Part 2 - God's Dream or My Dream?
Leader Guide
Last week, we started our series by talking about Joseph and how God used him, despite the struggles and obstacles in his life. This week, we continue talking about Joseph. We learn how we can distinguish between what are our goals and ambitions, as opposed to God’s purpose and calling for our lives.
What you will need: A Bible or your Bible app, a notebook, pen, and highlighter. The verses highlighted below are linked so that you can easily access them during your study time.
Jump Start
Leader: This section is designed to get discussions started, examine God’s truth, and apply it to our week. Life Group leaders should not assume everyone in their group is a Christ follower. Because they are taking part in a Life Group, they must have some openness to knowing more, exploring. Pray for the Holy Spirit to work and let Him lead you as well.
1. What was your childhood or youthful dream and did it stand the test of time?
Leader Note: Some people know they are called to, say teaching, motherhood, ministry, etc., very early on. But that’s not typical. This should be fun and interesting whether you have someone like that in your group, or everyone wanted to be an astronaut, fireman, or President!
2. Read Genesis 37:5-7 and 9-11. We talked about Joseph and his youthful dreams last week. As you read them again, where are the two dreams similar and consistent? When you look at your own dreams, “Does the dream stay consistent or is it constantly changing?” What mistakes did Joseph make, early in the process of understanding God’s call on his life? Have you ever made the same mistakes? Have you ever “pooh-poohed” someone else’s dream?
Leader Note: Although Joseph didn’t understand the two dreams fully, they were similar and consistent with each other. And the ultimate test: they came to pass in God’s timing. This is much different than our human ambitions and desires: we are very flighty and change our minds all the time. Sometimes, we are so sure, and tell everyone what huge thing we are going to do. That’s a bad plan: everyone loves to punch holes in other people’s ideas, opinions, and even dreams.
3. We talked about how to test our dreams for consistency. Read Matthew 3:16-4:4. What was the very start of Jesus’ ministry? At the end of Chapter Three, what do you think His emotions were? What would yours have been? How is the temptation, and Jesus' reply to it so significant to our discussion of dreams?
Leader Note: There had to be excitement to be starting His ministry, and the public affirmation by God and Spirit at His baptism. But He let the Spirit lead Him, not His own emotions, dreams, or plans. He then had to face Satan, using the Word of God, triumphing and changed, ready for the mission ahead of Him as He has spent time getting His thoughts in lines with God’s.
4. Read the parable which Jesus told in Luke 12:17-21. What would you say is the dream of the rich man in this parable? How does his focus and purpose differ from Jesus’ actions at the start of the ministry. Consider: "Does my dream build my kingdom or God’s kingdom?"
Leader Note: Take time to discuss that goals and ambitions are good, even great. But not if they conflict with God's plan, if they take time away from God’s calling, or if they exclude using your talents for God’s purposes for your life. Planning is good, but not if it’s all about you. Don’t be self-sufficient to the exclusion of God, instead of thanking God for your blessings and abilities.
5. Action Steps: Prayerfully consider these steps to determine if the dream is yours, or God’s.
a. Stop Talking: Don’t tell everyone your dream. Instead, commit to praying, “God, is this Your dream or my dream? Is this just an ambition of mine or a real passion from You?” Stay silent and listen more than you “talk” to God and tell Him what you want to do!
b. Seek God through Fasting: Seriously, ask God if you should fast. Ask Him for how long? Fasting from what? Follow God’s leading, not your own thoughts on this.
c. Search the Scripture: Does your dream fall in line with God’s Word? Is it contrary to the rest of the Bible? Do you find a promise or teaching that illuminates God’s plan for you?
d. Slow down! Take forty days to be sure your dream is from God; that it is in His Will; and that it is consistent with Scripture and His will for your life.
Deeper
Leader: This section is designed for further use in your Life Group or for personal study. These can also be used as discussion points and ways to stay connected with your group throughout the week. Encourage your group to take time daily to walk through these questions.
6. Read Matthew 4:1-4. What does verse 1 teach us about temptation and God’s role in it? How did Jesus combat temptation? Is temptation itself a sin?
Leader’s Note: Verse 1 teaches us that God’s Spirit can be around temptation, but He does not cause the temptation. In fact, God sent Jesus to the wilderness, knowing He would be tempted, but God did not cause it. We see Jesus battle temptation with the Word of God. He does this because the Word of God is truth! The Spirit was also there, and the Spirit always brings the Word of God back to our remembrance (“reminds us of all truth.”) All temptations we face are either apart from or against God’s will because, “It will be fun!” or “God won’t mind” is a lie! Temptation itself is not a sin...even Jesus was tempted. When we act on temptation and move away from God’s will, we have crossed the boundary into sin.
7. Read James 1:12-17. Why is it important to know that temptations come from our own desires, and how can this change how we view our temptations? What does James mean when he tells us to endure our temptations, and why is it important to do so? If our temptation comes from our desires, how can our temptations begin to lessen? Have you ever experienced a “fading” temptation?
Leader’s Note: One of the reasons that it is important to know that temptations come from our own desires is so that we can face them directly. We can avoid trying to blame God for our struggles, as Adam did in the Garden (Genesis 3:12). Instead, we can own up to our sin and repent. When we see our temptations as rooted within ourselves, we can better understand why we needed a Savior (Jesus) and how, through repentance and belief in Him, we can be saved and overcome our sinful nature (Romans 6:6). Our temptations fade when our desires truly line up with God’s. That is why it is so important to constantly pray that your heart, mind, and will line up with God’s.
8. Read Ephesians 6:10-17. Which piece of the armor of God do you feel you have appropriated and are using to deal with temptation? What piece of armor are you missing right now?
Leader’s Note: We are in a battle. The armor of God is not just a cool metaphor to get people amped up. Satan wants to distract us, cause us to stumble, and fail completely and entirely. He is constantly looking to derail us and kick us down. The armor of God reminds us that we need to be ready for the spiritual battle happening every day.
9. What is the difference between testing and temptation? Read 1 Thessalonians 2:4. Why does God need to test us? Have you asked God to truly search your heart, examine, and test you? Why is that so powerful? If you are struggling with the concept that God would test you, skim through this article.
Leader’s Note: Testing is searching the heart for what we believe and what we will do to follow. Tempting has the intention of sin and failure. Satan tempts us, hoping we will fail. God tests us, hoping to prove we are steadfast and committed. It is a mystery why God needs to test (since He knows all things), but we see that He tests to see the condition of our hearts. When we ask God to truly search us, we are asking Him to point out to us the things we need to repent of doing or thinking. We are inviting conviction into our lives. We are challenging ourselves to raise the standard to the ultimate bar: “How does God want me to live?”