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DREAM LIFE CENTERED

PURSUING GOD’S DREAM FOR YOUR LIFE

by LUKE BARNETT

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PURSUING GOD’S DREAM FOR YOUR LIFE.

contents INTRO

Endorsements 00 Acknowledgements 00 Foreword by Tommy Barnett 00 Welcome 00 Using This Workbook (Read This First) 00 Outline for Each Session 00

SESSIONS

Session One: Everything Starts with a Dream 00 Session Two: The Pit Stop 00 Session Three: Fatal Distractions 00 Session Four: Dream Dungeon 00 Session Five: From Dream to Destiny 00 Session Six: Dream Again 00

APPENDICES

Frequently Asked Questions 00 Small Group Agreement 00 Small Group Calendar 00 Spiritual Partners 00 Copyright © 2015 by LIFE TOGETHER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

SMALL GROUP LEADERS

Published by: Copyright and use of the curriculum template is retained by Brett Eastman.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotes are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 and 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission.

All rights reserved worldwide.

ISBN Printed in the United States of America

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Hosting an Open House 00 Leading for the First Time 00 Leadership Training 00 Prayer and Praise Report 00 Small Group Roster 00 Notes 00

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ENDORSEMENTS all Group Cale since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in

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all Group Cale since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in

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all Group Cale since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in

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all Group Cale since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in

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all Group Cale since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in

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all Group Cale since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in

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all Group Cale since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in

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all Group Cale since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in

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all Group Cale since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in

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all Group Cale since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in

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TI TL E GO ES H ER E

TI TL E GO ES H ER E

TI TL E GO ES H ER E

TI TL E GO ES H ER E

TI TL E GO ES H ER E

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T I T LE G OE S HE R E

T I T LE G OE S HE R E

T I T LE G OE S HE R E

T I T LE G OE S HE R E

T I T LE G OE S HE R E

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS To my wife, Angel, whose Christ-like love and compassion inspires me more and more every day. Thank you for your support and for partnering with me in ministry and life.

To my children, Aubrey and Annalee. I love you both so much and I have enjoyed watching each of you mature into women of God. I can’t wait to see the dreams that God will spark in your hearts, and I am excited to see the lives that will be changed as a result of what you will do for His Kingdom.

To my parents, Tommy and Marja Barnett. Dad, you encourage me daily with your passion for God and your desire to see the impossible made possible through Him. You inspire me to dream big and to never give up on the dreams God places in my heart. Mom, I thank you for all of the ways you have supported me through the years. Your gentle strength has been my rock.

To the staff of Phoenix First. Your commitment and dedication drives this ministry, and your hard work lines the path. Thank you for linking arms with me. I look forward to seeing God bring our dreams for this ministry to fruition, even as He ignites new, bigger dreams for the glory of His name!

To Brett Eastman and the Lifetogether team. It has been an honor to work alongside you. Thank you for your belief in The Dream Centered Life, and for nurturing this vision with your generosity and guidance.

To the Phoenix First congregation, for whom this book is written. I hope it will encourage you to dream bigger than you have ever dreamed before.

Imagine how this church could impact the world if each and every one of us walked within the promise of our God-given dreams! Thank you for allowing me to be your pastor. I enjoy every moment of our journey together and I can’t wait to hear your stories about the dreams that came true because you dared to dream them.

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FOREWORD Everybody has a dream, and every dream is built on something. Is yours built on the shifting sands of an uncertain world or on the solid rock of God’s promises?

When we allow our dreams to be shaped by circumstances we limit them to what we can see and hear, but when we open our eyes to the possibilities of an infinite, unchanging, and omniscient God, we leap into the supernatural. That is where you can begin to dream beyond your wildest imagination, and where the impossible becomes possible.

The Dream Centered Life, by Pastors Luke and Angel Barnett of Phoenix First, combines key components for discovering and cultivating your God-given dreams. It includes daily devotions to guide your personal prayer times throughout the week, along with an opportunity each week to meet with others and watch a video teaching, discuss God’s Word and share your experiences. You will be blessed as you grow together and dig deep to mine the dreams that God has already placed inside each of you.

There are songs not yet composed, books not yet written, businesses not yet started, and ministries not yet developed. The potential resides in you, but don’t let it stay there! Only God can make a God-sized dream come to fruition and only God can broaden your vision to help you see what you cannot yet fathom.

My prayer for you is that this study will ignite a powerful dream that will change you, change the people around you, and ultimately change the world. You will be encouraged to dream bigger than ever before and to believe God for the impossible as you take this journey from dream to destiny. Get ready, because you’ll never be the same!

TOMMY BARNETT

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welcome Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.

It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout. The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making it look like readable English. Many desktop publishing packages and web page editors now use Lorem Ipsum as their default model text, and a search for ‘lorem ipsum’ will uncover many web sites still in their infancy. Various versions have evolved over the years, sometimes by accident, sometimes on purpose (injected humour and the like).

Contrary to popular belief, Lorem Ipsum is not simply random text. It has roots in a piece of classical Latin literature from 45 BC, making it over 2000 years old. Richard McClintock, a Latin professor at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, looked up one of the more obscure Latin words, consectetur, from a Lorem Ipsum passage, and going through the cites of the word in classical literature, discovered the undoubtable source. Lorem Ipsum comes from sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 of “de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum” (The Extremes of Good and Evil) by Cicero, written in 45 BC. This book is a treatise on the theory of ethics, very po

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of EACH SESSION

USINGthis WORKBOOK

OUTLINE

Tools to Help You Have a Great Small Group Experience!

A typical group session for The Dream-Centered Life study will include the following sections.

Read through this to get a clear idea of how each group meeting will be structured:

1 2 3 4

Notice in the Table of Contents there are three sections: (1) Sessions; (2) Appendix; and (3) Small Group Leaders. It will be helpful for you to get to know the Appendix sections. Some of them will be used in the sessions.

If you are leading or co-leading a small group, the section for Small Group Leaders will offer some hard-learned experiences of others that will encourage you and help you avoid many common obstacles to effective small group leadership. Make sure you take some time to read through the material – it will be a great help in your preparation.

Use this workbook as a guide, but put the needs of the group first. If you think of a better question than the next one in the lesson, ask it. If you sense that the members of your group want to spend some extra time in a particular section, do it. Don’t measure success by how much material your group covers; Jesus did not say, “Go therefore and complete the curriculum.” The goal is to have holy moments and to go deeper into community.

INTRODUCTION.

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. Make it a practice to read these before the session. You may want to have the group read them aloud.

SHARING TOGETHER.

The foundation for spiritual growth is an intimate connection with God and His family. You build that connection by sharing your story with a few people who really know you and who earn your trust. This section includes some simple questions to get you talking—letting you share as much or as little of your story as you feel comfortable with. Each session typically offers you two options. You can get to know your whole group by using the icebreaker question(s), or you can check in with one or two group members, your spiritual partner(s), for a deeper connection and encouragement in your spiritual journey.

GROWING TOGETHER.

In this section, you’ll read the Bible and listen to teaching in order to hear God’s story— and begin to see how His story aligns with yours. When the study directs you to, you’ll pop in the DVD and watch a short teaching segment. You’ll then have an opportunity to read a passage of Scripture, and discuss both the teaching and the text. You won’t focus on accumulating information but on how you should live in light of the Word of God. 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, allowing the timeless truths from God’s Word to transform our lives in Christ should be your greatest aim.

SERVING TOGETHER. Jesus trained his disciples to discover and develop their gifts to serve others. God has

designed you to uniquely serve him in a way no other person can. This section will offer suggestions for using your God-given design and your unique dream to serve others in your group and beyond.

