Good  day,  Community  Group  Leaders!    Attached  is  your  Week  #9  group  material,  also  available  at  www.mccag.org  by  clicking  on  RESOURCES  >  COMMUNITY  GROUP  LEADERS    

• Don’t  forget  about  BLESS  RICHMOND  -­‐  a  gathering  of  Richmond  area  congregations  to  pray,  give  thanks  and  feed  the  hungry  of  Richmond.  This  citywide  prayer  meeting  will  take  place  Saturday,  November  21st,  6PM  at  U-­‐Turn  Sports  Performance  Academy,  2101  Maywill  Street,  Richmond.  Please  encourage  your  group  to  arrive  around  5:30  pm  in  order  to  park,  drop  off  canned  foods,  and  find  a  good  seat  before  the  event  begins.  Nearly  two-­‐thousand  people  participate.  Each  person  attending  is  asked  to  bring  some  nonperishable  food  items  for  the  Central  Virginia  Food  Bank  (tuna  and  peanut  butter  are  especially  useful).    

• Thank  you  for  strongly  considering  continuing  on  with  your  group,  even  if  only  occasionally  over  the  holidays.  Relationships  take  time  and  energy  to  develop  but  they  certainly  are  worth  the  effort.  Please  let  me  know  your  group’s  plans  about  continuing  by  Sunday,  Nov.  22nd  (last  Sunday  in  VOICE  series).    We  have  wonderful  group  resources  available  for  you  to  utilize  after  the  series,  including  www.RightNowTraining.org  and  the  ever-­‐growing  list  of  group  resources  available  on  your  resource  page  at  our  website,  including  Truth  Search.  I  look  forward  to  speaking  personally  with  you  about  what’s  next  for  your  group.    

Sincerely  His  and  yours,  Pastor  Dwayne   WEEK#9  BULLETIN  INSERT    

Haggai  was  the  voice  to  a  stuck  people.    Three  symptoms  of  stuck  people:    

   1.  Disinterest  in  God’s  Will  • Choosing  my  wants  over  God’s  will  results  in  an  unsatisfying  life.  

     2.  Discouragement  with  God’s  Plan  

• Pursuing  my  expectations  rather  than  God’s  revelation  sets  me  up  for  disappointment.          3.  Dissatisfaction  with  God’s  Pace  

• Expecting  overnight  change  will  frustrate  and  undermine  me.    

 

God  counsels  stuck  people  to:  

Reject  excuses  Restore  priorities    Get  involved  Receive  God’s  empowerment  

   WELCOME/SNACKS    20  minutes    

MISSION  MOMENT  10  minutes  Finalize  your  group  mission/outreach  plans.  Please  take  pictures  &  report  on  your  outreach  so  I  can  celebrate  with  you!  

 

OPEN  10  minutes  

1. What  is  one  household  “project”  that  you  began  a  long  time  ago  but  remains  unfinished?  Briefly  describe  what  is  holding  back  its  completion?  

2. Briefly  tell  the  group  about  a  time  when  you  got  “stuck”  somewhere  or  in  some  awkward  circumstance.  How  did  you  finally  free  yourself?  

3. Tell  about  a  time  when  you  were  tempted  to  give  up  on  something  just  before  you  succeeded.      

DISCUSS    25-­‐35  minutes  

1. Haggai’s  prophecies  were  given  to  people  who  knew  exactly  what  God  wanted  them  to  do,  but  who  had  failed  to  pursue  it  for  14  years.  What  are  some  things  that  God  has  made  clear  to  you,  personally,  that  He  wants  you  to  do?  (This  question  is  about  specific,  unique  assignments  you’ve  been  given,  such  as  go  on  a  missions  trip  to  a  specific  place,  help  an  elderly  neighbor  with  her  yard  work,  write  a  book,  etc.)    

What  are  some  specific  things  that  God  has  made  clear  that  He  wants  ALL  OF  US  to  do?  (God  calls  every  follower  of  Christ  to  disciple  someone  else;  to  be  a  Godly  spouse  or  parent  as  applicable;  obey  His  commands;  to  be  kind  &  compassionate  to  others;  to  give  the  first  10th  of  all  income  to  the  church;  etc.)    

2. What  are  the  distractions  in  your  life  that  most  often  prevent  you  from  accomplishing  the  above?    

Would  you  say  that  these  distractions  truly  prevent  you  from  accomplishing  God’s  will  or  do  they  simply  interest  you  more  than  what  God  desires?    

