OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS SESSION 6. The Point. The Bible Meets Life. The Passages. The Setting GET INTO THE STUDY. 5 minutes

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1 GET INTO THE STUDY 5 minutes DISCUSS: Draw attention to the picture on PSG page 82 and ask Question #1: As a kid, what made you say, That s not fair!? GUIDE: Direct attention to the author s story in The Bible Meets Life on PSG page 83 of hearing his grandchildren say, That s just not fair! He found himself responding with the same words his dad said to him: Who said life would always be fair? SAY: Today it seems that life is not always fair. When we encounter this reality it helps to turn to God and place our trust in Him. Reinforce The Point on PSG page 83: Because God is righteous, He will ultimately make all things right. PRAY: Begin the Bible study with prayer. Ask God to help us trust Him when things don t go the way we think they should. SESSION 6 OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS The Point Because God is righteous, He will ultimately make all things right. The Bible Meets Life Life is just not fair. People with poor character, questionable ethics, and skewed morals seem to get ahead in life, while those who seek to do right seem to be passed by. In fact, people are often treated badly because of their right actions and character. We might be tempted to think God is also unfair since He allows this to happen. But God is a righteous God. He is the Lord our Righteousness, and He will ultimately bring justice to bear on all things. The Passages Jeremiah 33:3-8,14-16 The Setting The word of God came to Jeremiah in the last days of the kingdom of Judah. Because Jeremiah predicted the fall of Judah, neither he nor his prophecies were popular. Nor was his popularity helped by his call for the people to surrender to the invading Babylonians. Because of his prophesies Jeremiah had been confined to the courtyard of the guard in the royal palace. But while God had given Jeremiah a message of judgment to proclaim to Judah, He also gave Jeremiah a message of hope as well. God s judgment was not His final word against Judah. Judgment would be followed by hope and healing for the people of Judah and for all of God s people. 84 Session 6

2 Jeremiah 33:3-5 3 Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and incomprehensible things you do not know. 4 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the houses of this city and the palaces of Judah s kings, the ones torn down for defense against the assault ramps and the sword: 5 The people coming to fight the Chaldeans will fill the houses with the corpses of their own men that I strike down in my wrath and rage. I have hidden my face from this city because of all their evil. 1 Verse 3. After God had freed the Israelites from their Egyptian bondage, He gave them the Law to guide them in how to worship and honor Him. He promised great blessings if the people would obey His Law (Deut. 28:1 14). However, God is just, and He will display His wrath against evil. So, He also promised terrible judgments if they refused to obey Him (Deut. 28:15 68). The people failed to see that what God wanted was a relationship based on adoring love characterized by obedience (6:4 6). Time and time again God sent His prophets to remind them of the foundation of the covenant He had made with them (Mic. 6:7 8; Amos 5:21 24). One of the prophets God sent was Jeremiah. God called him about 627 BC to announce His judgment on the people of Judah because they had refused to worship and serve Him from their hearts. Jeremiah served as God s messenger for forty years. Though he was often persecuted because of his unpopular message and viewed as a traitor to his people, Jeremiah continued to declare God s judgment on the nation, calling the people to repent of their idolatry and other sins. In 597 BC Jerusalem was captured by the Babylonians and remained under their control. Judah s king Jehoiachin and thousands of Judeans were exiled to Babylon, including the prophet Ezekiel. Around 588 BC King Zedekiah and the people of Judah rebelled again. The result was that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invaded Judah and surrounded Jerusalem, beginning a fatal assault that lasted for eighteen months. During this siege Jeremiah continued to speak out. Jeremiah details his ministry during the last days before Jerusalem fell and was destroyed. STUDY THE BIBLE Jeremiah 33: minutes SUMMARIZE: Before reading the passage, set the context by summarizing the information in The Setting on page 84. Commentary 1 to provide an overview of the history of Israel s covenant relationship with God. He promised His blessings if they would be faithful and obey His commands. However, He promised judgment if they were disobedient to Him. Israel s unfortunate story was one of continual disobedience. God sent prophets, one of whom was Jeremiah, to proclaim God s coming judgment on His people. READ: Read or ask a volunteer to read Jeremiah 33:3-5. SUGGESTED USE WEEK OF APRIL 15 85

