2012-05-13 Waiting for Rain 1 Kings 18.41-46 Pastor Bryan Hurlbutt

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Waiting for Rain

1 King 18:41-46

  1. Discuss the six reasons Pastor Bryan gave for why a loving God would allow a drought to occur in our lives.  (They are listed below)  Have you seen any of these materialize through seasons of personal drought in your life?  If so, how?  Does one stand out above the rest as something God has taught or been teaching you.

a)      To see if we want God for God

b)      To mold our hearts for ministry

c)      To make us less dependent on our own ingenuity

d)      To make us more dependent on God’s provision

e)      To make us look to other resources God has provided for our flourishing

f)       To stir a sense of self-assessment that often eludes us in seasons of bounty

2.  Respond to this statement: “The Gospel is an anxiety reliever not an anxiety producer.”  Do you believe this?  Why do you think it is true?  Or why don’t you think it is true? What might it imply about our lives when they are characterized by anxiety?  What biblical realities tied to the Gospel might point to the truth of this statement? (consider Romans 8:1-2, Ephesians 1:1-11; Hebrews 12:5-13)

3.  How do biblical promises get misused?  What is the danger of their misuse?  Share about a time when you saw their misuse bring negative results.

4.  How can you take advantage of the opportunity that springtime presents when God decides to send the rain to rejuvenate the soil of your heart?  What activities might you employ to seize the opportunity God is affording you to grow?

5.  Create your own question to share with the group. _________________________________________________________________________

6.  Pray for God to make our church a body of people who are off the fence and all in.

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2012-05-06 For All Those On The Fence 1 Kings 18 Pastor Bryan Hurlbutt

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For All Those on the Fence

1 King 18:1-40

 1.  Have you ever been on the fence in your life?  Are you still on it?  If you are not, what stirred you to get off?  How would you counsel someone who came to you and said they knew they needed to get off the fence in their spiritual life but found it very difficult to do so?

2.  Put yourself in Obadiah’s shoes.  How do you maintain an employment role and yet still honor the call of God on your life?  What do you learn from Obadiah in 1 Kings 18:1-16 about living in this tension?  Have you had experiences (positive or negative) that might provide insight for others in the group on how to navigate these waters?

3.  Read Psalm 121 as a group.  What does this teach you about the nature of the term Israel as defined in the sermon?

4.  What do you make of 1 Kings 18:40?  As you consider this verse read Deuteronomy 13:1-11.  How would you handle someone objecting to the text that said God sanctioned mass murder?

5.  Discuss the following C. T. Studd quote:

“Nail the colors to the mast! That is the right thing to do, and, therefore, that is what we must do, and do it now. What colors? The colors of Christ, the work He has given us to do – the evangelization of all the un-evangelized. Christ wants not nibblers of the possible, but grabbers of the impossible, by faith in the omnipotence, fidelity and wisdom of the Almighty Savior who gave the command. Is there a wall in our path? By our God we will leap over it! Are there lions and scorpions in our way! We will trample them under our feet! Does a mountain bar our progress? Saying, be thou removed and cast into the sea, we will march on. Soldiers of Jesus! Never surrender! Nail the colors to the mast!”

6.  Create your own question to share with the group.

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7.  Pray for God to make our church a body of people who are off the fence and all in.

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2012-04-29 Shaping A Servant Of God 1 Kings 17.1-24 Pastor Bryan Hurlbutt

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Shaping a Servant of God

1 King 17:1-24

  1. How have you seen God form you in your life?  What made the instances or circumstances He used difficult?  What made them bearable?  Would you relive them?  Why or why not?
  2. Discuss the theology of Job 1:21.  What makes this verse challenging to receive?  What makes this verse comforting?
  3. Note how Elijah responds to the widow’s plight. What can we learn from him as we minster to hurting people.  Consider Job 6:24-27 (especially vs. 26) as you discuss your answers.
  4. Read Psalm 139, Isaiah 49:14-16 and John 14:15-31.  How do you understand the role of God’s comfort in your life?  Do you find it easy or difficult to practically experience His comforting presence?  Why or why not?
  5. Create your own question to share with the group. ____________________________________________________________________
  6. Pray that God would make His presence tangible to the members of your small group, whether they are on the mountain top or in the valley.

