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

This small group lesson is in harmony with Richard May’s sermon by the same title for June 1, 2008.

It is interesting how we tend to fail to learn from the past. We tend to repeat even the most basic things as we see in the account in Genesis 3. We fail to take personal responsibility when we make wrong choices. We want to blame others for our sins and mistakes. We shy away from accountability, yet that is what we need to help our spiritual walk.

I hope this lesson is useful to you.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

Open

Please share your response to one of the following:

• When you were a child, what games did you enjoy playing? (Monopoly; Hide ‘n Seek; etc.)
• If you could capture a special moment from the last week which one would you frame? Why?

Study

Read Genesis 3.1-13 and discuss the following:

• What do you think the serpent’s role is in this story?
• Who do you think is really at fault in this story?
  •   Adam
  •   Eve
  •   Serpent
  •   God
  •   A Combination
• Why do you think Adam and Eve were so quick to “pass the buck”? Why do we?
• What role does choice play in this story? Why does God restrict their choices with the one tree?
• Why do you think they hid from God?
• Why did God judge them so harshly?

Apply

• Where are you most vulnerable to the serpent? When has he caused you to doubt God’s words? <”Did God really say __________?”
• What do you tend to do when you see your own sins?
  • Beat myself up
  • Shrug it off
  • Blame someone else
  • Ignore it and hope it goes away
  • Deal with it in a healthy way
• In what ways do you need to take responsibility for yourself?
• What can this group do to help you be accountable?

I remember watching the movie, Hoosiers. One of the characters called, “Shooter” relived the glory of his High School days. He wound up being the town drunk and embarrassment to his family because he could not get over the long-passed disappointment of High School.

Shooter is not the only one to live in the past. How many people do you know who had their best years in the yesterdays of their mind? How many do you know who dwell in the past either in its regrets or in its glory?

Christians have the privilege of letting go of the past, both the good and bad. The best days for the Jesus followers are ahead, not behind. Faith and hope keep us going.

The following small group study is based on the sermon Richard May will present this Sunday, May 15, 2008. He has in mind encouraging the 2008 graduates to go forward and not live in the past. I hope this lesson is useful to you.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

  

  One of my passions is small group ministry. I am writing material for our groups and have decided to post some lessons from time to time. Perhaps they can be adapted and useful to others.

As I was doing my daily Bible reading, I ran across an idea that made me think. In light of the “Purpose-Driven” ideas it occurs to me that God acts in different ways to different people. Some people (as in Jeremiah 1:5) are given specific tasks. Other people, like Baruch in Jeremiah 45 are given the lee way to do a number of things. Each has the promise of the presence of God. Each has the potential for God’s glory.

I hope the following can be useful to you.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

Baruch, De-Scribed

Jeremiah 45

Open

Please share your response to one of the following:

1. If you had to choose one of the following to be with 24/7 for a month, who would it be and why?

• journalist
• TV personality
• missionary
• park ranger
• Olympic Gold Medalist
• salesman
• policeman
• therapist

2. If you could go anywhere and do anything, where would you go, what would you do?

Study

Please read Jeremiah 45 and discuss the following:

1. Jeremiah prophesied and saw the destruction of Jerusalem and Judah by the Babylonians. Baruch was his “secretary” or “scribe.” He wrote only what Jeremiah spoke. What do you think this says about the character of Baruch, especially in light of the coming devastation?

2. What do you think caused Baruch to be so discouraged?

3. In your opinion, what caused God to “uproot” his people?

4. Jeremiah had a God-given mission (see Jeremiah 1.5). It appears that Baruch does not, but God assures him of his presence and protection.

• What are the advantages of each situation?
• What are the disadvantages?
• Do you think God has a specific mission for each and every one of us (like Jeremiah) or do you think he allows some of us to make our own way as Baruch?

5. Why do you think Baruch is told not to seek “great things for himself”?

6. When do you think we need to seek “great things” and when do we need not to?

7. What do you think God means by his promise to Baruch in v. 5C?

Apply

Please share your responses to the following:

1. What things wear you out? How does this affect your relationship to God?

2. When you feel fatigue, what promises of God do you hold to? How have these made a difference for you?

3. Are you ambitious to seek great things or content to walk with God without the limelight? (See Philippians 4.11-13). Why?

Teaching the Bible is an integral part of Sunday School Classes and HOME Groups. However, the work of these programs does not end with teaching. People need instruction and relationships. God never intended for us to live the Christian life - alone.The Jerusalem church modeled community for us in Acts 2. They met together publicly and in homes. They continued in fellowship. If they needed it, we do, too.