3 THE POINT Because God is righteous, He will ultimately make all things right. Commentary 2 to provide background information for Jeremiah 33. Point out to group members that Jeremiah was imprisoned when God spoke to Him. Explain why Jeremiah was confined in the guard s courtyard. Overview the message of hope found in Jeremiah 32:1-15. Point to God s promise in Jeremiah 33:3 that if Jeremiah would call to Him, God would answer and tell him great and incomprehensible things. Commentary 3 to provide an explanation about God s judgment found in verses 4-5. Destruction was coming to Jerusalem. The agents of judgment would be the Chaldeans. The reason for God s judgment: Judah s unfaithfulness, worship of idols and because of all their evil. 2 Chapter 33 begins with the words, While he was still confined in the guard s courtyard (Jer. 33:1). The guard s courtyard was part of the king s palace (32:2). Jeremiah had been imprisoned in the tenth year of King Zedekiah, which was 587 BC (v. 1). King Zedekiah had ordered Jeremiah to be confined there because he had disliked Jeremiah s prophecy that Jerusalem would fall to the Babylonians and Zedekiah would be taken to Babylon as a prisoner. Jeremiah had also pronounced to the people the futility of fighting against the Babylonians (vv. 3 5). While Jeremiah was confined, God gave him two important messages. In the first message God told Jeremiah to buy a field from his family s inheritance (vv. 6 7). Buying a field after you have just prophesied the fall of the nation might seem a little strange. However, God intended this act as a sign to confirm His word that though Judah would be punished for their disobedience, God in His mercy would one day restore the people to their land (vv ). Some time shortly after this first message, God spoke to Jeremiah a second time (33:1). After clearly emphasizing His authority as Yahweh, the sovereign Creator who made the earth (v. 2), God challenged Jeremiah, Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and incomprehensible things you do not know. God invited Jeremiah to ask for a divine revelation; the answer would be too great and incomprehensible for mere mortals to know. The Hebrew term translated incomprehensible means inaccessible or impregnable. In Deuteronomy 1:28 a form of the word is used to describe the cities of Canaan as fortified with great walls. God was describing to Jeremiah knowledge that is too difficult for human beings to attain on their own. 3 Verses 4-5. Without waiting for Jeremiah to ask, God delivered His revelation to Jeremiah. The first part focused on the utter destruction that was coming on Jerusalem. God prefaced His revelation with the phrase, For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says. Even though destruction was coming upon Judah at the hands of a foreign army, ultimately the judgment was that of Yahweh, the God of Israel, on the nation for its sins. The agents of Judah s destruction would be the Chaldeans. The term Chaldea refers to an area that is located in modern day Iraq near its border with Iran. In Old Testament times this area was part of ancient Mesopotamia. The Babylonians were another group of people in this region and were known for their great cities. Over time the Chaldeans came to dominate 86 Session 6

4 the Babylonians, and assumed their name as well. The combined peoples were known as the Babylonians or Neo- Babylonians. They conquered the Assyrians and defeated the Egyptians, becoming the dominate world power the Neo- Babylonian Empire, ruling from 626 to 539 BC. The Chaldeans may have attacked the walls of Jerusalem for as long as a year (2 Kings 25:1). The walls were thick, but the enemy had built assault ramps so they could use battering rams and other devices to gradually tear away at the protecting walls. As small holes were torn in the walls, the people of Jerusalem would demolish parts of their own houses and even the palaces of Judah s kings so they could use those materials to fill the holes and reinforce the walls. However, all their efforts ultimately would prove to be useless. When God s people were faithful and obedient, they could call out to God in prayer and He would hear and answer their prayers. Through Jeremiah God said, my people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols (Jer. 2:11). Instead of trusting, loving, and obeying their glorious God, they had bowed to false gods. They had broken their part of God s covenant. Therefore God had hidden His face and refused to answer their prayers for deliverance from their enemies. God responded with wrath and rage against them because of their sins. God pronounced Judah s doom, saying He would strike down the defenders of Jerusalem. Since the city was under siege and all the cemeteries were outside the city, the people would have no way to bury the dead during the battle. Therefore, the corpses of the city s defenders would fill up what was left of their houses. All this would happen because of all their evil. Jeremiah 33:6-8 6 Yet I will certainly bring health and healing to it and will indeed heal them. I will let them experience the abundance of true peace. 7 I will restore the fortunes of Judah and of Israel and will rebuild them as in former times. 8 I will purify them from all the iniquity they have committed against me, and I will forgive all the iniquities they have committed against me, rebelling against me. GUIDE: Refer members to these words on PSG page 85: We ve all had days when things seemed to go from bad to worse. God, where are you? Why is this happening to me? We would be wise to begin by examining ourselves. So how do we move beyond the trying circumstances, the hardships, and the discipline? God invites us to call to Him! We find the answers we seek and the hope we need when we call to Him. And when we call to Him, He reveals to us great and incomprehensible things you do not know. DISCUSS: Question #2 (PSG, p. 86): When has God shown you great and incomprehensible things? (Alternate: When have you seen a negative consequence be of benefit in the long run?) TRANSITION: In the next verses we will see words of hope for the future. STUDY THE BIBLE Jeremiah 33: minutes READ: Read or ask a volunteer to read Jeremiah 33:

