the leap of faith!
FLBC Community Group Discussion Guide April 8, 2018
Session #2
“Choosing a Life of Faith!” Series A 10-week series on faith from Heb. 11.
Series Time Frame: April 1---June 3, 2018 Key Verse for Series: Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
THE LEAP OF FAITH! Sermon Verses: Hebrews 11:5 “By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.” Genesis 5:21-24 “Enoch lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah. 22 Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters. 23 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. 24 Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.”
Sermon Summary: The life story of Enoch was probably the first ever and most famous case of a missing person. What we remember Enoch for most is that God took him away from the Earth in a mysterious way. The only man in history to escape death and be transported to Heaven was Enoch! God made an example of Enoch because of his spectacular faith. What was so special about Enoch’s faith? The verses above describe that Enoch walked with God. This study will examine what it means to walk with God, especially as we wait for the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Discussion Questions: 1. Walking involves moving in a direction and progressing toward a goal. The general direction of Enoch’s life was pleasing to God: so much so, that God did not let Enoch die. Whatever God’s purpose for Enoch’s life was, Enoch just agreed and went with God. How can we discover God’s purpose for our lives? How can we start moving in a direction that is pleasing to God?
1
2. The image of two people walking alongside each other is a biblical metaphor for interpersonal relationships. You can’t walk beside someone else for long without getting to know something about them. The longer you spend time with a person, the more you share each other’s deepest sorrows and greatest joys. If you share life together long enough with another person, you get to know each other very well. How should that image impact our relationship with God? How can we get to know Christ better? 3. Enoch’s life took a dramatic turn when he had a child, Methuselah. After the baby was born, Enoch chose to walk with God. We don’t know the details of what happened, but Enoch experienced something traumatic enough to change his life forever. How can the birth of a child help us develop our relationship with God? What part should faith play in being a parent today? 4. After Methuselah was born, Enoch walked with God, having many other children born to his family. The addition of other children indicates that Enoch was living a normal life, like everyone around him. The difference in Enoch’s life, as compared to others, was that he lived each day by faith. What would living by faith look like in our world today? Have you had an experience when you chose faith, even in the face of challenges? 5. Jude describes Enoch as being a preacher of God’s coming judgement (Jude 1:14-15). Enoch lived out his faith by sharing his faith with others. How can we share our faith with others? Give an example of how God used you to help someone else understand the gospel of Jesus. 6. Discuss the Connection Points below from the sermon on Sunday and see how they apply to your lives.
Connection Points: 1. Salvation Step (Choose to trust in Christ today and start walking with him each day.) 2. Journey Journal (Take time to write out your thoughts as you study scripture and pray this week.) 3. Easter Follow-up (Connect again with those you invited to Easter worship and invite them again next week.) 4. Merger Ministry (Make preparation to welcome Holt Baptist Church next Sunday on Joint BS/Worship day.) 5. Memorize: Micah 6:8 “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?”
2
Ministry Focus: On Sunday, April 15th, our church will host a joint Bible Study and Worship with our friends from Holt Baptist Church. Take a few minutes to pray for the proposed merger of our two congregations, asking God to show you how you can trust him through this process, and how you can serve others in the coming weeks.
3
Session #2
“Choosing a Life of Faith!” Series A 10-week series on faith from Heb. 11.
Series Time Frame: April 1---June 3, 2018 Key Verse for Series: Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
THE LEAP OF FAITH! Sermon Verses: Hebrews 11:5 “By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.” Genesis 5:21-24 “Enoch lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah. 22 Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters. 23 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. 24 Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.”
Sermon Summary: The life story of Enoch was probably the first ever and most famous case of a missing person. What we remember Enoch for most is that God took him away from the Earth in a mysterious way. The only man in history to escape death and be transported to Heaven was Enoch! God made an example of Enoch because of his spectacular faith. What was so special about Enoch’s faith? The verses above describe that Enoch walked with God. This study will examine what it means to walk with God, especially as we wait for the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Discussion Questions: 1. Walking involves moving in a direction and progressing toward a goal. The general direction of Enoch’s life was pleasing to God: so much so, that God did not let Enoch die. Whatever God’s purpose for Enoch’s life was, Enoch just agreed and went with God. How can we discover God’s purpose for our lives? How can we start moving in a direction that is pleasing to God?
1
2. The image of two people walking alongside each other is a biblical metaphor for interpersonal relationships. You can’t walk beside someone else for long without getting to know something about them. The longer you spend time with a person, the more you share each other’s deepest sorrows and greatest joys. If you share life together long enough with another person, you get to know each other very well. How should that image impact our relationship with God? How can we get to know Christ better? 3. Enoch’s life took a dramatic turn when he had a child, Methuselah. After the baby was born, Enoch chose to walk with God. We don’t know the details of what happened, but Enoch experienced something traumatic enough to change his life forever. How can the birth of a child help us develop our relationship with God? What part should faith play in being a parent today? 4. After Methuselah was born, Enoch walked with God, having many other children born to his family. The addition of other children indicates that Enoch was living a normal life, like everyone around him. The difference in Enoch’s life, as compared to others, was that he lived each day by faith. What would living by faith look like in our world today? Have you had an experience when you chose faith, even in the face of challenges? 5. Jude describes Enoch as being a preacher of God’s coming judgement (Jude 1:14-15). Enoch lived out his faith by sharing his faith with others. How can we share our faith with others? Give an example of how God used you to help someone else understand the gospel of Jesus. 6. Discuss the Connection Points below from the sermon on Sunday and see how they apply to your lives.
Connection Points: 1. Salvation Step (Choose to trust in Christ today and start walking with him each day.) 2. Journey Journal (Take time to write out your thoughts as you study scripture and pray this week.) 3. Easter Follow-up (Connect again with those you invited to Easter worship and invite them again next week.) 4. Merger Ministry (Make preparation to welcome Holt Baptist Church next Sunday on Joint BS/Worship day.) 5. Memorize: Micah 6:8 “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?”
2
Ministry Focus: On Sunday, April 15th, our church will host a joint Bible Study and Worship with our friends from Holt Baptist Church. Take a few minutes to pray for the proposed merger of our two congregations, asking God to show you how you can trust him through this process, and how you can serve others in the coming weeks.
3
