Are you going to trust in your own self-reliance or like Abraham are you going to trust God for your future?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(1) What are some action steps that you can take personally to live a life that looks toward heaven?
(2) What would it look like for you to trust God more in the area of your fnances?
“Make your plans. But write them on paper, not in concrete. God and life have a way of intruding and leading you on a journey that you might not have anticipated in your wildest dreams.” —Haddon W. Robinson WE BELIEVE week 5 SMALL GROUP CURRICULUM HEBREWS 11:23–28
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MAIN POINT: We Believe God Rewards the Faithful
American Idol wrapped up its fnal season this year. For more than a decade, we watched would-be megastars croon away with results ranging from mind-blowingly great to (let’s generously say) earsplitting. We don’t watch the show just for the songs, though. We want to know the singers’ backstories. Usually, the more difculties contestants have overcome to reach the tryout stage, the more we want them to succeed.
Take 2016 runner-up La’Porsha Renae for example. Her background included a meager childhood, domestic abuse, and being a single mother. Yet American Idol gave her a chance to move past all of that and become a household name. She placed second in the competition, and at age 22 she is beginning a career in music that would have been unavailable if she had not taken the chance to audition for the show.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(1) Why do we love underdog stories? Do you have a favorite movie about an underdog?
(2) What character traits does it take to push through tough situations and keep going strong on the other side?
(3) In what ways are our Christians lives like an underdog story? What has God helped you to overcome in order to be efective for His purposes? >BOOK HEBREWS 11:4, GENESIS 11:23–28
MAIN POINT: We Believe God Rewards the Faithful
Text Summary: Hebrews 11:23-28 summarizes the story of Moses, one of the greatest Old Testament fgures. The author points out how, in the face of trials and tough decisions, faith guided Moses to do what God called him to do. Moses desired to please God more than he desired comfort and more than he desired to please men.
Hebrews 11:23-26 (read)
1) Faith requires us to make tough decisions about our attitudes and our resources.
In many ways Moses is the ultimate underdog. The son of slaves and ordered to be killed, he eventually led God’s people all the way to the Promised Land. His story of faith begins with the faith of his parents. They chose to risk their own lives in order to save Moses. Pharaoh had ordered that all male babies be thrown into the Nile River to die. But because Moses’ parents understood that he was special, they took a risk in faith and hid him. God honored their faith, and Moses grew up safely in the lap of luxury as Pharaoh’s grandson.
When he grew up, Moses identifed closely with his Hebrew relatives. His decisions were not perfect, and he made a grave mistake when he killed an Egyptian worker who was beating a Hebrew slave. Yet his heart was inclined toward God. He would wait 40 years before God called him to accomplish the amazing feat of freeing 2 million Israelites from slavery, but his faith pushed him away from the comforts of the palace.
When Moses returned to Egypt as an 80-year-old man and faced a new king to demand freedom for God’s people, he walked by faith. He endured mocking, accusations, backstabbing, and the threat of death in order to do what God asked of him. The author of Hebrews says he did this with the promise of God in mind, “considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt.” Moses did not know Christ as we know Him, but he trusted that God would give the Promised Land to Israel and eventually send a Messiah to save all of mankind from their sins.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(1) What sacrifces have you witnessed others making in order to follow God’s call on their lives? Has God called you to make similar fnancial sacrifces along the way?
(2) What comforts can lure us away from God’s plan like the riches of the palace could have lured Moses?
(3) Are you wiling to look foolish in the world’s eyes in order to gain the riches that come through active faith in Christ? What does Scripture tell Christians to do with their resources that the culture around us might scof at? Hebrews 11:27-28 (read)
2) Faith removes the fear of uncertainty so that we hold nothing back from God’s will in our lives.