5 THE POINT Because God is righteous, He will ultimately make all things right. Commentary 4 to explain the health and healing God would bring to Jerusalem and the true peace that His people would experience as a result. GUIDE: Refer group members to the three words on PSG page 87 that God used to describe the people s sin: Iniquity Iniquities Rebelling Commentary 5 to provide further explanations to the terms for sin used in verse 8. DO: Encourage members to complete the activity Hope on PSG page 87. DISCUSS: Question #3 (PSG, p. 88): How have you experienced God s restoration? (Alternate: When have you seen God bring healing out of a bad situation?) 4 Verses 6-7. Though the Northern Kingdom of Israel had been destroyed by the Assyrians in 722 BC, and the destruction of the Southern Kingdom of Judah at the hands of the Babylonians was assured by God s word, God promised redemption and restoration for all His chosen people (Judah and Israel). Although He had visited them with judgment, God would purify and forgive His children. God stressed that He would provide health and healing to Jerusalem. His people would experience true peace. Peace would mean not only the absence of war but also personal well-being, the opportunities to work, worship, and raise families. 5 Verse 8. At the core of God s healing process would be His forgiving and cleansing of His covenant people from the guilt of all their sin. God did not downplay the seriousness of their disobedience. In the original Hebrew three different terms are used to emphasize the scope of their wrongdoing. The first word (iniquity) translates a Hebrew term referring to something that is twisted, bent, or distorted. The people had twisted and distorted their relationship with God. The second word (iniquities) translates a Hebrew word that pictures an archer missing his intended target or a person missing the way. The people s aim should have been a life of holiness before God (Lev. 11:44). The third term (rebelling) translates a Hebrew word that stresses the deliberateness of their sinful actions. Though they had the Law and its warnings, as well as God s prophets calling them to repent and return to God, they still refused to obey. In spite of all their sins, God promised He would purify and forgive His people. God is always ready to heal and purify His people when they confess and repent (1 John 1:9). Though the overarching theme of God s word through Jeremiah was the coming judgment that would mean destruction and exile, God s message also included forgiveness and renewal based on a new covenant (Jer. 31:31 34). Instead of a city filled with corpses, Jerusalem would become a place filled with joy, praise, and glory (v. 9). Though one day soon Jerusalem and the surrounding cities would become a ruin, without people or animals (v. 10), God would eventually restore the people and their land so that they would hear the sound of joy and gladness (v. 11). Shepherds would be able to graze their flocks in peace and security (vv ). God s message of judgment and hope has never changed. For those who refuse to acknowledge their sin and 88 Session 6

