Lead The Way Study Guide Fall 2023

5-WEEK LIFE GROUP STUDY GUIDE

CONTENTS Introduction

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Session 1 | Lead The Way Is About—Legacy

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Message Notes

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Step One | Come Together

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Step Four | Daily Devotional

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Session 2 | Lead The Way Requires—Trust

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Message Notes

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Step One | Come Together

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Step Four | Daily Devotional

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Session 3 | Lead The Way Is About—Honor

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Message Notes

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Step One | Come Together

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Step Four | Daily Devotional

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Session 4 | Lead The Way Requires—Transformation

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Message Notes

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Step One | Come Together

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Step Four | Daily Devotional

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Session 5 | Lead The Way Requires—Surrender

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Message Notes

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Step One | Come Together

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Step Four | Daily Devotional

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Prayer & Praise Reports

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WELCOME TO THE LEAD THE WAY LIFE GROUP STUDY This is much more than a Life Group study guide. What we do in worship, the messages we hear, and every aspect of our life together as the Cedar Valley family, will be guided by this study guide during the coming weeks.

FIVE SESSIONS Session 1: LEAD THE WAY IS ABOUT—LEGACY Session 2: LEAD THE WAY REQUIRES—TRUST Session 3: LEAD THE WAY IS ABOUT—HONOR Session 4: LEAD THE WAY REQUIRES—TRANSFORMATION Session 5: LEAD THE WAY REQUIRES—SURRENDER

A TYPICAL SESSION WILL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS:

ABOUT THIS SESSION. Each lesson opens with a brief thought that will help you prepare for the session and get you thinking about the particular subject you will explore with your group.

MESSAGE NOTES. Bring your study guide with you each Sunday and take notes.

STEP 1 | COME TOGETHER. The foundation for spiritual growth is an intimate connection with God and God’s family. You build that connection by getting to know each other, laughing, and sharing your life experience.

STEP 2 | LEARN TOGETHER. In this section, you’ll have an opportunity to read a passage of Scripture and discuss both Sunday’s message and the text. You won’t focus on accumulating information but on how you should live in light of the Word of God (Bible). We want to help you apply the insights from Scripture practically and creatively, from your heart as well as your head. At the end of the day, our greatest aim should be allowing the timeless truths from God’s Word to transform our lives in Jesus.

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STUDY NOTES. This brief section provides additional commentary, background, or insights.

STEP 3 | GROW TOGETHER. God wants you to be a part of His Kingdom— to weave your story into His. That will mean change. It will require you to go His way rather than your own. This won’t happen overnight, but it should happen steadily. By making small, simple choices, we can begin to change our direction. This is where the Bible’s instructions to “be doers of the Word, not just hearers” (James 1:22) comes into play. Many people skip over this aspect of the Christian life because it’s scary, relationally awkward, or simply too much work for their busy schedules. But, Jesus wanted all of His disciples to know Him personally, carry out His commands, and help outsiders connect with Him. •

PRAYER REQUEST & CLOSING PRAYER. We believe that prayer isn’t something that goes on the agenda; it is the agenda.

STEP 4 | DAILY DEVOTIONS. Each week we provide Scriptures to read and reflect on between sessions. This provides you with a chance to slow down, read a small portion of Scripture each day, and reflect and pray through it. You’ll then have a chance to journal your response to what you’ve read. Use this section to seek God on your own throughout the week. This time at home should begin and end with prayer. Don’t get in a hurry; take enough time to hear God’s direction.

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MEMORY VERSE. There will be a memory verse of the week. By “hiding God’s Word in your heart” (Psalm 119:11) we believe that you open yourself up for deeper and more intimate times with the Father.

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SESSION 1 LEAD THE WAY IS ABOUT—LEGACY It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.

—Hebrews 11:8 NLT

about this session You are someone’s legacy. In fact, you are a result of many people who have stepped out in ways they didn’t have to. Start with your parents and grandparents and think for a moment about all the people who have spoken into and impacted your life. No, it hasn’t always been in positive ways, but even negative stuff can end up affecting you in transformative ways. Life’s hurts can help us become healers; hardships can push us toward hope and character. The best way to be grateful for the legacy we’ve received is to decide and practice the legacy we want to leave those who come after us. The question we want to answer is, “Knowing what I have received, how will I provide the same for others?”

