Train teams to identify in Luke 10:1-11, what Jesus tells them to do?

1.

2.

3

 

What Jesus tell them NOT to do?

1.

2.

3.

 

Train teams to find Person of Peace. POP are people who God is already working in to call them to Himself. Find where God is already working and join Him. Examples:

1.

2.

3.

 

Help trainers deal with the 4 Fears of leaders to whom you are casting vision.

1. Losing Money.

2. Losing Control

3. Bad Doctrine.

4. Losing High Quality programs

Warning! Avoid evangelism by extraction. I Cor. 7:20. study Acts 10

3 Types of Groups to multiply in a DMM

Experiencing God Group (Seeker Groups).

Multiplying House Churches.

Facilitator-Coach (Paul-Timothy) Groups.

 

An Experiencing God Group is an indirect rather than direct way to allow Seekers to experience Christ (inductively) inside their social networks.

 

An EGG is an Embryonic church. Experiencing God Group (4-2-4)

What was the last lesson about and how did you obey it? (introduces element of accountability)

What are you thankful for? (element of praise)

What are you stressed about? (element of prayer)

How can this group practically help you? (element of helping the needy)

2 x repeat Bible Story (see 10 EGG list)

 

What insights did you see in this Story?

How do you interpret it?

How will you implement this in your life? (write this down for next lesson)

Who will you impart these insights with? (write down for next lesson, cast DMM vision)

 

Train teams to share 10 Experiencing God Group lessons (start with Lesson 7 for non-Christian cultures).  (Phase 1)

1.) Luke 7:36-50 Story of Christ at the Pharisee’s house

2.) Luke 19 Story of Jesus and Zacchaeus

3.) Luke 15:11-31 Story of the Loving Father and the 2 Lost Sons

4.) Mark 2:1-12 Story of Christ's power to heal the sick and forgive sinners. Second lesson is about how our faith in Christ often can lead our network (oikos) to healing and salvation

5.) Luke 8:26-39 Story of Christ's power over evil and the unseen world. Second lesson of going back into the home (oikos) to tell how Christ has changed us.

6.) Luke 22:66-23:25, 23:32-43 Jesus’ death on the cross, and a criminal is forgiven

7.) Genesis 2-3:15 Adam and Eve Story of Fall and God’s Promise

8.) Gen. 6 Story of Noah’s Flood

9.) Gen. 11 God Creates 70 Nations

10). Gen 12:1-3 God creates a Nation with a Mission through Abraham

 

10 Commands of Christ.  (Phase 2)

 

1.Repent and Believe the good news --Story of Zacchaeus Lk 19, Lost Son and Loving Father. Lk 15:11-312. Mk 1:15. Story of Death, Burial and Resurrection. Luke 23-24.

2.Receive the Holy Spirit. command John 20:22. Story Acts 2 Pentecost

3. Baptize others to confirm repentance. command Mt 28:20, story Mt 3 Christ’s baptism.

4. Practice Communion Mt 26:26 Story of Last Supper and Betrayal

5. Love, God, family and even enemies. Story of Good Samaritan Lk 10

6. Pray every day in Jesus name. Story of Persistent widow. Luke 18

7. Give joyfully. Story of Widow's Mite. Luke 21

8. Heal the Sick, Raise the Dead, & Cast out demons. Matt. 10, John 11

9. Take up your cross and be willing to suffer for Christ. Luke 9:23

10. Make Disciples, Mt 28:20. Mt 7:24-28. (train them to obey the first 9 commands in love).

 

Phase 3. Basic definition of a church is based on Mt 16:18 & 18:17.

Churches are groups of believers who gather together to meet with Jesus and obey all of His commands in love. Have trainees repeat this definition or have them come up with their own definition. The difference between a church and a cell or home group is that most cell groups are never allowed by their leadership to obey Christ’s command to baptize and do the Lord’s Supper.

