Discussion Guide for Sunday, March 29, 2020

JEHOVAH JIREH:

THE LORD WILL PROVIDE

Series: Knowing God by Name: The Power of God’s Names

Big Idea

This week, Pastor Mickles introduced us to several names of God while discussing Abraham’s final test of faith. Abraham has been walking with God, now, for over half a century, and he’s learned a lot about God through His names. He has met El Elyon – the God Most High, El Shaddai, the God Almighty, and in Genesis 21, he met El Olam, the Everlasting God. Hagar has even met El Roi, the God who sees. And now God wants to introduce Abraham to Jehovah Jireh, the Lord will provide.

To introduce him to this name of God, Abraham’s faith was put to the test. It was almost as if God asked him, “If you could trust Me with your past, why won’t you trust Me with your future?” Abraham took Isaac, the son of promise, up Mt. Moriah to offer him to God as a burnt offering. However God showed up at the place of sacrifice to let Abraham know that He’d been at work in his past. God had already arranged for a ram to be caught in the thicket for Abraham’s sacrifice. God also let Abraham know that He was at work in his present by commending Abraham for his obedience, and that He was at work in his future by reminding Abraham of the many promises that were his because of his covenant relationship with God.

This entire narrative is a preview of coming attractions. Abraham was to offer Isaac as a burnt offering, the sacrifice for sin, on Mt. Moriah. Mt. Moriah would eventually become the site for Jerusalem. It is there that God would offer His Son, Jesus, as a sacrifice for sin upon the cross of Calvary. For Abraham, God provided a ram, but for you and I, He provided Jesus, the Lamb of God slain for our sins.

Discussion Questions

• Have you God ever asked you for something that you loved? Did you struggle with surrendering it to Him? Did you give it to Him in the end? Why? Why not?
• Can you remember a time when walking by faith required extreme obedience? What did it cost? Was there a reward on the other side of your obedience? Did the reward make it worth it.

Prayer Focus

Lord, thank You for all that You provide for me. Thank you for all your blessings – for looking beyond my faults, seeing my needs, forgiving me, showing me brand new mercies, being faithful to Your Word, leading and guiding me each and every day.

Next Steps

God is always providing for us, often in ways we don’t even realize. This week, make a conscious effort to acknowledge His daily provision, and intentionally live in gratitude.

Want to Get Ahead?

Read and meditate on Exodus 17:8-16 in your devotional time this week.

Discussion Guide for Wednesday, March 25, 2020

DOING JUSTICE

Unit Theme: God Requires Justice
Print Text: Micah 3:1-3, 9-12; 6:6-8
Key Verse: Micah 6:8

Big Idea

Micah was the “commoner” of the prophets who championed those who were wronged politically and religiously. He was from a small village about 20-25 miles southwest of Jerusalem, and for 42 years, he ministered in the city of Jerusalem under three kings – Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. While Hosea was preaching in the Northern Kingdom and Isaiah was preaching in the Southern Kingdom, Micah is the only prophet with a message for both kingdoms. Micah pulled no punches when he preached because he had been sent by God to call His people to practical righteousness. Micah lived to see one his prophecies come to pass in the fall of the Northern Kingdom to Assyria, but it would take over 100 years for the Southern Kingdom to fall at the hands of Babylon. In Jeremiah 26:18, the ministry of Micah is used to confirm the prophecy of Jeremiah.

One of the special features of Micah is the use of a special literary form called “the divine covenant lawsuit”, which has all of the elements of a legal proceeding. The charge against the people of God in this section is that the leaders (the politicians, the priests, and the prophets) had betrayed the trust of the people and were actively seeking to oppress those of the lower class. Micah illustrates this betrayal with a shepherd who attacks his sheep rather than protects them. To make matters worse, these leaders were using their theology to justify their political behavior. They held to a doctrine known as “the inviolability of Zion”, which held that Jerusalem was unable to be destroyed because the earthly throne of God was located in the temple there. However, the coming destruction of Jerusalem could be traced to their inequity as leaders. When the opportunity for their defense finally comes, these wicked leaders attempt to buy their way out of God’s judgment. Still Micah responds that doing penance does not replace genuine repentance.

