Shepherd of the Valley Messages

Shepherd of the Valley Messages

By Shepherd of the ValleyReligion & SpiritualityChristianity
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Shepherd of the Valley Messages episodes

  • Hearing The Call

    Click here to view the guidebook

    Icebreaker 
    1. What is a rhythm you are hoping to get into or reengage this fall?
    2. Is there a word or phrase that you or someone in your family misheard or mispronounced?
      3. Discussion Questions
      1. What stuck out to you about the message?
      2. Read 1 Samuel 3:1–10. Why might Samuel have had a hard time understanding God was calling him? Does hearing God’s voice today feel similar or different from this scene?
      3. Eli helps Samuel discern God’s voice. What is discernment, and how can we use it to hear God’s voice today?
      4. What does it mean to be “called” or have “a calling?” Is that something everyone receives or is it only for specific people?
      5. Read 1 Samuel 3:10–14, after this call, Samuel will become a great prophet and leader, but he will not always be popular with the people. Do you think Samuel would have agreed to God’s plan if he knew all that it entailed? Why do you think God doesn’t always give us the full picture? (watch this short video if you’d like more context on the book of Samuel: bibleproject.com/videos/1–samuel)
      6. What is Eli’s role in this story? How can you invite others to guide you in your faith story?
      7. Who might be an “Eli” in your life who can help you hear the voice of God?
        8. Prayer Practice

        Practice Lectio Divina, a process of reading Scripture three times and listening to what God might be saying through it. Have three different people read. Read Proverbs 16:1–9. First, listen for a word or phrase that sticks out to you. Second, what feeling or emotion comes to mind? Third, what might God be inviting you to?

        25 min
      8. Here I Am

        Click here to view the guidebook

        Icebreaker 
        1. Introduce yourself to the group, and share about a highlight of the fall so far.
        2. What’s something you’ve done in your life that you felt unqualified for?
          3. Discussion Questions
          1. Share something that stuck out to you about the message.
          2. Read Isaiah 6:1–8. Put yourself in Isaiah’s shoes. What would you be thinking or feeling if you were him?
          3. What does Isaiah mean about unclean lips? In what ways are we prone to count ourselves out from being used by God?
          4. What changes Isaiah’s perspective to be able to say “here I am?” Do you think God wants to use us in a similar way? Why or why not?
          5. Do you have availability in your life to be used by God? Why or why not? What are some common reasons people feel they can’t or won’t be used by God?
          6. What is the balance between God’s role and our responsibility when it comes to being used by God?
          7. How might we know when God is calling us to something?
            8. Prayer Practice

            Set a timer for one to three minutes (whatever your group is comfortable with). Spend that time praying and telling God that you’re available to be used by Him. Share afterward what that experience was like.

