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Date: August 1, 2021
Serve with Trust
The Point: Service to God should be fueled by trust in Him.
Get Into the Study
Use the following information to introduce Question #1.
Begin by sharing this news item:
In May 2021, George Null, 58, went out on a day hike in a rugged wilderness area of southern California. When he didn’t return home as expected, his family got worried. Search and rescue personnel conducted a massive search effort for five days, looking for Null in a remote area of the Angeles National Forest. On the fifth day, a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Air Rescue team spotted Null in a canyon, hoisted him into their helicopter and brought him to safety.
Say: For George Null, the air rescue team was exactly what he needed to bring him out of the difficult, dangerous place he found himself in. Then call attention to Question #1 (Who would you trust to lead you through difficulty or danger?) and invite volunteers to respond.
Information for this post was gleaned from:
Get Into the Study [Option from Adult Leader Guide]
In advance, play a song that emphasizes the importance of trusting in God. At the end of the song, lead in prayer.
Study the Bible
Use the following information to introduce Question #2.
Begin by sharing this news item:
On July 5th, armed men attacked a Baptist church school in Nigeria and kidnapped 153 students. Authorities suspect the gunmen might be bandits or Muslim Fulani terrorists. The local government won’t pay any ransoms, so many families are fearful for the students’ safety. Some of the kidnapped students managed to escape, but about 125 students are still missing. Joseph Hayab, chairman of the Kaduna State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria offered words of encouragement to the families, saying, “Our trust is in God, and I urge all our parents to remain calm and keep faith with God for there is nothing He cannot do. God Almighty will arise and intervene in this unfortunate incident.”
Say: Joseph Hayab has encouraged the families to hold on to their faith in God, even as this frightening kidnapping situation unfolds. Then call attention to Question #2 (What helps you trust God’s guidance when it doesn’t seem to make sense?) and invite volunteers to respond.
Information for this post was gleaned from:
Live It Out [Option from Adult Leader Guide]
In advance, print out copies of the lyrics to “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” by Louisa M. R. Stead, or a similar song or poem about trusting Christ. Divide into small groups. Distribute copies of the song lyrics. Have each group compose a short poem about trusting and serving Jesus. After a few minutes, invite representatives from each group to share their poems. Make the point that only by trusting the Lord can we effectively serve Him.
— Donna McKinney wrote these Leader Extras. Donna is retired from a career with the federal government of the United States. She is a veteran Bible study group leader living in North Carolina.
Additional Questions
Icebreakers
- What are some things you trust without even thinking about it?
- What are some elements that help you build trust with others?
- What makes someone trustworthy?
1 Kings 17:7-12
- When has God provided for you through unlikely means?
- What emotions do you think Elijah might have experienced during these events?
- When have you felt God leading you in a direction that didn’t seem to make sense at the time?
1 Kings 17:13-14
- What are some opportunities you’ve had to trust God and lead others to do the same?
- How can we respond to the objections our culture makes when encouraged to trust God?
- Who has most encouraged you to trust God, and how have they done so?
1 Kings 17:15-16
- What lessons about trust do we learn from Elijah and from the widow?
- How have you seen Christians point others to Jesus in times of crisis?
- How can we demonstrate we trust God?
For Those in Your Group
Send the following link to your group members as either a teaser before the group meets or as a follow-up thought:
Podcast
Click here for a 20-minute podcast for both the group member and the leader.
Tips for Leading Bible Study Groups
Podcast (adultsleadertraining): Play in new window | Download
My adult class is really enjoying the Bible Studies for life. “The Point” is put together well, helps our study.
I do wish the questions were a little more thoughtful, because sometimes they seem elementary. ( Of course I have to remember that there may be new believers in class).
Anyway. We appreciate the study guide and helps
Thank you, Gay, for your encouragement.
The questions we provide are intended to generate discussion, not simply ask for a single answer. My experience is that the depth of the discussion is driven by the members of the group. I would value your thoughts on what might make a question a little more thoughtful. (If you want to contact me directly, do so to [email protected].) We are always looking for ways to better serve group leaders.
Thank you for letting us be a part of your Bible study.
I love these classes. They teach us the value of trusting God more
I would like to see more questions pertaining to todays culture and also to todays church.
Thank you for these teaching aids. Looking forward to next week.
May God bless you for all you do.
Thanks
Elton Campbell