When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, he did it under the cloud of death. Only the night before, God had sent a plague through Egypt that killed every frstborn male, human and animal, unless certain precautions had been made for a household. Moses’ insistence pushed the Israelites to save their families by obeying God’s Passover command. The Egyptians begged Israel to leave after that night, even giving them gifts and money as they left. Yet Moses knew that Pharaoh would not maintain his attitude and would chase after them. Hebrews says that Moses disregarded the danger of Pharaoh’s wrath because his eyes were fxed on God. “He endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.” Faith drove him to move past any difculty—and there were many difculties.
God, in a pillar of fre and smoke led Israel to the edge of the Red Sea just as Pharaoh decided that he wanted his slaves back. With the chariots of Egypt bearing down on them, Israel turned on Moses and cursed him, begging to go back into slavery in Egypt rather than die on a beach. Yet Moses’ reply silenced their doubts. “Do not fear! Stand by and watch the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today.” (Exodus 14:13) True faith can part oceans if you are only willing relinquish control and put your life and resources in God’s hands.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(1) Why do we, like Israel at the Red Sea, so often long to return to the past rather than strive for the future God lays out for us?
(2) What scares you about stepping out in faith when giant obstacles stand in your way? What fnancial obstacles do you fear that keep you from giving generously to the church’s work for God?
(3) Moses was 80 years old when he did most of the things we read about in Hebrews 11:23-28. Do you still plan to be active (or are you still active) for God’s purposes at 80? How might that afect the way you allocate your resources now? >TOOK
MAIN POINT: We Believe God Rewards the Faithful
Ultimately, La’Porsha’s dream to become the last American Idol failed. Though she was favored to win, she did not get the votes to beat rival Trent Harmon. Did she give up? Hear her reaction:
“I am not angry at all! I am not surprised at all, this is the way American Idol is and something that always happens! The person everyone thinks is going to win usually doesn’t, so that is why I hated good critiques all the time… It is kind of the way the game goes and I am completely fine with it. I am not angry or surprised. Trent deserved this; he earned this just as much as I felt that I did. It could have been either way.” (http://hollywoodlife.com/2016/04/08/laporsha-renae-reaction-american-idol-loss-not-angry-bitter/)
We like rewards for our hard work. We want a trophy for a winning season as children. We expect a good job based on a high GPA in college. And in the end, we look forward to the golden years of retirement as the reward for 40-50 years of faithful service to a company. When it comes to God’s economy, though, rewards are not so easily classifed. Sometimes the immediate reward for faithfulness in a tough situation is another tough situation. Other times, our immediate reward for faithful service is silence rather than applause. But those shortsighted rewards are not what we should be after. A lifetime of faith gains us an eternal reward that no retirement account can come close to.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(1) What were some points in Moses’ life when he could have thrown in the towel after too many setbacks?
(2) When have you struggled with anger at God because you didn’t get the rewards you had expected to receive for your sacrifces?
When you look at where your time and resources go, are you thinking about this life or the life to come? You should ask yourself this question often. (The financial crash of 2008 showed us all that a savings account provides no security.) But with God, you can look forward to “an inheritance that is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved for you in heaven” (1 Peter 1:4). Which do you choose? WE BELIEVE week 6 SMALL GROUP CURRICULUM HEBREWS 11:29
>HOOK
MAIN POINT: We Believe God Has Prepared Us to Cross Over
Stories have an extremely valuable ability to communicate in ways like nothing else can. When someone hears a sermon, they may remember the points for a short time, but the preacher’s stories stick around forever. Stories can even shape our families. Every family has a collection of stories that are told around the table at every holiday dinner. Yes, the children may get tired of hearing Dad and Grandpa’s same old stories year after year, but in a way it is those stories that unites the family and makes them unique from other families. No one else knows those stories like you do, and no other family has the same stories either. These stories continue to be told from one generation to the next. One such story was not just unique to one family, but it was a story cherished by an entire nation. This is the story of the Israelites escaping Egypt and crossing the Red Sea. Over and over again in scripture the reader is reminded of this miraculous event, because it is a story that shaped a nation.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(1) Do you and your families have any stories that are told every year?
