FALL, 2013 – WESTWOOD CHURCH – St. Cloud, MN
Six Week BibleTalk Series – Five to Six Week Small Group Study
Sept 15 - David’s Hand-off to Solomon, part 2
A.
For getting acquainted with the people in your group: NAME A FAVORITE
ELEMENTARY TEACHER AND A FAVORITE HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER OF YOURS?
HOMESCHOOLERS ARE EXEMPT FROM THIS QUESTION. :)
B.
IN LESS THAN TWO MINUTES, TELL US ABOUT ANOTHER MENTOR OF YOURS
(WHO WAS NOT A SCHOOL TEACHER). (LEADERS, PLEASE USE A TIMER!)
C.
For getting acquainted with your Bible: AS A GROUP, SPEND A FEW MINUTES
LEARNING THE REVERSE ALPHABETICAL ORDER OF THE BIBLE BOOKS: SAMUEL,
KINGS, CHRONICLES (AND THE BIBLICAL ORDER OF GENESIS THROUGH RUTH)
NEXT—The Hand-off to New Generations
It's all over the pages of the Bible. It's trending in business and education circles
right now. It's about passing on something that we value dearly. It goes by a bunch
of different names—coaching, training, discipling, mentoring...even, parenting. It's
the theme for Westwood's fall BibleTalks. It's also the topic for Westwood's fall
(BibleTalk-based) small groups.
Sept 8 - David’s Hand-off to Solomon, part 1
2 Sam 7:1-29; 1 Kings 5:1-5; 1 Chron 21:18 - 23:6
Sept 15 - David’s Hand-off to Solomon, part 2
1 Chron 21:18 - 23:6; 28; 29:18-19
Sept 22 - Elijah’s Hand-off to Elisha
1 Kings 18-19; 2 Kings 2:1-18
Sept 29 - Moses’ Hand-off to Joshua
Exod 17:8-16; 24:12-18; 32:15-20; 33:7-11; Num 11:26-30; 13 - 14; 27:12-23;
34:1-17; Josh 1
1. David prepared for a fumble-free hand-off to Solomon...
1. WHAT CAN EXPERIENCED PREDECESSORS DO (OR PROVIDE) TO HELP THEIR
FOLLOWERS BE SUCCESSFUL? BE SPECIFIC. (YOU WILL WANT TO REVISIT THIS
QUESTION LATER IN THE DISCUSSION.)
2.
HOW CAN EARLIER GENERATIONS MAKE PERSONAL SACRIFICE FOR THE SAKE
OF NEW GENERATIONS IN AN EXTENDED FAMILY OF RELATIVES?
Oct 6 - Jesus’ Hand-off to Peter
Matt 14:22-32; 16:13-19; Mark 14:27-42, 53-54, 66-72; Luke 5:1-11; John 21:1-23
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Oct 13 - Paul’s Hand-off to Timothy
1 Tim 1:12-17; 2 Tim 1:5; 2:2; 3:10-17
GOING OFF-ROAD: WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF MENTORING YOUR OWN
OFFSPRING? THE DISADVANTAGES?
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SHOULD BUSINESS OWNERS BRING THEIR OWN KIDS INTO “THE BUSINESS?”
SHOULD MINISTERS BRING IN THEIR OWN KIDS?
Lessons and discussions include:
Choosing Someone to Take the Hand-off – Preventing Fumbles – Insuring a
Mentoree’s Success – Getting Started – Watching a Disciple Do More – Learning
from Others’ Experiences – Trusting Mentors; Trusting Mentorees – Getting Closer
than a Brother – Making Mistakes and Moving On – Overcoming Barriers
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For small groups, one-to-one get-togethers, families at home
Study questions available online by Friday before the Sunday BibleTalk and at
the Connection Pointe on the Sunday of the BIbleTalk
Questions include those
o for getting acquainted with each other
o for digging into the Scriptures
o for learning together
o for applying to real life
o for proodling (praying + noodling)
o for long-range consideration
“Off-Road” questions provide additional topics besides mentoring
Leaders will be encouraged to facilitate regular prayer times
o for God to pair older generations with new generations
o for mutual respect and support between generations
o for God’s blessings on Westwood’s #MultiplyMy20 campaign
o for continued gratitude for generous and sacrificial givers
A. by recruiting and organizing Solomon’s teammates.
1 CHRONICLES 22:17-19; 28:1-8; 23:1-6
3.
WHAT SPECIFICS DO NEW GENERATIONS ABSOLUTELY NEED FROM PREVIOUS
GENERATIONS? WHAT DON’T THEY NEED THAT IS OCCASIONALLY FORCED ON
THEM ANYWAY...WHICH SOMETIMES LIMITS THEM?
