December 16, 2008

Disciple I Group Meeting

Lesson 12 – God Restores the People

December 16, 2008

Gathering and Prayer (5 minutes)

Theme: God Restores the People

Theme Word: Comfort

Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-2

Video Segment (20 minutes)

Listen for the views on God’s punishment and the role of the “suffering servant.” Discussion Questions: The same God who holds people accountable for their behaviors is also gracious and forgiving. How was this played out in the life of the people of Judah? How is this still played out in the life of God’s people?

Scripture and Study Manual (25 group discussion, 15 reports)

Group 1: The theme word for this lesson is comfort. Read Isaiah 40:1-11, 57:15-19, and 61:1-3. What are the commonalities and differences among these scriptures? What do these scriptures tell us about comfort in general? Report what you discovered.

Group 2: Review the assigned scripture for Days 3 and 4. These scriptures contain powerful word pictures that point to the restoration of Israel. Review the scriptures for your assigned days and locate some of these word pictures. Report on specific ways these images might have evoked feelings of comfort for Israel? Apply these scriptures to the modern context.

Group 3: Review the assigned scripture for Days 5 and 6. These scriptures contain powerful word pictures that point to the restoration of Israel. Review the scriptures for your assigned days and locate some of these word pictures. In what specific ways might these word pictures have evoked feelings of comfort for Israel?

Group 4: Read Isaiah 45:1-13. What does this passage tell us about God? What does this passage tell us about human being represented by Cyrus? What does this passage tell us about the relationship between God and Cyrus as a human being?

Group 5: Read Our Human Condition. Consider its message in light of Marks of Discipleship for this week. Discussion: Recall a time when you were faced with the choice between service and despair. What did you do? How did this experience expand your understanding of God?

Encounter the Word (15 minutes, if time permits)

Read Psalm 40. React to the scripture in light of the contemporary African American situation.

Closing and Prayer (5 minutes)

Reminders: