THE LIFE OF JOB - WEEK 6
"It’s Not About Me"
Group Leader Guide for use November 27 - December 3, 2011
Directions: This guide provides a menu of teaching and discussion materials to help in leading your group. Please select and use the materials that best suit your group.

FOR THE LEADER:
Sermon Recap – If we want to be blessed, then we have to understand that it is not about us. We can begin to grasp this as we place our focus on:

1. The Church,
2. The community
3. The world.

ICEBREAKER:

Thanksgiving Day was this past Thursday! Of course, you already knew that because it is a day that almost everyone uses to do something special. What did you and/or your family do for Thanksgiving?

What is Thanksgiving really about? We often think of the Pilgrims on Thanksgiving, but how often do we actually use it as a day to give thanks? It may even seem like many people have confused thankfulness with gluttony. Today, then, try not to associate Thanksgiving with food. Instead, name something you are thankful for that does not cost any money.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Leaders’ note: Answers provide Bible verses for the group to look at together as you reinforce the Bible as the guide and source for victorious living. Pick which questions you think work best in your group. Add and alter as necessary!

Q: What are some things that can distract us from the bigger picture, i.e., things that make us think it is really "all about me?" What does the Bible have to say about these things?

A: Matthew 6:25-34;  Romans 9:20-21

Worry and fear cause us to look inward and miss opportunities around us. Jesus talks about worry repeatedly; He reminds us that it cannot add an hour to our day as well as gently reprimands our not trusting Him completely. Also, sometimes we think that our reality is the reality of everyone else in the world. In truth, Americans are some of the most blessed people on the planet; millions go without food and fear for their safety daily worldwide. Jesus talked often of calloused hearts and clouded eyes. The comparison trap: Many may feel that they can't make a significant difference in their world because they do not have what others have -- namely certain spiritual gifts or places of leadership. This can cause their servitude to be hampered and they will not give of their time and talents to the church as they should. This way of thinking places all emphasis on the self with little thought to the many parts that come together to make the church run as a whole. Jesus made us who we are; we do not have room to complain or compare, for we do not see the complete picture as He does.

Q: How does God tell us to take care of/focus on those around us in our communities? What are some practical ways or specific organizations that can help you accomplish this?

A: Matthew 28:16-20; John 17:15-18; James 1:27

Jesus plainly commands us to, first of all, be His witnesses and lead others to Him in salvation. He also tells us to protect and defend those with us in our faith, not becoming sidetracked with petty indifferences and arguments. We are also instructed to look after those less fortunate and helpless (i.e., widows and those without a parent), giving of both our time and even our finances when needs arise. Leaders: be prepared by doing a little homework. What are some organizations or service opportunities in your area that will help your group to put this into practice?

Q: We live in a self-serving, self-promoting world that teaches us that everything is about us, so should we expect everything in the church to be about us, too?

A: Acts 2:42-47; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Peter 1:22-25; Matthew 4:9-11

Many times, Christians come into the church seeking their own fulfillment. Society encourages us to be “takers” and, if things do not meet our demands, to complain or get angry. Sadly, this is the same quest that leads many people from one church to another: they are trying to use the church to give them happiness or to make them feel better. The local church was not intended solely to provide these things; only Jesus can redeem and fulfill us. We must submit to the Church and accept the fact that our relationship with God is the one thing that can never be about us. By learning this, we will be able to change our eternal perspective as our focus is on God’s will rather than our own.

Q: In the Bible, we as Christians are called to be missionaries to the world, but this may prove to be difficult for us as we are required to go out of our comfort zones. How can we learn to give God our anxieties about obedience?

A: Luke 21:12-19; Acts 5:27-29

God did not create each of us to just be a face in the crowd; we are all uniquely crafted and called to serve the Lord by serving others and by spreading His gospel. He made us and He has a plan for us, so why would we be anxious about obeying Him even if it seems difficult? The Bible even says that if obedience gets us into a trying situation He will be there to give us words that we are incapable of producing on our own. Obedience to Him is the sweetest and most fulfilling course of action we could take, and by obeying one step at a time we are able to discover what He has designed us to do. We see gifts and passions unlocked within ourselves that we had never identified before. We see opportunities before us that would previously have gone unnoticed. God can use our obedience and take it further than we might think, as we see all throughout Scripture, so we have to start obeying God in the “small” uncomfortable things and He is able to develop us through that obedience.

L.E.A.D.S. Application:

The heart of NewSpring home groups is summarized by the acronym L.E.A.D.S.:

L – learn the Bible together
E – embrace serving together
A – assist one another
D – devote ourselves to generosity
S – send people out to start new groups

With the idea that “it’s not about me,” this is a great week to talk about serving together. The end of the semester is near, but the holiday season is the time of year when the most help is often needed in our communities. There are lots of ways to help - some require you to donate money, while others require you to donate time. Either way, consider using the last ten minutes of your group’s meeting time to decide on a way to serve through the Christmas break. Maybe there is a local charity or organization that needs help stuffing Christmas stockings, or maybe your group feels led to pitch in five dollars each and put together a few of those stockings yourselves. Is there a family in town that one of your group members has felt particularly burdened for? Perhaps that is where you need to start.

In this season of thankfulness and celebration, we must not forget to be grateful and appreciative of what God has done for us and given us. At the same time, it’s not about us. There are people all around who may hear the Gospel for the first time because we take this chance to serve them.

Tips for Leaders:

Start your meeting on time! As the leader of the group, it is up to you to set the standard for punctuality and preparedness. Once your group has chosen a starting time, make sure to stick to it; this is how the members of your group will learn to place importance on being prompt. A disciplined, structured schedule often leads to more serious discussion and more fruitful fellowship.