As a class leader; teacher; or small group leader you know that your task is bigger than the Book. Your task involves the encouragement of your class or group members as well as Bible knowledge. People primarily attend a groups or a class because of who is in it. We either have friends in the group or think we can make friends there. So, how can we create a sense of community within our group or class?

• Communicate the Need for Community. Tell your members that in addition to Bible study, your Class/Group is going to help in building Christian relationships. Isn’t it exciting to know that the relationships we build in our church will last forever?
• Change up your Style of Teaching. The worst teaching style is the one we use all of the time. Lecture has its place and so does discussion. In developing relationships, open-ended questions help us express ourselves.
• Use Effective Ice-Breakers. I like to have groups answer one or two questions at the beginning of each lesson which help the group to get to know one another as well as set the stage for the lesson. As people reveal themselves to the group, we are more able to understand “where we are coming from.”
• Pray Together. Be sure to take prayer requests in your Group/Class. A good way to end the formal time together is prayer. Again, our prayer requests show our needs.
• Have a Party. Josh Hunt (joshhunt.com) encourages Groups to have monthly fellowship activities. In fact, he says to “invite every member and every prospect to every fellowship every month.” Fellowship builds relationships and becomes a tool for outreach at the same time.
• Be Open. As a leader, find opportunities to tell your story and encourage others to tell theirs. There is something very powerful about sharing the innermost parts of our lives.
• Minister. A huge way of building community is to serve together. Service can take any form and much good can be done for the served. The servers, however, always benefit more. One of the benefits is the unique tie that comes as a result of serving together.

These are a few ways to build community within adult groups. As community is built, people become more and more aware of one another. They learn to trust and be trustworthy. The unity that Jesus describes (John 17) is formed.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

 I am convinced that Small Group Ministry is key to the spiritual, emotional, and numerical growth of the church. Not everyone wants to be in a small group (for a plethora of reasons) but building Christian relationships is essential to our spiritual well being. Whether that occurs formally or informally, it is essential. I ran across this story by K. Edward Skidmore at www.sermoncentral.com (it may be just a “Preacher story”), but it makes a great point.

A Preacher decided to experiment with changing some sad statistics in his church. He made a list of 12 people who had recently been baptized in their church, and then he and his wife invited them over. Naturally, these new Christians were thrilled to be invited to their Preacher’s house. They were excited about their new connection with the Lord and with His Church.

After supper the Preacher sat down with this group of enthusiastic new Christians — and he asked them an unexpected question. He asked if they would like for him to predict their futures for the next 2 or 3 years.

They were a little surprised at that offer, but they all said “yes”
— so, the Preacher made this prediction: “As I look at the 12 of you, I must predict, that … statistically speaking — in the next 2 or 3 years —

2 of your marriages will break up — and your feelings of shame will cause you to leave the church
3 of you will have conflict with someone in the church and you, also, will leave the church
1 of you will experience tragedy and lose faith. You, too will leave the church.
2 of you will have some sort of moral failing and will leave the church.
2 of the 4 remaining will simply lose interest and drift away from the church … for no obvious reason.

In two or three years, out of this group of 12 …

• … only 2 of you will still be attending church —
• — and only 1 of you will still be attending THIS church.

There was dead silence in the room. All these wide-eyed new Christians looked around at each other as if to say, “How could that happen to us?”

Finally, one of them spoke up and asked, “What can we do to change those statistics?”

The Preacher was waiting to hear that question. He had his answer ready. He said, “You can get together and as a group decide that you are not going to let anyone go.”

That is exactly what they did.

These strangers — who had never been together until that gathering at the Preacher’s home — formed themselves into a Small Group. Week by week they came to really KNOW each other. They supported each other through the tragedies, divorces, conflicts, and moral failings. In 4 years of meeting together, only 1 person left the church. That small caring group changed the Statistics from losing 10 out of 12 to losing only 1 out of 12.

What are your priorities? Do you want to GROW as a Christian? Do you want to show LOVE to others? Taking time to meet with a Small Group is one of the best ways to make progress in your Christian life.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

Over the years I have been involved in Small Group Ministry in a number of ways. I have led groups and I have led programs. One of the on-going necessities that I have observed is the need for an apprentice (or co-leader) within each group.