The best way to prepare for a great group experience is to pray.

Pray for every group member and watch your heart for the group grow. Bring great expectation for God to show up in your group.

Be specific in your prayers for what you are expecting God to do. If you aim for nothing, you’ll hit it every time.

PRAYING TOGETHER. This is a time to cement what you’ve learned and ask God for help in applying it as you move forward. If you’ve never prayed aloud in a group before, no one will put pressure on you. Instead, you’ll experience the support of others who are praying for you. This time will knit your hearts in community and help you surrender both your hurts and your dreams to the One who knows you best.

STUDY NOTES. This brief section provides additional commentary, background or insights on this week’s teaching.

DAILY DEVOTIONS. Each week on the Daily Devotions pages, we provide scriptures to read and reflect on between sessions. This provides you with a chance to slow down, read just 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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one

SESSION

F O L LO W YO U R DREAMS

EVERYTHING STARTS WITH A DREAM.

In his famous speech at the March on Washington, Martin Luther King, Jr. famously said, “I have a dream.” Steven Spielberg, one of the best film directors of his generation, said, “I don’t dream at night, I dream all day; I dream for a living.” And of course Walt Disney, who has created magical places for the dreams of children, once said, “ All of our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”

We can learn a lot from what leaders like these have to say about our dreams, but if we really want to live dream-centered lives we need to learn from the Creator of the universe and the Creator of every good dream. Today we’ll learn what it means to have a God-sized dream and how we can imagine the future with Him.

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SHARING together

Each of us has a story. The events of our life—good, bad, wonderful or challenging—have shaped who we are. When we share our stories with others, we give them the opportunity to see God at work. We also realize we’re not alone—others share our fears, doubts, and feelings, and can understand what we’re going through. Take a few minutes to answer these questions, either with the entire group as an icebreaker or one-on-one with another person in the group.

GROWING together Watch the DVD for this session now. Use the Notes space provided on page __ to record key thoughts, questions, and things you want to remember or follow up on. After you finish watching the video, have someone read the discussion questions below and direct the discussion among the group. As you go through each of the subsequent sections, ask someone else to read the questions and direct the discussion.

W H AT A R E Y O U D R E A M I N G A B O U T D O I N G , BECOMING, OR EXPERIENCING? W H Y A R E D R E A M S S O I M P O R TA N T ?

WHY DO DREAMS BEGIN ON THE INSIDE?

PASTOR TOMMY SAYS THE REAL JOY OF DREAMING IS CLIMBING TOWARD THE DREAM, NOT NECESSARILY A C H I E V I N G I T. D O Y O U A G R E E ? W H AT D O E S T H I S MEAN FOR YOUR DREAM?

I S Y O U R D R E A M B I G G E R T H A N Y O U ? W I L L I T TA K E GOD TO MAKE IT HAPPEN?

A S A C H I L D , W H AT D I D Y O U D R E A M O F BEING WHEN YOU GREW UP?

WHY IS THE ROAD TO A DREAM SO OFTEN FULL OF TWISTS AND TURNS?

IS THERE A DREAM “IMPRISONING” YOU?

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MORE IMPORTANT THAN REACHING YOUR DREAM IS TO HAVE A DREAM BECAUSE THE REAL JOY OF DREAMING IS THE CLIMBING. T O M M Y

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B A R N E T T

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SERVING together

READ Genesis 37:5-11.

What did you see when Pastor Luke asked you to envision your dream? How did that vision make you feel—anxious, excited, overwhelmed, encouraged? Take a few minutes for each person to share their dream with the group (and if you’re not sure about your dream yet, or not ready to share, that’s okay!). As each person shares, focus on affirming statements. This is not the time to give advice or share reasons their dream might be difficult. Simply listen and encourage!

Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. 6 He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: 7 We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”

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ONCE YOU’VE DISCOVERED YOUR DREAM, YOU CAN BEGIN IDENTIFYING ACTION STEPS TO MAKING IT A R E A L I T Y. W H AT ’ S O N E T H I N G Y O U C A N D O T H I S WEEK TO MAKE PROGRESS IN YOUR DREAM? HOW C A N Y O U H E L P S O M E O N E E L S E I N T H E G R O U P TA K E A NEXT STEP?

His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.

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Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”

W H AT A R E S O M E W A Y S Y O U C A N E N J O Y T H E J O U R NEY TO YOUR DREAM? HOW CAN YOU HAVE JOY ON T H E W A Y T O Y O U R D E S T I N AT I O N ?

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FAMILY

(immediate or extended)

Take a look at the Circles of Life diagram and write the names of two or three people you know who need to know Christ.

Commit to praying for God’s guidance and an opportunity to share with each of them.

Perhaps they would be open to joining the group? Share your lists with the group so you can all be praying for the people you’ve identified.

When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” 11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

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FAMILIAR

FUN

(gym, hobbies, hangouts)

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FRIENDS

(neighbors, kids, sports teams, school, and so forth)

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FIRM (work)

PRAYING together

STUDY notes

You’ve now heard the dreams of your group and possibly shared your own dream. This will be a key prayer focus for the next six weeks. As a large group or in smaller teams of two or three, spend some time praying for each person: that they would hear from God what they need to hear during this study and that they would be open to what God has for them on this journey. Close with a prayer of thanks for each person and the dream God has put in their heart.

Several years ago, Stephen Covey published his groundbreaking book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Each one of these habits or life skills could be helpful as you pursue your dream, but habit #2— “Begin with the end in mind”—is especially important.

This habit “is based on the principle that all things are created twice,” Covey writes. There is a mental (first) creation, and a physical (second) creation. The physical creation follows the mental, just as a building follows a blueprint. If you don’t make a conscious effort to visualize who you are and what you want in life, then you empower other people and circumstances to shape you and your life by default. It’s about connecting again with your own uniqueness and then defining the personal, moral, and ethical guidelines within which you can most happily express and fulfill yourself. Begin with the End in Mind means to begin each day, task, or project with a clear vision of your desired direction and destination, and then continue by flexing your proactive muscles to make things happen.”

Just like Pastor Luke says, our dreams begin in our mind and heart before they can find outward expression. Take some time this week to not only consider your dream, but to think about what it will ultimately look like. Be as specific as possible—and then make choices toward your dream that align with that destination you have imagined.

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devotionals

DAILY DAYone DAYtwo DAYthree Read Matthew 6:33

Read Proverbs 16:3

Read Psalm 37:4

DAYfour DAYfive DAYsix Read Matthew 19:26

Read Numbers 23:19

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind.

Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?

Respond:

Respond:

Respond:

Respond:

Respond:

In all this talk of dreams, it’s important to remember that our first goal in life is to seek God. If we do this, He will be faithful to work in all the other areas of our lives.

Whether you are considering a brand-new dream or pursuing a dream you’ve had for decades, take some time today to commit it or re-commit it to the Lord.

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What does it mean to delight yourself in God? How does that relationship with Him influence what your heart wants?

This week we talked about having a dream so big that only God can do it. Is your dream God-sized?

If God has spoken a word to you or given you a dream, you can trust Him. Thank him for His faithfulness!

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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 Daily Devotions time this week.

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SESSION

THE PIT STOP

A journalist once found a set of identical twins who grew up in a home with an alcoholic father. One of the twins grew up to be an alcoholic herself, and the other one never touched a drop of alcohol. The journalist wanted to investigate this—how could two people with exactly the same genetics and environment grow up to be completely different?

When she interviewed the twin who had become an alcoholic and asked why she had developed a drinking problem, the young woman said, “What do you expect from the daughter of an alcoholic?” And when she interviewed the twin who totally abstained from alcohol and asked why she had never started drinking, that twin said, “What do you expect from the daughter of an alcoholic?”