For the next five weeks, we will study Abraham’s life. Though he lived over four thousand years ago, his legacy is still touching people around the world. He was a man of faith and of failures. In other words, 3

he was someone we can identify with if we allow ourselves to.

Abraham had to make a decision about what kind of legacy he was going to leave behind: a stay put, “same old, same old” legacy of never following where God led, or a “step out in faith”, obedient kind of legacy that God could bless in many ways. Abraham decided to go for it, even though he didn’t know where he would end up.

“Knowing what I have received, how will I provide the same for others?”

But our journey will be more than five weeks—we’re embarking on a call to action called LEAD THE WAY. We are trusting God to do a great work in bringing us together in ways we’ve never experienced before. We are going to discover the ways the Lord wants to use each of us and all of us together to accomplish great things for Him.

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MESSAGE NOTES | Lead The Way: Legacy

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STEP ONE | COME TOGETHER OPEN IN PRAYER

INTRODUCTIONS

ICE BREAKERS

What drew you here to this group? How are you anticipating God will grow you through the LEAD THE WAY call to action?

STEP TWO | LEARN TOGETHER God uses stories to guide us. In fact, the Bible is His story! When we read the true stories of Scripture, we learn what God is like and we see His plan unfolding. We also learn principles for our own lives. So how can we become a part of God’s story? By aligning our stories with His and not just understanding what it means to follow Him, but actually doing it—changing our attitudes and actions to live as He would live.

Use the following questions to guide your discussion of Sunday’s message along with the Scripture below. You may also want to refer to the study notes to guide your reading and discussion.

READ : GENESIS 12:1­­­­–8 NLT 1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

4 So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. 5 He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all his wealth—his livestock and all the people he had taken into his

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household at Haran—and headed for the land of Canaan. When they arrived in Canaan, 6 Abram traveled through the land as far as Shechem.

There he set up camp beside the oak of Moreh. At that time, the area was inhabited by Canaanites.

7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your descendants” And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the Lord, who had appeared to him.

8 After that, Abram traveled south and set up camp in the hill country, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built another altar and dedicated it to the Lord, and he worshiped the Lord.

1. Think for a moment about being a member of Abram’s household. He announces at breakfast one morning, “Last night the Lord spoke to me. Today we’re packing up and hitting the road.” What would be some of your questions?

2. Based on this passage in Genesis, what kind of legacy was Abram creating by his actions in Genesis 12:1–8?

3. Have you ever thought about the idea of leaving a legacy? Explain your thoughts.

4. If leaving a legacy was primary for you, how does it impact your perspective on how you’re living right now?

5. From this point moving forward, what kind of legacy would you like to leave and to whom?

6. Between Sunday’s message and your group’s discussion, what will be your takeaway?

STUDY NOTES The Lord said to Abram (v.1). Before God changed his name to Abraham (father of many) the patriarch of Israel was Abram (exalted father). When we see the title “LORD” (Large cap), it indicates God’s name Yahweh, which won’t be explained until Exodus 3. But since Moses was writing these chapters, he used the title for God that was most familiar to him.

Session 1 | Lead the Way is About—Legacy

QUESTIONS

I will bless (v.2, 3). We bless when we speak or deliver good into someone’s life. God not only promised to do good for Abram, He also promised to make Abram’s life into something good for others.

In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed (v.3). The idea of legacy has a lot to do with understanding that the blessings of God aren’t supposed to stop with us. Blessings flow through us to others. We can’t even imagine how much God might bless others through us.

There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord (v.7). Abram was aware of God’s company and leading. But it was more than knowing He was there; he responded in worship. He acknowledged the Lord and expressed his confidence in Him.

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STEP THREE | GROW TOGETHER Our Creator is certainly after more from us than an acknowledgment that He exists. There are plenty of people who are willing to admit there’s a God, but they still don’t want to have anything to do with Him. God wants you to be a part of His Kingdom—to weave your story into His. That will mean change—to go His way rather than your own. This won’t happen overnight, but it should happen steadily. By starting with small, simple choices, we begin to change our direction. We can build a legacy that will please God. The Holy Spirit helps us along the way—giving us gifts to serve the body, offering us insights into Scripture, and challenging us to love not only those around us but those far from God. In this section, talk about how you will apply the wisdom you’ve learned from Sunday’s message and Scripture. Then think about practical steps you can take in the coming week to live out what you’ve learned.