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2012-04-22 1 Kings 16 29-17 1 – A Man Apart Pastor Bryan Hurlbutt

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A Man Apart

1 King 16:29-34

  1. In lieu of the death of Chuck Colson and the story of Boniface discuss what lives have meant the most to you in terms of their cultural influence for Christ.  What was most significant to you about their lives?  What could you take into your life that you saw modeled in theirs?
  1. Discuss why intermarriage with people outside of the covenant community was such a significant issue to God in the OT?  Along those same lines discuss Paul’s qualification as he discusses remarriage for widows in 1 Corinthians 7:39?  What are the challenges in a mixed marriage between a believer and an unbeliever?  What are the implications of such a marriage? (Pay attention to 1 Kings 11:1-8 as you discuss these questions.)
  1. Note the prophecy in Joshua 6:26 and its manifestation in 1 Kings 16:34.  Ahab’s failure to lead showed up in unrighteousness within the nation he led.  Discuss the responsibility you have for the righteousness of people who look to you for leadership.  How does this play into a parent’s responsibility for a child?  What about a pastor/elder’s responsibility for his people?
  1. Think about our necessary identity as “aliens” or “exiles” in this world.  As you discuss this consider texts such as Hebrews 11:13-16; 1 Peter 1:17; 2:11.  How do we balance our identity as an alien with our identity as an ambassador to the world and with our identity as an artist reforming culture from within?  Do you think all three of these roles are important?  Why or why not?
  1. Create your own question to share with the group.

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  1. Pray that God would make us winsome but strong to stand in the gap for the glory of God in the face of our culture.

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2012-04-15 Heart Disease Ezekiel 14.1-11 Pastor Bryan Hurlbutt

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Heart Disease

Ezekiel 14:1-11; Proverbs 4:20-27

1.  Read Jeremiah 2:1-13.  What is the most common cistern that you have dug for yourself to get refreshment from rather than the Lord?  What have been the results of this?  Why do you think you have run to this?

2.  God seems to use deception and evil for his purposes at certain places in the Old Testament.  Talk about what these texts mean for God, His character and how he relates to the world.  Look at his actions in the following passages that relate to the tension produced in Ezekiel 14:8-11.  Consider 1 Samuel 16:14-16; 19:9; 1 Kings 22:21-23; Ezekiel 20:25-26 and discuss your thoughts and how they theologically and ethically relate to God and His sovereignty and our choice.

3.  How do you stop something that has garnered your attention from becoming an idol?  How can we enjoy the creation our creator has provided without becoming consumed with it over Him?  What have you found helpful and what have you found challenging about doing this?

4.  Discuss Proverbs 4:20-27 in detail together.  What are the biggest lessons you can take from these proverbs and apply to your life? How can you help others in your sphere of influence to take these lessons seriously as well?

5.  Create your own question to share with the group. ____________________________________________________________________

6.  Pray through the principles of Proverbs 4:20-27.  Ask God to burrow them deep into each person’s soul and make clear to them how He wants them to find expression in each of their lives.

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2012-04-08 A Living Hope 1 Peter 1:3-5 Pastor Bryan Hurlbutt

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A Living Hope

1 Peter 1:3-5

  1. What is the power of hope on human life?  Describe your experience with and without it.  What were the major differences?  How might the idea of “hope” be effectively used as an evangelistic lead into the lives of lost people you know?
  1. Think about the phrase “he (God the Father) has caused us to be born again.”  What are the implications of this statement?  As you think about this consider Ephesians 2:8-9 and Titus 3:5.  Additionally how does this mix with the language that we are guarded “through faith” (found in vs. 5).  As you process all of this also look at Romans 12:3 and Ephesians 6:23.
  1. Does the thought of your inheritance motivate you?  How do you experience it in an “already but not yet” sense?
  1. What is the doctrine of the “perseverance of the saints?”  What is “eternal security?”  Discuss these ideas in light of 1 Peter 1:5 and the language it uses about God “guarding” you for a salvation “ready to be revealed in the last time.”  Why do people have a hard time with these doctrines?  How can we help them understand them more clearly?  Why are they important?
  1. Create your own question to share with the group.___________________________________________________
  1. Give God praise for his love and kindness displayed in the resurrection of Jesus.  Pray for the comfort of God’s power to save and secure us to be a motivator for vibrant and courageous service to Him in our valley.