6 rebellion and put their faith in His Son Jesus, He promises condemnation (John 3:18) and death (Rom. 6:23). But for those who confess their guilt and repent, through His new covenant of grace He offers forgiveness and eternal life (John 3:16; Eph. 2:1 9). TRANSITION: In the next verses we will see how God makes peace possible through Jesus Christ. Jeremiah 33: Look, the days are coming this is the Lord s declaration when I will fulfill the good promise that I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a Righteous Branch to sprout up for David, and he will administer justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely, and this is what she will be named: The Lord Is Our Righteousness. The Lord Is Our Righteousness (v. 16) In the Bible, the giving of a new name reflects a change in status. God foretold He would one day make Jerusalem (His chosen people) righteous. 6 Verse 14. The hope of and promise to all believers is not only that they will receive mercy and grace from God, but also that God will administer justice and righteousness. The Hebrew phrase translated as the days are coming occurs fourteen times in the Book of Jeremiah. Most of the occurrences introduce coming judgment on Judah and the surrounding nations. In the other places where this phrase is found, it serves to introduce a time in the future when God would restore and bless His people. God s promised judgment came to pass when the Babylonians broke through Jerusalem s walls in 586 BC. The city and the temple were destroyed, and many of those not killed in the siege were taken into exile in Babylon. Many of Jeremiah s prophecies in the second group of blessings were also literally fulfilled in the succeeding years. Around 538 BC, the exiled Jews were allowed to return to Israel STUDY THE BIBLE Jeremiah 33: minutes READ: Read Jeremiah 33: Commentary 6 on this page and page 90 to explain the following: Days are coming, a phrase used fourteen times in the Book of Jeremiah When and how God s promised judgment came to pass. God would fulfill His good promise to Israel and Judah. 89

7 THE POINT Because God is righteous, He will ultimately make all things right. GUIDE: Refer members to DIGGING DEEPER on PSG page 89, to explain the term Righteous Branch. Commentary 7 on this page and page 91 to provide further explanation to the term Righteous Branch. DISCUSS: Question #4 (PSG, p. 90): How is God s good promise fulfilled in Jesus? GUIDE: Use KEY WORD on page 89 (PSG page 88) to explain the name The Lord Is Our Righteousness. after King Cyrus of Persia captured Babylon and issued a edict allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple (Ezra 1:1-4). The rebuilding of the temple was completed around 515 BC (6:15). The people began to rebuild their homes and eventually rebuilt the wall around Jerusalem in 445 BC (Neh. 6:15). After God s introductory phrase in Jeremiah 33:14 pointing to some time in the future, Jeremiah inserted the words this is the Lord s declaration to stress that what followed was not merely his hope for the future but the authoritative declaration of God. God stressed that He would fulfill the good promise spoken through Jeremiah to both the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 7 Verse 15. After His word of assurance and again focusing on a time in the future (in those days and at that time), God announced that as part of fulfilling His promises He would cause to sprout up someone from the house of King David, identified as a Righteous Branch. This Righteous Branch is mentioned in Jeremiah 23:5, where he is identified as a king who will reign over God s people. The last king to rule over Judah before its destruction was Zedekiah. His name meant, The Lord is my righteousness. However, he was unfaithful to God and to the people he ruled over. Unlike Zedekiah and the many evil, faithless kings who had ruled over God s people in the past, the new king whom God would send, the Righteous Branch from the line of David, would be completely faithful to God and would rule over God s people with justice and righteousness. For the Jews, the term righteous described people who were faithful and loyal to God and to others. God Himself is righteous by His very nature; His righteousness is seen in His perfect faithfulness to His covenant with Israel and His perfect judgments both rewards and punishments. God s Messiah would demonstrate these same qualities. The Righteous Branch s kingdom will endure forever (2 Sam. 7:12 16; Jer. 33:17). God fulfilled this prophecy of the promise of the Righteous Branch when He sent His Son Jesus into the world (Luke 2:11), to live a perfectly righteous life, and to die on the cross in order to provide complete atonement for our sins (Heb. 9:11-14). Jesus is the Righteous Branch, born of the line of David (Matt. 1:1). Before Jesus came many Jews thought of being righteous as being good. They defined good as keeping the Law that God had given them through Moses. However, when 90 Session 6