Life throws all of us into the pit sometimes. We all have to deal with difficult struggles and discouraging situations. But we get to choose how we will respond to our time in the pit—will we allow it to make us better or will we choose to get bitter? Our temporary circumstances do not have to determine our future! Today we’ll see how Joseph responded to the pit in his own life, and how God used it to bring him closer to his dream.

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YOU DETERMINE YOUR OWN FUTURE

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SHARING together

Each of us has a story. The events of our life—good, bad, wonderful or challenging—have shaped who we are. When we share our stories with others, we give them the opportunity to see God at work. We also realize we’re not alone—others share our fears, doubts, and feelings, and can understand what we’re going through. Take a few minutes to answer these questions, either with the entire group as an icebreaker or one-on-one with another person in the group.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN JEALOUS OF SOMEONE’S ELSE DREAM OR ACCOMPLISHMENTS?

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE SCRIPTURE T H AT S U S TA I N S Y O U D U R I N G D I F F I C U LT T I M E S ? S H A R E I T W I T H T H E G R O U P.

GROWING together Watch the DVD for this session now. Use the Notes space provided on page __ to record key thoughts, questions, and things you want to remember or follow up on. After you finish watching the video, have someone read the discussion questions below and direct the discussion among the group. As you go through each of the subsequent sections, ask someone else to read the questions and direct the discussion.

W H Y I S I T S O I M P O R TA N T T O G O D T H AT W E H A V E A DREAM?

W H AT V A L U E D O S T R U G G L E S A N D T R I A L S P L A Y I N O U R G R O W T H ? H O W D O E S T H AT H E L P U S P U R S U E OUR DREAM?

HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL TO KNOW YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE IN LIFE?

HOW DO WE KEEP A PIT STOP FROM BECOMING A “ P I T S TA Y ” ?

R E F L E C T O N _ _ _ _ _ ’ S S T O R Y. W H AT I S T H E DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DREAM FROM GOD AND A DREAM BASED ON OUR PLANS?

W H AT ’ S “ I N Y O U R H A N D ” T H AT Y O U C O U L D G I V E T O G O D A S A W A Y T O G E T S TA R T E D O N A D R E A M ?

H O W D O P R E S S U R E A N D “ H E AT ” T R A N S F O R M O U R C H A R A C T E R S ?

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THE PIT-STOP DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A PIT-STAY. YOU CAN’T HELP THE PIT-STOP, BUT YOU CAN KEEP FROM MAKING IT A PIT-STAY. L U K E

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B A R N E T T

B E S I D E S B A S I C J E A L O U S Y, W H Y D O Y O U T H I N K J O S E P H ’ S B R O T H E R S W E R E T H I S T H R E AT E N E D B Y HIS DREAMS? DO YOU THINK THEY SUSPECTED THOSE DREAMS WOULD COME TRUE?

READ Genesis 37:17-20,

I F T H E P I T C O N TA I N E D W AT E R , J O S E P H W O U L D L I K E LY H A V E D R O W N E D . H O W D O E S T H I S S M A L L D E TA I L S H O W G O D ’ S C A R E F O R J O S E P H ?

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So Joseph went after his brothers and found them near Dothan. 18 But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him.

SERVING together

“Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. 20 “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him.

Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”

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Joseph’s issue was not that God gave him a dream or that he had leadership potential; it’s that he did not yet have the maturity of a leader or the character to keep from bragging about these dreams to his family. Make sure that as you pray about and pursue your dream, that you are walking humbly with God, and definitely avoid “pulling a Joseph” and boasting about your dream before you’ve even done anything! As you continue to share your dreams with each other as a group, give others permission to speak into your journey and even to address areas where you need to grow as a person. Your group loves you and wants to see your dream come true—so risk vulnerability and accountability as you move forward together.

So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe he was wearing— 24 and they took him and threw him into the cistern. The cistern was empty; there was no water in it.

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_ _ _ _ TA L K E D A B O U T L E A D I N G P R A Y E R M E E T I N G S I N H I S H O M E , A N D H O W G O D U S E D T H AT A S A T R A I N I N G G R O U N D F O R T H I N G S H E W A N T E D T H E I R F A M I LY T O D O D E C A D E S L AT E R . I F Y O U ’ R E I N A P I T S T O P T O D A Y, W H AT A R E S O M E W A Y S G O D M I G H T B E U S I N G T H I S T I M E T O P R E P A R E Y O U F O R W H AT ’ S N E X T ?

BREAK INTO SMALLER GROUPS AND DISCUSS THIS. HOW DO YOUR GROUP MEMBERS SEE GOD WORKING IN YOUR LIFE?

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W H AT L E S S O N S H A V E Y O U L E A R N E D F R O M T H E “ P I T S ” Y O U ’ V E E X P E R I E N C E D I N T H E P A S T ? W H AT LESSONS COULD YOU LEARN IF YOU’RE IN THE PIT RIGHT NOW?

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PRAYING together

STUDY notes In this week’s teaching, Angel read that well-known verse from John 16: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

When we’re in the pit, it’s easy to feel very alone. That’s one reason it’s so great to travel this journey with a group! To close this session, ask anyone in your group who feels like they’re experiencing a pit stop to sit in the center of the group. Place your hands on them and pray for them, either silently or out loud. Ask God for wisdom for each one of them, pray that they would be strong and faithful while they live through this time, and even be bold and offer prayers of thanks for the ways God is being good despite this temporary pit stop.

We typically read the words “take heart” as a command. We interpret it as Jesus saying to us, “Do this! Be brave! Don’t be afraid!” And there are certainly plenty of times in scripture when God tells his people to be strong and courageous. But some scholars believe, based on the original text in the original language, that Jesus was speaking not to the disciples in this passage, but to their hearts. In other words, Jesus was saying, “Hearts of these men—don’t be afraid!”

Invite group members to share other prayer requests, as well, and write them on your Prayer and Praise report on page ___.

God is not only the Designer of our dreams, he’s the Creator of our hearts. Whatever you’re facing right now, know that God can calm your heart and give you peace.

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devotionals

DAILY DAYone DAYtwo DAYthree Read Psalm 34:18

Read 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

Respond:

Respond:

God hadn’t forsaken Joseph during his time in the pit, and he hasn’t left us alone either. If your heart is hurting today, reflect on this verse and thank God for being close to you.

What part of this passage especially resonates with you? How can we experience difficulty without despair?

Read 1 Peter 1:6-7

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

DAYfour DAYfive DAYsix Read Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Respond:

Are you in need of hope today?

Ask God to fill you with hope by the power of the Spirit.

Read Romans 8:31

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Respond:

God is for you today! Thank him for his blessings and his care for you no matter what is happening in your life.

Respond:

Trials are temporary, but the faith and maturity they create in us last for a lifetime—and beyond!

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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 Daily Devotions time this week.

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SESSION

FATAL DISTRACTIONS

We’ve all experienced distractions. Perhaps you have a co-worker who insists on talking to you all day, every day—even after you put on your noise-canceling headphones! Maybe your kids scream and yell and sing at the top of their lungs from the back seat every time you drive. Or maybe the distractions are your own fault—have you checked your smart phone while reading this?

Today we’re going to talk about more serious distractions—situations in life that threaten to take our focus off God. Let’s learn what the story of Joseph has to teach us about resisting distractions and focusing on our dreams.

