December 17: Available to All

Isn't it amazing how the names change but the stories don't? We discover in Acts 15:1-31 a situation that continually repeats itself throughout the history of the church - adding undue and unbiblical requirements on the greatest gift ever given to mankind. That gift is the gift of salvation through Christ and Christ alone.

As you prepare to lead your group to study the passage, be sure to remain focused on the TARGET for this session: Salvation is available to everyone through faith in Jesus alone. This Scriptures takes us to a meeting between Paul, Barnabas, and the Jerusalem church regarding those who had added additional requirements for salvation on the Gentile believers. Because of this, be aware that the discussion could focus on subjects such as how to conduct meetings, how to deal with conflict in the church, etc. While principles regarding this could certainly be drawn from the passage, keep the conversation focused on answering two questions:

1. Is it necessary to add any “work” to grace in order for persons to be forgiven and stand in right relationship with God?
2. What are the responsibilities of those who are saved?

Warning: If you do Google searches related to Christmas, Christmas and the gospel, Christmas and salvation, etc. you need to be aware that many of the videos and much of the content will be from the Mormon church. Watch for the term "LDS" in the description or in the URL. The illustrations are tainted because of the very reason we are studying this passage - adding something more to the gospel. In this case, they also take away from the divinity of Christ.

Celebrate, this week, that fact that the greatest gift ever given is the free gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ, and Christ alone and that is available to all.

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December 10: Misguided Worship

When you see a picture of someone lifting hands in worship with images overlaid such as the one above, you might wonder, "What could this mean?" For Paul and Barnabas in Acts 14:8-20 this image could describe the background of the people with whom they were sharing the gospel. They weren't speaking to an audience that understood Judaism or had any understanding of monotheism. They worshipped everything but Holy God. When they encountered God for the first time, their response was one of misguided worship.

When this took place, Paul and Barnabas had to redirect and clarify the gospel to an audience that didn't understand at all. This session will help your group members consider how they should help individuals who don't understand the gospel and who might respond incorrectly to God when He works in their lives. They might respond in unusual and ungodly ways which will require us to prayerfully consider how to redirect their worship.

The TARGET for this week should be kept in mind in order to remain focused while leading this session: When people misunderstand God’s work, it is an opportunity to share the gospel and encourage people to worship the one true God.

As we consider the outcome of Paul's and Barnabas's experience at this town called Lystra, be sure to lead your group to understand what took place in this community AFTER they left. While Paul was almost killed and they left without any seemingly grand conversion of a community to Christ, upon revisiting the region later in the book of Acts we discover that there was a thriving body of believers and one very special disciple who became Paul's traveling companion and lifelong friend. His name is Timothy, one whom Paul laters refers to as his "son in the faith" (1 Timothy 1:18).

Here are three takeaways you should focus on when guiding this session:

1. There are countless people with whom we have relationships who don't have a church context so we have to learn how to clearly communicate the gospel with them. 
2. We need to learn how to respond when individuals from a different spiritual context respond to God's work by worshipping incorrectly.
3. We need to understand that a painful experience doesn’t mean failure. God will use you to share the gospel message and it will be fruitful.

The following video is suggested as a part of the LOOK UP portion of the additional teaching ideas.

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December 3: The Gospel Message

How confident are you in talking about the gospel with others? Do you know what elements are vital to talk about when sharing the gospel with someone? Paul gives us some great insight in his speech to the people with whom he was visiting in the town of Antioch of Pisidia recorded in Acts 13:26-39. Hopefully this will lead to some great discussions with your group as you study this week's session, The Gospel Message.

The following visuals could be used to supplement your session. The downloadable teaching helps provide direction regarding how to incorporate these into your session as well as additional teaching ideas.

Video for LOOK UP (Getting focused on the text):



Video to supplement discussion of the importance of the resurrection of Christ:



Copies of the following will be provided in the Discipleship Workroom to use during the introduction of this session:

Northside Vision Framework

Recognizing Jesus as the Head of the Church, upholding the Bible as His divine revelation to man, and following His example to love one another, Northside Baptist Church seeks to exalt Jesus Christ and draw others to Him by:

• Actively and intentionally spreading the Gospel in middle Tennessee, our nation, and the world.
• Cultivating a multi-generational and multi-cultural family of believers who grow together in their passion for Christ through worship, prayer, service, and fellowship.
• Teaching Biblical truth and discipling Christians to confidently live out their faith.
• Serving God through utilizing gifts, talents, resources, and shared experiences for God's glory.

As you lead your group to work through these sessions from the book of Acts, challenge them to consider how they should be expressing these “ACTS” personally, in our church and community.

