Perry’s Scope: Christian sermons, lessons, and resources for teachers

Open

Share your answer to ONE of the following:

1. Which is taller this week – your IN box or your OUT box?
2. What is your ideal job?
3. What three barriers keep you from reaching your full potential? What would help you overcome these barriers?

Study

Please read Exodus 18:13-23 and discuss the following with your Group:

1. From your knowledge of Moses, what do you infer was his job description from God?
2. How do you think Moses and his father-in-law got along? Why would Moses listen to him?
3. What were the key elements to Jethro’s plan? In what ways was he “on target”?
4. Why do you think Moses might have had a hard time with this idea? Why would he adopt it?
5. What is a key role of church leaders today (Ephesians 4:11-13)?
6. Why do you think church leaders may get off track from their calling?

Apply

1.  On a church level:

• How can you help our church leaders’ stress levels?
• What criteria will you use to select our next elders? Which is biblical and which is personal?

2.  On a Personal Level:

• As a Group, create a list of your top 5 Stresses.
• Now, help each other deal with your top stresses.

Open

Please share your response to one of the following with your Group:

• When are you the most happy? Do other people play into this happiness? Why or Why Not?
• How can people tell if you are angry? Is it usually easy or hard to tell?

Study

Please read Jeremiah 29:10-14 and share your responses to the following:

1. What seems to be the reason for the exile?
2. How do you think the goodness of God is attractive to people?
3. Do you think people are attracted to God to avoid his wrath?
4. What do you see as God’s primary purpose for us? What are some examples?
5. Why is it important that we do not procrastinate when it comes to following God? (James 4:13-14)
6. Why do you think God demands whole-hearted effort from us?

Apply

• Do you think God uses evil to accomplish good? Why? Why Not?
• When have you seen God bring good out of a bad situation?
• Is there an easy way to learn our lessons?
• Why do you think it takes 100% effort on our part to seek and find God?
• How do you KNOW God has your best in mind?
• What do you think it takes to find God?

Open

Please share your response to one of the following:

• What do you want to be remembered for?
• Are you comfortable going to dinner or a movie alone? How about a vacation? Why or why not?

Study

This study will come from Acts 7.17-44 and Exodus 3-4. Please refer to the appropriate texts as you discuss the following with your Group:

• How do you think Moses was viewed by others (Acts 7.20-22)? By God; His parents; etc.
• How do you envision his self-image before he left Egypt?
• What significance do you see with the burning bush? Why do you think it was represented in the Hebrews lamp (Menorah) in the tabernacle and temple?
• Which of Moses’ excuses (Exodus 3.10-4.13) seemed the lamest to you? The best?
• Why do you think God makes compromises for Moses and allows him to use Aaron (Exodus 4.14-17)?

Apply

• How might we imitate the bad example of Moses taking matters into his own hands?
• Do the ends ever justify the means?
• What typically happens when we do not do things God’s way?
• Why do you think God does not operate by a democratic process?
• In what ways does Moses effectively pursue God? How does this apply to us as a church? To you as a follower of Jesus?
• Since God does not ask you to be anything you are not, what do you need to do to be the person God made you?

Open

Please share your response to one of the following:

• What is the worst thing that can happen if you take a risk and fail? What is the best thing that could happen if you take a risk and succeed?
• What is the worst rejection you have experienced? How did you handle it?
• Do you think it is possible to live with no regrets? Explain.

Study

Please read Acts 7.9-16 and discuss the following:

1. What were some of the reasons Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him? (See Genesis 37)
2. How do you think Joseph felt when he rose in status in Potiphar’s house (Genesis 39)? When he went to prison? When he became “second in command” in Egypt (Genesis 41)?
3. How do you think Joseph was able to endure his circumstances?
4. What do you think were his greatest struggles?
5. How does Joseph gift of dream interpretation become a “gift and a curse”?
6. How do you think Joseph gained wisdom in his life?
7. How do you think Joseph is able to honor God and not blame him in Genesis 50.20?

Apply

• What do you wish others knew/understood about you that you think they usually do not? How does the account of Joseph apply to your situation? What can you do to improve others’ view of you? Your lack of understanding with others?
• How is the Joseph account a lesson on parenting? On faith?
• What responsibilities do you see in connection with the abilities God gives us? (As Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams; Genesis 40.8; 41.16, 25, 32)
• How have you gained wisdom through your trials?
• How do YOU know God is in control, even in the dark times?

Open

Please share your response to one of the following with your Group:

• When you discover a new interest do you tend to jump in with both feet or pace yourself? Give an example.
• Who is your favorite story teller? Why?
• What was your favorite bedtime story as a child?

Study

Please read Acts 7.2-8 and discuss the following:

• Why do you think Stephen begins his defense with Abraham? In what ways could his “Hellenistic” background have influenced this?
• If God called Abraham twice (once before Haran and once in Haran – see Genesis 11.31-12.1), what does this say about God? What does this say about Abraham?
• When God tested Abraham in the sacrifice of Isaac, what point was He making with Abraham? What did Abraham learn? What does this say about his faith (see also Hebrews 11.19)?
• How does the account of Isaac’s sacrifice parallel what God did in Jesus?
• In what ways did God reward Abraham (see Genesis 12.1-3)?

