Hey Girls! Welcome to our second gathering for Siesta Summer Bible Study! I’m thrilled to be with you today! It feels so good to be back in Scripture together, doesn’t it? OK, before you go any further, remember that all comments to this post come AFTER your group views the video (or questions below) and completes the guided discussion. One representative will sign in on behalf of your entire group and using your group name, city, and number participating in this gathering. If you’re going solo, you will sign in by your name and city. Solo participants will choose several of the questions that resonate with you most and answer them succinctly in your comment. Group representatives will share the most powerful or pertinent part of your discussion.
One more thing before we get to it! I want you to be able to picture our Bible study community because it’s such a rich mix of women. My beloved coworkers, Nancy and Kmac, went through all your comments to the summer Bible study launch (a daunting task indeed so applause please!) and here is an estimate of what our wonderful, colorful class looks like. (This has been updated since I did the video embedded in this post so the following is newer and more accurate information. The video has to be done around 4 days in advance so that’s the reason for any discrepancies between numbers.)
We are made up of about…
- 4226 individuals total (whether in groups or going solo)
- 1129 groups
- 48 United States (missing Delaware and Vermont; 1 sister said she was originally from Vermont, but is now living in NY. As severely tempted as we are to count that, we won’t. At the time I did the video, we didn’t realize Delaware was missing as well so, if you’re out there, be sure and let us know! It’s all just for fun. We’re not trying to be all that, so don’t anybody go moving or anything. Grin.)
- 14 countries outside U.S. (Africa, Australia, Bahamas, 4 Canadian provinces – AB, BC, ON, SK-, China, Costa Rica, Finland, France, Italy, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the UK)
Woooohooooo! May Jesus be pleased and highly praised!
OK, everybody! It’s time to meet. If possible, watch the video but, if you’re unable to view it, here are written instructions for your gathering. All the following questions or interactives are based on your first 2 weeks (or what they’re calling “Sessions”) of homework.
The first question comes from something Kelly said no further into the study than the second paragraph of the introduction on p.6. Reread the first two paragraphs then answer the following question:
#1. Name people you’ve met and, after getting to know them, realized you’d missed them terribly before they came into your life. In others words, describe a time when you encountered people that supplied something your life was greatly missing.
(In so many ways, Siestas, you have been this to me. I can hardly picture ministry around here at LPM before you got here. You supplied so much community that I lost when I gave up my beloved Sunday School class and you broadened my world immensely through your profound diversity. I am so thankful for you.)
#2. One of the most important concepts for the study is introduced in Day One of the first week or “Session.” Turn to p.14 and review the portion mid-page. Why is it so vital to have a heart that can break? After answer the question, discuss how you filled in your columns: what breaks your heart and where you could be more tender.
#3. Turn to the conclusion of Week or Session One on p.31 and share your answers to this “personal response” (mid-page): “What has God put in your heart to do?” Don’t descend into comparison, over analysis and self-condemnation as you discuss your answers. Remember, what God has put in our hearts to do may not be timed for fulfillment until many days or even years from the birth of our passion. After you answer the question, THEN glance ahead to the “Group Discussion” question in the margin on p.40 because it coincides so well with the concept we’re discussing here. “Have you ever forced a plan or dream that, in retrospect, you realized God’s hand wasn’t on?” Boy, I have and many times! Let’s have some community here so we’ll all know that this is a common occurrence.
#4. Reflect on your answer to the question at the bottom of p.39: “So we will no longer be in disgrace.” (Some of your versions may say “shame.”) That word resonates deeply with me because I have felt disgraced and usually by my own actions or mistakes. Discuss a few ways that disgrace can result from a collapsed wall of some kind. THEN, celebrate the reality that walls can be REBUILT.
#5. Go to p.56, the opening page of Day Five in Session Two and discuss some of your answers to the question in bold print: “What rubble in your life is presently the most discouraging and exhausting?” We are not just going to share and compare our piles of rubble here but we are going to turn our discussion into intercession as we conclude our gathering. After several people share, return to Nehemiah 4:14 and read it together and let it lead you in how you pray for one another. Close out in BELIEVING-RECEIVING intercession!
Our next gathering will be on Tuesday, July 24th. Have Weeks (Sessions) 3 and 4 of your homework completed. For those who are gathering around a meal, consider making the Romaine Salad on p.88 with the blue cheese and pecans and maple vinaigrette and, since you went so healthy on the main course, how about some Billie’s Banana Pudding on p.89 for dessert??
I love you guys so much! Stay in the Word!
St.Thomas, ON Canada, Solo
#1 I think I would say my first small group that I joined over 10 years ago…they were a group of people that I had missing in my life. I missed out on the whole Christian accountability prior to that time, specifically because I hadn’t been living out as a believer in Christ. So many great relationships that developed from that time; I wouldn’t have changed anything about that group at all. God truly brought each one of them into my life during a time when my personal life had been crumbling.
#2. I think it is so vital to have a heart that can break, as one who loves the Lord, since we see that as Christ’s example to us. For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him, will not perish but have everlasting life. I think God loved us so much, His heart broke over us and our sinful ways..because He desired to have a relationship with us that was real, out of love He sent His son to die for our sins.
What breaks my heart? Abused woman, single moms, neglected children, unloved children, lonely people.
Where could I be more tender? Those around me who are sick; not severely sick (not children, just adults). But I don’t seem to have much sympathy for those with common sicknesses. (head colds, back aches) I guess I have the attitude of well we all get that, get over it. Or well life still goes on… and I feel like I’m pretty tough in those areas, so others should be….and I’ve realized that in me over the last few years..not with children, but with adults who are sick in this less than life-threatening way, that I’m not very tender in those situations. Definitely something I need to work on
P.S. Love this study!
The ABQ Siestas met on Monday. We are still awestruck by God’s timing! Even though we started almost a month after this Bible study was supposed to start, God is revealing truth in our lives through this study that pertains to what we are dealing with right now – that we weren’t dealing with a month ago! #4 resonated the most with us – we are celebrating the reality that through God’s grace our walls can be rebuilt!
The Zambia-Colorado Connection (2)
Lusaka, Zambia and Ft. Collins, CO
Both of us have the same answer to what breaks our hearts: the orphans in Africa and the mamas who take care of them. We could both be more tender toward people who whine and complain (and we fit into that category ourselves sometimes!). We both have the rubble of pride in our lives.
The Lusaka half of this group was working 6:30 am-9:30 pm for a month, so thank you for your grace as we answer a bit late. We have every intention of finishing strong!
Reveling in Restoration-Chesapeake, Va -2-met August 2/2012 we were both so touched by the preciousness of God removing all disgrace from us, all the rubble is taken care of in him. We can see the Lord’s perfect timing in “breaking our hearts” for the “normal people” around us and are both seeking hearts that need an expression of his kindness. Each time we meet we both have had an experience of ministering to the broken hearted with encouragement/help and prayer. We thank God for His unique ability to take away disgrace!
Don’t laugh…I am a little behind this summer!
Jennifer, Denver (solo)
Loved #5 because I think I have grown tired fighting from time to time for various friends or family members. This gave me renewed energy & grace. God is good!