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November 26: Gods Expectations (New Title)

There are so many today who talk about the love of God without ever considering God's expectations. It's as if we desire God to be like a grandfather or a Santa Clause who provides everything we desire without any expectations. It seems, when it comes to God's expectations, we avoid discussions out of a fear of sounding as if we are talking about earning salvation. This is why understanding the Old Testament covenant with Israel is so important.

The Israelites were God's covenant people. Their actions did not determine their status as God’s people. That was settled through God’s covenant relationship. However, their obedience or disobedience to God had implications on their fellowship with God, the fulfillment of His purposes for them, and their flourishing within the world. This is equally true for believers today.

LifeWay's Explore the Bible Leader Commentary describes it best: "Believers should remember that God is not only a God of love, mercy, and grace; He is also a God who is holy, righteous, and demanding. In addition, God desires to bless His people. There is no question about the terms that bring God’s blessings—proper worship, personal holiness, and faithful obedience.When God’s people obey God, He blesses them with His presence and a peace that is spiritual and relational. When God’s people disobey Him, they forfeit the fullness of His blessings."

The supplemental teaching ideas provide a guide using an illustration related to the "If-Then" concept that was developed in the 1990's. The premise, based upon secular research, is that, when someone is given if-then instructions, their success rate for accomplishing a task goes up. One study reveals that the percentage of success could double compared to those who weren’t given any specific instructions. An article entitled Developing Good Habits emphasizes that if-then planning can have a huge impact on habit change.

God provides the Israelites, in Leviticus 26, a series of if-then scenarios that describe what will happen if they obey, if they disobey, and if they repent. Hopefully this will lead your group to come to appreciate more fully the relationship they have with God through Jesus Christ and, in return, will respond with willful obedience, recognizing the blessings that accompany such obedience.

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November 19: Set Free

What is the relationship between sin and guilt? Do you have to feel guilty before you are guilty of sin? Do professing Christians find it difficult to strike a biblical balance between the justice of God and the love of God? Do they sometimes feel guiltier than they should? If so, why? Do they sometimes ignore sin because of God’s love? If so, why? These are all questions that will be explored in the session this week.

The guilt of sin can feel like a weight we carry with us everywhere we go. As you study Leviticus 16:1-30, you will discover that God provided a way for Israel to be forgiven and free from the guilt of sin through the sin offerings and the Day of Atonement. This picture of atonement pointed toward the permanent and eternal atonement for sin which Christ paid on the cross. Those who respond to Christ's invitation of salvation can experience, not only forgiveness of sin, but the removal of guilt from sin!

Lead your group to celebrate the fact that the burden of sin and guilt can be lifted away because of God’s provision through Christ!

Tweaked Approach to Leviticus 16:1-6
Instead of focusing on drawing out elements of worship in this passage, the supplemental teaching ideas focus on the TARGET of the study - "God promised a way for His people to be free from the guilt of sin." It contrasts the actions of the high priests to prepare for the Day of Atonement and the preparation Christ took to prepare to atone for our sins once and for all.

The focus is on how God prepared a model with Aaron that culminated in Christ’s preparation to become our sacrifice, our High Priest, and how this should change the way we view the seriousness of our sin and the forgiveness of our sins.

Video or Song Lyrics for LOOK OUT (Application)
The following video could be used to help celebrate the fact that God lifted the burden of guilt from us at Calvary.  There are two versions of this song available in the additional teaching ideas document. The teaching ideas also provide the lyrics to read if video isn't an option.

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Christmas Fellowship Ideas

Here are some pictures from our Christmas Fellowship Idea party Sunday. It was a great time. Thanks to everyone who helped make it happen including Chris & Karen Gerbman, Kim Tate, and Darryl Deason. Everything was great! You can download the idea booklet below as well.

Download the Christmas Fellowship Idea Booklet

November 12: Set Apart

Do you find it difficult to follow instructions? I am guilty of this in my own life. Whether it is instructions for putting something together, policies and rules, or instructions for driving, I tend to be a rebel. With that said, there is one area in which being a rebel will cause us to miss out on enjoying God's presence and to reap some pretty hefty consequences. As believers we have been set apart; therefore, we are to live holy lives. This week's session will focus on this very topic.

The teaching plan is pretty straight forward this week. I have included an illustration related to the proper way of building a campfire as a part of the suggested LOOK UP activities.

The following video by Gene Getz will give you some background perspective on Leviticus 10:1-3.

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November 5: God's Holy. We Aren't. Now What? (New Title)

For many years, payphones were an important means of communication. Every minute of use cost the caller some money. When they ran out of time, they would have to “offer” or put more coins in the coin slot. So what does this have to do with our Bible study session? This is an illustration that I suggest using to introduce the session as we transition from Exodus to Leviticus. Due to the focus of the book of Leviticus, I suggest a title change for today's lesson: God's Holy. We Aren't. Now What? 