Apply

• What causes you to hold back in your walk with God? What can you do to “let go and let God” lead you?
• How does it affect you knowing that God works with us in our imperfections? – Does it energize you to live in the power of God’s grace? Does it make you slack off and take advantage of him?
• What ONE thing do you have trouble giving to God? What causes you to hold on to it?
• As a church, how can we learn to “leave it on the field”?

Open

Please share with your Group your response to ONE of the following:

• As a child did you ever run away from home or want to run away? Where did you go or want to go?
• What is one thing you dream of trying if you knew you could not fail and money was not an issue?

Study

Please read Luke 15.11-32 and discuss the following:

• Why do you think the younger son wanted to leave home?
• What are some significant things about:

• The son’s request?
• The father’s gift?
• The father looking for his son?
• The father RUNNING to his son?
• The father restoring his son?
• The father throwing a party?
• What brings the young son to his senses?

Apply

• With whom do you most identify in this story? (Father; Older Son; Younger Son) – Why?
• How is this story a picture of what Jesus was doing?
• In what ways have you been like the “prodigal”? What snapped you out of your delusions?
• What can we do to help modern “prodigals” return home? In what ways could this be awkward for us?

Open

Please share your response to one of the following with your group:

• What is the most expensive item you have ever lost? Found?
• What was your first nickname?

Study

Please read Luke 15.8-10 and discuss the following:

• Why do you think that losing ONE coin was such a big deal to this woman?
• How does this coin represent repentance and salvation for us?
• Who does the woman represent in the story?
• In what ways is this significant? How is it unusual?
• What is important about the woman admitting that she lost the coin?
• Why was the coin hard to find?
• What is the reason Jesus mentioned the woman lighting the lamp?

Apply

• What is the key point Jesus is making with this story (and whole chapter)?
• How do you feel knowing that God has expended immense energy and resources to find YOU?
• When you have been found by God, what motivations do you have?

Open

Please share your response to one of the following:

• In the “Lost & Found Department” do you lose more or find more?
• If you were to pick one place to live the rest of your life, where would that be? If you had to live in several places, where would they be and why?

Study

Please read Luke 15.1-7 and discuss the following questions with your Group.

• What do you think are some significant things about the purpose of this parable?
• Why do you think Jesus (as well as other rabbis) chose to speak in parables?
• What is the point of this parable? How does it indict the Pharisees and Scribes?
• In what ways had the religious leaders misunderstood God?
• How is the shepherd in this story a symbol of Jesus? Who does the lost sheep represent?
• What is the value of the sheep to the shepherd? Of a person to God?
• Why is there a celebration over the sheep that was found? Over the sinner who is found?

Apply

• How did God seek you?
• How does this story make you feel about your worth to God?
• Why do you think we may wander from God?
• How can this story help some you know who have wandered from God?

Open

Please discuss your response to one of the following:

• What memory aids do you have to keep you from forgetting things?
• What are three things you are thankful for? How do you demonstrate that thankfulness?

Study

Read Deuteronomy 8.1-20 and discuss the following:

• Why do you think we tend to forget the things God does for us? How does prosperity enhance this memory lapse?
• In what ways do you think the time in the wilderness was a blessing to the Hebrew people? Why does these seem unlikely to us?
• What lessons do you think they learned in the wilderness?
• How does God discipline us as a father disciplines his children? (similarities/differences)
• Why do you think God wants us to bless him AFTER we have eaten and are satisfied? (8.10)
• How is God the source of all blessings?

Apply

• What do you think it will take to keep us mindful of the things of God?
• What lessons can we learn by observing the Hebrews in the wilderness? In the promised land?
• In what ways is the prosperity of our land detrimental to us?
• What do you think God wants us to do with the blessings he has given us?

Open

Please share your answer to one or two of the following:

• What is the most significant thing that has happened to you since we last met?
• How long have you ever held a grudge against someone? How did you (or will you) resolve it?
• Where did you grow up?

Study

Please read Matthew 18.21-35 and discuss the following with your group:

• In what ways do you see forgiveness as an obligation? As an opportunity?
• Why would it be a good idea to be “extravagant” in forgiveness?
• See Genesis 4.23-24 – How is Jesus using this event to teach about forgiveness? How do we generally feel about taking revenge?
• How does forgiveness bring a sense of freedom to us? How is an unforgiving spirit imprisoned?
• What are some consequences to an unforgiving attitude?
• Based on the parable Jesus taught, what is God’s forgiveness like? Ours?
• How is forgiveness life-giving to the one who forgives? How is it life-giving to the one forgiven?

Apply

• Why do you think it is hard for us to be forgiving to others? What specific things can we do to become more forgiving?
• What role does Bible study play in the forgiveness process?
• What are some reasons we may not want to forgive? How can we overcome these?
• In what ways is forgiving a threat to you? What would help you to feel less threatened?