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WE’VE ALL EXPERIENCED DISTRACTIONS

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SHARING together

Each of us has a story. The events of our life—good, bad, wonderful or challenging—have shaped who we are. When we share our stories with others, we give them the opportunity to see God at work. We also realize we’re not alone—others share our fears, doubts, and feelings, and can understand what we’re going through. Take a few minutes to answer these questions, either with the entire group as an icebreaker or one-on-one with another person in the group.

GROWING together Watch the DVD for this session now. Use the Notes space provided on page __ to record key thoughts, questions, and things you want to remember or follow up on. After you finish watching the video, have someone read the discussion questions below and direct the discussion among the group. As you go through each of the subsequent sections, ask someone else to read the questions and direct the discussion.

W H AT I S Y O U R D R E A M J O B ?

P A S T O R L U K E S A Y S T H E R E A R E A L M O S T A LW A Y S TWISTS AND TURNS ON THE WAY TO OUR DREAMS. WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS? HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED THIS?

W E L A U G H AT T H E B A S E B A L L I N H E A V E N S T O R Y, B U T A C T U A L LY T H E R E I S A L M O S T A LW A Y S G O O D A N D B A D I N E V E R Y S I T U AT I O N . O N T H E J O U R N E Y T O Y O U R D R E A M , W H AT ’ S T H E G O O D N E W S R I G H T N O W ? W H AT ’ S T H E B A D N E W S ? H O W C A N Y O U K E E P T H E B A D N E W S F R O M B E C O M I N G A F ATA L D I S T R A C TION TO YOUR DREAM?

“BEING FAITHFUL AND FRUITFUL TODAY SETS US U P F O R O U R D R E A M T O M O R R O W.” W H Y I S I T S O I M P O R TA N T T O W O R K H A R D E V E N W H E N W E M A Y H A V E SO LITTLE TO WORK WITH?

HOW CAN YOU FIND JOY BEFORE YOU REACH YOUR DREAM?

W H AT I S A F O O D T H AT Y O U S I M P LY C A N ’ T R E S I S T, N O M AT T E R H O W U N H E A LT H Y I T IS? PASTOR LUKE SAYS THE MORE WE FOCUS ON A T E M P TAT I O N , T H E M O R E O U R P O W E R G O E S T H AT DIRECTION. HAVE YOU FOUND THIS TO BE TRUE IN YOUR OWN LIFE?

W H Y D O E S T H E W I N D O F R E S I S TA N C E B L O W T H E S T R O N G E S T W H E N Y O U ’ R E AT T H E T O P ?

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BEING FAITHFUL AND FRUITFUL TODAY SETS US UP FOR OUR DREAM TOMORROW. L U K E

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B A R N E T T

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W H AT R E A S O N D O E S J O S E P H G I V E F O R R E F U S I N G POTIPHAR? (VERSE 8-9)

JOSEPH DIDN’T JUST SAY NO TO HER ADVANCES, HE REFUSED “EVEN TO BE WITH HER” (VERSE 10).

W H AT D O E S T H I S T E A C H U S A B O U T D E A L I N G W I T H T E M P TAT I O N ?

READ Genesis 39:7-12.

Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7 and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”

SERVING together

But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.

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Consider how you could make the best of whatever negative circumstances or situations you’re dealing with right now. What would it look like to “bloom where you’re planted”? Do you need to work hard, like Joseph did? Do you need to change your thinking about something? Do you need to improve a skill, pour into a relationship, spend more time in prayer? Talk about your ideas with the group and get their feedback about how you can “improve your bloom.” If you’re brave, ask another member of the group to hold you accountable for this!

One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. 12 She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.

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I T ’ S S O D I F F I C U LT N O T T O G I V E I N T O T H E “ S O M E D A Y S Y N D R O M E .” A R E T H E R E C I R C U M S TA N C E S T H AT NEED TO CHANGE OR GOALS YOU NEED TO ACHIEVE B E F O R E Y O U T H I N K Y O U C A N B E H A P P Y ? TA L K A B O U T T H O S E W I T H Y O U R G R O U P. H O W C A N Y O U EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF THE LORD NOW?

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H O W D O Y O U K N O W W H E N T O F I G H T T E M P TAT I O N ?

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN TO FLEE FROM IT?

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PRAYING together

STUDY notes A recent Wall Street Journal article confirms what the story of Joseph teaches: that the best way to resist temptation is to avoid it completely.

The higher Joseph rose in power and responsibility, the stronger the winds blew against him. The same can be true for us—the closer we come achieving the dream God’s given us, the more resistance and temptation we’re likely to experience. Take some time to share how this is playing out in your own journey. If you’re just beginning to chase after your dream, talk about the distractions you think could come your way down the line. If you’re in the thick of it, share honestly about the temptations or struggles that are pushing back against your dream. Then take some time to pray for each other, that every member of the group would be able to stand strong.

Invite group members to share other prayer requests, as well, and write them on your Prayer and Praise report on page ___.

In one study, “53 subjects ages 18 to 60 were recruited to take an online intelligence test in one of two formats: a standard black-andwhite version or a stylized version with artwork on both sides of the screen,” the article reports.

“The subjects were told the artwork would change frequently and might be distracting. Participants’ self-control was rated on the 13-point scale. Of those with relatively low self-control, 43% picked the standard version and 57% picked the stylized version. But among high-self-control subjects, 67% chose the standard version and 33% chose the stylized version.”

Those with lower self-control chose the option with distractions more often than those with higher self-control. In other words, those who eventually tested as more able to resist temptation were those who proactively chose a test option with less temptation!

Consider areas in life where you know you will be tempted to sin, to lose focus, or to do less than your best. How can you follow Joseph’s example and avoid those situations?

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devotionals

DAILY DAYone DAYtwo DAYthree Read Luke 4:13

1 Corinthians 10:13

When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Respond:

The more we resist the devil, the more he will leave us alone.

Remember that Jesus knows what it means to be tempted and can help you resist!

Respond:

When we face those headwinds, it’s easy to feel that no one has experienced a challenge like ours. But we share common struggles. How can your group provide encouragement and support so you can endure?

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Read Luke 16:10

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.

Respond:

Joseph rose in power and authority because he worked hard at every job, no matter how small. What are some small tasks you’re tempted to skip over? Can you commit to doing them with excellence?

DAYfour DAYfive DAYsix Read Matthew 6:13

Read James 1:2-4

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Respond:

Jesus taught us to pray for strength to resist the temptations we face. Ask him for that strength today, and thank him for the way He delivers you.

Respond:

If you’re struggling right now, remember that God can use these trials to build your character—and that strong character rooted in Christ enables you to overcome every distraction.

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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 Daily Devotions time this week.

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SESSION

DREAM DUNGEON

We serve a God of surprises.

Abraham waited years for the son God promised, only for God to command him to kill that son—and then provide an animal substitute at the last minute.

Moses murdered a man, then ran away from Egypt—but years later God called him to lead the entire Israelite nation to freedom.

A GOD OF SURPRISE

And Jesus was crucified on a Roman cross—and then raised to life three days later.

You can’t read much of the Bible without noticing that God often does the opposite of what we expect. While He is always faithful to His people, He usually does things differently than we would—and waits a little longer than we’d like!

When you follow God, trials and difficulties still come. However, as we learn from our study of Joseph today, God is always present in those struggles and working for our good. Even when we’re in a dungeon of doom, our dream may be right around the corner—and it may surprise us.

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SHARING together

Each of us has a story. The events of our life—good, bad, wonderful or challenging—have shaped who we are. When we share our stories with others, we give them the opportunity to see God at work. We also realize we’re not alone—others share our fears, doubts, and feelings, and can understand what we’re going through. Take a few minutes to answer these questions, either with the entire group as an icebreaker or one-on-one with another person in the group.