Obviously, the Israelites did not use payphones to communicate between themselves and Holy God. They had a tabernacle and the accompanying functions. They didn’t put quarters in a phone, but they did  have to make continual sin atoning sacrifices in order to remain "connected" to Holy God.

The payhone illustration can be used, not only as an introduction, but to wrap up the session as you will see in the teaching ideas.

Resources to Consider.
I have revised the original plan and the direction of the session considerably. Here are some resources you can use to prepare and to use during the session.

• Background Helps - Gene Getz, A Fragrant Offering
• LifeWay's Explore the Bible Blog Post by Mike Livingston - Three Reasons to Love Leviticus
• PowerPoint Slides - Two slides: Payphone image and tabernacle image. Click to Download

Video Option for Introducing Leviticus

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October 29: His Presence

Christ in the Tabernacle by Frank H. White. Available at wordsearchbible.com

"Great Job!" If you have ever had someone say this to you it feels pretty good. You feel as if you delivered something great and met expectations. What if Moses was the one inspecting your work and you were following guidelines passed down from God? How would you be feeling as the inspection began? This is how our study of the final chapters of Exodus begin today.

Below are some questions and expanded Scripture passages that you might want to add to your teaching plan. More details are provided with the downloadable teaching plans.

Exodus 39:32-43 (Expanded beyond ETB’s suggested passage)

• How do you suppose the people felt when Moses blessed them? What words would you have included in the blessing had you been Moses?
• Twice these passages state, “The Israelites had done all the work according to everything the LORD had commanded Moses” (vss. 32 & 42). Do believers today view obedience to leaders and God the same way the Israelites did?
• How would a leader affirming your obedience affect your walk with the Lord?
• How would you feel today if a church leader inspected your work to determine if you had fully obeyed God?

Exodus 40:1-16 (Expanded beyond ETB’s suggested passage)

• Who has helped someone arrange furniture in a room? What was your experience? Did you  question how the person wanted the furniture arranged?
• Why was it so important for the instructions to be followed? For what was God preparing the Israelites and all mankind?
• Every item and its placement in the tabernacle illustrated something about God’s unfolding plan for redemption of man through Jesus Christ.

Repeatedly, God tells Moses to “anoint” and “consecrate” items, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons.

• What does this communicate regarding how the tabernacle should be treated and viewed?
• How can we apply this to our lives as God’s dwelling places? 
• How can we apply this to our time together worshipping as a church?

Exodus 40:34-38

• What did you notice regarding the Israelites' response to God’s presence? 
• Who could see or know that God was present?
• Was there ever a time when God was not present during their journey?
• How does this compare with the way God leads His people today?
• How does knowing that God is present give someone the confidence to follow God and join Him in His work?
• As a believer, do you live your life in a constant awareness of the presence of God?

If you do live in a constant awareness of God’s presence, how should that change:

• The way you worship?
• The way you serve?
• The way you talk about your faith?
• The way you obey?
• The way you live from day-to-day?

At this point, the Israelites were at the best point in their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. They had obeyed God and experienced His pleasure and His presence! We should strive to live with this goal in mind as well. When we are obeying, we get to enjoy the pleasure and presence of God without regret. What a gift and opportunity God gives us! Seek to remove anything that would take away from enjoying God’s presence and experiencing His pleasure.

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October 22: Rebellion

Recently our family was on vacation. We all left at different times. Becky and I made it to our destination in good time. However, our oldest son and daughter-in-law, sat on the interstate for 5 hours, turning an 8 hour trip into a 13 hour trip with two small children. When we are in situations like this, we are all tempted to react in ways that might demonstrate to others our lack of trust in God. Fortunately, for our son and his family, this wasn't the case. But, this wasn't true for the Israelites in our session this week.

The people of God quickly forgot, "God their Savior who did great things in Egypt, wonderful works in the land of Ham, awe-inspiring acts at the Red Sea" (Psalm 106:21-22). It took them approximately 100 days to forget! As you lead your group to examine Exodus 32, help them evaluate how they respond to God when they face life's delays.

Background Helps:

• Avoiding the Pitfall of Syncretism - Ed Stetzer
• 3 Contributors to Rebellion - Dwayne McCrary
• The Sin of Idolatry - Gene Getz

Video Option for LOOK UP



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October 15: Equipped

Our community is experiencing a building boom. There is new construction taking place everywhere, and as with any construction project, detailed building blueprints need to be followed completely and exactly. In Exodus 25, God tells Moses about a construction project that He is inviting the people of God to join Him in building - The Tabernacle. He gives detailed instructions that lay out the complete project from start to finish. As your group studies the LifeWay Explore the Bible Study: Equipped, consider how God's instructions point to an even greater construction project - the building of new hearts for those in which the Spirit of God may reside and the role each believer should play in bringing this project to completion.