Discussion Questions

• Are there any similarities between this ancient text and our contemporary times? Are there any similarities between the unjust leaders of Micah’s day and our day? How will this inform your prayers?

Prayer Focus

Lord, have mercy upon those who love what is evil and hate what is good. Turn our hearts toward justice and mercy. Help us to walk before You with genuine faith and humility. Give us the courage to stand with the oppressed and to lend our voices to those who cannot speak for themselves.

Next Steps

Micah 6:8 (NCV) says “The Lord…has told you what He wants from you: to do what is right to other people, love being kind to others, and live humbly, obeying your God.” These are not individual activities to pursue, but a formula for living out practical righteousness. This week, make a conscious effort to randomly be kind to someone who cannot repay you. Don’t tell anyone about it…but God.

Want to Get Ahead?

Read and meditate on Malachi 2:1-9; 3:5-6 in your devotional time this week.

See Knowing God by Name: El Shaddai for the Discussion Guide.

Discussion Guide for Sunday, March 22, 2020

EL SHADDAI: GOD ALMIGHTY

Series: Knowing God by Name: The Power of God’s Names

Big Idea

In this week’s message, Abram was introduced to another name for God in Genesis 17:1: “Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; walk before Me, and be blameless.’” God introduced Himself to Abram as El Shaddai, God Almighty. It means that God is all powerful and all-sufficient to do whatever it takes to meet your need. There’s nothing too hard for Him. In the original language, this name comes from the root shad which gives us two word pictures to help us understand more about the nature of God.

First of all, it represented a mother’s breast, which is designed to nourish the baby until he develops enough to eat food on his own. El Shaddai is the God of Process. He knows how to sustain you while you develop through the delays of life. Sometimes that may even mean keeping you while you deal with the consequence of your bad decisions. The second word picture is that of a mountain, and it represents the strength of a fortress or stronghold. El Shaddai is the God of Power. When things are too hard for you, they’re just right for Him. Matter of fact, God has a track record of letting you come to the end of yourself before He steps in. Why? Because He wants all the glory for Himself. Seven times in eight verses God says I will as He re-establishes His covenant with Abram. He wanted Abram to know that promise was still good and that He was responsible for its fulfillment. El Shaddai is the God of Promise. And so Abram and Sarai wouldn’t forget the promise, God changed their names to Abraham and Sarah. Every time they heard their names, they were reminded of God’s promise.

Discussion Questions

• Have you ever felt like God was taking too long? What did you do? How did you try to make sense of it? Did you take matters into your own hands?
• Are there times when you need to be reassured of God’s promises? How has God met that need for you?

Prayer Focus

Lord, help me to know you as my All-Powerful and All-Sufficient God, who is able to sustain and keep me and to fulfill every promise You make. Increase my awe of You and of Your power so that, like Abraham, I may follow you faithfully, always believing that You’re God enough to handle my situation.

Next Steps

Sometimes it’s easier to believe that God has more important things to attend to than to look out for “little old me”. We are often tempted to give God a way out of doing what He’s promised to do in our lives. Consciously resist those thoughts this week. Every time it feels like God’s not going to do what He said, remind yourself: “GOD HAS NOT FORGOTTEN ABOUT ME OR MY SITUATION!”

Want to Get Ahead?

Read and meditate on Genesis 22:1-14 in your devotional time this week.

Discussion Guide for Sunday, March 15, 2020

EL ELYON: GOD MOST HIGH

Series: Knowing God by Name: The Power of God’s Names

Big Idea

God reveals Himself when we need Him most. This is the underlying truth of Pastor Mickles’ new series. Psalm 9:10 tells us why: “those who know Your name will put their trust in You, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.” In moments of crisis, when our faith is tested, God shows us who He is by what He does, and He gives us a new name to remember it by. That’s the case in Genesis 14. Abram and his 318 trained men traveled over 100 miles to rescue his nephew, Lot. They divided into companies and successfully rescued Lot and claimed all of the spoils in battle. On the journey home, Abram met two kings: the king of Salem and the king of Sodom. This was a defining moment in his walk with God.