T H I N K O F A S I T U AT I O N I N W H I C H I T SEEMED GOD WAS NOWHERE TO BE F O U N D . I F Y O U F E E L C O M F O R TA B L E , S H A R E I T ( B R I E F LY ! ) W I T H T H E G R O U P.

GROWING together Watch the DVD for this session now. Use the Notes space provided on page __ to record key thoughts, questions, and things you want to remember or follow up on. After you finish watching the video, have someone read the discussion questions below and direct the discussion among the group. As you go through each of the subsequent sections, ask someone else to read the questions and direct the discussion.

P A S T O R L U K E R E M I N D S U S T O L O C K I N O N W H AT W E K N O W. W H AT A R E S O M E T R U T H S Y O U K N O W A B O U T G O D T H AT Y O U C A N C L I N G T O D U R I N G D I F F I C U LT TIMES?

W H Y A R E W E S O Q U I C K T O “ F O L L O W W H AT W E F E E L” ? H O W D I D J O S E P H M O D E L A D I F F E R E N T W A Y TO LIVE?

W H Y I S P AT I E N C E S O I M P O R TA N T W H E N W E ’ R E I N THE DUNGEON?

WHERE IS THE FOG CROWDING INTO YOUR LIFE? WHERE DO YOU NEED CLARITY SO YOU CAN FOLLOW YOUR FAITH INSTEAD OF YOUR FEELINGS?

B R A D S H A R E D T H AT T H E G R E AT E S T D R E A M S A R E O F T E N B I R T H E D O U T O F O U R G R E AT E S T H U R T S .

W H AT A R E S O M E H U R T S T H AT G O D M I G H T B E A B L E T O — S U R P R I S E ! —T U R N I N T O A M I N I S T R Y O R A DREAM IN YOUR LIFE?

“ I T ’ S N O T A B O U T M E .” H O W C A N T H I S AT T I T U D E CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON LIVING IN THE DUNGEON?

WHO HAS BEEN AN ENCOURAGER TO YOUR DREAMS?

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GOD IS NOT NOWHERE. GOD IS NOW HERE. L U K E

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B A R N E T T

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W H AT R E A S O N D O E S J O S E P H G I V E F O R R E F U S I N G POTIPHAR? (VERSE 8-9)

JOSEPH DIDN’T JUST SAY NO TO HER ADVANCES, HE REFUSED “EVEN TO BE WITH HER” (VERSE 10).

W H AT D O E S T H I S T E A C H U S A B O U T D E A L I N G W I T H T E M P TAT I O N ?

READ Genesis 39:20-23.

Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7 and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”

SERVING together

But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife.

How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.

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Joseph used the dungeon to develop his gifts. Before you can conquer the dungeon or fulfill your dream, you need to identify your own gifts and talents. Turn to page __ to discover a list of spiritual gifts mentioned in the Bible and consider which ones you have or think you might have. Consider asking other group members for feedback!

One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. 12 She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.

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P A S T O R L U K E S A Y S I T ’ S I M P O R TA N T T O N O T O N LY DISCOVER OUR GIFTS, BUT TO DEVELOP THEM. ARE T H E R E G I F T S A N D TA L E N T S Y O U N E E D T O S H A R P E N ?

A R E T H E R E W A Y S Y O U C A N D E V E L O P T H O S E TA LENTS BY SERVING THIS GROUP?

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HOW CAN YOU BE A “DREAM RELEASER” FOR SOMEONE ELSE IN YOUR GROUP?

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PRAYING together

STUDY notes

You’ve probably already shared some of your own “dungeon stories” with each other in the course of your discussion, but before you close this session make sure that anyone who wants to has a chance to briefly share with the group. Then break into smaller groups of two or three people and pray the following for each other: • That we would experience God “now here” in our pain • That God would give us the perspective and the strength to sail in the right direction with Him • For patience and peace as we wait for Him to act • For the discipline to sharpen our skills so we can serve Him better Invite group members to share other prayer requests, as well, and write them on your Prayer and Praise report on page ___.

The Indonesian language has no word that means “privacy.” While in our country we value our personal space, our “alone time,” and our independence from others, in Indonesia this is not a cultural value. Instead, when someone finds himself in a private location, the Indonesian word means “a place where he feels lonely.” Being alone automatically equals loneliness, and is to be avoided at all costs!

In day-to-day life you probably value your privacy, but when it comes to our relationship with Jesus, we can relate to the Indonesian perspective. We definitely don’t want to be in a lonely place in life where we have no connection to Him. This week’s study reminds us that there is no place or situation in which we have to experience this kind of loneliness. Romans 8 reminds us: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?...... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

H E I S W I T H Y O U , N O M AT T E R W H E R E Y O U A R E A N D N O M AT T E R W H AT YOU FACE TODAY!

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devotionals

DAILY DAYone DAYtwo DAYthree Read Romans 8:28

Read Isaiah 41:10

Read Matthew 1:23

DAYfour DAYfive DAYsix Read Psalm 143:8

Read Proverbs 29:25

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

Respond:

Respond:

Respond:

Respond:

Respond:

This verse doesn’t say only good things will happen to us if we follow God, but that He can bring good out of all things.

In what part of your life do you need to claim that promise today?

God reminds us over and over in his Word that he is “now here.” Spend some time praying through this verse, asking God to help you have courage and to have insight on how He is working in your life.

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The very name of Jesus means that He is with us! No matter what you are going through today, take comfort in knowing that Jesus is walking you through it.

Remember, God is the power in your sails, but you get to decide the direction. Ask God to help you know the way you should go.

How does worrying about other people’s actions trip us up? Is there something you need to entrust to God today?

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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 Daily Devotions time this week.

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SESSION

FROM DREAM TO DESTINY

“When God closes a door, he opens a window.” This popular saying is not from the Bible, although we’ve heard it and said it so much it may seem like the gospel! But it’s a well-known saying because it contains a nugget of truth—although the journey to our dreams is usually not a smooth path without any problems, we can count on God to make a way even when our next step isn’t obvious. Just because a door closes doesn’t mean the dream is over—it just means God’s got a better plan in mind!

SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY

Today we’re talking about seizing those windows of opportunity.

What does it mean to be ready for our dream, and how do we deal with the problems we encounter along the way? The story of Joseph continues to be a model for us as we move forward on this journey from dream to destiny.

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SHARING together

Each of us has a story. The events of our life—good, bad, wonderful or challenging—have shaped who we are. When we share our stories with others, we give them the opportunity to see God at work. We also realize we’re not alone—others share our fears, doubts, and feelings, and can understand what we’re going through. Take a few minutes to answer these questions, either with the entire group as an icebreaker or one-on-one with another person in the group.

H A V E Y O U E V E R M I S S E D O U T O N A G R E AT OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE YOU DIDN’T ACT IN TIME?

GROWING together Watch the DVD for this session now. Use the Notes space provided on page __ to record key thoughts, questions, and things you want to remember or follow up on. After you finish watching the video, have someone read the discussion questions below and direct the discussion among the group. As you go through each of the subsequent sections, ask someone else to read the questions and direct the discussion.

HOW DOES KNOWING YOUR DREAM IS FROM GOD GIVE YOU SECURITY IN THE MIDST OF TRIALS?

JOSEPH WENT THROUGH A NUMBER OF UP AND DOWN EMOTIONS AND EXPERIENCES ON THE WAY TO HIS DREAM. PASTOR LUKE NAMED SEVERAL: E X C I T E M E N T, P A I N , D I S I L L U S I O N M E N T, H O P E , A N D EVEN DESPAIR. WHICH EMOTIONS HAVE BEEN PART O F Y O U R D R E A M S O F A R ? W H AT C A N Y O U L E A R N F R O M J O S E P H ’ S L I F E T H AT C A N H E L P Y O U D E A L WITH THOSE EMOTIONS?

