The Best is Yet to Come

 

Study Guide for Week of January 2, 2021 

This Week Reading: Haggai Chapter 1 and Chapter 2: 1-9

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 Do It Again  (or pick your own on YouTube make sure it has the lyrics on the screen)

D.    Ten Minute Message Recap                                                                   

       

E. Weekly Resources and Upcoming Events:     Crossroads Web Site        

F. 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?

G. Opening Question (a simple question to introduce the main theme - called an icebreaker): Why is it sometimes difficult to believe a promis of God in the Bible?

H. Background Information for this study: 

True Story - They were broken, they were in distress, they felt helpless and weak  – their lives had been turned upside down – seemed like everything was changing – country invaded and destroyed – temple where they worship God burned to ground – they were demoralized, weak, stressed, People they knew and loved were gone – few in number and weak - they had memories of how things used to be before all these things happened. That was the situation of God's people. Now they were back in their own land and it was time to rebuild God's temple. – God through prophet Haggai calls them to rebuild and restore – they say yes ok we will rebuild and restore our lives and God’s house (chapter 1) 

Today - 2022 - God call us to rebuild our broken lives

Today 2022 - God Call us to rebuild his church – his kingdom (not building)

God gives us 3 keys in Haggai for rebuilding our lives and His kingdom

Key One: Be Strong and Work

Key Two: Trust God’s provision –

Key Three: Never Forget His Promise (Decree)

I. Verse Outline: Some Key Points to Discuss - Key Charachteristics of Believing

       I.        I.               Key One: Be Strong and Work – Chapter 1: 1-15 and 2:1-4)

Key Concept: Satan seeks to make you doubt to discourage you so you will not go forward.  

Key Verse: Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Community Group Application: The only way to find true restoration and to rebuild is in community with others

Not

       I.      II. Key Two: Trust God’s Provision – verses 2:5-8

Key Concept: God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s provision. (Hudson Taylor)

Key Verse: Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Community Group Application: Memorizing scripture in the community group training system is key to walking strong in the Lord.

Fi      III. Key Three: Never Forget His Promise (Decree) – verses 9

Key Concept: God’s promises are statements of fact that have not been manifest in our space and time yet.
Key Verse: Romans 8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Community Group Application: We Build Together, We Work Together We Pray Together knowing that the best is yet to come!

     II.    I. 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 jumps out at you - catches your attention?
5. What details can you add to what others in the group have said?

J. 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?

 
K. 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:  Break up into smaller groups of 3-4 - groups of the same sex           

       1. Pray for your group to multiply.

       2. Ask each other how you are doing spiritually               

       3.Pray for the needs of the members of the group. .

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