Movie 1 – Warrior
Leader Guide
No matter our life situations, we all have hurts, hang-ups, and habits which cause pain. Yours may be scars from an abusive childhood or relationship. You may have been betrayed or abandoned by a friend. You may suffer from addictions or situations such as financial struggles. Grief may be almost incapacitating you right now. God is near and asks you to come to Him for help.
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 do you consider to be the characteristics of a great father? Have you ever felt you needed to earn someone’s love?
2. Read Psalm 34:18, 68:5, and 2 Corinthians 6:18. God has made promises to us. What do you see in these verses? Have you experienced the comfort of God’s Spirit and Presence? How might God’s promises about His roles inform your relationship with your parents, siblings, or family members?
Leader Note: We have a Heavenly Father who cares. God not only sees your pain; He is with you during it. Not one tear has gone unnoticed. He loves you as His child, not because of what you’ve done or accomplished. And He doesn't love you less for what you’ve been through.
3. Read Romans 5:12, 15, 17-18 and Philippians 4:6-8. We have all experienced the effects and scars of sin. How did sin come into the world? How do we receive “the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness” that takes away our sin? How do we choose to live a life of grace and peace? How do you choose joy over misery? Forgiveness over bitterness? Peace over worry? Gratitude over grumbling?
Leader Note: We do have a choice: not in the circumstances, but in our reactions, thoughts, and attitudes. We have the power to think on the things of God. When we don’t, we give power to the enemy to control our emotions and actions. We make the decision to give power over our lives to God or Satan. We first choose Jesus as Savior, then focus on what is lovely, true, and holy. Even focusing on the hurtful things of our pasts take our focus off Jesus and the gift He has given us.
4. Read Hebrews 12:14-15 and Matthew 11:29. Have you ever been “done” with a relationship, putting it in the rearview mirror? Have you ever wanted to hang on to a grudge, anger, or old hurt? What can we do to remain at peace? What do we gain when we surrender, submit, or take on the yoke of Jesus?
Leader Note: Sometimes surrendering seems impossible. God’s power is available if we pray to ask for the strength we don’t have. There is a time to “tap out” and surrender the bitterness, the fighting, the argumentative spirit to God. A “root of bitterness” damages or “defiles” many; it doesn’t stop spreading just because you don’t deal with it. Once we are under the yoke or have surrendered to Christ and His Lordship in our lives, we find peace, rest, and healing.
5. This week: Choose one person to call, text, email, or visit as a way to surrender. Use the opportunity to promote peace. Even if the person you reach out to doesn’t respond to your message, it may be that sending it was the step you needed to take to help you release anger. Tap out. Surrender.
Also, if someone who has hurt or offended you suddenly initiates a friendly conversation or reaches out – reciprocate. Ask God how you can release all bitterness and choose peace this week.
Leader Note: If it works for your group, encourage group members to send a short text while sitting together. It doesn’t have to be a huge thing. Sometimes doing something hard at the same time as your friends helps get over the hurdle of forgetting or not finding the right moment to initiate. Sending one message might make it easier to send a more sensitive one later. The first step can be the hardest. Having the support of a team helps.
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. Let’s look at the story of Jacob and Esau to look at a case of hurt and reconciliation:
a. Genesis 25:27-28: With whom do the hurts and sin in this family begin? LN: there is favoritism on the part of both parents.
b. Genesis 25:29-34: What fault lies with each brother in this passage? LN: The Bible says that Esau “despised his birthright” - he didn’t consider it very valuable compared to his immediate hunger. Jacob, on the other hand, schemed to steal this valuable blessing from his brother.
c. Genesis 27:1-27: The story of the entire scheme to steal Esau’s birthright is complicated. Who does it seem is at fault here? How can you justify God blessing Jacob and making him the patriarch of Israel? LN: First, Esau despised the blessing of God that he was given by right of his birth. Rebecca was at fault also for hatching this plan for her favorite. Jacob could have chosen not to go along with this deception. In the end, God passed His blessing down to this scoundrel (Jacob means “deceiver”) just as He passes His blessing to us, none of whom deserve it in any way.
d. Genesis 27:30-35, 41: Did the successful plot to steal Esau’s inheritance call for his response? Have you experienced this level of betrayal or theft? LN: In this day and culture, the birthright was everything. Isaac blessed Jacob ahead of Esau and made him preeminent over his brother and the nations. This meant also that Esau was subjugated to him and that the line of Abrahamic covenant would flow through Jacob and his descendants (the twelve sons and tribes of Israel).
e. Genesis 32:3-8: How do you assume Esau is feeling about meeting Jacob? Why? What is Jacob obviously feeling? LN: Esau is coming to confront his brother with an army of 400 men. He is armed and ready for whatever happens. Jacob is fearful, sending gifts and hiding away part of his family and flocks.
f. Genesis 32:22-30: What do you make of this encounter? What made Jacob think he was wrestling with God? What did he gain by persevering? LN: Apparently, the visitor was angelic. Jacob knew he was at least FROM God. But he was bold to continue to struggle and “contest” with God. Jacob became Israel, the father of the 12 tribes. Israel means “He struggles with God,“ so he got a new name and a blessing by God. And by the end, Jacob knew he had seen God and lived.
g. Genesis 33:4-11: What was the final outcome? What did Jacob do to help in reconciliation? What did Esau do? LN: Jacob made contact, sending gifts, humbly asking to be received by his brother. Esau came and made the first physical signs of reconciliation.