Background Study

Consider listening to the following audio sermon from Adrian Rogers to gain a better understanding of the Tabernacle - SERMON AUDIO

The Tabernacle
Consider using the following image to supplement your overview of the items needed to build the Tabernacle, Exodus 25:1-7.

Caution - Most videos and images found when doing an internet search for the Tabernacle are created by the Later Day Saints (LDS, Mormons) and are not acceptable for use. Be sure to verify the source of any video before using.

Word Pronunciations
Click on each word to listen

• Bezalel
• Oholiab
• Ahisamach

Application
You have an opportunity during this session to help your group understand how God has equipped them to be a part of His work today of rebuilding the hearts of men into a "Holy Sanctuary" in which His Spirit resides. Consider incorporating into your study 1 Corinthians 3:5-17 in order to make this emphasis.

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October 8: Commanded

If you were a construction site supervisor, you would always be watching to make sure that every part of the project was meeting specific standards from the ground up. You would be giving commands or instructions to your workers regarding the standards that were needed. These standards would be crucial if you were to successfully complete the project. In our session this week, God is giving instructions to the Israelites so that they might successfully live as the people of God. They were already God's chosen people that had been taken out of Egypt, but now Egypt (the lifestyle, views, beliefs, etc.) needed to be taken out of them!

Caution: This could turn in to a very detailed and lengthy discussion with many rabbit trails. The group could zero in on the politics of removing the Ten Commandment monuments, the current moral deprivation of our society, and everything in between. While all these paths could obviously be worthy of discussion, remain focused on the TARGET: God gives clear standards for holy living.

Supporting Materials
The following resources could be used to help you with background study and personal study. Some of the materials are referenced in the teaching ideas.

• Life's Top 10 Do's and Don'ts - Explore the Bible Blog Post
• How Christ Fulfilled and Ended the Old Testament Regime - Desiring God Blog Post
• Understanding the Law - Exegesis of Galatians 3:19-25, Bible Gateway

Audio Sermon - Who Takes 1st Place? by Alistair Begg

Alistair gives a great overview of the Ten Commandments in the first half of this sermon. It is the basis for a handout that is provided with the teaching helps.

This study should conclude with an emphasis that only through Christ's atonement for sins can someone truly change. Alistair Begg stated it this way: The law shows me I’m a sinner. It sends me to Christ for Salvation. Christ returns me to the law in order to frame my new way of life. The Spirit of God works to change my heart. The Holy Spirit will say to me as a believer, "You want to love the Lord your God? Here is how you do this, strive to live by the first four commandments. You need to love your neighbor as yourself? Here is how you do this, strive to live by the last six commandments.”

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October 1: Sufficient

Being self-sufficient is something that our cultural has cherished and rewarded in the past. Most hard-working United States citizens love to demonstrate to others that they are able to make it on their own without depending on anyone. While this quality is admirable, perhaps it has caused some of us to not demonstrate a dependence on Christ. This week's study, Sufficient, will focus on how God responds when His people no longer believe that He is sufficient and try to take matters into their own hands.

In Exodus 16, God determines that He is going to teach them AGAIN about the fact that His is sufficient for all their needs. He is going to provide them with specific foods that will sustain them and specific instructions regarding how to gather, prepare, distribute, and store what He provides. 

As always, it was God's goal to teach His people what it meant that He alone was the LORD and their God.

LOOK UP - IDEA TO GET THE GROUP'S ATTENTION

The teaching helps provide a word challenge puzzle that should be reproduced for each individual. It serves as a review of all the work God has already done for the Israelites in the book of Exodus to demonstrate that He is God Almighty.

LOOK IN - VIDEO OPTIONS TO HELP SET THE CONTEXT

Sometimes it is hard to fathom so many quail in one place. Consider using one of the following videos to help your group understand how incredible the experience of seeing so many quail might have been.

Small Group Guide Moses Series: Sinai Quail from Church of the Resurrection on Vimeo.

LOOK OUT - QUESTIONS TO CHALLENGE YOUR GROUP'S PERSONAL DEPENDANCE ON GOD

Guide the group to complete the following statements: 

• When I face change or challenges while following God I . . .
• When God provides for my needs and then I face difficulties later I . . .
• I forget about depending on God when . . .
• What do these statements reveal about your dependence on God? What needs to change?

As you teach this passage, consider how you are going to challenge your group to evaluate whether or not they truly believe that God is sufficient for all their needs.