4.
WHY DOES THE NEW GENERATION SOMETIMES WANT TO “DO IT MYSELF?”
WHEN IS THAT GOOD? WHEN ISN’T IT?
5.
IN WHAT WAYS CAN EARLIER GENERATIONS MAKE PREPARATIONS FOR NEW
GENERATIONS TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND GOD’S KINGDOM? IN OUR HOMES? IN
WESTWOOD CHURCH? IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS? IN OUR NATION?
(CONSIDER TANGIBLES LIKE PROPERTY, MONEY, ETC., AND INTANGIBLES LIKE
CHARACTER QUALITIES, EDUCATION, SPIRITUAL SENSITIVITY, ETC.)
6.
WHY DOES A GOOD HAND-OFF REQUIRE GOOD ORGANIZATION?
7.
COMPARE OR CONTRAST DIFFERENT GENERATIONS’ APPRECIATION OF
ORGANIZATION...AND APTITUDE FOR ORGANIZATION.
8.
9.
WHAT DO CHILDREN LEARN OR “CATCH” FROM THE ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS
(OR LACK OF) FROM THEIR PARENTS AND EARLIER GENERATIONS?
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GOING OFF-ROAD: HOW DOES AN OVERWHELMING GROUP OF PARTICIPANTS
ADVANCE A CAUSE?
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WHEN CAN THE “HERD” BE A LIABILITY INSTEAD OF AN ASSET?
2. Everyone celebrated!
1 CHRONICLES 29:10-25
16. WHAT DID DAVID GET (OR RECEIVE) FROM HIS HAND-OFF? WHAT DID
SOLOMON GET? WHAT DID THE PEOPLE GET? WHAT DID GOD GET?
WHAT SHOULD ORGANIZATION-CHALLENGED PEOPLE DO?
10. READ 1 CHRONICLES 21:1-7. WHEN DOES MANAGEMENT GO TOO FAR? WHEN
DOES TOO MUCH ORGANIZATION UNDERMINE MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS?
B. by contributing his own money for the project.
1 CHRONICLES 29:1-5a
11. CAN YOU CONJECTURE AS TO WHY GOD USUALLY UTILIZES A SYSTEM IN
WHICH MINISTRY PROJECTS REQUIRE JESUS-FOLLOWERS’ TO MAKE MONEY
CONTRIBUTIONS? (SEE MATTHEW 6:19-21: ACTS 20:32-35; LUKE 6:38.)
C. by inviting everyone else to donate to the project.
1 CHRONICLES 29:5b-9
12. WHAT MAKES MODELING EFFECTIVE IN HAND-OFFS? WHEN ISN’T IT?
13. IS “’CUZ EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING IT” A GOOD MOTIVATION FOR GIVING?
WHEN MIGHT IT NOT BE?
14. IN LIGHT OF YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE AND YOUR
UNDERSTANDING OF HUMANITY, DO YOU THINK ALL THE PEOPLE
PARTICIPATED AT THE SAME LEVEL OF FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS? EXPLAIN.
15. WHAT’S MORE IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO GIVING TO GOD’S
WORK/WORKERS: THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS OR THE NUMBER OF TOTAL
DOLLARS? A FEW “HEAVY HITTERS” OR LOTS OF CONTRIBUTORS?
17. WHAT ARE THE BLESSINGS OLDER GENERATIONS GET FROM A SUCCESSFUL
HAND-OFF TO NEW GENERATIONS? WHAT DO OBSERVERS GET FROM IT?
3. David prayed for everyone—his son, his people—to follow God.
1 CHRONICLES 29:18-19
18. HOW IS DAVID’S PRAYER FOR SOLOMON A MODEL FOR EARLIER
GENERATIONS’ TO PRAY? COMPARE WITH DAVID’S CHARGE TO SOLOMON IN
1 KINGS 2:1-4.
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GOING OFF-ROAD: HOW DID YOUR PARENTS SET YOU UP FOR SUCCESS?
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CAN THE STEREOTYPICAL DAD WHO SEARCHES FOR FULFILLMENT THROUGH
HIS SON’S SPORTS PROWESS LEARN ANYTHING FROM DAVID AND SOLOMON?
CONCLUSION
19. HOW CAN WE PASS OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AND INSIGHTS ON TO THE NEXT
GENERATIONS?
20. HOW DOES THE ANSWER TO THE PREVIOUS QUESTION CHANGE WITH THE AGE
OF THE ONE GIVING THE ANSWER?
21. WHO IN THE NEW GENERATIONS CAN YOU MAYBE HAND OFF TO? HOW CAN
YOU PREPARE TO PASS YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES AND/OR YOUR INSIGHTS ON?