3. Have  you  ever  experienced  a  time  when  living  selfishly  ended  up  being  unsatisfying?  Explain.    What  did  Jesus  mean  in  Matthew  6:31-­‐33  when  He  advised  His  followers  to  seek  “God’s  kingdom”  first?  What  would  be  the  result  of  such  living?  (The  Living  Bible  says  it  this  way:  God  will  give  you  everything  you  need  if  you  “give  God  first  place  in  your  life  and  live  as  he  wants  you  to”.)    

4. On  Sunday  we  were  warned  to  not  expect  overnight  change  in  our  lives  when  we  finally  adjust  our  pursuits  to  line  up  with  God’s  will.  Share  with  the  group  areas  of  positive  growth  that  you  see  in  your  life  over  the  past  6  months  or  year.    (Take  time  to  affirm  one  another  over  these  areas.  If  someone  has  difficulty  recognizing  growth,  perhaps  someone  else  in  the  group  can  highlight  improvement/momentum  that  they’ve  noticed  since  the  group  began  meeting  together.)    

11/15/2015 HAGGAI

LEADERSHIP  TIPS:  Always  prayerfully  choose  from  the  questions  in  each  section  of  the  material.    

5. The  people  of  Judea  may  have  found  it  difficult  to  believe  God’s  promise  that  the  glory  of  the  new  Temple  they  were  struggling  to  build  would  far  surpass  the  glory  of  Solomon’s  elaborate  Temple.  How  easy  or  difficult  do  you  find  it  to  believe  that  God  can  (and  will)  receive  great  glory  through  your  life  if  you  consistently  obey  Him?  Why  do  you  find  it  so?  (Help  people  see  that  we  can  never  exhaust  God’s  love  and  grace.  Nothing  anyone  has  done  can  disqualify  him/her  from  God’s  redemptive  power.)  

   

GROUP  RESPONSE  &  PRAYER  10-­‐15  minutes    

   

1. What  is  one  area  in  your  life  in  which  you  are  disobeying  God  (by  what  you  are  doing  or  not  doing)?  (Pause;  don’t  be  afraid  of  the  silence.  Let  the  Holy  Spirit  do  his  internal  work.)    

What  might  be  an  actual  “first  step”  for  you  to  take  in  order  to  create  momentum  in  this  area?    

(After  everyone  has  shared,  break  into  smaller  groups  and  be  certain  everyone’s  response  is  covered  in  prayer.)    

2. If  #1  above  seems  a  bit  too  “in  your  face”  for  your  group  (pray  about  it  again).  If  it  still  seems  too  direct,  consider  letting  group  members  go  on  their  own  for  10  minutes  to  complete  the  “IT’S  YOUR  MOVE”  exercise.  Then  rejoin  the  group  and  continue  with  #3  or  #4  below  to  conclude  the  meeting.    

3. Is  there  an  area  in  your  life  about  which  you  are  deeply  discouraged  because  your  previous  attempts  to  change  have  yielded  little  results?    (Have  the  group  pray  for  encouragement  for  each  individual  and  for  God’s  insight  into  what  next  step  to  take.)    

4. Does  anyone  simply  feel  powerless  to  take  a  step  forward?  If  yes,  would  you  be  willing  for  our  group  to  pray  for  you  to  receive  God’s  empowerment  to  get  going?  (Consider  using  a  “hot  seat”  in  the  center  of  the  room  and  surrounding  that  person  for  prayer  ministry.)    At  just  the  right  moment,  you  may  wish  to  speak  this  over  those  who  respond…  

God’s  message  to  Zerubbabel  through  the  Prophet  Zechariah  is  God’s  same  message  to  you:    “Not  by  might,  nor  by  power,  but  by  my  Spirit,  says  the  Lord  Almighty—you  will  succeed  because  of  my  Spirit,  though  you  are  few  and  weak.”      Zechariah  4:6  Living  Bible  (TLB)  

LEADERSHIP  TIP:  Response  times  should  focus  on  prayer  and  mutual  encouragement.  This  is  NOT  time  to  give  advice;  that  can  come  later.    

   

Week  #9  –  ORANGE  Resources  for  Group  Leaders  and  Parents    REBUILDING  THE  TEMPLE  

 MATERIALS  NEEDED:          A  copy  of  the  2-­‐page  Temple  template  (cardstock                              copies  available  at  the  Welcome  Desk  in  the  GF)          Crayons  or  markers        Glue  sticks  or  transparent  tape        Gold  glitter  (optional)    

Instructions:  1. Provide  the  2-­‐page  Temple  template  for  each  child.  (Template  is  

found  on  the  next  two  pages.)  