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September 17: Liberation

Have you ever been to an escape room? In recent years, the escape room industry has grown exponentially. An escape room is a physical adventure game in which players are locked in a room and must solve a series of puzzles using clues and hints. There is a set time limit and most of the clues lead to specific directions that must be followed to successfully escape before time runs out. The session this week will focus on a very special and different type of escape. It is the Exodus escape – the escape of God’s people from the bondage of the Egyptians.

This is how the LOOK UP portion of this week's teaching helps begins. With the interest in escape rooms today, this should generate discussion that can lead to a strong beginning for the session. The following video is an option that could be used as a part of the introduction.



LOOK IN MODIFICATIONS

Outline: The following outline was used to develop the discussion plans.

1. Escaping Egypt included a New Beginning (Exodus 12:1-2)
2. Escaping Egypt included a New Celebration (Exodus 12:3-11)
3. Escaping Egypt included a New Identity (Exodus 12:12-13)

Cross Reference Verses: The Israelites' celebration meal takes on new meaning for us today. If we are believers, then Jesus Christ has “passed over” our sins and provided redemption. Consider assigning the following verses in advance. 

Because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ:

• Romans 3:23-25
• Hebrews 9:13-14
• We are justified and redeemed – Someone read: Romans 5:8-9 and Ephesians 1:7
• We live under a new covenant between a holy God and sinful man – Someone read: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
• Sinners are brought near to God – Someone read: Ephesians 2:13
• Sinners are granted peace and reconciled with God – Someone read: Colossians 1:19-22
• Sinners are made clean before God – Someone read: Hebrews 13:12

Additional verses referenced that celebrate the identity we have in Christ.

• 1 Peter 1:1-25
• 1 Chronicles 16:23
• Psalm 96:2
• Revelation 7:9-10

We should be ready daily to celebrate the new life we have been given through Jesus Christ! Look for ways to celebrate this week. Consider what you need to do to be identified as a follower of Christ.

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September 10: Confrontation

The battle to determine the greatest football team for this season has begun. For those who binged on football over the weekend, it was a great time to watch teams confront each other on the gridiron to determine who would prevail. This week's session focuses on an entirely different battle. It is a battle between the false god of Egypt and the One True God. At every turn, God chooses to demonstrate His power through Moses and Aaron.

These verses provide opportunities to challenge the group to consider how people respond when God demonstrates His power through natural disasters, cataclysmic events, and through the blessings they experience. Lead your group to determine how they should respond as believers in joining God in demonstrating to a lost world the greatness of God and His power to save people from their sins through Jesus Christ.

Here is a song from the 80's that you might want to use to guide the discussion of how we represent Christ to the world compared to how Moses represented God to Pharaoh as described in Exodus 7:1-5.



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September 3: Reluntance

Imagine being asked to do or help with something that seems impossible, overwhelming, or takes you out of your comfort zone. Moses was asked to do something seemingly impossible. God wanted him to go back to Egypt, the homeland he had left 40 years earlier, and to rescue the people of God from the slavery, tyranny, and oppression of the Egyptians. This is how we begin our study of the book of Exodus.

The challenge of this study is to help your group understand that, God's rescue plan in the Exodus points to His grand plan of redemption through Christ. As God invites Moses, He invites us to be a part of His plan to rescue and redeem the lost. The question for all of us is, "How will or do we respond?"

While there are many more themes that could be discussed as you look at this passage, be sure to zero in on the TARGET: God invites, expects, and empowers His people to be involved in His plan to redeem the lost.

ILLUSTRATIONS
There are numerous illustrations that could be used from those responding to rescue people caught in the floods of Hurricane Harvey. Here are a couple I suggest using.

• LOOK UP (TO FOCUS ATTENTION): This week a man from a local church was sent by his company to help with the rescue and clean up in the Houston area due to Hurricane Harvey. He was to pack immediately, get on a plane for Dallas, pick up equipment, and drive to the Houston area. His company purchased a one-way ticket for him, and he was told that he needed to plan on being there long-term, possibly as long as 3 months. He is married and has two little girls.  Ask: What if you were asked to do this? What would your response be? 
• FOR EXODUS 3:7-10: During this week’s floods in Houston, there was a desperate message and horrifying photo on social media. It was a message and photo showing four children asleep on a counter in a flooded kitchen, including a little girl reportedly on a ventilator. “Still trying to get a water rescue,” the message said. “Please send some help quick.” (Washington Post). State: There are people around you longing and waiting to be rescued from sin. They need your help! We don’t need a burning bush experience in order to know what God expects from us as believers.

