Getting Started
Main Idea:
God is Calling us to BE the River of Provision to our world THROUGH the Holy Spirit in us.
Discussion Starter:
Share a time when you were able to provide something that a person needed and how that made both you and him/her feel.
Introduction:
This weekend, Pastor Zac shared how Faith Promise Church is equipping our fpStudents to help real people with real problems find the real love of God. He explained these students are not the Next generation but the Now generation. When we as a church, both young and old alike, live out our values we will be a massive Movement-all 8000 of us! Recall our Biblically-based values from the previous weeks: We put God first; We tell them of Him; We grow together; We give generously; We serve others; We elevate those around us. Sometimes as Christ-followers, we think we need to wait on God to do the supernatural, but God has elevated us to be the River of Provision to this hurting and dying world. He has given us His Spirit to empower us to do His work! The only way to be a Movement is to start moving; you can’t sit still and see revival. The Kingdom will come when we GO!
Encounter God
Primary Scripture: Primary Scripture John 7:37-39
Discussion Questions:
1. Jesus boldly declares that whoever is thirsty only needs to come to Him to drink. What makes people thirsty today? How do people try to quench their thirst?
2. To place Jesus’ invitation to thirsty sinners in context, He shouted this on the last day of the Festival of Tabernacles, which commemorated the end of wandering in the desert as the Israelites entered the Promised Land. On the first seven days, the priest poured out water from a golden pitcher, and the people said, “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3), and according to rabbinic tradition, these words pointed to the Messiah. In contrast, on the 8th day of the festival, no water was drawn symbolizing that the Israelites were no longer in a desert but drank from the rivers of Canaan. The Israelites were reenacting a tradition that could never satisfy the heart, but Jesus offered them living water and eternal satisfaction! Can you describe how your life was like a spiritual desert before you came to the Lord? In what way has your life changed since you drank from the “wells of salvation”?
3. Jesus offers Himself as the living water. Temple symbolism pointed to this, and He compared His body to the temple itself (John 2:19-22). He also spoke of himself as the rock, that when struck (Exodus 17:1-7) gives not merely water but the living water of eternal life (John 4:13-14). This drinking water is symbolic of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Just as water satisfies thirst and produces fruitfulness, the Holy Spirit satisfies us and enables us to bear spiritual fruit (Gal 5:22). In what ways are you bearing fruit for God? What is holding you back from fully realizing God’s purpose for your life? How will you pray to fully trust the power of the Spirit that lives in you?
4. These verses describe the streams of living water as “flowing”. The promise is not only that we will be satisfied, but that we will be satisfying. When we drink the living water of Jesus, we not only fill our cup, but we become a river that overflows. How does the use of the word “flow” affect the way you see the power of the Holy Spirit? How will you allow God the Spirit to work through you as a River of Provision for this hurting and dying world?
Discovery Bible Method:
For deeper study, as an alternative to the questions above, read John 7:37-39 and use the Discovery Bible Method to explore the passage.
Embrace Others
This week, our focus was on drinking in Christ by faith, pouring Christ out in praise and love, and never thirsting again. In small groups of 2 or 3, discuss and encourage one another on how God is calling you to pour forth His living water as a River of Provision for others.
Engage the World Around Us
Engaging at Faith Promise: Pray as a group to explore ways you can pour out Christ as you serve our church family.
Engaging in Community and the World: It is God the Spirit that flows in through faith (Galatians 3:2, 5) and flows out through love (Galatians 5:22). Our local and international communities have several opportunities to serve and allow God to flow as a River of Provision from each of us. We heard a beautiful story of rescue and redemption of Bellansira Horusenga through the assistance of the International Organization for Migration. Once in Knoxville, Bellansira was assisted by our local Emerald Youth Foundation so that she was able to attend college. Her hope one day is to return to her native land and heal others. Consider how you as a group could help local or international organizations embrace the privilege of reaching out and showing the love of Christ to others.
Expand God’s Kingdom
John Piper has said that “The greatest cause in the world is joyfully rescuing people from hell, meeting their earthly needs, making them glad in God, and doing it with a kind, serious pleasure that makes Christ look like the Treasure he is. No war on earth was ever fought for a greater cause or a greater king.” How will you enlist as a soldier in the war to win souls for Jesus and be that River of Provision for others?
Leader’s Notes
1. Answers will vary but may include suffering, meaningless existence, chronic restlessness, discontent, despair, hopelessness, etc. People are eluded into thinking that the false offerings of the world will satisfy them, but they are only being distracted from the truth and will never experience the authentic satisfaction found only in Jesus. This is the difference between the sweet poison the world offers and the living water of Christ!
2. Answers will vary.
3. Answers will vary.
4. It is powerful! It is not a trickle and cannot be and should not be restrained! Believers drink in Christ by faith, pour Christ out in praise and love, and never thirst again.
ALL groups at Faith Promise should follow Jesus Christ and lead others to do the same. Below are the marks of a growing follower and disciple of Jesus.
– A follower of Jesus desires to encounter God through the deeper study and application of God’s Word.
– A follower of Jesus embraces people and values relationships on a deeper level so everyone can grow together.
– A follower of Jesus engages and serves the world around them and in their community, through local partners or God-directed opportunities.
– A follower of Jesus expands God’s Kingdom through development and multiplication of disciple-makers, possibly to lead more groups at Faith Promise.
