Small Group Guide for "No Time Is Wasted"

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No Time Is Wasted

Sunday, July 7th 2024

First Scripture:

Second Scripture: Exodus 16

Use the Two Passages: Focus on the primary and secondary passages used in this sermon.

Pray for Understanding: Before diving into the text, take a moment to pray for guidance and illumination from the Holy Spirit. Ask for wisdom and insight as you study.

Read the Scriptures: Begin by reading the selected Scriptures thoughtfully and prayerfully. Read the passages more than once to familiarize yourself with the content.

Observation Questions: After reading the text, go through the "Observation Questions" section. These questions will help you notice and record specific details about the text. Look for key words, phrases, repeated ideas, and any observations that stand out to you.

Interpretation Questions: Once you've observed the text, proceed to the "Interpretation Questions" section. These questions will guide you in understanding the meaning and context of the passage. Consider the historical and cultural background, the author's intent, and how the passage fits into the larger narrative of the Bible.

Application Questions: Finally, explore the "Application Questions." These questions will help you apply the lessons and insights from the Scriptures to your own life. Reflect on how the text speaks to your faith, relationships, and daily choices.

Journal Your Insights: Write down your observations, interpretations, and applications in a journal or notebook. This will serve as a valuable record of your spiritual growth and understanding of the Word of God.

Discussion and Sharing: If you are studying in a group, take time to discuss your findings with others. Share your insights, listen to their perspectives, and learn from one another.

Pray for Transformation: As you conclude your study, pray for the transformation of your heart and mind. Ask God to help you live out the truths you've discovered in the Scriptures.

Consistency is Key: Make a habit of using this inductive Bible study method regularly. The more you practice, the more confident and skilled you will become in studying and understanding the Bible.

Remember that the goal of this inductive study method is not just to gain knowledge but to deepen your relationship with God and apply His Word to your life. Approach your study with an open heart, a curious mind, and a desire to grow in your faith.

May your study be richly blessed, and may God's Word transform your life as you engage with it through the inductive method.

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OPENING PRAYER:

Holy God, you created us with the capacity to wander and to wonder, promising to be with us through our days, no matter what they bring. Be in our conversation today, showing us how this moment can be one of surprise, creativity, and trust in your Spirit. Amen.

Quote: “Christian spirituality is a slow train that must inevitably stop at every little Podunk town in our life—nothing can be skipped over. Our efforts to love and follow Jesus must meander through wherever we are as we wander our way through life.” – A.J. Swoboda

BREAKING THE ICE:

Have you ever gotten lost on your way somewhere? What happened?

WRESTLING WITH THE WORD:

Read Exodus 16

  1. In verse 3, the Israelites complain to God, wishing they had just died or stayed in Egypt where they had been enslaved. What does this tell us about their attitude towards wandering in the wilderness?
  2. Throughout this chapter, what lessons do you see God teaching the Israelites during their time in the wilderness? How is God shaping the Israelites?
  3. The Israelites were commanded to take only what they needed to eat for the day. But some took more than needed. What does this story teach us about pursuing fulfillment and our trust in the Lord?

NEXT STEPS:

  1. When in your life have you felt like you’re “wandering in the wilderness” (perhaps it’s now)? What was/is that like? In what ways are our own attitudes towards the wilderness similar to or different from the Israelites’?
  2. God provided for, surprised, and shaped the Israelites during their time in the wilderness. In what ways might you be able to see uncertainty as a time for exploration? Are there things you like to do, or opportunities to engage in wonder, creativity, and play that might make possible new revelations about yourself and your direction?
  3. Even if you cannot rush ahead to the other side of the wilderness, what resources (“manna”) do you have to take the next faithful step?

CLOSING PRAYER:

God, our Provider, give us the courage to trust in you when it feels like time is wasting away. May we learn how to explore with hope, delight, and openness to your leading, knowing that you have a purpose for us as individuals and as a community.

OPTIONAL SPIRITUAL PRACTICE FOR THE WEEK:

Engaging in acts of creativity, wonder, or play can help open us up to new possibilities within and around us when we don’t know where we are going. This week, take some time out to do something you enjoy. Take a walk. Paint. Listen to a comedian and laugh. Play with your grandkids. The activity does not need to have a purpose or end-goal. Sometimes, just getting outside of our own heads is enough to open us up to something we were closed off to before.

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