Discovering Obstacles to Your Breakthrough

Preparing for Your Breakthrough Series

Discovering the Obstacles to Your Breakthrough 

Study Guide 

Message for Sunday August 25, 2019

This Week Reading:  Joshua 7:1-13  

Main Themes:  Disobedience, Sin, Obstacles; Consequences   

Background Information:

Joshua, the leader of the army of Israel has just experienced a great victory over the city of Jericho. The walls which were an impossibility for them were knocked down as they obeyed God. In this chapter they are fighting against a smaller city, the City of AI. However Joshua and the army were defeated and forced to run - retreat.  What happened? Why wasn't God with them? Why the obstacle?

God had told them that when they defeated Jericho all of the spoil (gold, silver, animals, people etc) belonged to God and no one was to take it for themselves. Note: Usually in war at that time the winner took all the property and people (spoils) of the loser. With Jericho God told them not to do that but to dedicated it to God in sacrifice (called in verse 18-19 of chapter 6 things devoted to God). They disobeyed that command from God. Let's see what happens.

Point of Light Group Guide: 

A. Welcome: Welcome everyone especially new persons and read out loud the purpose of your group:

Our goal is to grow as disciples of Jesus and to make disciples of other people by inviting them to our group. Each person here has the potential to start and be the leader of a new group and build God's kingdom. 

B. Worship Time: Spend a few minutes singing a worship song. Here is one you may want to use Holy Spirit  (or pick your own on YouTube make sure it has the lyrics on the screen)

C. Opening Question: Can you think of any examples in your life or in general where not doing things God's way resulted in failure or problems?

D. Read Background Information

E. Word: Read Joshua 7:1-13 aloud together. (Goal is that everyone understand the Bible story - keep at it until everyone knows the story)

1. Have someone tell the story in their own words

2. Ask others to add any details that were missed

3. When all the details are filled in have some to tell the story in their own words.

F. Discuss the following general questions together (Goal is to use these general questions to guide a discussion. use the general questions and the digging deeper questions however you see fit and whatever order you think best)

1. What new thing did you discover in the story that you did not know before?

2. Put yourself in Joshua's position. How do you think he felt? What was he thinking? Can you relate to him? 

3. What did you learn about God from the story? 

4. What do you learn about people from the story?

5. What important lessons for us do you see in this story?

6. What will you take away from this discussion?

7. What will you do with what you have learned? (make sure everyone answers this)  

E. Digging Deeper Questions: (You may want to divide into 2 groups men and women separate): 

1. What is a good definition of sin?

2. A key concept in the story is that sin (disobeying God's ways) has bad consequences. What examples of that have you experienced in your own life? 

3. What sin in your life right now is an obstacle for you in your life? 

4. How do you intend to remove it ? Be specific. 

F. Prayer Time: 

                 1. Pray for an empty chair representing new people who you want to join                                     the group. Name names of people specifically.

                 2. Pray for the needs of the members of the group. It is best to divide into 2                               groups one of male and the other female.

G. For Next time:

                 1. Assign group members to do different parts of the meeting as you prepare them)                      (Opening Question; Prayer Time; Read Background info; lead group)

                 2. Ask each person the name of a person they will invite to the group for next week.