1. How do you put into practice your belief in the mission of Cedar Valley Church? Why do you believe it’s worth sacrificing for?

2. As He did with Abram, in what ways do you feel that God is calling you out from something or away from something, so that He can leave a legacy through you? What has been your response so far?

3. How does the challenge to leave a legacy change your perspective on how you’re living right now?

4. When it comes to stewardship and generosity, would you say that God wants something FOR you or FROM you? What’s the difference between those two perspectives?

Stewardship may be a new term in your Christian experience. It has long been used to refer to God’s entrusting us with the management of the resources He gives us: time, talents, and treasure. These things may seem to be ours, but they ultimately belong to Him. Even what we earn, we have earned using time, strength, and the skill God has provided to us.

PRAYER REQUESTS CLOSING PRAYER RECORD PRAYER & PRAISE REPORT NOTES ON PAGE 43 7

MEMORY VERSE

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. ­­—Hebrews 11:8 NLT

DAY 1

Read Hebrews 11:8 NLT

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.

REFLECT | It’s easy to think, “If God told me to go, I’d go.” But, have you? Under what circumstances have you responded to God the way Abraham did?

Session 1 | Lead the Way is About—Legacy

STEP FOUR | DAILY DEVOTIONALS

DAY 2 Read Matthew 28:19–20 NLT Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

REFLECT | In what ways are you personally “Leading the Way” to Cedar Valley’s call to action?

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DAY 3

Read Proverbs 3:35 NLT

The wise inherit honor, but fools are put to shame!

REFLECT | Note that legacy parallels inheritance. What would you say are three main examples of the faith legacy you have created (or are creating) to leave behind at this point in your life? What would you change?

ACTION STEPS | During this week spend some time thinking about two things: 1. What do you feel you are known for now?

2. What do you want to be known for towards the end of your life?

DAY 4

Read Ephesians 2:8–9 NLT

God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

REFLECT | What you have in Christ you have not, in any way, earned. As you begin to take action with the call to LEAD THE WAY, in what areas of life are you wanting to be more active in sharing the inheritance you have in Christ?

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Read Philippians 4:19 NLT

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

REFLECT | How can we know the truth of this promise unless we are willing to stop gripping on to the things of this life as if they were our true security? What are some things you need to release into God’s hands as you seek to LEAD THE WAY to what He wants to do in you and in us?

DAY 6

Session 1 | Lead the Way is About—Legacy

DAY 5

Use the following space to write any thoughts God has put in your heart and mind about the things we have looked at in this session and during your reflection time this week.

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SESSION 2 LEAD THE WAY REQUIRES—TRUST Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. ­­—Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

about this session When the Bible talks about faith, it means more than believing something other people deem untrue. Biblical faith isn’t just on the inside; it affects everything. In fact, the faith commanded in God’s Word is about trust and letting go; it’s about “Leading the Way”.

Trusting God is easy when it doesn’t really matter or when there’s nothing at stake. But, what about when trusting God comes with a price tag? What about when having everything that God longs to give us requires that we let go of things we also want to hang on to? In one of Jesus’ shortest parables, He said, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” (Matthew 13:44). There’s a lot in this little 11

story, but the main point is that in order to get the priceless treasure of the kingdom of heaven, the man is willing to sell everything.

He takes action to get the treasure that is only found in God’s Kingdom.

He takes action to get the treasure that is only found in God’s Kingdom.

As we continue our journey with Abram, we’re going to see that he’s holding even the Promised Land loosely. He doesn’t own it yet but he’s not trying to hoard it in the meantime. He’s “Leading the Way” for God’s plan, God’s timing, and God’s way of doing things.

He’s trusting God even when the next step isn’t clear.

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MESSAGE NOTES | Lead The Way: Trust

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STEP ONE | COME TOGETHER

OPEN IN PRAYER

ICE BREAKERS

What’s the funniest fashion trend you used to rock?

STEP TWO | LEARN TOGETHER Use the following questions to guide your discussion of Sunday’s message and Scripture below. You may also want to refer to the study notes to guide your reading and discussion.

READ : GENESIS 13:1­­­­–10 NLT 1 So Abram left Egypt and traveled north into the Negev, along with his wife and Lot and all that they owned. 2 (Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold.) 3 From the Negev, they continued traveling by stages toward Bethel, and they pitched their tents between Bethel and Ai, where they had camped before. 4 This was the same place where Abram had built the altar, and there he worshiped the Lord again.

