Time to Party - The Secret of Joy

 

Study Guide for Week of August 1, 2021 

This Week Reading: Nehemiah 8:1-12

Crossroads Community Group Guide:
A. Welcome: Welcome everyone especially new persons and read out loud the purpose of your group
B. Purpose: Our purpose is to spread the Kingdom of God. We do this by multiplying groups of people who care for each as God's family. We begin by inviting new people to our group and building them to be followers of Jesus. Each person here has the potential to be empowered to start and be the leader of a new group and spread God's kingdom.

C. Worship Time: Spend a few minutes singing a worship song. Here is one you may want to use Nothing Else  (or pick your own on YouTube make sure it has the lyrics on the screen)

D. Announcements

1. Weekly Resources on Crossroads Facebook Page    

        Monday: Listening Room Resources for the week

        Children's resource each week  

2. Daily Devotional Video: The Encouraging Word with Pastor Willie

3. Announcements and Events:  Crossroads Web Site

4. Watch the Sunday service here Sunday 11:45am

E. Review   

1. How did you do with what you wanted to apply from last week?
2. Who did you invite to the group for this week?

F. Opening Question (a simple question to introduce the main theme - called an icebreaker): What types of things do people look to to find joy other than God?

G. Read Background Information: 

Nehemiah was a governor of the people of Israel under the Persian King Artaxerxes. The Jewish people had turned away from God and God had allowed their land to be taken over and the people sent to exile in Babylon. They had sought other things other than God. Now they were back in their land rebuilding their lives. Chapter 819 describe a scene where the people all gather together to hear the law of Moses read aloud and explained to them. the law of Moses refers to the first 5 books of the Bible. It is certain the ten commandments and other laws God had given them were rad and explained. the people's response is to cry and repent of turning away from God the source of true joy and fulfilment.  

As you lead this study make a relationship with how the Israelite people turn away from God to the different ways people today turn away from God to seek joy elsewhere.

Verse Outline: Some key Points to discuss 

I. Ingredient One: Recognizing Counterfeit Joy – verse 5-6

Key Concept: Counterfeit joy offers short term feelings of joy which end in emptiness. True joy lasts in all situations.

Key Verse:  Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit Ephesians 5:18

Community Group Application: Community Group members recognized counterfeit joy and reach others who look good but are empty

II.  Ingredient Two: Repentance and Forgiveness – verses 9

Key Concept: True joy is built on deep personal repentance and receiving God’s forgiveness through Jesus

Key Verse: Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord Acts 3;19

Community Group Application: community group leaders explain God’s word to the members of the group so they will repent and find true joy  

III. Ingredient Three: Gathering together to celebrate   – verse 10-12

Key Concept: When you experience the true joy of forgiveness it is time to celebrate

Key Verse: Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them. Nehemiah 8:12

Community Group Application: Community Groups gather each week to celebrate the true joy they have found 

     II.    H. Word: - read Nehemiah 8:1-12 break it down into smaller portions to read. Read it in portions aloud together several times. (Goal is that everyone understand the Bible story or verses by retelling them in their own words - keep at it until everyone knows the story or verses)

1. What key (important) words do you see in these verses?
2. Tell in your own words what happens in these verses.
3. What are the details?
4. What details can you add to what others in the group have said?

I. Discuss the following general questions together (Goal is to use these general questions to guide a discussion - the leader should not speak more than 30% of the time - let the group discover what God is saying to them).
1. What catches your attention in these verses?

2. What new thing did you discover in the story or verses that you did not know before?
3. What did you learn about God (Father, Jesus or Holy Spirit) 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?

 
J. Commitment - Obedience - Application  (This is the key - have everyone answer this question): 
1. What in specific will you commit to apply in your life from this study? 

K. Prayer Time:                
1. Pray for an empty chair representing new people who you want to join your group. Name names of people specifically. 

2. Pray for your group to multiply.               
3. 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.

L. For Next time:                
1. Ask each person the name of a person they will invite to the group                                         for next week.