When Abram met the king of Salem, Melchizedek, he was introduced to a new name for God – El Elyon, the God Most High. Melchizedek was introduced as the priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram in the name of God Most High. Even when Abram responded to the king of Sodom, he did so acknowledging his sworn oath to the Lord God Most High. It was an acknowledgement that nothing is above God in any realm of life. He is the highest in every respect. This means that God is Sovereign (Genesis 14:19). He is in full and absolute control of everything that happens in our lives. God is also our shield (Genesis 14:20). In the battles of life, He surrounds us as a defense against our enemies, and by His right of His authority, He gives us the victory as a gift of His faithfulness to us. From his experience with El Elyon, Abram learned that God is our source (Genesis 14:20, 22-24). Everything that we have comes from Him. We have no need to compromise with the world; God will provide all that we need. (Special Note: Melchizedek is an Old Testament picture of Christ.)

Discussion Questions

• What situation in your life seems like it is out of control? Have you considered God’s involvement in the situation? Can you identify God’s protective hand at work?
• Have you been tempted to seek alternatives to God’s provision for your life? What did you do?

Prayer Focus

Lord, You are the greatest of all. None compares to You in all the earth. You created me by the power of Your Word and redeemed me by the power of Your blood. You always protect me. You always provide for me. For this, I give You all the glory that’s due Your name.

Next Steps

One way we acknowledge the sovereignty of God is by acknowledging that we are not self-made. We are God-made. Make a decision this week not to compromise your trust in God for your everyday needs. Ban anxiety by resting in the truth of who God is. Settle yourself in the fact that you do not need to be self-sufficient because God is all sufficient for you.

Want to Get Ahead?

Read and meditate on Genesis 17:1-8 in your devotional time this week.

Discussion Guide for Sunday, March 1, 2020

CUT IT AGAIN!

Series: Tracking Transition – Following God into Your New Beginning

Big Idea

Pastor Mickles closed this series with a message centered on Joshua 5:2: “At that time the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Make for yourself flint knives and circumcise again the sons of Israel the second time.” Transition challenges you to make your relationship with God a priority. Joshua 5 opens with the Amorites and Canaanites shaking in their boots. Any wise military strategist would have said it was time to attack, but God called for Israel to recommit herself to Him.

Deuteronomy 9:23-24 tells us that Israel rebellion began in Kadesh-Barnea and had continued the remaining 38 years in the wilderness. Their rebellion can be seen in the fact that an entire generation did not bear the sign of the covenant – circumcision, and, consequently, that generation was cut off from the covenant people (Genesis 17:11, 14). Joshua physically circumcised the men, but it was only a symbol of something deeper – a circumcision of the heart (Deuteronomy 10:16). Now that they were circumcised, the nation could participate in the celebration of the covenant – the Passover. The first Passover was celebrated in Egypt. It represented their ending. The second Passover was celebrated at Mt. Sinai. It represented their messy middle. The third Passover was celebrated in the Promised Land. It represented their new beginning.

Discussion Guide for Sunday, February 23, 2020

DON’T FORGET TO REMEMBER!

Series: Tracking Transition – Following God into Your New Beginning

Big Idea

Pastor Mickles has been teaching principles of transition. Here’s a quick review: Transition can be a scary process, and, sometimes, it requires you to take a risky step of faith. But did you know that you could waste your time on your transition journey? When you do not learn the lessons your journey was designed to teach you, you cannot enjoy the fullness of your new beginning. This was a risk Joshua did not want to take. Joshua built two memorials, one in the midst of the Jordan River and the other on riverbank in the Promised Land.