5 Lot, who was traveling with Abram, had also become very wealthy with flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and many tents. 6 But the land could not support both Abram and Lot with all their flocks and herds living so close together. 7 So disputes broke out between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot (At that time Canaanites

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and Perizzites were also living in the land).

8 Finally Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives! 9 The whole countryside is open to you.

Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I’ll go to the left.”

10 Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the Lord or the beautiful land of Egypt (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah).

1. Have you had any follow-up thoughts after last week’s discussion?

2. When you think of “Leading the Way” in your daily life, what comes to mind?

3. Can you describe a time when you “Led the Way”?

4. When it comes to TRUST, do we TRUST in a God who is trustworthy and reliable?

Can you give an example of a time when God has been trustworthy and reliable to you?

5. Based on verses 8–9, why did Abram give Lot the first choice of lands on which to settle? In what ways was this trusting God? 6. Clearly, Lot didn’t care what God thought about his choice of location; he was interested in what appeared to be the better choice. How does Genesis 13:10 indicate he was about to make a bad choice?

STUDY NOTES Where his tent had been at the beginning (v.3). Returning from his time in Egypt, Abram set up camp near Bethel. God had told him this was the heart of all the land that would eventually be his.

Their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together (v.6).

Both Abram and Lot had prospered on their travels and their livestock herds were so numerous that they couldn’t graze on the same lands. This caused strife between the herdsmen.

Session 2 | Lead The Way Requires—Trust

QUESTIONS

Let there be no strife between you and me (v.8). Abram valued his family ties. He and Sarai had no children of their own yet, and he was determined to keep peace in his extended household. If this meant creating some distance for practical reasons, he was willing.

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STEP THREE | GROW TOGETHER One of the keys to healthy application is realizing that when God teaches us something, living out that lesson will almost always involve other people. Note how the following questions move you in that direction.

In this section, talk about how you will apply the wisdom you’ve learned from Sunday’s message and Scripture study. Then think about practical steps you can take in the coming week to live out what you’ve learned.

1. What does trusting God look like in your life right now?

2. What kinds of baggage from your past or barriers in the present might be hindering your ability and willingness to trust God and the people in church?

3. What’s wrong with this statement: I want to be known as a follower of Jesus, but I don’t want to have to trust Him in any meaningful way?

4. What will be your takeaway from this session?

PRAYER REQUESTS CLOSING PRAYER RECORD PRAYER & PRAISE REPORT NOTES ON PAGE 43

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MEMORY VERSE

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. ­—Proverbs 3:5–6 NLT

DAY 1

Read Philippians 2:4 NLT

Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

REFLECT | How does trusting God translate into less concern about self and more interest in helping others and the Church (Body of Christ)?

Session 2 | Lead The Way Requires—Trust

STEP FOUR | DAILY DEVOTIONALS

DAY 2 Read Matthew 6:33 NLT Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.

REFLECT | This is the alternative to worry Jesus offers in the extended passage of Matthew 6:25–34. In what ways is worry a clue that we’re not trusting God?

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DAY 3

Read Proverbs 3:5–6 NLT

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.

REFLECT | How do these verses describe the way you’re approaching your participation in LEAD THE WAY? ACTION STEPS | During this week think about areas where you’ve struggled to really trust God. Every day this week, as you begin your day, pray that God will give you the strength to trust Him.

DAY 4

Read Matthew 6:21 NLT

Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

REFLECT | In what ways is your heart involved in your responses to LEAD THE WAY?

DAY 5

Read Hebrews 11:6 NLT

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him. REFLECT | If faith and trust are closely related in our relationship with God, what evidence is apparent in your life that you believe “that He exists” and you believe “that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him”?

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Use the following space to write any thoughts God has put in your heart and mind about the things we have looked at in this session and during your reflection time this week.

Session 2 | Lead The Way Requires—Trust

DAY 6

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SESSION 3 LEAD THE WAY IS ABOUT—HONOR Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. ­­—Mark 7:6 NLT

about this session Honor is not a word or an action that shows up regularly in life today. The concept may be mentioned in military settings or in discussions about what it means to honor one’s parents, but honor is seldom part of our daily routine. When we begin our morning, we probably don’t think, “today I want to live an honorable life.” The absence of honor has a lot to do with the shallowness of our relationship with God and with other people.