            31 min
          8. Samson
            Icebreaker 
            1. What is something you were really into as a kid?
              2. Observation:
              1. Read Judges 13:24–25. What does this passage tell us about Samson before he ever does anything significant? What had God already done or called him to?
              2. Read Judges 14:1–3. What do you notice about what Samson wants, what his parents want, and what God wants? Where is the tension?
              3. Read Judges 14:6, 19 and 15:14–15. What do these passages show us about Samson’s strength? How does he use the strength God has given him?
              4. Read Judges 15:6–7 and 16:28–30. What seems to motivate Samson throughout these chapters? How would you describe the difference between Samson’s earlier actions and his final prayer?
                5. Application
                1. Samson was set apart, but he became increasingly comfortable with things God had called him to confront. Where do you see that tension in his story? How does that show up in our lives?
                2. Which of these three movements do you find most challenging to recognize in yourself: Complacency over conviction, Using your strength for yourself rather than others, Living for your appetite.
                3. What is one area of life where you are tempted to say, “It’s probably fine,” even though you sense God asking you to make a different choice?
                4. Samson was a deeply flawed deliverer, yet God still used him to rescue his people. What does Samson’s story teach us about God’s willingness to love and rescue people who are far from perfect?
                5. In light of this story, how does the gospel of Jesus help form the way you think about yourself and those around you?
                  6. 0 min
                6. Daniel and the Lions Den
                  Icebreaker 
                  1. What is one everyday thing you would hate to lose?
                  2. Do you have a team or an event where you’d consider yourself a fair-weather fan?
                    3. Observation:
                    1. Read Daniel 6:1–10. What stands out to you about Daniel’s reputation and the way he responds when the king’s decree is announced?
                    2. Daniel 6:10 says Daniel prayed “just as he had done before.” Why do you think those four words are significant? What do they tell us about Daniel’s response to the crisis?
                    3. Read Daniel 1:8 and Daniel 6:10 together. What connection do you see between “Daniel resolved…” and “just as he had done before”?
                      4. Application
                      1. Daniel’s faithfulness in chapter 6 wasn’t created in the lions’ den—it had been formed over decades. How can we cultivate a faith that can stand over the long run?
                      2. Why is it tempting for our faith to become “fair-weather faith”—strong when circumstances are favorable but shaken when things go badly? How do we avoid that?
                      3. In what area of your life are you least likely to want to “pay the cost” to remain faithful to God – comfort, reputation, relationships, money, control, security, etc.
                      4. What is one practice you could establish now that would help anchor your faith when the “weather” eventually changes?
                        5. Close in Prayer

                        Take a few moments of silence and ask:

                        “God, where am I trying to control an outcome that I need to entrust to you?”
                        Then pray together for the courage to be faithful regardless of the outcome.

                        0 min
                      5. Gideon and The Fleece
                        Icebreaker 
                        1. Are you more of a planner or a spontaneous person? What frustrates you about the other type?
                        2. If you could know one thing about your future, what would it be?
                          3. Observation:
                          1. Read Judges 6:11-12, and put yourself in Gideon’s shoes. What is he feeling? How does this relate to or challenge your understanding of being led by God?
                          2. Read Judges 6:36-40. Why do you think Gideon tests God? Read Deuteronomy 6:16. What does this reveal about Gideon and about God?
                          3. Read Judges 7:1-3. Why does God want Gideon to reduce his army? Do you relate to that reasoning?
                          4. How does God respond to Gideon’s uncertainty throughout the text? What does God do and what does God not do?
                            5. Application
                            1. The sermon suggested that when we ask God for guidance, what we really want is a guarantee. Can you think of a time this was true for you? How do you discern between waiting for guidance but not waiting for a guarantee?
                            2. What does it look like to trust God without certainty? Do we ever have certainty when it comes to faith?
                            3. While God doesn’t promise certainty, he does promise his presence. Why is this so valuable? How might that grow us towards Jesus more than a guarantee?
                            4. Where in your life could God be asking you to take a faithful step without a guarantee?
                              5. Close in Prayer

                              Share one area of your life where you are desiring certainty. Pray for each of those things and ask God how you might hand over that desire to him. Consider one step you might take this week as a sign of trust in God.

                              31 min
                            5. John The Baptist
                              Icebreaker 
                              1. What’s the one of the most memorable meals you’ve ever shared with someone?
                              2. When was the last time you made a conscious change in your life?

                                3. Observation:

                                If you need a refresher watch this one minute video: https://bibleproject.com/videos/character-insight-john-baptizer/