LOOK OUT (LIVING OUT THE TARGET) SUGGESTION

Review all the excuses Moses presented to God described in Exodus 3 and Exodus 4:  

• Who am I to be used by God? - Exodus 3:11
• I don’t know enough about you God. - Exodus 3:13
• What if they don’t believe me (fear of failure). - Exodus 4:1
• I’m not a good speaker. - Exodus 4:10
• I just don’t want to do it; send someone else. - Exodus 4:13

Lead the group to evaluate which excuse they hide behind when it comes to joining God in His plan to redeem the lost.

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS AND LEVITICUS

The following LIfeWay video will help you gain an understanding of the entire series as you prepare to teach.

Explore the Bible: Fall 2017 Exodus and Leviticus Overview with Steve Gaines from Explore the Bible on Vimeo.

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August 27: The Longing

Discouragement, despair, depression. This may seem to be an unusual way to end a study of the book of Psalms, but considering the difficulties this world is facing, it might possibly be one of the most important discussions you will have with your group. Psalm 42:1-11 gives us a snapshot of a follower of God who is struggling with holding on to his faith during some of the greatest struggles of his life. I pray that all who dive into this weeks study, The Longing, will be encouraged as they discover how the psalmist fought his battles with discouragement, despair, and depression.

When you face discouraging times, are you more like Eeyore or Tigger from the Winnie the Pooh stories? This is a question you could use to introduce the session. The following video clip could be used to help illustrate the two extremes as you emphasize how the lessons from the psalmist's life can help us reside somewhere in the middle while striving to avoid either extreme.


SIGNIFICANTLY MODIFIED TEACHING OUTLINE
You will discover in this week's teaching helps that I have adjusted the approach to the study significantly.

Identify the Symptoms of Discouragement, Despair, and Depression - All of Psalm 42

The Psalmists' Response to Discouragement, Despair, and Depression

1. He didn't quit thirsting for God - Psalm 42:1-2
2. He remembers - Psalm 42:4 and Psalm 42:6
3. He preaches to his own soul - Psalm 42:5
4. He affirms God's love - Psalm 42:8
5. He sings praises to God - Psalm 42:8
6. He asks why - Psalm 42:9
7. He reminds himself what he believes about God - Psalm 42:11

Closing Illustration: Consider using this as a part of your LOOK OUT application.

William Cowper was one of the church's greatest hymn writers, a person mightily used by God. But this gifted composer was not without frequent bouts of deep discouragement, even depression. The first attacks of despair struck him when he was a young man. He was admitted to St. Albans Insane Asylum, where he made several attempts to commit suicide. One of the doctors gave Cowper a Bible, and he began to read it. In learning of the grace of God, he put his trust in Christ and was gloriously saved.

A year after his conversion, Cowper left the asylum and met the famous John Newton who became his pastor and close friend. Newton and Cowper collaborated to publish a hymnal that included many cherished songs, including Newton's "Amazing Grace" and Cowper's "There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood." But despite his conversion and expanding ministry, Cowper still struggled with attacks of depression. These often left him discouraged to the point of desiring death.

His attacks of depression drove Cowper to pursue God more deeply. Out of this soul-racking experience he wrote his famous hymn, "God Moves in a Mysterious Way," a song that expresses an unwavering trust in God. The hymn stands as a testimony to the renewed strength and comfort his troubled heart found in God. Here was a man who experienced great disappointment in life, but he learned to trust God.

Song and information from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH8ZWF1Ag5k

INFORMATION RELATED TO DEPRESSION

Some of your group may approach you with more struggles with depression than can be addressed during this session. Here are some helpful articles. Remember to refer someone to qualified Christian professionals if depression has become chronic in a person's life.

• Depression: Reject the Guilt, Embrace the Cure - Focus on the Family
• Depression in the Christian Family - Focus on the Family
• Battling Depression: Redemption, Medication, and Christ - Desiring God
• Spiritual Depression in the Psalms - Desiring God

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August 20: Praying for Protection

It seems everywhere you go people are talking about the solar eclipse that is taking place on August 21. Everyone has been told they need certified protective glasses, but, sadly, there have been a lot of vendors who have sold counterfeits which could lead to eye damage. In this week's study of Psalm 141, David tells of of another type of protection we need. Through King David's prayer we can come to understand more fully how to pray to God for protection from sin that seeks to destroy us.

Suggestions For This Study

• Display a pair of sunglasses or a pair of the certified eclipse glasses to begin your discussion.
• Use a group activity to brainstorm ways in which various activities during the week can affect our speech and our desires. Examples could include Facebook, friends, movies, commercials, TV shows, news, and books.
• Optional PowerPoint: CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
• Consider using the following video clip to illustrate the request David makes regarding traps in Psalm 141:9-10.

Directions on how to use all of these suggestions can be found in the downloadable teaching plan ideas.

