10.13.19 — Gaining Momentum: Vision 2020
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE: Exodus 36:1-7
Main Themes: God's Call; Building Lives; Building God's Kingdom
(See background information below.)
Guide for Point of Light Groups
Welcome: Read the purpose of your group:
Our goal is to grow as disciples of Jesus and to make disciples of other people by inviting them to our group. Each person here has the potential to start and be the leader of a new group and multiply God's kingdom.
Worship: Spend a few minutes singing a worship song. Show a video with the lyrics, such as Great are You Lord.
Opening Question: What would having more than enough look like in your life? What would it look like in Crossroads Church's ministries?
Introduction: Read the background information below.
Word: Read Exodus 36:1-7 aloud together. (Goal is that everyone understand the Bible story — keep at it until everyone knows the story.)
What key (important) words do you see in these verses?
Tell in your own words what Moses is telling the Israelite people.
How do the people respond?
What details can you add to what others in the group have said? .
Discussion: Discuss the questions below together. (Goal is to use these general questions to guide a discussion. Use them however you see fit and in whatever order you think best.)
Digging Deeper: For these questions, you may want to divide into two groups for males and females.
Prayer Time:
Pray for an empty chair, representing new people you want to join the group. Think of specific people to pray for by name.
Divide into two groups for males and females to pray for the needs of the members of the group.
Looking Ahead:
Assign group members to do different parts of the meeting as you prepare them (opening question; prayer time; read background info; lead group).
Ask each person the name of someone they will invite to the group for next week.
Background Information
Moses has led the people out of Egypt - they were now free and had a relationship with God. God was their God and they were God's people. God through Moses is now giving the people God's commandments. The commandments describe what it means to be God's people. They teach us how to live as part of God's family. One of the commandments found in Exodus 25 verse 8 is that the people build a Tabernacle (a place of worship) where the people could come and worship God. God gives the people the ability to do the work of building the Tabernacle and the men have a willing heart to do the work. Moses directs the people to bring freewill offerings to supply what is needed to build the Tabernacle. The people have a willing heart to give. An amazing thing happens. The people bring more than enough and Moses has to tell the people to stop bringing the offerings. As a result the Tabernacle is built. Note carefully the following key point that I call the Bridge Principle
Command from God - God Gives Ability - Willing Hearts Step Out in Faith - Fulfillment
Key Verse: "because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work" Exodus 36:7
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE: Exodus 36:1-7
Discussion Questions
What new thing did you discover in the story or verses that you did not know before?
Put yourself in people's position as they hear this warning from Moses. How do you think they felt? What were they thinking? Can you relate to them?
What did you learn about God from the story?
What do you learn about people from the story?
What important lessons for us do you see in this story?
What will you take away from this discussion?
What will you do with what you have learned? (make sure everyone answers this)
Digging Deeper Questions
Discuss the bridge principle above. Where do you see that in the story?.
Have you seen the bridge principle at work in your life or in Crossroads Church? Give examples.
Do you or your community group have a command or a vision from God? What is it?
What keeps you from taking a step in faith? Is your heart willing?
What practical applications will that have in your life from the bridge principle? What applications in you community group?