Honoring God is not only submitting to Him but submitting to Him in all our ways.

So, what is honor? The word summarizes appropriate respect and actions toward someone’s character, role, or position. The more someone’s character, role, 19

and position harmonize, the easier it should be to honor them. This is true of no one more than it is true of God. And yet, as we will see in this session, we often struggle with honoring God in consistent ways.

One of the passages we looked at last week included the phrase “In all your ways submit to Him” (Proverbs 3:6). Honoring God is not only submitting to Him but submitting to Him in all our ways.

Jesus was quoting Isaiah who was taking a direct quote from God when He said, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” We want to be a people who do a lot more than give lip service to the idea of honoring God.

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MESSAGE NOTES | Lead The Way: Honor

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STEP ONE | COME TOGETHER

OPEN IN PRAYER

ICE BREAKERS

What was the highlight of your week?

STEP TWO | LEARN TOGETHER When we come together as a group, we each have our own observations and responses to what we’re hearing, but it often takes the impact of a group’s response to help us see what we’ve overlooked or missed. God uses us in each other’s lives for good in this way.

Use the following questions to guide your discussion of Sunday’s message and Scripture below. You may also want to refer to the study notes to guide your reading and discussion.

READ : GENESIS 14:14–24 NLT 14 When Abram heard that his nephew Lot had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men who had been born into his household.

Then he pursued Kedorlaomer’s army until he caught up with them at Dan. 15 There he divided his men and attacked during the night.

Kedorlaomer’s army fled, but Abram chased them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 Abram recovered all the goods that had been taken, and he brought back his nephew Lot with his possessions and all the women and other captives.

17 After Abram returned from his victory over Kedorlaomer and all his allies, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 And Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, brought Abram some bread and wine.

19 Melchizedek blessed Abram with

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this blessing: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And blessed be God Most High, who has defeated your enemies for you.” Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.

21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give back my people who were captured. But you may keep for yourself all the goods you have recovered.” 22 Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I solemnly swear to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23 that I will not take so much as a single thread or sandal thong from what belongs to you. Otherwise you might say, ‘I am the one who made Abram rich.’ 24 I will accept only what my young warriors have already eaten, and I request that you give a fair share of the goods to my allies—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre.

1. Have you ever known someone who was just easy to honor? Describe them. What made it so easy?

2. We know that Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek. How was that actually honoring God? What’s the parallel for today?

3. Based on our teachings on Abraham, can you think of other ways that Abraham honored God?

STUDY NOTES Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive (v.14). Abram honored his relationship with Lot by “having his back” when he could have stayed at a distance. He was “Leading the Way” when he went after Lot’s captors. God calls us to live out our relationships with honor.

So he brought back all the goods (v.16). Abram routed the raiders and recaptured everything and everyone that had been taken. Every aspect of this episode has God’s fingerprints all over it.

Melchizedek king of Salem (v.18 ). This figure appears without any introduction or background. He is mentioned again in Psalm 110 and in Hebrews 7:1–22 in discussing the unique role of Jesus who is both our king and priest, much as Melchizedek served both those roles. It is clear that Abram and Melchizedek recognized in one another an allegiance to the God above all gods.

Session 3 | Lead The Way Is About—Honor

QUESTIONS

And he (Abram) gave him (Melchizedek) a tithe of all (v.20). When God blessed Abram with a victory, his first thought was “how can I honor God in return for this great blessing?” (vs. 17–24).

I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth (v.22). Abram understood that accepting bounty from the king of Salem would make him indebted to him and he insisted on giving credit for his abundance to God Himself and no other.

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STEP THREE | GROW TOGETHER We want our groups to be safe places where we can ask questions and get biblical answers. LEAD THE WAY helps us realize how much we need each other and discover the joy of helping one another. Each of us has a part, and we’re in this together—we’re “Leading the Way”.

1. Would you be willing to share with the group a way that you are currently honoring God with your resources? (We aren’t looking to brag but rather to encourage and inspire others.)

2. In our current series, have you considered making any changes in regard to how you honor God? 3. What stood out to you the most from either the teaching last week or our discussion today? What will you remember or apply?