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August 13: Experiencing Forgiveness

Helping others know that they can be forgiven is easy. Helping others feel as if they are forgiven is another story. David wants us to learn from his own devastating sin how to seek forgiveness and experience the full restoration that comes from God when we are forgiven. He is our teacher for our study of the sequel to Psalm 51 which is Psalm 32. 

As you have noticed, I have tweaked the title. I have also included a TARGET for the session that focuses on the following:

When we have experienced God’s forgiveness we can and should teach others how they can experience forgiveness and renewal.

Check out this blog post from Explore the Bible and consider sharing some of the content: 10 Things God Does With Our Sin

Included with this week's session is a PowerPoint option. Feel free to tweak and use as appropriate with your group.

CLICK TO DOWN LOAD THE POWERPOINT

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August 6: The Confession

We recently had a young man knock on our door and try to sell us a cleaning solution for removing stains. I find it interesting how much money and time we spend trying to keep everything clean - clothes, windows, cars, and our bodies, just to name a few. We have some products called "deep cleaning" solutions and people go on special diets to do a "body cleanse." We do all of this just so we can feel clean or feel better. What if cleansing was as simple as making a heartfelt confession? When it comes to sin, this is the only action that can bring the cleansing we so desperately desire. This is our focus this week.

As you prepare this week, keep in mind that not everyone in your group will know the background of David's sin. Take time to review the context in order to help the group understand the full impact of David's sin on his life. The Bible study helps provides you with some background helps.

Psalm 51 Overview: Much of my teaching content was based on information I gleaned from a sermon by John MacArthur. Click here to listen to his message.

Teaching Outline Variation. The Bible study helps will follow this breakdown of the passages:
Psalm 51:1-5; Psalm 51:6-12; Psalm 51:12-19

LOOK UP (FOCUSING THE GROUP) OPTIONS. There are two options. The first option focuses on bringing in and displaying various cleaning products or supplies. The second option is the following vintage household cleaning supply commercial.



Secondary Passages. Consider assigning these or listing them in advance on the whiteboard.

• Sin is a part of our nature - Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:23
• God's faithful love and abundant compassion - Psalm 103:10; Psalm 130:3
• Only God can bring forgiveness and restoration. No one is capable of restoring himself/herself. - Psalm 103:12; Micah 7:18-19; Psalm 86:5; 1 John 1:9

Additional Thoughts To Consider

• While David’s heart was passionate for God (1 Samuel 16:7; Acts 13:22) it was still corrupted (Psalm 51:5). God was still working on David’s heart and David knew it. His adultery wasn’t the only issue; it was his heart – in this case, his lust that led to adultery, murder, deceit, and tragedy. When we come before God, confessing our sin, we need to understand that we are coming before a holy God who won’t be content with a superficial change.
• Don’t get ambushed by your sinful nature. In the past, David had relied on God more than he did the armor and weapons of Saul when fighting Goliath, he had resisted the temptation to kill Saul on several occasions, he had led his men to act with integrity on multiple occasions, but when it came to lust, he was ambushed. He couldn’t blame anyone but himself. He took complete responsibility for his sins, hated the rift that it had created between him and God, and acknowledged that only God could change his heart.
• This is the heart cry of a truly repentant man: I want to be purified; I want forgiveness; I want a clean heart; I want a steadfast heart; I want to experience your presence again; I want to rejoice again
• “Sin had made him dirty and he wanted to be clean. Guilt had made him sick and he wanted to be well. Disobedience had made him lonely and he wanted to reconciled. Rebellion had made him fearful and he wanted to be pardoned.” - John MacArthur

As you read and prepare, I know God will speak to you regarding your own personal struggles with sin as he did with me. I pray you will respond to God with confession, gratefulness, or both for grace and mercy given to those who follow Christ.

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July 30: Hallelujah! (New Title)

There are three words that most everyone in the world recognizes: amen, hallelujah, and Coca Cola©. While most people understand the meaning of amen and Coca Cola, the meaning of the word "hallelujah" isn't as clear. Hallelujah means "praise the Lord (or Jehovah)." Psalm 146 begins and ends with "hallelujah." So what is so important about this word?