HOW DO WE GET READY TO “SEE AND SEIZE” OUR WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY? HOW DO WE STAY READY IF WE HAVE BEEN WAITING ON GOD FOR A WHILE?

H O W O P E N A R E Y O U T O TA K I N G R I S K S ?

ON A SCALE OF ONE TO TEN, WITH ONE BEING “I NEVER WANT TO LEAVE MY HOUSE!” AND TEN BEING “I’M UP FOR ANYTHING!” HOW WOULD YOU RANK YOURSELF?

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W H Y I S I T S O I M P O R TA N T T O N O T O N LY F I N D PROBLEMS, BUT ALSO IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS?

W H AT I S T H E D I F F E R E N C E B E T W E E N R E M E M B E R I N G THE PAST AND DWELLING ON IT?

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WHEN YOU GET A GOD-SIZED DREAM, YOU HAVE TO BE READY FOR THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN BECAUSE THE WINDOW ISN’T ALWAYS OPEN... YOU NEED TO BE READY TO SEE IT, AND TO SEIZE IT. A N G E L

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B A R N E T T

READ Genesis 41: 28-40.

W H AT I S T H E P R O B L E M T H AT J O S E P H I D E N T I F I E S ?

W H AT I S H I S S O L U T I O N ?

“It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30 but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. 31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. 32 The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.

W H AT I S S I G N I F I C A N T A B O U T P H A R A O H ’ S Q U E S T I O N IN VERSE 38?

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“And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 35 They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. 36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”

37 The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. 38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?”

R E - R E A D V E R S E S 3 9 - 4 0 . W H AT C A N W E L E A R N F R O M T H E S E V E R S E S A B O U T P U R S U I N G O U R O W N D R E A M S ?

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Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”

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SERVING together Are you read for your dream to come true? If not, what steps do you need to take? As a group, discuss what each of you need to do to be ready for the window of opportunity to open. How can you help someone else in the group to get ready? How could others help you?

Reflect on ____’s story about obeying the call of God, moving from Kansas City to Phoenix, remaining faithful during hard years, and ultimately finding a ministry and a husband at Phoenix First. God had so many good things for her, but she had to take a risk! Sometime our windows of opportunity will be obvious and open right into our comfort zones, but often they will require us to step out in faith. Discuss this idea as a group. Which of you are facing potential risks on the way to your dream? How do you know whether they are opportunities from God? “Every problem is really an opportunity to come up with a solution.” No doubt some members of your group are facing significant problems on the way to their dream. Take some time to brainstorm solutions.

Don’t limit yourself—in fact, dream about how these problems might be solved! Who knows—perhaps this can be the breakthrough for a member of your group.

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PRAYING together

STUDY notes In this week’s video, Pastor Luke reminded us that just as one small seed can produce a plant full of fruit, so our lives can be multiplied when we give them to God.

Are you struggling with any “baggage” like bitterness or unforgiveness that is holding you back from enjoying your dream?

As a group, set aside a few minutes of silence to think about this individually. You might want to write down a list of things that are weighing you down, or write a prayer giving them over to God. After this time of silent reflection, come back together as a group and spend the last few minutes of your gathering talking about what you identified. This might require a high level of vulnerability, so make sure no one feels any pressure to share. Close in prayer.

Invite group members to share other prayer requests, as well, and write them on your Prayer and Praise report on page ___.

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You’ve probably seen this for yourself—if you’ve ever grown a tomato plant in your garden, you know how one small seed can grow into a huge vine full of tomatoes. But think about this: not only does that one seed lead to perhaps 50 tomatoes during a growing season, each one of those tomatoes has more than 50 seeds. And each one of those 50 seeds can grow another plant….. with 50 more tomatoes…..each of which have 50 more seeds.

Pretty soon the number of potential plants and size of the total crop gets bigger than we can comprehend! And that’s how it is when we give our dreams to God. In Matthew 17:20, Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Even the biggest Godsized dream begins with small seeds and small steps. Whatever dream God has put in your heart, keep planting and believing that He will someday produce a harvest bigger than you can imagine.

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devotionals

DAILY DAYone DAYtwo DAYthree Read 1 Timothy 4:12

Read Proverbs 6:6-8

Read Mark 12:25

DAYfour DAYfive DAYsix Read 2 Timothy 1:7

Read Romans 12:12

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!

It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Respond:

Respond:

Respond:

Respond:

Respond:

Joseph was just a young man, but he was a person of character who knew what it meant to follow God. No matter what your age, God has a dream for you!

Just as the ant is motivated to work hard and prepare for the future, we must be ready for the windows God will open. How can you prepare for what’s next in your dream?

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We are commanded to forgive!

What old hurts or resentments do you need to let go of in order to move forward and enjoy your dream?

As you take risks on the way to your dream, it’s tempting to be afraid. Spend some time today asking God for boldness!

This verse gives us three great steps we can take as we get ready for our window of opportunity: hope with joy, endure struggles with patience, and pray faithfully.

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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 Daily Devotions time this week.

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SESSION

DREAM AGAIN

Over and over, we’ve watched the moments on television: the football team wins the Super Bowl, the baseball team wins the World Series, or the Olympian grabs the gold medal.

Suddenly the cameras arein the winners’ faces, and the interviewer asks, “What are you going to do now?”

You know what comes next: “I’m going to Disney World!”

It’s a brilliant marketing strategy on Disney’s part, but the reality is that all of us who have reached our dream are faced with that question: what now? I’ve accomplished what I set out to accomplish. I’ve achieved what I wanted to achieve. I have what I want, or I’ve done what I want, or I’ve become what I want. What do I do now?

Whether you are just beginning to seek your dream or your dream has already come true, the question for all of us today is the same: what’s next?

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I’M GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!

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SHARING together

Each of us has a story. The events of our life—good, bad, wonderful or challenging—have shaped who we are. When we share our stories with others, we give them the opportunity to see God at work. We also realize we’re not alone—others share our fears, doubts, and feelings, and can understand what we’re going through. Take a few minutes to answer these questions, either with the entire group as an icebreaker or one-on-one with another person in the group.

HAVE YOU ALREADY ACHIEVED ONE OF YOUR GOD-GIVEN DREAMS? IF SO, H O W D I D I T F E E L T O A R R I V E AT T H E D E S T I N AT I O N ?

WHO HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGERS IN YOUR LIFE?

GROWING together Watch the DVD for this session now. Use the Notes space provided on page __ to record key thoughts, questions, and things you want to remember or follow up on. After you finish watching the video, have someone read the discussion questions below and direct the discussion among the group. As you go through each of the subsequent sections, ask someone else to read the questions and direct the discussion.

“ Y O U S H O U L D N E V E R C AT C H U P T O Y O U R D R E A M .”

R E A C T T O T H I S S TAT E M E N T. D O Y O U A G R E E ?

HOW ARE OUR DREAMS PART OF THE MEANING OR PURPOSE OF OUR LIVES?

W H AT I S T H E D I F F E R E N C E B E T W E E N A D A R I N G DREAM AND A DAYDREAM? HAVE YOU SETTLED FOR DAYDREAMS?

W H Y I S I T S O I M P O R TA N T N O T T O C O M P A R E Y O U R DREAMS WITH OTHER PEOPLE’S?

HOW DOES QUITTING ONCE MAKE IT EASIER TO QUIT THE NEXT TIME?