(2) What makes those stories signifcant to your family’s identity?
(3) Do you think this was the case for Israel?
(4) Why do you think God wanted his people to hear this story over and over again? >BOOK HEBREWS 11:29
MAIN POINT: We Believe God Has Prepared Us to Cross Over
Text Summary: Israel knew that God wanted them to cross the Red Sea. It was faith in God and His promises that carried them over.
1) Crossing over the Red Sea was ultimately successful because of the faith Israel displayed in God.
The story referenced here is one with which most are very familiar. It comes from the Old Testament book of Exodus in chapter 14. The Israelites have been enslaved in Egypt for hundreds of years, and God has sent them a deliver by the name of Moses. Moses led the people out of Egypt after much deliberation with Pharaoh. After the great plagues Pharaoh relented and let God’s people go.
Keep in mind that this was not just a small caravan of travelers. The scriptures say that there were about 600,000 men, not counting women and children (Ex.12:37). This massive group was not trav- eling lightly either. They were loaded down with Egyptian gold, jewelry, and clothes (Ex. 12:35-36), and they were traveling with large herds and focks of animals as well (Ex. 12:38). Imagine a group of hundreds of thousands of people traveling on foot with everything they own, plus the spoils of Egypt, plus entire herds and focks of livestock. This would have been quite the sight.
As they traveled Moses commanded them to encamp at the Red Sea (Ex. 14:2). Meanwhile, back in Egypt, Pharaoh had a change of heart, and decided he would send his army out to reclaim his servants. The Israelites were like a sitting duck next to the sea just waiting to be devoured.
The people were in panic and they began to question Moses and his leadership. But then the Lord spoke. He commanded Moses to have the people move forward, which from their perspective was an impossible task, for an entire sea stood in their way. Moses, as instructed by the Lord, stretched out his hand over the sea, and God parted the waters. With walls of water on each side, the entire mass of people, all their possessions, the spoils from Egypt, and all the livestock crossed the sea on dry ground. However, the same thing could not be said for Pharaoh and his men. When they pursued God’s people into the sea, the Lord caused their chariots to get stuck. Then at the right time, Moses again stretched out his and over the sea and the water swallowed up the great armies of Egypt.
The author of Hebrews recalls this great event by stating that the people crossed the Red Sea on dry ground, but qualifes that statement by saying they did it by faith. In contrast, he also indicates that the Egyptians attempted to do the same but were entirely unsuccessful. There was one diference between the Egyptian attempt and the Israelite success—faith.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(1) How does the crossing of the Red Sea story accomplish God’s purpose? (Ex. 14:4, 18, 25, 30-31.)
(2) What is it about faith causes God to be glorifed?
(3) Do God’s people have the faith that sets us apart from others today? >TOOK
MAIN POINT: We Believe God Has Prepared Us to Cross Over
There is something very diferent about a Christian’s experience when it comes to crossing over into difculty. This is true because the Christian moves in faith. That is, Christians trust in God to accomplish the necessary tasks, they do not work on their own strength, but in the strength of almighty God. Imagine the thoughts that might have gone through the people’s minds when God said move forward while they were encamped against the sea with a giant army charging toward them.
Today you may not face a situation quite as dramatic as that, but God still commands his people to move forward. One of the hardest areas of our lives to change involves how we handle money. It takes faith to do what God has called us to do with our fnances, especially when the bills seem to pile up and the money seems to be running low. It is then that we must operate as the Israelites did, through faith. The question is, will you move forward in faith or on your own strength? Just ask the Egyptians which option is better.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(1) What are some barriers that you as an individual and the church as a whole must cross over in faith today?
(2) Do you typically move forward in faith or do you rely on your own strengths?
(3) Is there something God is calling you to move forward with that seems scary or even impossible to you?
(4) If we trust God in faith for our salvation, why do we hesitate to do the same in the small things, especially in the area of our personal fnances?