8 the Scriptures speak of God as being righteous, this does not mean that God conforms to some moral or ethical standard. He is the standard. He is always loving. He is always faithful to His covenant and promises. He is always just. And no one can ever come close to God s standard of righteousness, which is perfection. When we place our faith in Jesus, confess our sin to Him, seek His forgiveness and repent of our sins, He forgives all our sins (Col. 2:13 14) and gives us His perfect righteousness once and for all (Rom. 4:5; 5:1,9). We cannot earn or deserve this status; its simply a gift that God offers us in Christ (Eph. 2:8-9). 8 Verse 16. Again echoing the future nature of this prophecy (in those days), God added one more element to His promise of restoration for His people. In the days of the reign of the Righteous Branch, God would restore Judah and Jerusalem and guarantee the safety and security of their inhabitants. Most importantly, God would give Jerusalem a new name: The Lord Is Our Righteousness. In Jeremiah 23:5 6, the same title is given to the coming Davidic ruler, the Righteous Branch. Lord is the English translation of the Hebrew name for God usually transliterated as Jehovah or Yahweh, the name of God by which He revealed Himself to and established His covenant relationship with Israel. The Jews have returned to Jerusalem twice as a people since the time of Jeremiah, but the city never has been typified by righteousness under the rule of the Messiah. Some Christians believe that the final fulfillment of this prophecy will come when Jesus returns and sets up His millennial kingdom in Jerusalem. Old Testament prophecies such as Isaiah 60:11 22 reflect the concept of a restored and righteous Jerusalem. The book of Ezekiel ends with the promise that the name of the city from that day on will be, The Lord Is There (Ezek. 48:30-35). Other Christians believe that these prophecies will be fulfilled in the holy city, the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven after the final judgment and the creation of the new heaven and new earth (Rev. 21:2). Revelation 21:22 says that the Lord God Almighty and Jesus the Lamb will be in this city as its temple. One day Jesus will return and will bring righteousness to all the world. This time of perfect righteousness will include all of God s people not only the faithful of Judah and Israel, but all who have put their faith in Jesus Christ. Until Jesus returns as the conquering King to rule and reign over all the earth (Rev ), we are to allow the Holy Spirit to continue to transform us into Jesus image so that we can reflect His righteousness and His glory (2 Cor. 3:18). Commentary 8 to provide more information about the name The Lord Is our Righteousness. DISCUSS: Question #5 (PSG, p. 90): How can our actions and attitudes demonstrate that we follow God as our righteousness? (Alternate: In light of these verses, how would you explain God s grace?) LEADER PACK: Distribute copies of Item 6: Names of God Handout. Use this handout to review the names of God plus others not covered in this study. 91

9 THE POINT Because God is righteous, He will ultimately make all things right. LIVE IT OUT 5 minutes GUIDE: Emphasize The Point: Because God is righteous, He will ultimately make all things right. REVIEW: Review Live It Out (PSG, p. 91); (see text to the right). Encourage each group member to follow through this week with at least one of the applications. LIVE IT OUT God is Our Righteousness. How will you let that truth make a difference in your life? > > Confess. Because God is righteous, He stands apart from sin. Enter into a relationship with Him, or restore your fellowship with Him, by confessing any sin and unrighteousness. > > Trust. Life is not always fair. Even when it feels like the wrong side is winning, God will have the final say. In the meantime, trust Him. He loves you, and in His righteousness, He will make things right. > > Stand. The trend in culture is to believe truth is relative and we can each have our own definition of righteousness. This viewpoint leads to moral confusion and chaos when everyone becomes a law unto themselves. Jesus Christ is the standard for righteousness because He is righteous. Stand with Him and stand for Him in doing and proclaiming what is right. WRAP IT UP GUIDE: Encourage group members to allow the Holy Spirit to convict them of sin in their lives. Only The Lord is My Righteousness can heal, forgive, and restore. PRAY: Father, thank You for being the righteous One who offers to restore us through Your grace and mercy. Forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. May we experience Your health, healing, and true peace. 92 Session 6