D O Y O U H A V E A S U P P O R T S Y S T E M T H AT C A N C H E E R YOU ON AS YOU PURSUE YOUR DREAM? IS SOMEONE I N T H E B A L C O N Y O F Y O U R L I F E ? I F N O T, I S T H E R E SOMEONE IN THE GROUP YOU COULD PARTNER WITH? CONSIDER ASKING ANOTHER GROUP MEMBER T O B E A N A C C O U N TA B I L I T Y A N D E N C O U R A G E M E N T PARTNER FOR THE NEXT MONTH OR THE NEXT T H R E E M O N T H S — W H AT E V E R F E E L S C O M F O R TA B L E FOR THE TWO OF YOU. THEN COMMIT TO PRAYING F O R E A C H O T H E R D A I LY A N D C H E C K I N G I N W I T H EACH OTHER ONCE A WEEK.

W H Y D O E S T E S T I N G A C T U A L LY V A L I D AT E O U R DREAM?

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WITHOUT THE PEOPLE, THE DREAM PERISHES. GOD USES PEOPLE TO CARRY OUT HIS DREAMS. THERE WOULD NOT BE ANY GREAT DREAMS IF THERE WERE NOT DREAM-MAKERS HERE... THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT PUT LEGS TO THE DREAM. T O M M Y

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B A R N E T T

V E R S E 1 2 S A Y S T H AT J E S U S “ T O O K H O L D ” O F U S BECAUSE HE HAS THINGS FOR US TO DO! HOW DOES T H I S C H A N G E Y O U R P E R S P E C T I V E O N W H AT I T MEANS TO DREAM?

READ Genesis 3:12-14.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

W H Y I S I T I M P O R TA N T T O F O C U S O N T H E F U T U R E INSTEAD OF THE PAST?

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SERVING together Your group has experienced a lot together during this study. You’ve grown closer to each other as you’ve shared your dreams and pushed each other to follow God even if you’re in the pit or facing distractions.

Now it’s time to dream together. What is next for your group? How can you harness the dreams of each member to do something greater than you could alone? How can you continue to support each other’s dreams?

Take a few minutes to dream bigger about your own dream. Perhaps turn to the notes pages on __-__ and journal about your dream. What would it look like for you to dream bigger? Be audacious. Write down something you think could never, ever happen. Then be brave—share those wild ideas with the group!

W H AT H A S S U R P R I S E D Y O U D U R I N G T H E S E S I X W E E K S ? W H AT H A V E Y O U L E A R N E D T H AT W I L L C O N T I N U E T O W O R K I N Y O U R H E A R T D U R I N G T H E W E E K S T O C O M E ? W H AT Q U E S T I O N S D O Y O U S T I L L H A V E ?

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PRAYING together

STUDY notes

Pastor Luke reminded us that God can do more than we can ask Him for or even imagine. So now that the group has dreamed together about what might be next, take some time to ask God for His vision and dreams to become real. Ask Him for insight into next steps, the faithfulness to take those steps of faith as He reveals them, and the passion to follow as He does more than you can dream of. Then—celebrate! End with a time of praise and thanksgiving for all He has done in your group and for His love, power, and grace in your lives.

Invite group members to share other prayer requests, as well, and write them on your Prayer and Praise report on page ___.

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Marathon runners like to say that running is 10% physical and 90% mental. Certainly it requires a huge amount of physical training to prepare for such a long race, but those hours of preparation must also include mental conditioning.

“Science has confirmed that performance at the end of an endurance event has as much to do with psychology as physiology,” writes Michelle Hamilton in Runner’s World magazine.

Paul knew this—that’s why he wrote about “straining” toward what’s ahead and “pressing on” to reach the goal. There’s nothing easy about enduring, but our perspective on the challenges can determine how we run the race—and how much joy we have along the way.

Dreams can be like a marathon. They often take months or years to come true. Pastor Tommy says it might take five years! What do you need to focus on as you endure, strain, and press on during this time? It can make all the difference in reaching your dream.

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devotionals

DAILY DAYone DAYtwo DAYthree Read Proverbs 21:5

Read 1 Timothy 4:8

Read Habakkuk 2:3

DAYfour DAYfive DAYsix Read Zephaniah 3:17

Read Proverbs 19:21

The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false.

Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.

He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

Respond:

Respond:

Respond:

Respond:

Respond:

Big moments of breakthrough happen occasionally, but much of success is daily hard work.

How can you be more diligent and consistent in working toward your dream?

To continue the race metaphor, how can you be training for godliness as you pursue your dream? Ask God to grow your character and maturity as you seek His will.

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If you are still waiting for God to reveal His dream for you, do not be discouraged! Continue to ask Him to reveal his revelation to you. It will certainly come!

Take a few minutes today to remember that the great God of dreams is also a loving Father who delights in you. Rest in His presence and His peace.

As we wrap up this study, remember that we are to work hard at identifying and working toward our God-sized dreams— but that ultimately His purposes will come to pass. And those plans are bigger than you can imagine!

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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 Daily Devotions time this week.

appendices

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FREQUENTYLYasked QUESTIONS

What if this group is not working for us?

You’re not alone! This could be the result of a personality conflict, life stage difference, geographical distance, level of spiritual maturity, or any number of things. Relax. Pray for God’s direction, and at the end of this six-week study, decide whether to continue with this group or find another. You don’t buy the first car you test drive or marry the first person you date, and the same goes with a group. Don’t bail out before the six weeks are up–God might have something to teach you. Also, don’t run from conflict or prejudge people before you have given them a chance.

God is still working in you too!

What do we do on the first night of our group?

Like all fun things in life—have a party! A “get to know you” coffee, dinner, or dessert is a great way to launch a new study. It will also help people feel comfortable and welcome. You may want to review the Group Agreement (page 76) and share the names of a few friends you can invite to join. But most importantly, have fun before your study time begins.

Who is the leader?

Where do we find new members for our group?

This can be troubling, especially for new groups that have only a few people or for existing groups that lose a few people along the way. We encourage you to pray with your group and then brainstorm a list of people from work, church, your neighborhood, your children’s school, family, the gym, etc. Then have each group member invite some of the people on his or her list.

Most groups have an official leader. But ideally, the group will mature and members will rotate the leadership of meetings. We have discovered that healthy groups rotate hosts/leaders and homes on a regular basis. This model ensures that all members grow, give their unique contribution, and develop their gifts. Christ has promised to be in your midst as you gather, which means that ultimately, God is your leader each step of the way.

That should give your group (and whoever may be leading each week) confidence.

How do we handle the child care needs in our group?

Very carefully, as this can be a sensitive issue. We suggest that the group spend some time openly brainstorming solutions. You may try one option that works for a while and then adjust over time. Our favorite approach is for adults to meet in the living room or dining room, and to share the cost of a babysitter (or two) who can be with the kids in a different part of the house. That way, parents don’t have to be away from their children all evening when they are too young to be left at home. A second option is to use one home for the kids and a second home (close by or a phone call away) for the adults. A third idea is to rotate the responsibility of providing a lesson or care for the children either in the same home or in another home nearby. This can be an incredible blessing for kids. Finally, the most common idea is to make your own arrangements for child care.

No matter what decision the group makes, the best approach is to talk openly about both the problem and the solution.

No matter how you find members, try to stay on the lookout for new people to join your group. All groups tend to go through healthy attrition– the result of moves, releasing new leaders, ministry opportunities, and so forth–and if the group gets too small, it could be at risk of shutting down.

If you and your group stay open, you’ll be amazed at the people God sends your way. The next person just might become a friend for life. You never know!

How long will this group meet?

It’s totally up to the group. Most groups meet weekly. We strongly recommend that the group meet every week for two six-week sessions.

