Study for the week following Sunday 12th October
Home Group Study Material
Study leaders notes 20 minutes!!!
this sentence is not to be read out it is for the leader only.
in our discussion we will think about
where to look for answers when times are tough.
The sentences in blue are supplementary questions which can be used if & as necessary. The statements in red are possible answers that you may wish to draw out in your discussion. Other pointers are in purple.
(8 mins)
1i. When you are going through a difficult time in your life,
do you ever grumble? Either internally or to someone else.
Do you ever grumble at God?
Is it OK to grumble at God?
1ii. Can you think of any reasons why, if you’re in the place God wants you to be and you are doing what God wants you to do, why things might be tough?
Life is just sometimes hard.
Difficulties can be the opportunity for us to grow / grow stronger.
When we are doing what is right, there is someone who wants it to fail. 1 Peter 5:8&9
Read Exodus 17:1-7
(7 mins)
2i. From the reading, can you think of any reason why God might have led the people to a place where there was no water?
Gave opportunity to grow trust.
7Is the Lord among us or not?
Confirmation that God is with them and with Moses their leader.
2ii. Can you think of any other episodes in the bible where God used something seemingly bad to prove his presence?
healing of blind man John 9:1ff - Neither this man nor his parents sinned, said Jesus, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.
Raising of Lazarus John 11:41&42 - Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.
(5 mins)
3. Following our discussions, are there any ways in which we should approach hard times differently in future …
…as individuals?
…as a parish?
(In your discussion see if you can think of some examples
of how our ideas can be applied)
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