10 ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/ BRITISH MUSEUM/ LONDON (31/9/51) The Babylon Chronicle covers the years BC. It commences with the Battle of Carchemish, when Nebuchadnezzar finally routed the Egyptian forces in Syria and records the extension of Babylonian power to the Mediterranean. It records Babylon capturing Ashkelon in 604 BC and attacking Jerusalem in 597 BC. Jeremiah served as the Lord s prophet from 627 BC until after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC. King Josiah had ascended Judah s throne in 640 BC at the age of eight. In the eighth year of his reign, he began to seek the Lord in earnest (2 Chron. 34:3) and in his twelfth year to purge the nation of its idolatrous worship. During his reign Judah experienced a brief period of freedom from domination by foreign powers. After Josiah s death in 609 BC Judah experienced a series of invasions by Babylon s King Nebuchadnezzar, resulting in deportations of its inhabitants in 605, 597, and 586 BC In 586 BC, the nation fell to the Babylonians. Before the final collapse Jerusalem experienced horrific conditions during an 18 month siege. Ultimately the Babylonians pillaged, destroyed, and burned Jerusalem and its sacred temple. Jeremiah s call experience is recorded in Jeremiah 1:1 19. The Lord assigned Jeremiah a sixfold mission expressed in the verbs of Jeremiah 1:10b. Four of those verbs are destructive in nature ( uproot, tear down, destroy, demolish ) indicating Jeremiah s message would primarily be one of judgment. Two constructive verbs ( build, plant ) point out the prophet would also deliver a message of hope after the Lord s judgment fell on the sinful nation. The excerpt above is from the article Jeremiah: His Life and Lessons (Fall 2016), which relates to this session. More Biblical Illustrator articles are available that relate to this session. See page 7 about Biblical Illustrator. SHARING THE GOOD NEWS We will never make our lives right on our own. Thankfully, Jesus Christ makes us righteous when we trust Him to remove our unrighteousness and bring us into a right relationship with Him. Each week, make yourself available either before or after the session to speak privately with anyone in your group who wants to know more about becoming a Christian. See the article, Leading Someone to the Greatest Decision of All, on page 2 for guidance in leading a person to Christ. Remind group members that page 2 in the PSG offers guidance in how to become a Christian. Encourage believers to consider using this article as they have opportunities to lead others to Christ. Get expert insights on weekly studies through the Ministry Grid. MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesForLife 93

11 THE STRENGTH IN SILENCE BY CHRIS SURRATT We are afraid of silence, especially as small group leaders. If silence is in the room, that means no one is talking. And if no one is talking, then we are surely failing as facilitators. But I believe we are missing out on an effective tool if we completely eliminate silence from a group meeting. There is something powerful about creating intentional space in a group meeting. In fact, we find examples throughout the Bible where silence and solitude are commended: 94 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE

12 After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper. 1 Kings 19:12 a time to tear and a time to sew; a time to be silent and a time to speak Ecclesiastes 3:7 My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. James 1:19 I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. Psalms 62:1 So how do we plan for and best utilize the power of silence in our small groups? Here are three ways to take advantage of silence in your group. 1. Use silence to encourage group members to speak. It seems like an oxymoron to use silence as a tool for participation, but it works. An effective facilitator should only be talking thirty percent of the time. Remember that you have read the questions ahead of time. It will take everyone else a few moments to process the material before they are ready to answer. It s uncomfortable to let a question sit there for a few beats, but if you can let the awkwardness go, that silence will eventually be broken by someone. You can miss a great conversation by speaking too quickly. 2. Use silence to allow a moment to sink in. At moments during a Bible study the group will need a few seconds to take in what was just read or said. Effective speakers use pauses in their speeches to make important points resonate. It s the same thing with a group discussion. Next time a powerful verse is read or someone makes a thought-provoking comment, pause a second or two before moving on. Those two seconds of silence will make the moment stickier. 3. Use silence to meditate on Scripture. Before launching right into prayer time at the end of the discussion, take a few moments to allow the group to meditate on the Scripture from the Bible study. Ask someone read a key verse or two aloud and then be silent as you allow God s Word to prepare your hearts for prayer. This time doesn t have to be long maybe two to three minutes but fight the temptation to break in too soon. Meditation can help lead to application. Chris Surratt manages SmallGroup.com for LifeWay Christian Resources. He is the author of Small Groups For The Rest Of Us: How to Design Your Small Groups System to Reach the Fringes (Thomas Nelson, 2015). This article originally appeared on the Groups Ministry blog. Similar articles on leading your Bible study group can be found at www. lifeway.com/groupministry. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 95