Week 4 - Celebration
Leader Guide
Even Solomon said in the Book of Ecclesiastes that life is full of oppression, toil, and trouble. How do we find joy and meaning? If we will learn to celebrate God’s way, we’ll find the renewed strength we need to be successful, to be refreshed. If you need to be restored, encouraged, empowered, healed, and challenged, choose to be grateful. Take time to celebrate all that God has already done for you!
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 are some simple, everyday things you are thankful for? Do you take time to celebrate them?
2. Read Psalm 92:1, 105:2, and 1 Timothy 2:8. What are some actions that show you are celebrating and worshiping God? Which of these come easily to you, or are more difficult? Read Zephaniah 3:17. What does God do in, through, over, and for us?
Leader’s Note: These verses tell us to give thanks, sing praises, tell others what God has done, pray, and lift our hands in worship. The Zephaniah passage tells us God is here, He is present. He saves, He comforts, and He rejoices with gladness when He is here as we are gathered. He exults (shows elation or jubilation) over us with LOUD SINGING!
3. Read 2 Chronicles 20:2-3, 14-18, 21-22. When the people of God faced a great threat, what did they do? How did God respond? What did He command them to do? How did they show their faith? Why is gratitude so important in our praise?
Leader’s Note: When they heard of a great army, they sought God’s advice and proclaimed a fast. Jehoshaphat was told to “stand still” and watch the salvation of God; he was not to fight. The king took his praise and faith that God would deliver a step further: he set singers at the front of the army, not the premier soldiers!
4. Read Psalm 92:2, 1 Chronicles 16:8, 16:24, and Psalm 40:10. What one thing can you do – alone, in your personal life – that will bring glory to God? How will this bless your life? Others lives?
Leader’s Note: When we share the great things which God has done for us in the past, and tell people of His power, majesty, faithfulness, and love, it reminds us of His attributes! It reminds us that we can trust Him. Telling His mighty deeds not only brings glory to God, but it encourages our own faith. It shows Him in all His power and beauty to others who do not yet know Him. YOUR story may be the catalyst for someone else’s life change.
5. Action Step: Would you commit to celebrating God through resting with Him on the Sabbath? Maybe a special meal or time with your family? Maybe with a “no-tech Sunday”? Is there a song you could download and sing this week daily, intentionally? Could you enjoy good food with family and friends to celebrate the great things God has done and all He has provided for you?
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.
As Joshua, Moses’ successor, led the people into the promised land, it was a time of great joy, but also fear. When there is fear, there is a need for boldness, yet dependance on God. Study how the Israelites chose to worship, honor, and celebrate God and all He had done for them.
6. Read Joshua 3:1-4. Why did the Israelite officers tell the people to stand such a great distance (about 3,000 feet) behind the Ark? Are there any aspects of your life in which you are trying to get ahead of God? What would it look like to follow God’s lead/presence in that situation? Would you be at a point of fear or celebration on the edge of following God into a new territory?
Leader’s note: The Ark of the Covenant was the physical presence of God in the Old Testament. To be clear, one cubit is about 1.5 feet. The half-mile distance maintained between the Ark and the Israelites was meant to symbolize their reliance, trust, and humility before God. It was a reminder that as they stepped into unknown territory, they were dependent on God – not their own timing, strength, ability, or knowledge. Throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites had a bad habit of trying to do things on their own, but here we see that their focus was on the right Person!
7. Read Joshua 3:5, Leviticus 20:26, and 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. What does it mean that we are called to be holy? How should our lives be different because we belong to God and are not our own? When have you done something God asked you to do, even though it went against your plan? Did that lead to any of the forms of celebration we discussed above: sharing what God has done, singing, praying, worshiping with others?
Leaders Note: Holiness means to be set apart. As such, we have been set apart for God's use, to be His people. We are called to be different from the world around us (Romans 12:2). We act differently and think differently. We acknowledge that we are no longer our own, but God's. This means that we don't make decisions for ourselves as the world does, but we follow God, and do what He tells us to do. We honor God and live a life that is holy (set apart) by loving our enemies, being generous, being sexually pure, and spreading the Good News of salvation, obeying His nudges, and more. When we overcome or achieve what God has asked us to do, or survive a trial or temptation, God gets the glory...if we tell others about His greatness and faithfulness!
8. Read Joshua 3:13, 15-17. Why was the manner that Israel entered the Promised Land so significant? What did their stepping into the river, while God held back the waters, represent? Where do you need to step out and trust God’s promises?
Leaders Note: When the Hebrews first left Egypt, Moses parted the Red Sea. Israel had no other choice than to trust God and they walked across a dry seabed as God held back the waves. Somewhere in the desert, Israel had lost hope, focus, and faith. Their refusal to cross the Jordan 40 years earlier began their 40 years of wandering in the desert. Now crossing the Jordan, as God held back the water, brought things full circle. They had to step into the river and trust God’s promises and goodness. Many times, we get hung up waiting for God when He is already waiting for us to move. This time, the Israelites waited for God's presence and then acted, and that's exactly what we are told to do. However, taking an action step does not mean just doing something recklessly. Through prayer and wise counsel, you can discern what action step God needs you to take to cross your “Jordan.”
9. Read Joshua 4:2-7. What did the stones symbolize? What is a victory God has won for you, and how do you remember and celebrate it? How will this help you overcome the "rivers" in your future?
Leaders note: The stones from the riverbed were symbols of the miracle and a catalyst for them to tell future generations. Israel would naturally remember the 40 years of wandering in the desert, but these stones represented victory, deliverance, and God’s faithfulness. They were a celebration and memorial of what God had done! When we are facing trials, we need those markers to remind us God has brought us through past trials, and that He will be faithful again. Having memorials or monuments in your own life will help you to clearly recall the victories, God's strength and power over the things of the enemy, stress, failure, and weakness. (Ephesians 3:20)