The word has been secularized which can cause us to miss the full impact of Psalm 146:1-10. I provide illustrations of this for the group to discuss including the following:

• Hallelujah is used in an insurance ad that pictures a young man and a young woman at a Christmas party. The young man is celebrating the fact that he can now buy Obamacare insurance with the caption, “Hallelujah! OMG, she’s hot! Let’s hope she wants to opt into this relationship as much as I do. Now that the website is working, buying health insurance is easy . . . I got insurance (I hope I get her too!)"
• There is a diet called the “Hallelujah Diet."
• There is a political cartoon that depicts a man celebrating by saying, “Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallayoohooya!!” His wife explains, “Your father’s very excited to see the end of the campaign ads.”
• There is a popular secular song entitled “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen. The group, Pentatonix video recording of the song has had 187,194,488 views on YouTube . When you listen closely to the lyrics, it reveals a view of spirituality that is contrary to the Christian faith. People are moved by the melody, the use of the word hallelujah, and its Bible references, as if this somehow legitimizes the song as “Christian." Leonard Cohen was raised Jewish and embraced Buddhism as an adult.

The study of Psalm 146:1-10 reveals the real and legitimate way we should use the word “hallelujah.” Here are a few ways you can emphasize the importance of the word "hallelujah" or the phrase, "Praise the Lord."

• Psalms 146-150 (the last five psalms) have been called "the double Hallelujah psalms" because they each begin and end with "Hallelujah."
• They declare praise to God who reigns forever.
• In these final psalms, every word is praise.

Since last week's psalm was one of thanksgiving it is important that you explain the difference between the study last week and the study this week.

• Last week’s psalm (Psalm 136) was a psalm of THANKSGIVING.  We studied and celebrated God’s redeeming, unchanging, and faithful love that endures forever despite our past. You were challenged to express your thanksgiving to the Lord for His faithful love during this past week.
• Today’s psalm is a psalm of ADORATION. It expresses praise to God for His character. When we realize who our God truly is, we can’t help but say and sing, “Hallelujah" or "Praise the Lord!"

The following outline of Psalm 146:5-9 should lead you to say, sing, or even shout "hallelujah" as you consider all of God's character and works! These are also included in the downloadable teaching helps. I suggest you assign the passages in advance to group members to read. (As you read, place your cursor over each verse in order to see the entire verse):

1. He is our Help (Psalm 146:5). – The divine name “God of Jacob” emphasizes that God has always been faithful to His people, extending back to the patriarchs. The Lord has never veered from His promises. He has always been their Helper! See: Hebrews 4:14-16
2. He is our Hope (Psalm 146:5). – God alone can save us, in contrast to the important people of this world, who cannot and would not even if they could. He alone is our hope! See: 1 Peter 1:3-9; Titus 2:11-12
3. He is our Maker (Psalm 146:6). – God is unlike mortal man, who is frail, who dies, and who passes off the scene (vv. 3-4). God, the Creator, is worthy of the believer's trust. See: Colossians 1:16-22
4. God is Faithful FOREVER! (Psalm 146:6). – Not only does God save us, but He also remains faithful to us after he has saved us. See: 1 Corinthians 1:4-9
5. He executes justice for the exploited (Psalm 146:6).  See: 2 Peter 2:1-9
6. He gives food to the hungry (Psalm 146:6). – He is our Provider! See: Matthew 6:31-33
7. He sets prisoners free (Psalm 146:7). – The prison of sin cannot withstand the power of Christ’s forgiveness. See: John 8:36; Luke 4:18
8. He gives sight to the blind (Psalm 146:8). –  The greatest blindness of all is blindness to the truth of God disclosed in Scripture. See: John 9:35-41
9. He lifts up those who are bowed down (Psalm 146:8). –  Many things in life push us around or knock us down, but God cares for us and lifts us up again. See: 1 Peter 5:6-7
10. He loves the righteous (Psalm 146:8). – "Love" is an attitude rather than an action, as most of the previous items have been. It is mentioned here because it is the source of all the other actions. Why does God act in a trustworthy way toward us, uphold the oppressed, free prisoners, give sight to the blind, and lift up those who are bowed down? The answer is because He loves us. It is not because we have made ourselves righteous. God has made us righteous in Christ, and even that is because He loves us. See: 2 Corinthians 5:21
11. He watches over us (Psalm 146:9). – There are three examples of defenseless people listed - the alien, the fatherless, and the widow. God watches over them and protects them from the wicked. As believers we are different as were those in that culture who were considered aliens, fatherless, and widows. Jesus prayed for us because He knew we would be viewed differently and be vulnerable. He is watching over us! See: John 17:14-16
12. He frustrates the way of the wicked (Psalm 146:9). – He will deal with the wicked who carry out the malicious deeds against these helpless and vulnerable. See: Romans 1:18-19

Consider using this video or an audio recording of the song, A New Hallelujah, by Michael W. Smith. Enjoy listening!

"Sometimes our trials momentarily obscure our view of God and threaten to steal away the praise that belongs exclusively to God. We must never allow our praise to be controlled by our circumstance. Instead, we must allow our praise to control how we respond to our circumstances. May we always choose praise!" 

(Holman Old Testament Commentary, Psalms)

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