 Pastoral Intervention (for the week of November 22, 2020) PDF at bottom Note to Group Leaders: More than anyone else, you are aware of the size of your group, time constraints, the needs of your group, etc. Please read through the Scripture and material below and use whatever you believe will be most helpful to your group. This Week’s Scripture: Ezekiel 34:11-24 Key Idea from Sermon God loves and shepherds his sheep and promises to send a shepherd in the line of David to save them. For Starters 1. Read Ezekiel 34:11-24 and answer the following questions.
For Further Discussion 2. Read Psalm 23. Describe what the following phrases mean and how you have experienced God shepherding you in that way.
3. What is the hope expressed in Psalm 23:6? 4. Read John 10:1-18. 5. What was Jesus telling the Pharisees in John 10:1-6? 6. What does Jesus call himself in John 10:7-10? What does he mean by describing himself in such a way? 7. Jesus refers to himself as “the good shepherd” in John 10:11-18. Compare and contrast Jesus, the good shepherd, to the hired hands. 8. How does Jesus, the good shepherd, compare with the image of the shepherd in Ezekiel 34:11-24? Applying the Scripture 9. In what ways are you a shepherd to those entrusted to your care and leadership? 10. List the chief characteristics of a good shepherd that you find in Ezekiel 34:11-24, Psalm 23, and John 10:1-18. 11. Which of those attributes best describes you? Which one do you most need to work on? 12. Memorize Psalm 23 and recite it to someone. 
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 From Punishment to Pardon (for the week of November 15, 2020) PDF at the bottom This Week’s Scripture: Zephaniah 1:1-6 and 3:9-17 Key Idea from Sermon “God disciplines so as to bring purification. This involves justice and love that leads to restoration.” Discussing the Scripture 1. Zephaniah was a prophet during the reign of King Josiah. “King Josiah instituted a sweeping reformation of worship in Judah (2 Kings 22:3–23:25), which officially abolished the worship of Baal and the stars mentioned in Zeph. 1:4–6. [However, it] might be the case that such worship continued secretly between 621 and 609.” (Holman Bible Dictionary) How does Zephaniah start of his prophecy in verses 2-3? 2. Read Zephaniah 1:4-6. What sins are listed by Zephaniah for which Judah (indeed, the whole world) was going to be punished? 3. Read Exodus 20:1-7 and Deuteronomy 5:6-11. Write down the first three commandments. How were the people in Zephaniah’s day violating these commands of God? 4. The name, “Baal,” literally means “lord” or “master,” but was commonly used to refer to the Canaanite storm god. What do the following texts say about worshiping Baal?
5. Nelson’s Bible Dictionary says idolatry is “the worship of something created as opposed to the worship of the Creator Himself. Scores of references to idolatry appear in the Old Testament. This shows that idolatry probably was the greatest temptation our spiritual forefathers faced. While we find bowing down to a statue no temptation, they apparently slipped into idolatry constantly. So serious was this sin that the prohibition against the making and worshiping of images was included near the beginning of the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:4–6).” What are ways Christians practice idolatry in our day? If most Christians know that idolatry is wrong (sinful), how do you explain why they (we) can slip into it so easily, even if unintentionally? 6. In what ways do unbelieving “secularists” practice idolatry in our day? 7. Based on the Scripture you have read in this lesson, as well as Romans 1:18-25, why is idolatry wrong? Explain your answer. 8. We find another form idolatry called syncretism, in verse 5. Syncretism is a blending together of opposing beliefs and practices. How does verse 5 describe God’s people doing that? 9. As in Zephaniah’s day, syncretism seems to be common in our day as well. How have you observed syncretism being practiced today by Christians? Have you ever unintentionally blended your Christian beliefs with other beliefs and practices? Explain 10. In the first century, the Roman empire was very pluralistic. They allowed for the belief and worship of many gods. What got Christians into trouble with Rome was not that they believed in and worshiped Jesus. It was that they worshiped him only and would not bow down to the Emperor as a god. How does our larger culture influence the church to adopt beliefs and practices which are not consistent with the Christian faith? 11. Even though God judges idolatry, he is merciful and calls his people to repent and blesses them when they do. Read Zephaniah 3:9-17. What is God’s promise of hope for the faithful remnant of God’s people who remain faithful to him? How is that promise fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ? Applying the Scripture 12. How can you learn to spot idolatry in your own life? What will you do once you spot it? 13. What unchristian (inconsistent and contradictory) beliefs and practices have you adopted in your life? What steps will you take to turn away from them and embrace biblical truth only? 14. What steps can you begin taking today to help you stand firm for Christ, even when it is hard and unpopular?
 Show Me the Life Change (for the week of November 8, 2020) PDF at bottom Note to Group Leaders: More than anyone else, you are aware of the size of your group, time constraints, the needs of your group, etc. Please read through the Scripture and material below and use whatever you believe will be most helpful to your group. This Week’s Scripture: Amos 5:18-24 Key Idea from Sermon “God does not want our outward pretension. He wants our hearts and lives to sincerely change.” Discussing the Scripture 1. In verse 18, God asks his people why they are looking forward to the Day of the Lord. He says it will not be what they hope it is. Read Amos 5:1-17. What problem did God have with the way Israel had been living? 2. What will the Day of the Lord be like, according to Amos 5:18-20? 3. Read the following verses about the Day of the Lord from the New Testament. What does each say about the Day of the Lord?
4. Based on these verses, why do we need to place our faith in Jesus Christ? 5. Read Amos 5:21-23. According to these verses, what does God despise? Describe the imagery Amos uses to make this point. What does Jesus say about this same thing in Matthew 15:8-9? 6. What does God desire, according to Amos 5:24? Why? 7. Read Matthew 23:13-39. What is Jesus most concerned about in these verses? How do his words agree with the words in Amos? Applying the Scripture 8. How would you respond to a relative or coworker who said he or she did not want to become a Christian because of all the hypocrites in the church? How is their concern valid? Explain your answers. 9. Why does God care about the inner condition of your heart (disposition, attitude, relationship) toward him, as long as you’re outwardly doing good deeds? 10. What might a false “appearance of piety” look like in our day? Have you ever been guilty of presenting yourself as godlier than you really are? What were some of your motivations for doing so? 11. What are some reasons people try to present themselves as someone they are not? 12. What are three things you can start doing today to help keep you from hypocrisy?
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