Running Away From God

Here's the link to the Sermon: Running Away? 

 

Reading: Jonah 1

1. What do we know about Jonah (more detail from the sermon)?
2. What did God want Jonah to do? Why?
3. Consider what it means for God to be omnipresent.
4. Who might be your equivalent of the Assyrians (people you struggle to love as God loves)
5. Whose life/lives was Jonah endangering by his actions, and what should we learn from this to apply to our own lives?
6. Sometimes in a church it is right for us to throw the Jonah's out of the boat. Discuss this statement. What does it mean for the life of a church? What is the result if we fail to handle church discipline properly.
7. What were the main points that came out of this passage for you, either as a result of the sermon or in your own personal study? discuss some of them as a group.

Happily ever after?

Here's the link to the Sermon: Happily ever after? 

 

Reading: Joel 3

1. As we come to the end of Joel, it's worth taking a recap of the whole message God has given through the book, and so before looking at this passage discuss what has happened up to this point.
2. Who will be judged and why?
3. Which other books in the bible, both OT and NT have similar messages or messages that fill in some of the gaps?
4. Application - What is the message of this passage to us today, as a nation, a church and individuals?

This is That

Here's the link to the Sermon: God Pours Out His Spirit 

 

Reading: Joel 2:28-32

1. What has Joel been talking about up to this point (i.e. in chapters 1&2:1-27)? How does that relate to this passage?
2. In the sermon there was some discussion about how we should read the bible in a ‘Jewish way’. How will that help us?
3. When you hear the title, ‘Holy Spirit’ what thoughts and ideas come to mind? Spend some time discussing this as a group.
4. Discuss:
   1. What are verses 28 and 29 referring to?
   2. What are verses 30 and 31 referring to?
   3. Where does verse 32 fit in?
5. What role would you say the Holy Spirit plays in the life of our church (consider points raised in the sermon), from day to day? Where do you see the evidence of His work? Can you think of any situations where we need to rely more on the leading of the Holy Spirit?
    

For personal study:

What role would you say the Holy Spirit plays in your life, from day to day? Where do you see the evidence of His work? Can you think of any situations where you need to rely more on the leading of the Holy Spirit?

All Scripture

A brief study on the importance of taking God's word to heart.



Read 2 Timothy 3:14-16 

1. Here we have three straightforward verses from one of Paul’s letter’s to Timothy. What do we know about the letter and Timothy, where was he Pastor, which other biblical characters were members of his church?
2. Discuss the three verses in order there are some starters below for each verse but don’t be constrained, there’s more to discuss than this:
   1. Verse 14 – why is it important to be sure we can unreservedly trust those teaching us? Sticking to the truth of scripture is counter cultural – what are some of the issues we might find ourselves coming under pressure on?
   2. Verse 15 – how early should we start to teach the truth of scripture, and what are the rewards, and conversely the risks if we don’t?
   3. Verse 16 – what are the various types of scripture? What does it mean it is inspired by God? Talk through the list of 4 uses that Paul mentions, how do we apply these to our lives?
3. Read James 1:22-25 and discuss briefly the truth of this simple picture, meditate on it as you lead into a time of prayer.

Devastation at the hand of God

Here's the link to the Sermon: God disciplines... 

 

Reading: Joel 1

1. Verse 1. What do we know about Joel? e.g. where did he live, who did he minister to, what did his and his father’s name mean? Does any of this matter?
2. Verse 2, why do you think Joel started off addressing the elders?
3. What do you make of a God who would deliberately bring such unpleasantness and damage to people?
4. Discuss how Deuteronomy 28 fits in with this?
5. How had these people messed up? What was their sin? (verse 12 gives a clue)
6. What is an idol?
7. How does all of this apply to us today?

Prayer for Sierra Leone Mission

1. There is so much corruption among public officers in the country and that is causing distrust and poverty. Pray that God transforms the leaders and civil servants of the nation.
2. There have been so many situations of rape (sometimes of children as young as 7 yrs.) and violation of women and children sexually in Sierra Leone is rampant of late. Please pray for the victims and that God may have mercy on us and heal the hearts of men.
3. Pray for the recent flood victims in Freetown and other places in the country (over 10,000 households); especially for innocent children. 
4. Pray for the people affected by ebola, because some of the aid do not seem to be reaching the actual victims but to those who are not directly affected and can afford far more than the poor affected, especially orphans and widows.
5. Pray for Samuel Mansaray of Brama Church, who has not been keeping well in the past month, thanks to the Friends of Sierra Leone for their financial aid for his hospital bills.
6. Help us pray against the recent spate of ritual murder allegedly sponsored by politicians seeking to gain or maintain power.
7. Pray for the right choice of leaders in the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion Sierra Leone which is due in February next year. Elections can sometimes be a divisive issue in the Connexion over here.
8. Pray for God's provision of funds to complete Bethesda before February 2016. God has been so faithful to this project. His provisions are always forthcoming.

Pride

Here's the link to the Sermon: What have I done today to make me feel proud?  

 

Reading: Obadiah

1. What do the group know about Edom and Judah, how far back does the enmity go?
2. What are the charges against Edom
3. Who was the last famous Edomite?
4. What were the Edomites proud of? Describe pride.
5. In which ways is this message relevant to us today?
6. Read 1 Corinthians 10:11&12 and share together in prayer.