Date: August 18
Remember God’s Faithfulness
The Point: The God who guided you in the past will guide you now and in the future.
Get Into the Study
Use the following information to introduce Question #1.
Mountaineers who climb Mt. Everest usually hire Sherpas to help them make the climb. Sherpas are people who live in the Himalayas and they are known for their mountain climbing skills. The Sherpas help the climbers plan their route up the mountain. Then they lend help with fixing the ropes and carrying the supplies, including the oxygen that is so essential on these climbs. In 2018, the government of Nepal made a law banning solo climbers from climbing Mt Everest. Foreign climbers are now required to have an escort or guide with them when they climb Everest.
Kami Rita Sherpa is one of the Nepalese Sherpas who guides climbers up Mt. Everest. In May of this year, he climbed to the top of Mt. Everest for the 24th time—setting a new record for the most ascents. He climbed Everest for the first time in 1994. “I never thought about making records,” he said. “I actually never knew that you could make a record. Had I known, I would have made a lot more summits earlier.”
Say: If you were planning to climb Mt. Everest, then an experienced guide like Kami Rita Sherpa should be a wise choice. Then call attention to Question #1 (When have you needed a guide to help you find your way?) and invite volunteers to respond.
Information for this post was gleaned from:
- https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48346341
- https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/solo-climber-ban-mount-everest/index.html
Get Into the Study (Option)
Use the following optional activity to introduce today’s session.
In advance, play the song “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” by Thomas Chisholm and W. M. Runyon and ask group members to share ways God has demonstrated His faithfulness in their lives. Close with a season of short “popcorn” prayers as members thank God for His faithfulness.
Click here for the song clip.
This idea supports the teaching plan found in the Bible Studies for Life: Adult Leader Guide.
Study the Bible
Use the following information to supplement Question #5.
In July, a couple of swimmers got caught in a rip current at Panama City Beach, Florida. There were double red flags flying that day, which means it is illegal for people to enter the water because of the potential danger. But people on the beach jumped into action and formed a human chain to rescue the swimmers in distress. Shelly Callaway witnessed what happened on the beach that day. “There must have been 50 to 100 people holding hands, lined up from the beach-side out to the waves so they could help the rescuers and help the people come to shore,” she said. The swimmers who were in trouble and all the rescuers made it safely to shore.
Say: When the people on the shore saw the swimmers in distress, they solved the problem by working together to form a chain and rescue them. Then call attention to Question #5 (How can our group encourage one another in godly problem-solving?) and invite volunteers to respond.
Information for this post was gleaned from:
https://www.wral.com/beachgoers-form-human-chain-to-save-swimmers/18512820/
— 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 characteristics make someone a reliable guide?
- When have you needed a guide to help you find your way?
- In what situations are you most likely to ask for help from someone with more knowledge than you?
2 Chronicles 16:1-6
- Where do you typically turn for help when you find yourself in troubling times?
- What tools are available to us when we feel pressure or fear?
- What factors sometimes lead us to trust in our own wisdom instead of God’s?
2 Chronicles 16:7-9
- How can believers guard against depending on their own plans instead of trusting God?
- How can our group encourage one another to remember God’s past faithfulness?
- What might cause us to forget to trust the Lord when we are having problems?
2 Chronicles 16:10-13
- How would you describe the core of Asa’s problems in this passage?
- What critical mistake did Asa make in trying to solve his problems?
- What difficult situations do you face this week that will give you opportunities to seek first God’s kingdom?
Member Extra
Send the following link to your group members as either a teaser before the group meets or as a follow-up thought:
When Do I Depend on God … and When Do I Depend on Others?
Video
Here’s a brief video giving you an overview of this session: Living a Godly Life – Session 5
Magazine Article
This article complements the study. Share this link with your group members.
- Mature Living – The Shepherd with Me
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