2. Invite  the  children  to  color  the  template  BEFORE  cutting  it  out.  

3. Have  the  children  cut  out  the  template.  

4. Assemble  the  temple  by  adding  glue  or  tape  to  the  side  tabs.  

*  Your  kids  can  use  gold  glitter  glue  to  decorate  the  columns,  doors  and  side  panels  IF  you  are  a  risk  taker!    

 While  the  children  color  and  build,  discuss  the  following:  

Encourage  the  children  as  they  “build”  (color  and  assemble)  the  Temple  like  the  people  of  Haggai’s  day  did.  Talk  about  how  difficult  it  must  have  been  for  them  to  build  while  their  enemies  were  trying  to  discourage  them.  Next,  relate  how  the  people  gave  up  on  building  the  Temple  for  14  years  until  God  sent  the  Prophet  Haggai  to  encourage  them  to  start  again  and  to  finish  what  God  had  sent  them  to  do.    ASK:  Have  you  ever  started  a  project  (like  cleaning  up  your  room  or  washing  the  dishes)  and  gotten  so  tired  or  sidetracked  that  you  stopped  right  in  the  middle  of  it?  (responses)    When  you  stopped,  were  you  obeying  or  disobeying  the  one  who  gave  you  the  task?  (disobeying  –  because  even  delayed  obedience  is  actually  disobedience)    God  wants  you  to  be  the  type  of  person  who  does  wise  things  and  stays  with  it  until  the  task  is  completed!  God  will  help  you  have  the  strength  to  do  this  if  you  pray  and  ask  Him  to  do  so.  

 THE  TEMPLE  PUZZLE  

 MATERIALS  NEEDED:      Copies  as  desired  of  the  Temple  Puzzle  (card  stock  available  at  Welcome  

Desk  in  the  Grand  Foyer).      

Instructions:  Utilize  the  discussion  material  as  described  in  the  above  activity  as  the  children  put  the  puzzle  together.  Note:  You  may  wish  to  provide  a  copy  for  each  child  or  plan  to  have  several  children  working  together  on  one  puzzle.  

 

© Crafting The W

ord Of G

od

 

© Crafting The W

ord Of G

od

THE  TEMPLE  PUZZLE    

© Crafting The Word Of God

TELLING  HAGGAI’S  STORY    

Today,  we  will  learn  about  the  prophet  Haggai  who  encouraged  the  people  sent  from  Babylon  to  rebuild  the  temple  in  Jerusalem.      70  years  after  Daniel  and  God’s  people  were  taken  to  Babylon,  King  Cyrus  agreed  to  allow  Zerubbabel,  the  governor  of  Judah,  to  return  to  Jerusalem  with  many  people  to  rebuild  God’s  temple.  But,  after  16  years,  the  temple  was  still  not  completed  because  they  chose  to  make  improvements  on  their  own  homes  instead.  God  sent  the  prophets  Haggai  and  Zechariah  to  encourage  them  to  put  God  first  and  finish  the  temple.      IN  THE  WORD  Let’s  focus  on  Haggai’s  warning,  choice,  and  promise  from  God.  

• Let’s  begin  by  reading  Haggai’s  WARNING  from  God  to  the  people  of  Jerusalem  in  Haggai  1:7-­‐9.  

• God  encouraged  the  people  with  the  CHOICE  found  in  Haggai  2:4  (read).  

• With  the  help  of  God’s  Spirit,  the  people  chose  to  put  God  first  and  build  His  temple  right  away.  But  they  were  sad  when  they  noticed  the  temple  would  not  be  as  big  as  the  last  one.  Some  people  were  worried  it  would  not  be  as  good.  Check  out  God’s  PROMISE  about  the  new  temple  in  Haggai  2:9.  

 ASK  1. Why  did  God  send  Haggai  to  the  people  who  had  stopped  rebuilding  God’s  temple?  (Children  

respond.)  They  were  choosing  to  do  things  they  wanted  to  do  instead  of  what  God  wanted  them  to  do.    

2. What  do  you  think  it  means  to  “give  careful  thought  to  your  ways”?  (Children  respond.)  Sometimes  we  do  things  without  thinking  about  the  choices  we  are  making.  Some  people  do  things  because  others  are  doing  it.  Sometimes  we  focus  our  thoughts  and  actions  on  doing  what  we  want  to  do  without  taking  the  time  to  think  about  how  God  wants  us  to  spend  our  time.      