 

Phase 4. Church Leadership Training. L.E.A.P.P behind the scenes leadership training 2 Tim. 2:2 Lk 10:16-21 behind the scenes leadership training pattern. See also John 3:30 & Acts 18:23-26 Listen, Evaluate, Assign new studies and tasks, Pray and Praise (encourage them to multiply more and find more Persons of Peace.) We must train facilitators to develop to Shepherds.

 

3 Levels of Authority

1). Christ’s Commands; love, pray, baptize, take communion,

2). Apostles Practice (in Scripture but not commanded) immediate baptism, house church movements, going out 2 x 2.

3). Human Traditions; seminaries, mission agencies, pulpits, church buildings.

 

5 Levels of Leadership in a DMM

1. Evangelist/Seeker Group Facilitator

2. House Church elder

3. House Church Network leader – a leader of multiple streams of multiplication

4. Catalytic House Church network trainer – primarily coaches leaders within their own culture across multiple regions.

5. Cross-Cultural, Multiple Country Disciple Multiplication Movement trainer.

 

General Principles of an Experiencing God Group (EGG). Only talk 30% of the time and let Persons of Peace home talk 70% of the time.

 

Allow them time to talk. Value THEIR opinion. Let them disagree a little. Let them feel the Love of God and the Presence of the Holy Spirit. Focus the discussion on the Stories of God not our opinion. Heal the sick (anoint them), raise the dead cast out demons.

 

 

Story of Hope # 1 Luke 19 Zacchaeus the Tax Collector Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

 

What truths did you learn about Jesus in this story? What does these truths mean? 

What will you apply this truth in your life? Who will you share this truth and story with?

 

Story of Hope # 2 Luke 7:36-50 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

 

4-2-4 Outline for Experiencing God Group What was the last lesson about and what did God do when you shared with your friend? What are you thankful for? What are you stressed about? How can this group help you with your stress? Tell story at least 2 times What truths did you learn about Jesus in this story? What does these truths mean? What will you apply this truth in your life? Who will you share this truth and story with?

 

Story of Hope # 3 Luke 15:11-31 “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

 

4-2-4 Outline for Experiencing God Group 1. What was the last lesson about and what did God do when you shared with your friend? What are you thankful for? What are you stressed about? How can this group help you with your stress? Tell story at least 2 times What truths did you learn about Jesus in this story? What does these truths mean? What will you apply this truth in your life? Who will you share this truth and story with?

 

Story of Hope #4 Mark 2:2-12 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

 

4-2-4 Outline for Experiencing God Group 1. What was the last lesson about and what did God do when you shared with your friend? What are you thankful for? What are you stressed about? How can this group help you with your stress? Tell story at least 2 times What truths did you learn about Jesus in this story? What does these truths mean? What will you apply this truth in your life? Who will you share this truth and story with?

 

Story of Hope # 5 Luke 8:26-39 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes,which is across the lake from Galilee. When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places. Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left. The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

 

4-2-4 Outline for Experiencing God Group 1. What was the last lesson about and what did God do when you shared with your friend? What are you thankful for? What are you stressed about? How can this group help you with your stress? Tell story at least 2 times What truths did you learn about Jesus in this story? What does these truths mean? What will you apply this truth in your life? Who will you share this truth and story with? 

 

Story of Hope # 6 Luke 22:66-23:44 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. “If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.” Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.” They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.” Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.” So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.” On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies. Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.” But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.) Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.” But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will. The Crucifixion of Jesus As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then “‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’ For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals— one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

 

4-2-4 Outline for Experiencing God Group 1. What was the last lesson about and what did God do when you shared with your friend? What are you thankful for? What are you stressed about? How can this group help you with your stress? Tell story at least 2 times What truths did you learn about Jesus in this story? What does these truths mean? What will you apply this truth in your life? Who will you share this truth and story with?

 

Story of Hope # 7 Genesis 2-3:15 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vastness. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. Adam and Eve This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens. Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx are also there.) The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush. The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Ashur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

 

4-2-4 Outline for Experiencing God Group 1. What was the last lesson about and what did God do when you shared with your friend? What are you thankful for? What are you stressed about? How can this group help you with your stress? Tell story at least 2 times What truths did you learn about Jesus in this story? What does these truths mean? What will you apply this truth in your life? Who will you share this truth and story with?

