Ultimate Family Championship
CG Leader’s Guide
Week 5: October 10-16, 2016 (Sermon Subject: Sabbath)
Bottom Line: The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
Community Group Leader instructions: In preparation for the following group discussions and the use of the provided material, take a few moments to read through the instructions below.
***This group curriculum is written in a “funnel” format. The deeper you go into the questions, the deeper you get into community, application and accountability. So if time is an issue, get to the last couple questions even if you have to bypass others.***
Before the group meeting:
1. Spend time engaging the “Passages for Study/discussion” with prayer.
2. Read through all material.
· As you look through it, you will find helpful tips in the “Leader Guide” section that will allow you to better facilitate the discussion.
· At times, sermon notes may be provided by DBC, and in the meantime your own sermon notes would be beneficial.
· The “other passages” is a collection of the verses referenced throughout the series.
· “Other resources” is a growing list of helpful tools for more personal study. You need not make a big deal of them unless someone wants to know more about a particular topic.
3. Think through ways you can help your group apply what is being taught instead of “knowing” what’s been taught.
· Write out 2-3
At the Group Meeting:
1. Summarize/Read the “Intro”
2. Assign readers for the passages outlined in the “Passages for study” section.
3. Walk your group through each question (or as many that time will allow). Use the leader guide to facilitate the discussion.
4. Summarize the “Review & Reflection” section. Reading this aloud may be helpful.
5. Share your thoughts on how you and your group can begin to apply what was learned in this lesson. Help them formulate ideas for reading, studying, and meditating on the scriptures.
May you dig into this CG experience and find that “We fight to win, and everybody wins when love is worth fighting for!” FIGHT-WIN-LOVE
I. Intro: With the epidemic of feeling continually tired, stressed out, anxious, depressed, overly busy, physically sick, angry, tense, confused or simply feeling empty, we need this content today. Each one of those represents the effects of a lack of following God’s design for Sabbath.
Today, we step into the octagon of life and learn how to fight
for God’s design for our Sabbath.
II. Passages for study: Mark 2:23-3:6
Background of the passage: In the passage today, a conflict arises over a snack. Jesus and his disciples are walking in a grain field and some intolerant, religious bigots challenged Jesus about why they were picking the heads of grain to snack on.
Although the Gospel of Mark does not name its author, it is the unanimous testimony of early church fathers that Mark was the author. He was an associate of the Apostle Peter, and evidently his spiritual son (1 Peter 5:13). From Peter he received first-hand information of the events and teachings of the Lord, and preserved the information in written form.
It is generally agreed that Mark is the John Mark of the New Testament (Acts 12:12).
The Gospel of Mark was likely one of the first books written in the New Testament, probably in A.D. 55-59.
This gospel is unique because it emphasizes Jesus’ actions more than His teaching.
III. Discussion Questions:
1. Icebreaker: Go into your wallet or purse and find two or three things that you are proud of and explain why?
2. Icebreaker: Go into your wallet or purse and find two of three things that challenge your ability to Sabbath? Explain why?
3. What does this passage say about Jesus?
4. In your opinion, what were the Pharisees doing to the Sabbath?
5. Why do you think Jesus was adamant to make the purpose of Sabbath clear to us?
6. Chasing the American dream without practicing Sabbath comes at a cost. Of the things listed belong, which have you experienced second hand as a child? Then, as an adult?
· Family time
· Health problems
· Emotional instability
· Explosive anger
· Neglected children
· Exhaustion (even after a good night’s sleep)
· Feeling empty
· Depression
7. The Greek word for Sabbath is sabbaton meaning “to stop, to cease, be complete, or to celebrate.” These application points are based off those definitions. Which of these do you find the most challenging?
1. Stop or cease from working in the home and at work.
· (Chores at home are work)
· Say no to the extra kids activities
· Say no to some overtime
· Clearing your mind and body from the to do list
2. Rest in Jesus for a period of time (as long as it takes).
· Where God has your attention
· TV is off
· Phone is off, computers are off, tablets are off, etc.
3. Find your Rhythm in Christ.
· Listening, reading, and praying.
· Community time with others
· Through Simplicity- Not schedule making
4. Celebrate Contentment in Jesus.
· Enjoying what you have instead of attempting to acquire more.
· Celebrating the finished work of Christ
8. What could Sabbath look like in your home? What are you going to do to help that happen?
9. Complete the “Discipline” Prefight Checklist at home.
Prefight Checklist
Discuss these questions with all members of your home.
Giving everyone a chance to answer and without correcting their answers even if you disagree. This exercise is designed to get everyone on the same page
Discuss this passage with your immediate family members or review this passage as an individual.
“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27 NIV 84
What does this say about God?
What does this require me to do starting today?
What does this tell a parent to do for their children?
Parents: Use this time to explain the necessity of why God has given us a Sabbath.
Develop an action plan of what Sabbath looks like in your home.
Start small. Finish strong.
IV. Review & Reflection:
Every person needs to rest. We all know it, and now, we just need to live the truth that we all know. Sabbath is more like art than a strict set of rules. We are fighting for the enjoyment of life that Christ offers!
V. Other Passages:
Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest. Exodus 34:21 NIV 84
If you enter your neighbor’s grain field, you may pick kernels with your hands, but you must not put a sickle to his standing grain. Deuteronomy 23:25 NIV 84
Hebrews 4:9-11 NIV 84, “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.”
Exodus 20:9-10, “Six days you shall labor and do all your work...But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work…”
Exodus 20:11, “For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
Hebrews 12:11 NIV 84, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.”
Proverbs 12:1 NIV 84, “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.”
Simply let your yes by yes and your no be no. Matthew 5:37 paraphrased
For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT
For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat." 2 Thessalonians 3:10 NIV 2011
Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone. Titus 3:1-2 NIV 2011
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:28-31 NIV 2011
The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16 NIV 2011
Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. Luke 2:52 NIV 84
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 NIV 84
Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and daughters, your wives and your homes.” Nehemiah 4:14 NIV 84
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV 84
So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 8:15 NIV
Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun ; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun. Ecclesiastes 9:9 NASB:95
Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. 4 Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands. 5 How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! Psalm 127:3-5 NLT
VI. Other Resources:
The Most Important Place on Earth by Robert Wolgemuth
The New Rules for Love, Sex & Dating by Andy Stanley
Family Shepherds by Voddie Baucham Jr.
Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham Jr.
Loving Our Kids on Purpose by Danny Silk
Parenting is Heart Work by Turansky and Miller
Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
Garden City by John Mark Comer
The Contemplative Pastor by Eugene Peterson