These memorials were visual reminders that would trigger memories of Israel’s journey from Egypt through the Wilderness and into the Promised Land, and they would provide an occasion for the retelling of the story. The Bible doesn’t tell us why Joshua built the memorial in the midst of the Jordan River (Joshua 4:9), but Pastor Mickles taught us that it was a reminder of our private battles. It became a reminder of what happens when you face your fears and step out on faith. The memorial built in the Promised Land was a reminder of our public victories. It became a reminder that the God who can do anything was on our side. It also became a tool for passing our faith on to the next generation.

Discussion Questions

• Have you ever seriously considered the lessons you have learned over the course of your faith journey? How many of those lessons can you recall?
• Do you share your testimony with others? Why? Why not? How often?
• How has those life lessons changed the way you live? How have they improved your quality of life?
• Which of your life lessons are worth passing on to the next generation?

Prayer Focus

Look where You’ve brought me from! Father, You promised that You would be with me when I went through deep waters and that You would not let me drown when I went through the rivers of difficulty (Isaiah 43:2, NLT). You have kept Your promise, and I thank You. Touch my mind. Help me to not forget the many lessons You’ve taught me along the way. May I meditate on them and tell of Your goodness all the days of my life.

Next Steps

It is so easy to forget the lessons you’ve learned along the way. You have to be intentional about remembering our private battles and our public victories and about passing your experiences on to others. Spend some time writing a list of the things you’ve learned in the last season of your life. Then pick one of those lessons you can share with someone else.

Want to Get Ahead?

Read and meditate on Joshua 5 in your devotional time this week.

Discussion Guide for Sunday, February 16, 2020

GET YOUR FEET WET!

Series: Tracking Transition – Following God into Your New Beginning

Big Idea

Sometimes, transition requires you to take risky steps of faith. We learn this lesson from Joshua 3. Joshua is completing his first full week as the leader of the children of Israel, and it’s time to move in on the Promised Land. There’s a problem – to do so, they have to cross the Jordan River. Verse 15 tells us that the river has spread to almost a mile wide and twelve feet deep. They didn’t know how they were to get across. All they had was faith in a promise from God that “He brought them out from there in order to bring them in” (Deuteronomy 6:23)

In Joshua 3, there is a recurring phrase – “that you may know”. It shows up three times, and each time reveals why God wants us to take risky steps of faith. The phrase appears for the first time in verse 4. It teaches us that God wants to direct our path. They did not know all the details about where they were going, but God knew because He’d already been. The only requirement was to follow His leadership. The second time it appears is in verse 7, and from it, we learn that God wants to distinguish our potential. Joshua did not have to promote himself. God was going to do it, and He would confirm His work for both Joshua and the people. The final time we see our phrase is in verse 10. There we discover two things: 1) God wants to display His presence, and 2) demonstrate His power. The reason the text refers to Him as “the living God” is because the gods of the Canaanites were dead. To possess their Promised Land, they had to take a risky step of faith.

Discussion Questions

• What has stopped you from taking a risky step of faith in your past? How did it affect your walk with God? Did you miss out on one of God’s promises?
• How are you feeding your faith? What devotional habits have you built into your daily routine to deepen your walk with God? If not, what habits can you start?

Prayer Focus

Father, I am so grateful that You know all the details of my future. Help me to submit myself daily to Your Spirit’s leading. I trust You to promote me at the right time, but I need Your help to stay humble in the meantime. You are not dead! You are alive, and You fight all of my battles for me. Thank you, Jesus!

Next Steps

Taking a risky step of faith requires spiritual courage. It is doing what you’ve never done so that you can get what you’ve never had. Another way to explain is stepping out on the Word of God. One of the areas that God often speaks to us about is in the use of our spiritual gifts. Ask God where your gift, talent, or special ability can be used to build the Kingdom, and then take a step of faith by getting involved in one of our ministries.

Want to Get Ahead?

Read and meditate on Joshua 4 in your devotional time this week.

Discussion Guide for Sunday, February 9, 2020

GET A GOOD GRIP!