PRAYER REQUESTS CLOSING PRAYER RECORD PRAYER & PRAISE REPORT NOTES ON PAGE 43

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MEMORY VERSE

Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. ­—Mark 7:6 NLT

DAY 1

Read Mark 7:6 NLT

Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

REFLECT | In the solitude of your heart’s thoughts, how are you “Leading the Way” to this challenge of honoring God with everything?

Session 3 | Lead The Way Is About—Honor

STEP FOUR | DAILY DEVOTIONALS

DAY 2 Read Revelation 4:11 NLT You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For You created all things, and they exist because You created what You pleased.

REFLECT | How does this verse make the case for making everything we are and everything we have available to God 24/7?

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DAY 3

Read Matthew 8:8–9 NLT

But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”

REFLECT | How did this centurion combine faith with honor to acknowledge Jesus’ power?

ACTION STEPS | Each day this week pick one person you can show honor to— someone from work, your family, etc.

DAY 4

Read Luke 19:8 NLT

Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”

REFLECT | What happened in Zacchaeus that would cause him to honor God with everything?

DAY 5

Read 1 Samuel 2:29–30 NLT

So why do you scorn my sacrifices and offerings? Why do you give your sons more honor than you give me—for you and they have become fat from the best 25

REFLECT | God let Eli know that he was honoring his sons more than he was honoring the Lord. What promise did God also give that we can count on?

DAY 6 Use the following space to write any thoughts God has put in your heart and mind about the things we have looked at in this session and during your reflection time this week.

Session 3 | Lead The Way Is About—Honor

offerings of my people Israel! “Therefore, the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I promised that your branch of the tribe of Levi would always be my priests. But I will honor those who honor me, and I will despise those who think lightly of me.”

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SESSION 4 LEAD THE WAY REQUIRES—TRANSFORMATION For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. — Philippians 2:13 NLT

about this session It’s LEAD THE WAY time. This will be our last session together before we make our Faith Goals when we gather this Sunday. We will meet next week to celebrate and continue to grow, but what happens between now and then will mark a significant change in many people’s lives. We trust this group will be able to look back on these days as a time when God worked in unexpected ways to bring about far more than we asked or thought.

For many of us, the LEAD THE WAY call to action has been a defining moment in which God worked on the process of transformation in our lives. As we will see in this session, God never stops working on us. Even someone who was “Leading the Way”, like the Apostle Paul was, could write, “For I know whom I have believed and am

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persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that day” (2 Timothy 1:12).

We trust this group will be able to look back on these days as a time when God worked in unexpected ways to bring about far more than we asked or thought.

We are trusting this has been and will continue to be a time of remarkable spiritual growth for the entire Cedar Valley family. We’re “Leading the Way” together, and God is going to do a great thing in us and through us.

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MESSAGE NOTES | Lead The Way: Transformation

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STEP ONE | COME TOGETHER OPEN IN PRAYER ICE BREAKERS When was the last time you laughed hard enough to cry? Describe the event.

STEP TWO | LEARN TOGETHER God uses stories to guide us. In fact, the Bible is His story! When we read the true stories of Scripture, we learn what God is like and we see His plan unfolding. We also learn principles for our own lives. So how can we become a part of God’s story? By aligning our stories with His and not just understanding what it means to follow Him, but actually doing it—changing our attitudes and actions to live as He would live.

Use the following questions to guide your discussion of Sundays message and the Scripture below. You may also want to refer to the study notes to guide your reading and discussion.

READ : GENESIS 17:1–8 NLT 1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life. 2 I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants.”

3 At this, Abram fell face down on the ground. Then God said to him, 4 “This is my covenant with you: I will make you the father of a multitude of nations! 5 What’s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations. 6 I will

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make you extremely fruitful. Your descendants will become many nations, and kings will be among them!

7 “I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation.

This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

8 And I will give the entire land of Canaan, where you now live as a foreigner, to you and your descendants. It will be their possession forever, and I will be their God.”

1. Name one thing that has really stood out to you over the past four weeks.

2. Since we talked about “transformation” last Sunday, talk about how you see the difference between an appearance or surface transformation (playing a part) and real, “core” transformation. Why would one be more advantageous or more difficult than the other?

3. Do you remember why God changed Abram’s name? Explain. How does accepting a name like “Christian” or “Christ-follower” make a difference in a person’s life?