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2012-04-01 Foolproof John 11:1-12:16 Pastor Bryan Hurlbutt

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Foolproof

John 11:1-12:26

1.  Does everything that happens either by God’s permission or by his causation glorify Him?  Explain your answer.  Do your good and God’s glory always converge?  Consider Romans 8:16-17; 28-30 as you answer.

2.  Relate John 11:5-6 to the way that God’s love for us sometimes manifests itself.  Do you find the doctrine of the love of God to be difficult?  Why or why not?

3.  How can the challenges that other people face help you grow in your faith?  Have you seen this be the case either in your family or in your church family here at Lifeline?

4.  What does this text teach you about the heart of God?  Does this connect with your normal perceptions about God?

5.  Assess the four responses people have to God’s work in your life found in John 11:45-12:11.  Which have you seen from individuals who have observed God’s work in your life?

6.  Create your own question to share with the group.

7.  Pray for members in your small group and in our church to experience Jesus’ resurrection power in each their lives.

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2012-03-25 “A Place for the Glory of God” by Pastor Bryan Hurlbutt

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Psalm 96:1-13

  1. Talk about Plato’s statement: “All philosophy begins with wonder.”  What does it mean?  Do you think it is accurate?  What is “wonder?”
  2. Relate the background of this Psalm that Pastor Bryan discussed in the beginning of his sermon concerning David and the Ark of the Covenant with Lifeline’s present situation.  Why is there cause for celebration?  What can it mean for this valley if we celebrate and extol the wonder of God?  Discuss the importance of a theology that has a high view of God in this valley?
  3. Read Deuteronomy 4:9-10; 6:1-15 and Psalm 78:5-8.  Discuss the importance of family worship?  What are some things that you have seen prove effective in family worship?
  4. Does the second coming of Christ mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 give you a comfort in life and a motivation for your worship of God?  Why or why not?
  5. Create your own question to share with the group
  6. Pray for our church to shine the glory of God in this valley to a greater degree.  Pray for each Lifeliner to do their part in their own lives to portray a high view of God.

[audio:]

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2012-03-18 “Assisted Living” by Pastor Bryan Hurlbutt

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Psalm 18:20-50

 

    • Share about a time when ”the lights went out” in your life.  How did God light your lamp?

 

    • Read Psalm 15 and Psalm 24.  What character traits come to the surface as you look at what qualifies someone to worship God authentically according to these Psalms?

 

    • Think theologically for a moment.  How does God’s enabling and equipping us intersect with our actions?  Who is responsible for what happens in our lives?  (Pay attention to the “you” and “I” interchange through much of this text [esp. vs. 35-42].)  Why is it important to understand this relationship?  What might be some dangers of misunderstanding it?

 

    • Discuss this idea together:  “Blessing and suffering are just two different tools of God to draw you nearer to himself.  We are concerned about the blessing and the suffering but in God’s economy nearness is what matters to Him.

 

    • Create your own question to share with the group

 

    • Pray for God to assist each member of your group in something that they are facing at present.

 

[audio:]

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2012-03-11 “The Delight of God” by Pastor Bryan Hurlbutt

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Psalm 18

1. How have you seen God show up as one who rescues and saves you?

2. Is the idea that God delights in you easy or difficult for you to grasp? Why?

3. Pick out as many figures of speech that are used for God in this text as you can (i.e. The Lord is my rock, shield, etc….). Write them down and then after each one explain what it tells you about God (in poetic genre figures of speech are intended to create images that communicate concepts to us in vivid and effective ways). Be prepared to share how some of these figures of speech illuminate aspects of God’s character and conduct to you.

4. Consider the following seven objects of our trust that Pastor Bryan mentioned in the sermon. Look at the accompanying Scripture with each and discuss where your most significant struggles lie and why those areas of trust sometimes take precedent over God. What can you do about it.

 Humanity and Government – Ps. 118:8-9

 Money? – Prov. 18:10-11; 1 Tim. 6:17; Ps. 49:5-12 (Quote by Joe Louis)

 The Good Life? – Job 31:24-28

 Physical Power? – Psalm 20:6-8; Ps. 44:6-7; Isa. 31:1

 Idols? – Ps. 115:4-8 (you will end up empty just like them) – cf. Ps. 135:15-18; Isa. 42:17

 Your Own Strength? – 2 Cor. 1:8-9

 Your Good Deeds? – Gal. 3:10

5. Create your own question to share with the group.

6. Pray for one another’s most significant burden at present.

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