Series: Tracking Transition – Following God into Your New Beginning

Big Idea

This week, Pastor Mickles preached a message centered on Joshua 1:6-9. In this message, we learned that transition can be scary. Even for a military general like Joshua, the road ahead was enough to throw him into all out panic attacks and depression. Yet God gave Joshua a countermeasure – “Be strong and courageous!” These four words show three times in the space of 4 verses. To be strong is to grasp on something and to squeeze. To be courageous means to have the boldness to face your enemy without flinching. How does one develop this kind of resolve? Through the Word of God.

Verse 7 says, “be careful to do according to all the law. Verse 8 amplifies how we can accomplish this. We get a good grip when we “profess the promises”. No matter what, we have to keep saying what God has said. Ephesians 6:17 teaches that we use the Word of God as a weapon. Another way we get a good grip is when we “ponder the precepts”. The purpose of meditation is discerning the application of the Scripture to our personal lives. God wants to speak directly to us through His Word. We get a good grip when we “practice the principles”. As we walk out the God’s Word for our lives, we discover that God gives us the necessary wisdom to accomplish our goals.

Discussion Questions

• Can you remember a time in your transition journey when thing became a little scary? How did you deal with the sense of overwhelm? How well did you recover?
• Do you practice the spiritual discipline of meditation? Why? Why not?
• Have you ever experienced the biblical idea of success (God giving you the wisdom to navigate difficult situations to come out with the victory)? What made the experience different?

Prayer Focus

Father, I thank You for loving me enough to share Your Word with me. I do not know what lies ahead, but I trust you to keep me strong and courageous. Holy Spirit, help me to treasure the Word of God in my heart, so that when I need something to hold onto, You can bring the appropriate verse to my remembrance.

Next Steps

Getting a good grip on the Word of God takes our personal study to another level. Now we add disciplines like Scripture memorization and meditation to our routines. You can start by memorizing 1 verse each week for a month and meditating on each verse for a few minutes each day.

Want to Get Ahead?

Read and meditate on Joshua 3 in your devotional time this week.

Discussion Guide for Sunday, February 2, 2020

IT’S TIME

Series: Tracking Transition – Following God into Your New Beginning

Big Idea

Pastor Mickles opened this series with a message centered on Joshua 1:2: “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.” Transition is not the same thing as change. Change is what happened. Transition is how we come to terms with what happened. The trouble is that it’s possible to go through change and never go through transition. The children of Israel knew that all too well. Moses died. Israel has had her time to mourn, but God doesn’t want them to get stuck there. He had more for them, just like He has more for us.

When God wants to shake us from our complacency, He speaks His Word to us. This verse helps us identify where we are on our transition journey. We are in one of three places. For some of us, God is saying, “It’s time to say goodbye”. We cannot allow temporary people or tight places to keep us from pursuing God’s promises. For some of us, God is saying, “It’s time to get ready”. God is going to do His part, but we have to do our part in possessing what God has promised us. He’s going to bless what we do. For some of us, God is saying, “It’s time to go get it”. Israel waited 470 years to possess their Promised Land. When God says it’s time, it’s time!

Discussion Questions

• Where are you on your transition journey? Do you need to say goodbye? Is this your time to get ready for the next level? Is it time for you to go get what God has promised you?
• Based on where you are on your transition journey, what is keeping you from going to the next phase?
• God had already spoken to Israel about Moses’ death, Joshua becoming the leader, and their possessing the Promised Land. What has God spoken to you that can provide encouragement during your transition journey?

Prayer Focus

Father, I thank You for always speaking to me through Your Word by Your Spirit. Help me discover where I am on my transition journey. I believe that not one of Your good promises to me will fail. Every one of your promises to me will be fulfilled. Give me the courage to pursue them by faith.

Next Steps

One way we prepare to possess God’s promises is by studying His Word. Consider ways you can incorporate studying God’s Word into your daily schedule. You can start by reading one chapter from Proverbs or five psalms every day. If you haven’t joined one of our weekly Bible studies, you should join us and see how studying the Word corporately will bring clarity to your private studies.

Want to Get Ahead?

Read and meditate on Joshua 1:1-9 in your devotional time this week.