                                1. Read Matthew 3:1-3. If you were hearing John’s words, what would your response or assumption be to John’s message?
                                2. Read Matthew 3:7-10. Why do you think John has such a strong reaction to the Pharisees and Sadducees? How is he communicating a message of God’s judgement here?
                                3. Read Matthew 3:11-12. In what ways is John suggesting that Jesus is greater than John? What is the difference between baptism with water versus fire and the Holy Spirit?
                                  4. Application
                                  1. What surprised you the most about the John the Baptist story?
                                  2. How would you describe repentance? Did this message change your perspective on repentance?
                                  3. John called people to be baptised as preparation for the new thing God is doing. In your life, do you have a posture or expectation that God is going to do something new? How might this perspective change how you interact with your faith?
                                  4. How do we understand God’s message of judgement and mercy?
                                    5. Close in Prayer
                                    27 min
                                  5. Truth and Boundaries
                                    Icebreaker: 
                                    • If you worked in a kitchen, what kind of food would you make? 
                                    •  Did you ever get yelled at in school? If so, for what? 
                                      • Observation: 
                                      • Read 2 John 1:3 How do you see Jesus embody truth and love? 
                                      • Read 2 John 1:4-6 John describes that we walk in truth, obedience, and love? Do you think these things are one in the same or different? If so, how? 
                                      • Read 2 John 1:7-11 What do you think was going on that would cause John to issue such a strong warning? How do we see truth and love at play in this part of the letter? 
                                        • Application: 
                                        • Gabby described truth as being both objective and personal. What does this mean and how does this help us understand truth better? 
                                        • Have you considered why we practice confession as a church? What does this practice mean for you personally? 
                                        • How do you see us separating truth and love in our communities? 
                                        • How can we hold onto our convictions without letting go of love in our lives? 
                                          • Close in prayer 
                                          29 min
                                        • Love of Stranger
                                          Icebreaker 
                                          1. What’s the one of the most memorable meals you’ve ever shared with someone?
                                          2. Who has made you feel especially welcomed or “at home”? What did they do? 
                                            3. Observation:
                                            1. Read John 21:15-19 Put yourself in Peter’s shoes, what might be going through his mind? Why do you think Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?” before telling him, “Feed my sheep”? What can we learn from this? 
                                            2. Read 3 John 1:1-8 What stands out to you about Gaius? Why does John celebrate his hospitality so highly? Why does hospitality come up so much in the Scriptures?
                                            3. Read 3 John 1:9-10 What attitudes and actions characterize Diotrephes? How do those same attitudes show up in families, workplaces, or churches today? What can we do to mitigate them? 
                                            4. Read 3 John 1:11-15 John says, “Do not imitate what is evil but what is good.” What sorts of things might he be referring to? Who are people in your life that you could imitate? 
                                              5. Application
                                              1. The sermon suggested that hospitality is making room for someone else. Where do you have room to offer hospitality?
                                              2. Which temptation do you identify with more? Wanting to be recognized OR withdrawing and assuming someone else will step in. What might Jesus’ encouragement be surrounding these temptations? 
                                              3. Imagine someone describing you years from now. What would you hope they would say about the way you treated people? Where do you have grow to get to that place? 
                                                4. Prayer

                                                Pray for one another by name. Ask God to:

                                                • Form in you the humble heart of Jesus.
                                                • Make your home and your welcoming places.
                                                • Give you eyes to notice those who feel unseen or left out.
                                                • Make Shepherd of the Valley a church where people encounter the hospitality of Christ.
                                                  • 30 min
                                                • What’s Fear Got To Do With It?

                                                  Icebreaker:

                                                  • What’s something you’re irrationally afraid of – or used to be?
                                                    • (ex. spiders, heights, public speaking…) 

                                                    Observation

                                                    Read 1 John 4:7–21 together.

                                                    • What is John trying to tell us about God’s love in this passage?
                                                    • What reasons does John give for why believers should love one another? What reasons do we tend to use in determining how we treat one another? 
                                                    • Read verse 18 again.  What do you notice about the relationship between fear and love?
                                                    • How do you see the Trinity (Father, Son, and Spirit) at work in this passage? Does this give you any insight into the Trinity? 

                                                      • Application

                                                      “Fear is a signal designed to keep us safe.”

                                                      • How might emotions be used as signals in our life? 
                                                      • How can fear serve as a helpful signal rather than simply something to avoid?
                                                      • When has fear served as an unhelpful signal in your life? What did you do about it?