 

Story of Hope #8 Genesis 6-8 simplified version “The Great Flood” In the course of time, people became extremely wicked. All of their thoughts and actions were evil. Yet, a man named Noah was righteous and walked with God. The Lord said to him, “The Earth will be destroyed with a flood because the people are wicked. Therefore, I’m making an agreement with you to preserve life on the earth. Build an ark. I’ll give you exact dimensions I want you to use. After you’re done, a flood will cover the highest mountain and all of the people and animals on the earth and will die. You and your family will be saved, as well as the animals you take with you.” God gave him the dimensions and building instructions, and Noah did exactly as God said. Noah warned the people for 120 years that the flood was coming but only his family, 8 people in all obeyed and were saved. He and his three sons built the ark. When it was done, God said, “Noah, go into the ark with your family. After seven days, water will fall upon the earth and every person and animal will be destroyed except those on this ark.” So Noah and his wife, his sons and their wives moved into the ark. Once they were there, animals and birds started coming in pairs, male and female. There were seven pairs of clean animals, seven pairs of birds, and only one pair of all the rest. When Noah finally had every kind of animal and bird, God closed the door. On the seventh day, the waters that were above the sky started falling to the earth. At the same time, the earth erupted, sending fountains of water shooting up from beneath the ground. Waters flowed down the hills and filled the valleys. Eventually it covered the entire earth. All the people and animals living on the land were destroyed. Those same waters lifted Noah’s ark above the destruction. The people, animals, and birds that were in the ark were safe while the whole earth was being destroyed. This great flood of water lasted forty days and covered the entire world. And then, it stopped. Noah’s ark floated on the water for 110 days after it stopped raining. The water flowed down to form oceans, seas, and lakes. There were also winds that moved across the earth to dry it off. The ark landed on a mountain called Ararat. Noah waited for another four months and then opened the window to see what was on the earth. He sent out a raven, but it never came back. Next he sent out a dove, which flew around but couldn’t find a place to nest. Soon it returned to the ark and Noah took it in. After seven days, he sent out the dove again. It came back that night with an olive leaf in its beak. Noah then knew that plants were growing once again. He waited seven more days and sent out the dove a third time. It didn’t come back. A month later, Noah opened the door on the ark and saw that the earth was dry. God blessed Noah's family and said, "I am blessing you. Your family and the animals may leave the ark. You’re to multiply and repopulate the earth.” Once they were out of the ark, Noah built an altar so they could worship God. The Lord smelled the gift and said to Noah and his sons, “Look into the clouds and see the rainbow. This is my promise to you. When I look at it and when you look at it, we will remember this promise. Water will never again destroy the entire earth.”

 

4-2-4 Outline for Experiencing God Group 1. What was the last lesson about and what did God do when you shared with your friend? What are you thankful for? What are you stressed about? How can this group help you with your stress? Tell story at least 2 times 1. What truths did you learn about Jesus in this story? 2. What does these truths mean? What will you apply this truth in your life? Who will you share this truth and story with?

 

Story of Hope # 9 Genesis 11 “God Creates the Nations” Noah's three sons had large families, with many children and grandchildren. A man named Nimrod became the first king and his kingdom was called Babylon. The people of Babylon realized that their potential was greater if they stayed together, and not go throughout the world like God had said. So they built a tower that went high into the sky – high enough so everyone could see it. They said to themselves, we will make ourselves a tower and make ourselves famous." God looked at the tower and said, “The people are disobeying my command. If they stay together then their pride will increase. I will confuse their language.” Suddenly the people couldn’t understand one another because they spoke many deferent languages. They became confused and didn't know what was happening to them. Immediately, the work on the tower stopped. They formed seventy different nations according to their language and they finally moved to other parts of the world as God had previously told them to do. The tower became known as the tower of confusion, or the Tower of Babel. The oldest son of Noah was Shem. One of his descendants was a man named Peleg. His name means division, because at the time of his birth, the earth divided. His great, great, great grandson was Abraham.

 

4-2-4 Outline for Experiencing God Group 1. What was the last lesson about and what did God do when you shared with your friend? What are you thankful for? What are you stressed about? How can this group help you with your stress? Tell story at least 2 times What truths did you learn about Jesus in this story? What does these truths mean? What will you apply this truth in your life? Who will you share this truth and story with?

 

Story of Hope # 10 Genesis 12:1-3 When Abram was 75 years old, the LORD said, “Abram, I want you to leave your family and country and go to a place I have selected for you. I'll make you a nation and your name will be great. I'll bless you, and I'll also bless everyone else who blesses you. And I'll curse anyone who curses you. All the families of the earth will be blessed because of you.” So Abram and his wife Sarai started their journey following God. He took them to a place called Canaan and said, “I'm giving this land to you and your children.” Abram believed God, even though he didn’t have any children. He knew God would keep His promise. So he built an altar in the new land God had given him, and worshipped the Lord. God then told Abram about the future of his children. "They will leave this land and go down into Egypt for 400 years. At the end of the 400 years I will then bring them back to this land through a Deliver who I will raise up. Years went by and Abram prospered in the land. One night the Lord said, “I'm your shield and exceeding great reward.” Abram answered, “Lord God, I still don’t have a son, but I have a servant that is like a son to me. Let him inherit your promises to me.” “No!” God said, “You will have a son, and he'll be your heir. Abram, look at the stars in the sky. Your descendants will be as hard to count as those stars.” This seemed impossible to Abram, but he believed God's promise and God took record of his righteous faith! When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord said to him, “You'll be the father of many nations, and some of your descendants will be kings! Therefore I'm changing your name to Abraham, the ‘father of many nations’. Your wife’s name will now be called Sarah.” Abraham laughed and said, “How is it possible for a man who is 100 years old and a woman who is 90 years old to have a child?” God said, “Sarah will have a son and you'll call his name Isaac. I'll give my promises to him and his descendants, and I'll be their God. And the whole earth will be blessed because of them.” When Isaac was a young man, God came to Abraham and said, “Abraham, take Isaac, the son you love so dearly, and go to a place I'll show you. There, I want you to give his life as a burnt offering.” And so the next morning, Abraham got up early and cut wood for the offering. He saddled a donkey, took two servants, and started on the journey. Three days later, Abraham saw the place God had selected. He said to his servants, “Stay here. Isaac and I will go and worship the Lord. We'll come back after we worship.” He told Isaac to carry the wood. Abraham took wood and a knife. Isaac looked around and asked: “Father, we have the wood and the fire, but where is the lamb for the Life Offering.” Abraham looked at his son and finally said, “God will provide Himself an offering for worship.” When they got to the place God had selected, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on top. Next, he tied up his son and put him on top of the wood. He then reached for the knife to present his son as a Life Offering. Suddenly God said, “Abraham, Abraham! Don't touch your son! Don’t do anything to him! For now I know you really my follower, since you were willing to give Me your son!” With that, Abraham looked up and saw a ram with his horns caught in a bush. He took the ram and used him as the life offering instead of his son. Abraham named the place “The Lord Will Provide”. Afterwards, God said to Abraham, “Because you have obeyed Me, I'll bless you and your descendants. Look at the stars. I'll make your descendants as hard to count as those stars. Look at the sand; your descendants will be as hard to count as the sand on the seashore. On top of that, I'll make them successful, even in the cities of their enemies! And the whole earth will be blessed because of your children.” Then Abraham and Isaac went back to where the servants were waiting, and together they went home.

 

4-2-4 Outline for Experiencing God Group 1. What was the last lesson about and what did God do when you shared with your friend? 2. What are you thankful for? 3. What are you stressed about? 4. How can this group help you with your stress? Tell story at least 2 times What truths did you learn about Jesus in this story? What does these truths mean? What will you apply this truth in your life? 4. Who will you should you share this truth with?