4. Looking at Abraham, how would you describe God’s transformation plan?

STUDY NOTES I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless (v.1). Cause, action, result—God was pointing Abram to a transformed way of living. The order is significant. We often try to reverse it: once I’m blameless, maybe I can walk before Almighty God. Our approach is impossible; but God’s approach is possible because He makes it so.

No longer shall your name be called Abram (v.5). In Abram’s case, God takes some beginning-of-life-stuff (like getting a name and the act of circumcision) and makes it much later-in-life-stuff. God changed his name from Abram (exalted father) to Abraham (father of a multitude) and established a practice for each generation of sons of the Covenant before the first of those sons was born.

Session 4 | Lead The Way Requires—Transformation

QUESTIONS

As you read this passage about Abraham, notice how God’s move in his life affected everything—name, property, offspring, and possessions. God was declaring His right to all of it.

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STEP THREE | GROW TOGETHER The idea of transformation (change under God’s hands) sometimes seems rather intimidating—as if God needs to radically change who we currently are in order for us to be more like Him. The truth is that our experiences of transformation often come through multiple small transformations within us. Instant “radical” transformation is still possible but does not happen as frequently as transformation by process. Since God designed you originally, it’s His plan to complete your “formation” into the likeness of His Son.

1. What are some of the areas in our lives that you think God wants to transform?

2. Share a significant experience where God shaped you more into the image of Jesus.

3. Do you sense an area in your life right now where you think God is working to transform you? Would you be willing to share it? What is God asking you to do to become more like Jesus?

PRAYER REQUESTS CLOSING PRAYER RECORD PRAYER & PRAISE REPORT NOTES ON PAGE 43 31

MEMORY VERSE

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. ­­—Philippians 2:13 NLT

DAY 1

Read 2 Timothy 1:12 NLT

That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the One in whom I trust, and I am sure that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until the day of His return.

REFLECT | How is God going to be involved in the making and the keeping of your Faith Goal next Sunday?

Session 4 | Lead The Way Requires—Transformation

STEP FOUR | DAILY DEVOTIONALS

DAY 2 Read 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

REFLECT | How does this verse describe the work of transformation Jesus is currently carrying out in your life?

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DAY 3

Read John 14:27 NLT

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

REFLECT | Note that legacy parallels inheritance. What would you say are three main examples of the faith legacy you have created (or are creating) to leave behind at this point in your life? What would you change?

ACTION STEPS | This week, practice being grateful to God for His transforming work in your life. Simply thank God each time you identify how your life has been transformed. Ideas may include new passions, new memories, old habits, new friends, or health.

DAY 4

Read Philippians 2:13 NLT

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. REFLECT | As the LEAD THE WAY call to action has unfolded, how have you experienced this verse to be true in your own life?

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Read Romans 8:31–32 NLT

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since He did not spare even His own Son but gave Him up for us all, won’t He also give us everything else?

REFLECT | How do these verses confirm your confidence as you prepare for the Faith Goal this Sunday?

DAY 6 Use the following space to write any thoughts God has put in your heart and mind about the things we have looked at in this session and during your reflection time this week.

Session 4 | Lead The Way Requires—Transformation

DAY 5

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SESSION 5 LEAD THE WAY REQUIRES—SURRENDER Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ . . .

—Philippians 3:8 NLT

about this session Last Sunday many of us came out of the stands, suited up, and got into the game. It’s not too late to be a part of the team.

The life of surrender is choosing God before anyone or anything else.

As we will discover with this last look at Abraham, sometimes we need to be reminded that God’s way is ultimately the best, even when it looks like it will cost us everything.

The life of surrender is choosing God before anyone or anything else.

God has great things ahead for all of us. At times in our lives we want to have it both ways—ours and God’s.

It is not surprising that when we try to live this way the results are a mess.

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MESSAGE NOTES | Lead The Way: Surrender

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STEP ONE | COME TOGETHER OPEN IN PRAYER ICE BREAKERS Name your all-time favorite movie (one) and why? What was it that you loved about it?

STEP TWO | LEARN TOGETHER God uses stories to guide us. In fact, the Bible is His story! When we read the true stories of Scripture, we learn what God is like and we see His plan unfolding. We also learn principles for our own lives. So how can we become a part of God’s story? By aligning our stories with His, not just understanding what it means to follow Him, but actually doing it—changing our attitudes and actions to live as He would live.