                                                        • Which of these responses in relationships do you most identify with?

                                                        • Defensiveness (afraid to be wrong)
                                                        • Pretense (afraid to be vulnerable)
                                                        • Control (afraid to trust)

                                                          • What is a truth either from or about God that can counteract this response? 

                                                          Jesus says in John 15, “Remain in my love.”

                                                          • What do you think it practically looks like to remain in Christ’s love day to day?
                                                          • How might believing more deeply that you are completely loved by God change the way you respond in your closest relationships?

                                                            • Close in prayer

                                                            32 min
                                                          • Truth in the Age of Deception
                                                            Opener
                                                            1. With so much information available today (podcasts, social media, news), how do you personally decide which commentators or public figures you can trust?
                                                            2. Have you ever believed something in the past that you later realized was completely untrue or misleading? What helped you realize the truth?
                                                              3. Scripture 
                                                              1. The Voice of the Good Shepherd

                                                                2. Read John 10:1–5, 11–15

                                                                • How do the sheep learn to recognize the Shepherd’s voice so well that they flee from strangers?
                                                                • What is the difference between how the Good Shepherd treats the flock versus how a “hired hand” treats the flock (vv. 12–13)?
                                                                • What are some “stranger voices” in our culture today that try to pull Christians away from the way of Jesus?
                                                                  1. The Same Spirit

                                                                    2. Read John 14:12–17 and Acts 3:12–16

                                                                    • How does realizing that Jesus performed His ministry in total dependence on the Holy Spirit change how you view your own daily life and ministry?
                                                                    • Jesus promised that His followers would carry on His work through the Holy Spirit. How does the Holy Spirit give us confidence and discernment in a confused culture?
                                                                      1. Testing the Spirits

                                                                        2. Read 1 John 4:1–6

                                                                        • Why does John warn believers not to believe every spirit or spiritual claim?
                                                                        • John points to the confession that “Jesus Christ has come in the flesh” as the key test (v. 2). Why is clarity on who Jesus is so foundational for a healthy church community?
                                                                        • What does it look like in modern life to “test the spirits” without becoming overly cynical or suspicious of everyone?
                                                                          1. Greater is He

                                                                            2. Read 1 John 4:4 and 1 John 5:1–5

                                                                            • How does knowing that “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” give us confidence when facing spiritual confusion or cultural pressure?
                                                                            • How does holding shared truth about Jesus actually protect unity in a church, rather than divide it?
                                                                              • Application
                                                                              • Is there a specific voice, media habit, or source of influence in your life that is causing spiritual confusion, anxiety, or division?
                                                                              • What is one practical step you can take this week to “tune your ear” more consistently to the voice of Jesus? (Examples: daily Scripture reading, taking a fast from news/social media, reciting historic creeds, or discussing biblical topics with a mature believer.)
                                                                                • Prayer

                                                                                Spend time praying for one another:

                                                                                • Ask God to grant our church spiritual discernment and wisdom in an age of confusion.
                                                                                • Pray that the Holy Spirit would empower us to carry out Jesus’ ministry of grace and truth.
                                                                                • Thank Jesus for being our Good Shepherd who laid down His life for us.

                                                                                  • Pray Together:

                                                                                  “Lord God, Spirit of Truth, give us ears to hear the voice of our Good Shepherd above all the noise of the world. Anchor our hearts in the reality of Jesus Christ—fully God, fully man, crucified and risen for us. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit so we may live out Your truth and mission. Protect our community from deceptive voices and unify us around Your Gospel, so that we may walk together in confidence and peace. Amen.”

                                                                                  Together:

                                                                                  “We are one in Christ.

                                                                                  We walk in the light.

                                                                                  We love one another.”

                                                                                  31 min

                                                                                About Shepherd of the Valley Messages

                                                                                From the publisher's feed

                                                                                Weekly messages from Shepherd of the Valley Church in Afton, Minnesota