March 30 - Small Group News!

Welcome to Small Group!

Tonight we are wrapping up the month of March with the story of Deborah, who stepped into a leadership role in Israel during a time of great conflict.  Join us at 8 PM tonight as we discover how her life can touch ours.

Her vision of the world was shaped not by the political situation of her day but by her relationship with God. Though women in the ancient world did not usually become political leaders, Deborah was just the leader Israel needed -- a prophetess who heard God and believed him, whose courage aroused the people, enabling them to throw off foreign oppression. 

Her story can be found in Judges 4-5

Tonight's questions are:

1. What was Barak afraid of? Why would having Deborah along alleviate those fears? (Judges 4:8)
2. In Judges 4:9, Deborah talks about honor going to a woman instead of to the men. How do you think the Israelite men felt about this? When a woman succeeds today, how do the men around her typically respond? Why?
3. In Judges 5:7 Deborah describes herself as a "mother of Israel", not "leader" or "prophetess". Why does she call herself this? What does this tell you about Deborah?  What lesson for your own life can you gain from this verse?

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March 23 - Small Group News!

Rahab was both clever and wise. She saw judgement coming and was able to devise an escape plan for herself and her family. As soon as she heard what God had done for the Israelites, she cast her lot with his people, risking her life in an act of faith.

Her story can be found in Joshua 2:1-21; 6:17-25

I love the story of Rahab.  Such a beautiful picture of God's amazing grace, love and mercy, proving that not only is His forgiveness available for anyone, but that His plans for our future are far more beautiful than our present situation.

Join us tonight at 8 PM as we dig deeper into the Biblical truths found in this amazing woman's life through the following questions:

1. What do you think prompted Rahab to hide the Hebrew spies? Why would the house of a prostitute be a good place for the spies to go when they entered the city?
2. Why do you think God would choose to use someone like Rahab? What does this say about the people God might choose to use today to further His kingdom?
3. James (2:25) mentions Rahab in his plea for believers not to forget that works are an important outgrowth of faith. How did Rahab's actions demonstrate this truth?
4. What lessons in obedience and faith can you learn from Rahab the prostitute?

If you’re reading this on the Blog and not in your email box, and would like to join Small Group, follow these instructions…

• REGISTER your email to get Small Group updates!  Look to the top right of the Blog, put your email in, and don’t forget to ‘activate’ your registration through the link that will be emailed to you by Feedburner.
• JOIN SMALL GROUP by going to the Join Small Group tab and follow the instructions found there.

March 16 - Small Group News!

Welcome to another beautiful Monday!

Last week we discussed the mothers of Moses.  This week we will be discussing another important woman in his life, his sister Miriam.  She stood over his basket boat as an infant, and later in life joined him in their escape from Egypt.  An important leader, she never-the-less had to face the truth of her own sin

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Tonight at 8 PM we will be discussing the following questions:

1. Miriam and the other women of Israel were so overwhelmed with thanksgiving and praise at the safe crossing of the Red Sea that they broke into song and dance.  How do you think you would have felt in that situation? Would you have danced? Or would you have used some other form of praise to God? If so, what?
2. What do you think Miriam and Aaron had against Moses' "Cushite" wife? Do you think his wife was the real problem?  What was the real problem, the real reason for their attack?
3. Why do you think Miriam was singled out for the punishment of leprosy and not Aaron? Have you ever been in a situation where one person was punished for the wrongdoing of several?  How did that make you feel?
4. What do you think Miriam was feeling and thinking when she was outside the camp for those seven days?  What would go through your mind if you were in Miriam's place?

If you’re reading this on the Blog and not in your email box, and would like to join Small Group, follow these instructions…

• REGISTER your email to get Small Group updates!  Look to the top right of the Blog, put your email in, and don’t forget to ‘activate’ your registration through the link that will be emailed to you by Feedburner.
• JOIN SMALL GROUP by going to the Join Small Group tab and follow the instructions found there.

March 9 - Small Group News!

Two women from vastly different cultures and backgrounds, both bound by the love they shared for one small boy, who helped shape the destiny of God's people.  This week we will study about the Mothers of Moses, Jochebed and Pharoah's daughter.

Join us tonight at 8 PM as we discuss how these two women impacted a nation.  We will be discussing the following questions:

1. What can you learn about Jochebed as a person from what she does at each point in this story? How do you think you would have reacted in these circumstances?  Like Jochebed? Like the other mothers?
2. Why do you suppose Pharaoh's daughter wanted to keep the baby as her own?
3. Why do you suppose her father (and possibly her husband, if she had one) let her break Pharaoh's law and adopt this foreign baby?
4. Where was God in this story?  Where is God in your story?

If you’re reading this on the Blog and not in your email box, and would like to join Small Group, follow these instructions…

• REGISTER your email to get Small Group updates!  Look to the top right of the Blog, put your email in, and don’t forget to ‘activate’ your registration through the link that will be emailed to you by Feedburner.
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March 2 - Small Group News!

Welcome to another beautiful Monday!   It's hard to believe, but March is already upon us!

The Vineyard's Small Group Fair is right around the corner and I'm looking for volunteers to help 'man' the booth.  You can volunteer for either Saturday or Sunday; before and after services.  The dates of the fair are March 7 & 8.  Please let me know this week!  As of yet, I've got no volunteers, so please consider it!  Thanks so much!

Tonight's Small Group will be meeting at the usual time, 8 PM, and we will be discussing Potiphar's Wife.

The wife of a prosperous and influential Egyptian, she was unfaithful and vindictive, ready to lie in order to protect herself and ruin an innocent man.  (Her story can be found in Genesis 39)

Our questions for the night are as follows:

1. What character trait was Potiphar’s wife lacking? Why do you think she was attracted to Joseph, beyond the fact that he was “well-built and handsome”?
2. Where do you suppose Joseph got his knowledge of right and wrong and his ability to reject sin (39:9)? What do you think Joseph’s life might have been like if he’d given in to Potiphar’s wife?
3. Why do you think Joseph avoided contact with Potiphar’s wife (39:10)? Contrast how these two characters responded to temptation. If temptation of a certain kind keeps coming into your life, how do you respond?

If you’re reading this on the Blog and not in your email box, and would like to join Small Group, follow these instructions…

• REGISTER your email to get Small Group updates!  Look to the top right of the Blog, put your email in, and don’t forget to ‘activate’ your registration through the link that will be emailed to you by Feedburner.
• JOIN SMALL GROUP by going to the Join Small Group tab and follow the instructions found there.