We can easily see the value of a Leader who will contact his/her group each week; pray for group members; study; and lead the group discussions. However, the apprentice plays a vital role in group’s growth and multiplication. The apprentice gains experience with the leader and when the group grows large enough, he/she will lead the new group that is established from the initial group.

To provide the necessary experience, the group leader can delegate responsibilities to the apprentice. Not only does this provide important experience, it helps the leader avoid burnout. The group leader then leads the group, and also becomes a trainer for the apprentice. This follows the 2 Timothy 2:2 pattern.

If you are leading a small group, be sure you have an apprentice/co-leader. Give the apprentice opportunities to gain experience and grow. As your group grows, assist the apprentice in leading the new group. Then find a new apprentice. Keep passing the baton!

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

American churches are enamored with numbers. More is always better. As long as our count equals or exceeds the previous one, we are “successful.”

It is true that Luke records some numbers in the book of Acts. That seems to be something that a Physician/Historian would do. Certain numbers, like weight and temperature, can tell us things about the health of a patient (or a church body).

Think about the flipside. David took a census in Israel after he was told not to. He was punished for his disobedience. A danger was that the nation could have looked at their own strength in numbers instead of looking to God. It was not the best thing.

What if (I always like to think in terms of what could be) we stopped counting attendance? Would we stop feeling so secure in our numbers? Would we shift our attention to people? Would we check on absentees? Would we be better motivated to fill empty seats with new people? Would our source of security be our God?

How large was the church in Corinth? Ephesus? Philippi? Jesus gave some criticisms regarding the “Seven Churches of Asia” (which, by the way are no longer with us). Not once did he criticize them for low numbers — there are bigger issues.

My challenge is for us to see past the numbers. See the people. Look to our God. This is not just about, “How many?” it is about, “Who?”

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene (greene.perry@gmail.com)

I bought a bag of oranges a few weeks ago, while Christmas shopping. That does not sound like a big deal, does it? Actually, it is not — I can pretty much buy a bag of oranges any time I wish. It was, however, Christmas time and I had a flashback to my youth. Every year I got an apple and an orange for Christmas, along with some assorted nuts.

The reason I got the fruit at Christmas was because my parents always got apples and oranges for Christmas when they were young. They grew up in a much less affluent time. Fresh fruit was a huge treat for them.

When my parents bought gifts for their kids, they included apples and oranges because it brought back happy memories of special treats. So, when I saw the oranges, I suddenly had a craving for the “old days” even though, fresh fruit is prevalent and not quite the treat of long ago.

We can do similar things in the church. Do we ever look back to the “good ol’ days” with fond memories? Don’t we want to recreate those things because those memories make us happy and secure today? Maybe those things originally had a particular purpose. Maybe “two songs and a prayer” gave us a sense of “order out of chaos.” Maybe the way we conducted a Bible Class was effective. Maybe a Visitation Program was fruitful.

One of the challenges about church work is finding successful methods in every generation without compromising the integrity of the gospel. There are lines we do not cross. There are truths we are to always uphold. But, “times are a-changin’.”

There is nothing wrong with my buying a bag of oranges for Christmas. There is nothing wrong with many of the things we have done in the past. Our challenge is to be able to be more efficient and effective in our methods of reaching and serving people — without compromising the gospel.

David had a group of men from Issachar who had, “understanding of the times” according to 1 Chronicles 12.32. What are the modern times teaching us? What methods can we use today to share the good news to people who hunger for it?

Your Bible Class may want to explore new ideas. Your Small Group may be a new idea in the making. What worked in the past may not work today. The souls of people matter too much to neglect the times and what is effective today.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene (perry.greene@southyukon.org)

Sometime ago, I read two surveys which give us an indication of the role of friendship in Americans’ lives. The first poll asked Americans to name the top two or three things for which they are most thankful. Family took the top spot at 61%. Others included Health (50%); Job (21%); all the way down to Friends (8%).

The second survey asked Americans to identify what they most wanted out of life. An overwhelming 75% indicated, “Having close, personal relationships.” Apparently, we want friends but we often fail to express our gratitude for them. Maybe expressing an appreciation for the friends we have will enhance our friendships and the making of friends.

When people come to our Groups and Classes, one of the things they are looking for is friendship. They may like the teacher and the topic of study, but they are there to make friends and find a place to belong.

Fellowship opportunities are important to the building up and maintaining of a Class or Small Group.  Josh Hunt encourages monthly fellowships in which we invite every member and every prospective member to attend. If we can get them to the party, they will come to class.

Take time for friendship-building opportunities.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene (perry.greene@southyukon.org)