Have  you  ever  forgotten  to  think  carefully  about  a  choice  you  were  making?  (Children  respond.)  God  always  gives  us  a  choice.  The  people  of  Jerusalem  had  to  choose  between  giving  up  or  being  strong  and  doing  the  work.  They  had  to  choose  between  focusing  on  themselves  or  God.    

3. Who  do  you  think  gave  the  people  strength  to  finish  the  temple?  (God’s  Spirit)    God  told  Haggai  to  tell  the  people  that  He  was  with  them  to  strengthen  them.  The  prophet  Zechariah  told  the  people  their  strength  to  make  right  choices  would  come  not  by  might,  nor  by  power,  but  by  God’s  Spirit.  His  Spirit  will  help  you  be  strong  and  make  good  choices,  too.  Before  making  a  choice,  be  sure  to  stop  and  ask  yourself,  “Will  this  please  God?  Will  this  point  others  to  Jesus?”  

 CHRIST  CONNECTION  God  sent  Haggai  and  Zechariah  to  encourage  the  people  to  make  good  choices.  Over  500  years  after  Haggai  gave  God’s  message  to  the  people  about  their  choices,  Paul  prayed  for  the  people  to  make  good  choices.  He  knew  wonderful  things  happen  when  we  make  choices  that  please  God.  Let’s  check  it  out.    

TELLING  HAGGAI’S  STORY,  cont’d.    

Colossians  1:10-­‐14  (Living  Bible)  So  ever  since  we  first  heard  about  you  we  have  kept  on  praying  and  asking  God  to  help  you  understand  what  he  wants  you  to  do;  asking  him  to  make  you  wise  about  spiritual  things;  10  and  asking  that  the  way  you  live  will  always  please  the  Lord  and  honor  him,  so  that  you  will  always  be  doing  good,  kind  things  for  others,  while  all  the  time  you  are  learning  to  know  God  better  and  better.  

 ASK  Do  you  think  the  choices  we  make  today  are  important  to  God?  (Yes.)  What  are  some  examples  of  choices  you  make  that  are  important  to  God?  (Children  respond.)  

HAGGAI  CROSSWORD  PUZZLE      

Haggai 1:1-15Use these verses to complete the puzzle.

Name _____________________________________________

1

2

3 4 5

6 7

8 9

10

11

Calvary Chapel of Philadelphia

ACROSS

2 The word of the Lord came to

___________.

4 Build the ________, that I make take

pleasure in it.

6 Haggai was a ___________.

8 The word of the Lord came by

Haggai to Zerubbabel, governor of

__________.

10 Thus says the Lord of Hosts,

"Consider your _______!"

11 The word of the Lord came by

Haggai in the second year of King

________.

DOWN

1 You have sewn much and bring in

_________.

3 The Lord stirred up the _________

of the people.

5 I am with you, says the _______.

7 The people _________ the voice of

God.

8 The word or the Lord came by

Haggai to ________, the high priest.

9 They came and worked on the

_______ of the Lord of hosts, their

God.

WORD BANK: HAGGAI, PROPHET, WAYS, TEMPLE, OBEYED, LORD,JUDAH, JOSHUA, DARIUS, LITTLE, SPIRIT, HOUSE.

HAGGAI  WORD  SEARCH    

 Name ____________________________________________

Haggai 1:1-15Find the words in the grid. Words can go across and down only.

M M L D L G D V H C M P N S W

E O O L V L A L A O K L W P D

S N B V M T R O G N L D A I C

S T E O P K I R G S X T Y R J

A H Y I R H U D A I Q K S I L

G R E C P K S V I D S I X T H

E M D E T W O R D E M Y K M R

T E M P L E P D K R D D W W L

Y M P R E S E N C E R Q Y V T

E P G L O R I F I E D W T Y D

A R K X L Z G R M H O S T S A

R K I N G L G N R Q Y O U R Y

W R S E C O N D W K H T Y G L

Z T D T R P P R O P H E T N T

L G O D K N K X Y K F I R S T

Calvary Chapel of Philadelphia

CONSIDER

DARIUS

DAY

FIRST

GLORIFIED

GOD

HAGGAI

HOSTS

KING

LORD

MESSAGE

MONTH

OBEYED

PRESENCE

PROPHET

SECOND

SIXTH

SPIRIT

TEMPLE

VOICE

WAYS

WORD

YEAR

YOUR