Group Fellowship Notes – 27/29 May 2003

God’s Questions No. 2 – Who Told You

Welcome

I remember when I was young waking up on a Thursday morning and frantically trying to find out the previous night football scores – in the days before modern technology when I had to wait for my Dad to tell me – if he had seen (and remembered) the scores from Sportsnight.

How many ways can your group think of for receiving news – go round the group with each person miming out a way of receiving news (e.g. picking up the telephone, clicking on the internet or I might mime shouting at the dog, then waiting for a bit, then patting the dog’s head and unfolding the newspaper he had dropped on the floor)

(You may think this is ‘only a game’ – but it has two purposes… 1) relaxing the group and 2) getting the group thinking about ideas that will be the backdrop to the later discussion.)

Worship

Read John 1:40-41

Why not encourage each person to share the name of one person who told them the ‘Good News’ and then have a time of prayer thanking God for those people.

Word

This week we continue our series of Fellowship Group notes looking at the first five questions that God asks. And we jump a massive two verses on from last week… to Genesis 3 verse 11… “Who told you?” (Read Genesis 3:8-12)

Why is this question important?

Who convinces you to think like that, to have those ideas?

What voices and influences have conditioned the way you live?

We live in an age of information – does this make it easier or more difficult to be told and to hear ‘truth’?

The serpent was more shrewdy / clever / crafty than all the other creatures…

Thinking of the crafty media, the shrewd society and clever friends

How are the two things the serpent told Eve still told today? (Did God really say? You will not surely die)

What other doubts or lies are told today?

Read Romans 1:16-32

 “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie” v25

• Who told the people that they needed a new god – whilst Moses was up the mountain (Ex 32)
• Who told the prodigal that he would he would be better out on his own? Who told him his Father would not forgive him?
• Who tells us that real freedom comes from ‘finding yourself’?
• Who tells us that true joy is found in self-centredness?
• Who tells us that whatever you believe is ok – as long as you are sincere?

“They keep inventing new ways of wrecking lives. They ditch their parents when they get in the way. Stupid, slimy, cruel, coldblooded. And it’s not as if they don’t know better. They know perfectly well they’re spitting in God’s face. And they don’t care—worse, they hand out prizes to those who do the worst things best!” (v31b-32 The Message)

How does modern society reward those that are most living the lie?

How do we ensure we are listening to true and good words? And how do we help each other?

Jesus tells us how to live – how to find true happiness… listen to how Rob Lacey has paraphrased Jesus’ words in Matthew 5

“I’ll tell you who’ll laugh last: the people who don’t think too much of themselves, who know they’re a mess – their ticket to heaven’s already in the post (first class)

“I’ll tell you who’ll still be laughing: the people who know about grief, who don’t shove the mess behind the sofa, but face it – God himself is going to put his arm round them.

“I’ll tell you who’ll laugh longest: the modest, gentle types, who don’t go round grabbing – they’ll get given the world.”

“Who’ll be laughing? The people who only want to do the right thing, like it’s their food and drink – their “good news in tray” will be piled high”

“Who’ll be laughing? The people who don’t hold grudges, who forgive and forget – they’ll get treated likewise…

“Who’s laughing? The people who get slapped down for doing the right thing – they get given the security code to heaven’s gates”

 Who is telling you how to live?

God chooses to speak - we are the only listeners God’s got!

Witness (Ensure each person has two pieces of paper and a pen)

But what about on a more personal level? Think of the voices you have listened to that have blighted your life. Maybe a teacher at school, (you’re useless, you’re no good for anything, you’re a waste of space – the comedian Lee Evans tells of how he developed his rubber faced and silly walk comedy routine after he was bullied at school - “I was the only one in the class not to pass a test. The teacher hauled me to the front of everyone and said ‘Look at Lee. That’s what failure looks like’!”

Perhaps you have had damaging parental programming – “we want you to be a success… we want you to be happy” causing anxiety, pressure, inadequacy. (Oh if only my parents had in some way said “we want you to be a lover of God”)

Encourage each person to write down the damaging voices they hear on one piece of paper.

Then why not pray and screw that piece of paper up and throw away.

Then on the second piece of paper each person writes their name at the top and passes the paper to the left – the next person writes something encouraging on the bit of paper and then passes it to the left – so that everyone has the chance to write on each person’s paper. Keep passing until each person gets their own piece of paper back

People might want to write something personal – or something general / Biblical. To help you might want to read this to remind us of what it is that God wants to tell us. Whatever they writer – it must be positive!

You are made in My image. I delegate My kingdom rule to you. I want you to be My partner in ordering the world. I have blessed you with the individuality, with unique gifts and skills and creativity so that you can bless others. I give you the honour of bearing My image wherever you go. You have the dignity of being My son, My daughter. I love you unconditionally.