Week 3 For the week of April 21,
2013
From Joey to You:
LIFEgroup BIG IDEA:
LONE HILL RELAUNCH:
If you have never been to Lone Hill, we would love to have you come and check it out! It’s a great place to go
with your LIFEgroup, plus the LIFEgroups Pastor David Sill is also the Campus Pastor. April 28th the campus
is having a new relaunch, with very intentional outreach, devoted fellowship, and even a kids ministry for ages
5 and under. Consider switching things up and coming to visit, Sunday at 10am or 11:30am. See you there!
LIFEstudy: “Prayer”
CONNECT: (10+ minutes)
> Have you ever felt like God set you up for failure?
> What are some areas of your life that you find difficult to trust God with?
> Have you ever felt like you were less valuable to Jesus than some other people?
INTRODUCTION TO THE THEME:
God has been very good to me. I haven’t always felt that way though. God has had plans for me that,
had I known about them in advance, I would have been very upset to hear about. In hindsight, I can be
grateful as I am living in the after-math, but as things were happening, struggling to figure out what God
was doing and why was very difficult.
I’m sure that many of us have been there. You know God is moving, but you don’t know what he’s
doing, and sometimes the things that are happening are devastating. Sometimes it’s the result of moral
failure, which if we’re being honest, we bring upon ourselves. But what about when no moral failure has
taken place? And yet the pain still comes. Where is God then? What is he doing? Sometimes it’s
frustrating feeling like helpless clay in the hands of a potter…
Read Romans 9:19-23
Romans 9:19-23
Well then, you might say, “Why does God blame people for not responding? Haven’t they simply done
what he makes them do?”20 No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God?
Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21
When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar
for decoration and another to throw garbage into? 22 In the same way, even though God has the right to
show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for
destruction. 23 He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows
mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory.
REVIEW: (10-15 minutes)
Spend some time reviewing sermon notes and any follow-up from previous discussion.
Q - Looking back at the sermon and personal study from this week’s message, was there anything that
particularly caught your attention, challenged you, or confused you?
DISCOVER: (20+ minutes)
Remember to ask for general observations about each passage before getting into the questions.
Considering Romans 9:19-23 answer the following Questions…
1. What do you think Paul is referring to when he asks the question, “Didn’t they do what God makes them
do?” (9:19)
2. How would you answer this question? ie. If they sin isn’t it God’s fault since he made them?
3. In vs20 Paul makes the statement, “Who are you to argue with God?” Does this mean we are not
allowed to go to God with our doubts and frustrations?
4. In vs20 Paul implies that we are as God makes us. If that is true, what does that mean for the person
who struggles with a particular sin far more than another might?
James 1:13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, "God is tempting me." God is never
tempted to do wrong and he never tempts anyone else.
5. Considering James 1:13, even though one struggles with sin, and even though God created them in
such a way that they may be more vulnerable to a particular sin than others might be, God never
tempts anyone to sin. What then might be God’s motivation behind making people the way he does?
6. God’s plans sometimes involve pain. Do you ever feel like God sets you up for failure or makes
plans with the intent to harm you? Be honest…
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not
to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
7. Considering Jeremiah 29:11, how to you reconcile the feelings of being setup for defeat with God flat out
declaration that his plan for you is not harm, but to give hope and a future?
8. In vs21 Paul says some of us are like decorations made of clay and others are like trashcans. Hard
verse. What are your thoughts on that?
1 Corinthians 12:22-24 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the
most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we
carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24 while the more honorable parts do not require this
special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have
less dignity.
9. What light might 1 Corinthians 12 shed on the issue of one being ‘made into a garbage can’?
10. When you read that some are ‘destined for destruction,’ what is your first reaction to what that
means (vs22)?
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being
patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.
11. As a group, reconcile this verse with the implication in Romans that God predestines some to
destruction.
12. In vs22-23, it says God treats people, both those destined to destruction and salvation, in a certain
way. What way is that?
13. Why does God do this?
14. Who is the most perfect person who ever lived?
15. Who is the person who suffered more than anyone who has ever lived?
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should
not perish but have eternal life.
16. What was the purpose of Jesus’ death and horrific suffering?
17. Jesus’ life was lived in complete fulfillment of God’s plan. Pain and all. What would have happened
if Jesus had not suffered?
18. Perhaps you are going through a season of feeling like God’s garbage can. Many people in scripture
have felt similarly. Moses suffered to lead the people of Israel to the Promised Land. Jeremiah
suffered to bring the message of restoration to the Jewish people. Paul suffered to spread the Gospel
to the Gentiles. Jesus suffered to save the world. At the end of the day, God used the suffering of his
people to bring salvation to those destined for damnation. As a group, discuss what God might be
doing through your suffering, what meaning and purpose he might be bringing out of it, and what
things the other group members and CCV might be able to do to help and support you.
19. If anyone needs to rededicate their lives or pray to trust God through their suffering, do so together
now.
PRAY: (15+ minutes)
Gender Breakouts: At least once a month, split up the women and men for prayer time.
Requests: (make sure you pray for each person’s “One Life”)