This allows for continuity, and if people miss a meeting they aren’t gone for a whole month.

At the end of this study, each group member will decide if he or she wants to continue on for another study. Some groups launch relationships for years to come, and others are stepping-stones into another group experience. Either way, enjoy the journey.

Can we do this study on our own?

Absolutely! This may sound crazy but one of the best ways to do a study is not with a full house but with a few friends. You may choose to gather with one other couple who would enjoy going to the movies or having a quiet dinner and then walking through this study. Jesus will be with you even if there are only two of you (Matthew 18:20).

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OUR time TOGETHER

SMALL group AGREEMENT OUR PURPOSE:

To talk about what it means to live a God-first life with a few friends.

Refreshments/mealtimes be provided by: The arrangement for childcare will be: When we will meet (day of week):

Group Attendance

To give priority to the group meeting. We will call or email if we will be late or absent. (Completing the Group Calendar on page 78 will minimize this issue.)

Where we will meet (place): We will begin at (time):

Safe Environment

To help create a safe place where people can be heard and feel loved.

We will do our best to have some or all of us attend a worship service together. Our primary worship service time will be:

Respect Differences

To be gentle and gracious toward people with different spiritual maturity, personal opinions, temperaments, or “imperfections� in fellow group members. We are all works in progress.

Date of this agreement:

Confidentiality

To keep anything that is shared strictly confidential and within the group, and to avoid sharing improper information about those outside the group.

Encouragement for Growth

Accept one another as we are while encouraging one another to grow.

Shared Ownership

To remember that every member is a minister and to ensure that each attender will share a small team role or responsibility over time.

Rotating Hosts/Leaders and Homes

To encourage different people to host the group in their homes, and to rotate the responsibility of facilitating each meeting. (See the Group Calendar on page 78.)

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Date we will review this agreement again:

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SPIRITUAL partners CHECKIN

SMALL group CALENDAR Planning can help ensure the greatest participation at every meeting. At the end of each meeting, review this calendar. Be sure to include a regular rotation of host homes/leaders, and don’t forget birthdays, socials, church events, holidays, and mission/ ministry projects.

My Name: Spiritual Partner’s Name:

LESSON

HOST HOME

REFRESHMENTS

LEADER

Monday Jan 15

1

Bill

Joe

Bill

Week 6

Week 5

Week 4

Week 3

Week 2

DATE

OUR PROGRESS

Week 1

OUR PLAN

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small group leaders

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HOSTING an OPEN HOUSE

LEADING for THE FIRST TIME

If you’re starting a new group, or if this is your first time leading a small group, you should consider planning an “open house” before your first formal group meeting.

Even if you only have two to four core members, it’s a great way to break the ice and to consider prayerfully who else might be open to join you over the next few weeks. You can also use this kick-off meeting to hand out study guides, spend some time getting to know each other, discuss each person’s expectations for the group, and briefly pray for each other.

Sweaty palms are a healthy sign.

A simple meal or good desserts always make a kick-off meeting more fun. After people introduce themselves and share how they ended up being at the meeting, have everyone respond to a few icebreaker questions, like: “What is your favorite family vacation?” or “What is one thing you love about your church/our community?” or “What are three things about your life growing up that most people here don’t know?” Finally, ask everyone to tell what he or she hopes to get out of the study. You might want to review the Small Group Agreement and talk about each person’s expectations and priorities.

You can skip this kick-off meeting if your time is limited, but an open house can help set your group up for success.

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The Bible says God is gracious to the humble. Remember who is in control. Those who are soft in heart (and sweaty palmed) are those whom God is sure to speak through. God wants to use you exactly as you are to lead your group this week.

Seek support.

Ask your co-leader or a close friend to pray for you and prepare with you before the session. Walking through the study will help you anticipate potentially difficult questions and discussion topics.

Prepare.

Prepare. Prepare. Go through the session several times prior to meeting. If you are using the DVD, watch the teaching segment. Consider writing in a journal or fasting for a day to prepare yourself for what God wants to do.

Ask for feedback so you can grow.

Perhaps in an email or on cards handed out at the study, have everyone write down three things you did well and one thing you could improve. Don’t get defensive; instead, show an openness to learn and grow.

Share with your group what God is doing in your heart.

God is searching for those whose hearts are fully his. Share your struggles and your victories. People will relate and your willingness to share will encourage them to do the same.

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LEADERSHIP TRAINING 101

4. Pray for your group members by name. Before you begin your session, go around the room in your mind and pray for each member by name. You may want to review the prayer list at least once a week. Ask God to use your time together to touch the heart of every person uniquely. Expect God to lead you to whomever He wants you to encourage or challenge in a special way. If you listen, God will surely lead!

Thank you! You have responded to the call to help shepherd Jesus’ flock. There are few other tasks in the family of God that are as challenging, rewarding, and humbling as this.

As you prepare to lead – whether it is one session or the entire series – here are a few thoughts to keep in mind. It might be helpful for you to read these and review them before each session.

5. Learn the rhythm of asking questions. When guiding the discussion, always read aloud the transitional paragraphs and the questions.

This will help the group to transition to a time of reflection and response. You can read them yourself, or you can ask for a volunteer, and then be patient until someone begins. Be sure to thank the person who reads aloud.

1. Remember that you are not alone. God knows everything about you, and he knew that you would be asked to lead your group. God promises, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Whether you are leading for one evening or for the whole study, you will be blessed as you serve. It might be helpful to enlist a co-leader to help you lead the group. This is your chance to involve as many people as you can in building a healthy group. All you have to do is call and ask people to help; you’ll be surprised at the response.

2. Just be yourself. Your group needs you to be you! God wants you to use your unique gifts and personality. Don’t try to do things exactly like another leader; do them in a way that fits you. Admit it when you don’t have an answer, and apologize when you make a mistake. Your group will love you for it, and you’ll sleep better at night!

3. Prepare for your meeting ahead of time. Review the session along with the leader’s notes, and write down your responses to each question. Be sure you understand how an exercise works, and bring any necessary supplies (such as paper and pens) to your meeting. If the exercise employs one of the items in the appendix, be sure to look over that item so you’ll be familiar with it. For encouragement, look up each of the five passages listed below. Read each one as a devotional exercise to help equip yourself with a shepherd’s heart. If you do this, you will be more than ready for each meeting.

Matthew 9:36 | 1 Peter 5:2-4 | Psalm 23 Ezekiel 34:11-16 | 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8, 11-12

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When you ask the group a question, be patient. Someone will eventually respond. Sometimes people need a moment or two of silence to think about the question, and if silence doesn’t bother you, it won’t bother anyone else. After someone responds, thank them and then ask if anyone else would like to share. Be sensitive to new people or reluctant members who aren’t ready to say, pray or do anything. If you give them a safe setting, they will open up over time.

6. Be attentive to the needs of the group. If your group has more than seven people, it might be a good idea to gather in discussion circles of three or four people during the DISCUSSION or APPLICATION sections of the study. With a greater opportunity to talk in a small circle, people will connect more with the study.

A small circle also encourages a quiet person to participate and tends to minimize the effects of a more vocal or dominant member.

Small circles are also helpful during prayer time. People who are unaccustomed to praying aloud will feel more comfortable trying it with just two or three others. When you gather back with the whole group, you can have one person summarize the highlights and prayer requests from each circle.

7. Rotate leaders weekly. At the end of each meeting, ask the group who should lead the following week. Let the group help select your weekly facilitator. You may be perfectly capable of leading each time but you will help others grow in their faith and gifts if you give them opportunities to lead. If you and your group prefer, you can use the Small Group Calendar to fill in the names of all meeting leaders at once.

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