Use the following questions to guide your discussion of Sunday’s message along with the Scripture below. You may also want to refer to the study notes to guide your reading and discussion.

READ : GENESIS 22:1­­­­–13 NLT 1 Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.”

2 “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” 3 The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day of their journey, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 “Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham

told the servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.”

6 So Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac’s shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them walked on together, 7 Isaac turned to Abraham and said, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “We have the fire and the wood,” the boy said, “but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?”

8 “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham answered. And they both walked on together.

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“Here I am!” 12 “Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.” 13 Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son.

QUESTIONS 1. What is the meaning of the word “sacrifice” in verse 2 and how important is it in understanding the way God wants us to see everything in our possession?

2. Has there ever been a time when you sacrificed, and God provided? Describe.

3. We said that having a heart of surrender is “committing everything you are to everything God is”. How do you see this affecting everyday life?

4. What stood out to you most from this week’s message or group discussion?

STUDY NOTES

Session 5 | Lead the Way Requires—Surrender

9 When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. 10 And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. 11 At that moment the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, “Abraham!

Abraham!” “Yes,” Abraham replied.

Offer him there as a burnt offering (v.2). God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son—the fulfillment of God’s promise—not because He wanted to kill Isaac, but because He wanted Abraham to experience as deeply as possible the truth that life is about doing it God’s way, even when it appears it will be too hard. We don’t really know what it’s like to “let God” until we are willing to “let go”. For a disciple, a follower of Jesus, every area of our lives is in some stage of surrender, including the resources we have... and He has a right to it all.

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STEP THREE | GROW TOGETHER God is asking us to live our lives and give in a way that CHANGES us, to give in a way that COSTS us something, and to live in a way that truly honors WHO GOD IS in our lives.

In essence, these actions prove that we are surrendering our lives to Him and His plan for us. We are “Leading the Way”.

In this section, talk about how you will apply the wisdom you’ve learned from Sunday’s message and Scripture. Then think about practical steps you can take in the coming week to live out what you’ve learned.

1. Describe what has stood out to you the most from the LEAD THE WAY call to action. If it has challenged you, describe how.

2. Whether you’ve already made your Faith Goal or are going to do it this next week, would you be willing to share your story about what God has done in you over these last several weeks to cause you to do so?

3. What will be your biggest takeaway from this entire LEAD THE WAY call to action?

4. If you’re new to groups, what are your own personal thoughts going forward for continuing with this Life Group?

5. Describe in three words or less what you are feeling about this next year. How can the group pray for and support you during this year?

PRAYER REQUESTS CLOSING PRAYER RECORD PRAYER & PRAISE REPORT NOTES ON PAGE 43 39

MEMORY VERSE

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ . . .

Philippians 3:8 NLT

DAY 1

Read Philippians 3:7–8 NLT

I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ . . .

REFLECT | How is this a picture of joyful surrender? What is the purpose of our surrender?

Session 5 | Lead The Way Requires—Surrender

STEP FOUR | DAILY DEVOTIONALS

DAY 2 Read Hebrews 11:6 NLT And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him. REFLECT | In what ways does this verse describe basic surrender to God on our part?

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DAY 3

Read Galatians 2:20–21 NLT

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.

REFLECT | How do you identify with Paul’s description of the surrendered life in these verses?

ACTION STEPS | This week take time to praise and thank God for helping you surrender yourself to Him. Let God know the things you’re struggling to still surrender. Then ask God to help you surrender your fears to Him and believe He is able.

DAY 4

Read John 12:24 NLT

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives.

REFLECT | What are some aspects of your life that you still need to surrender to God for His plans?

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Read John 8:36 NLT

So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

REFLECT | How has your commitment to LEAD THE WAY affected the sense of freedom that you have in Jesus?

DAY 6 Use the following space to write any thoughts God has put in your heart and mind about the things we have looked at in this session and during your reflection time this week.

Session 5 | Lead The Way Requires—Surrender

DAY 5

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Prayer & Praise Reports

PRAYER & PRAISE REPORTS

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Prayer & Praise Reports LEAD THE WAY—TESTIMONY We’d love to hear about and celebrate what God has done in and through you as you’ve answered the LEAD THE WAY call to action.

Please give a brief testimony about how God ministered to you by filling out this form. Scan the QR code to the left to begin.

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