How to Win the Battles of Life

 

Study Guide for Week of October 31, 2021 

This Week Reading: Isaiah 54:1-17

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 Here as in Heaven  (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): How would your life change if you knew you could overcome everything in Jesus' power?

G. Read Background Information: 

Isaiah is giving this prophacy (word from God) to God's people - His followers. they are in a terrible situation where they have failed God (they turned to other things and away from God) and have suffered the consequences of God's judgment. This prophacy is intended to encourage them in this difficult time. See how each part can apply to your life today.  

Verse Outline: Some Key Points to Discuss - Promises God has made.

       I.                 I.           God’s Promise of Faithful Love – verse 1-10

 Key Concept: Circumstances including battles, storms and trials do not change how God views us or loves us

Key Verse: Romans 5:8 God demonstrated His own love for us in this, while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

Community Group Application: Regular participation in church services and a community group and listening room time with God remind us of God’s faithful love 

 

       I.                 II.        God’s Promise of Restoration - verse 11-14

Key Concept: Jesus is in the restoration business

Key Verse: Joel 2:25-26 “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten— the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm my great army that I sent among you.

Community Group Application: Community group members go through the growth track training and the community group training and experience restoration.  

III.   God’s Promise of Victory - verse 15-17

Key Concept: No demon in hell, no battle in life can defeat Jesus’ church and Jesus followers. We will be victorious.

Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:7 For we live by faith, not by sight

Community Group Application: Community group members understand the importance of memorizing scripture

     II.    H. Word: - read the scriptures above in portions - 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.