Study Guide for Week of August 18, 2024
This Week's Scripture: Isaiah 35:1-10
Crossroads Community Group Guide
A. Welcome: Welcome everyone, especially new people, and read aloud 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 (Optional): Spend a few minutes singing a worship song. Here is one you may want to use: I I Give You My Heart (or pick your own YouTube video that shows the lyrics.)
E. Upcoming Events: Crossroads Website
F. Review:
- How did you do with what you want to apply from last week?
- Who did you invite to the group for this week?
G. Opening Question (an icebreaker - a simple question to introduce the main theme):
- Why do people lose hope in their lives at times?
H. Background Information for this study:
Isaiah was a prophet and he prophasized about 600 years before Jesus came. The people of israel were living in defeat. They had failed God and everything had fallen apart for them. They had lost everything. In that context God sends a prophecy of HOPE through Isaiah to the people.
The prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus came. Note that the prophecy inclueds what Jesus did in His ministry (healing the blind etc,). When John the Baptist is ready to give up in prision he send messengers to Jesus to ask if Jesus is the one. Jesus quotes Isaiah 35 in His answer (Matthew 11:4-5). Hope is here now. We have not only the hope of Jesus return in the future at His second coming but his hope is here now - streams in the desert. Jesus told the woman at the well (John 4) thise who believe will have (present) streams of living water now, As we connect and live in Jesus we drink from those streams in our own personal desert today.
First Section: Isaiah 35:1-4. The prophecy given in a time of hopelessness. A prophecy of hope for the future (note word will).
Second Section: Isaiah 35:5-7. The prophecy fullfilled in Jesus. (note word then)
Third Section: Isaiah 35:8-10. How we live now and in the future.
In this study be sure to make a practical application to each section. Make application to your life including what you will do to tell other people the message.
This weeks Bible memory verse: Hebrews 6:19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
J. Word: Read the scriptures above by section. Read it in smaller portions aloud together several times. (The goal is for everyone to 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 and catches your attention?5. What details can you add to what others in the group have said?
K. Discuss the following general questions together. (The goal is to use these general questions to guide a discussion. The leader should not speak for 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?
L. Commitment - Obedience - Application
(This is the key - have everyone answer this question.)
- What specifically will you commit to apply in your life from this study?
- Pray for your group to multiply.
- Ask each other how you are doing spiritually.
- Pray for the needs of the members of your group
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