“After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath rescued Israel. He once killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad.” – Judges 3:31.

Everyone has had people in their lives who have impacted them.  People we point to and say, “This person changed my life” or “I am a better person because of that person’s influence in my life” or “I learned what it means to be a real Christian from them.” In the same way, we are called to impact the world around us. God calls us to change our world for the good.  We do this not so much by programs or through our times of worship.  The impact comes from the reality of Christ living in and through us. But real impact seems so relative: after all, the world’s problems seem so significant, and we seem too insignificant to do anything about them.

There is a story in the Old Testament that gives some perspective. It is about a guy named Shamgar. One verse in Judges 3:31 tells his story: “After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath rescued Israel. He once killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad.” Wait, what? We need more details about his life, background, or the circumstances that led up to this Samson-like moment. We don’t get much information other than Shamgar had a real impact, judging by the words “rescued Israel.” The NIV says, “he saved Israel.”

Like so many others God uses, he was an ordinary person in an ordinary place doing an ordinary job. The thing that made him extraordinary wasn’t his own doing. His job was to be obedient to God, right where he was. God’s job was everything else. The same is possible for us. If we obey God amid our ordinary lives, an extraordinary impact is always possible.

The Bible doesn’t tell us, but one could assume that Shamgar never expected to be used by God to have the “rescuer of Israel” job title. And what about his choice of weapon? An ox goad was typically used to prod oxen, not as a weapon. However, since the Philistines would not allow the Israelites to have any weapons (1 Samuel 13:19-22), they were forced to use whatever they had. The point is that God’s hand is never limited by what we have in ours.

We Christians want to live lives that have an impact. Having an impactful life starts with a willingness to be used by God. No matter how little you think you bring to the table, you can be used by God if you are willing. Then, use what God has given you. You have gifts, talents, and abilities. God will use them if you offer them to Him.

God didn’t ask Shamgar to be anyone other than who he was. He’s not asking you to be anyone other than who He designed you to be. Whether you work in ministry, the business world, or at home with children, God uses your willing, obedient, ordinary life to accomplish extraordinary things in His name.

“God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. It doesn’t matter who we are. It matters who He is” – Christine Caine.

Discussion Questions:

1. How does Shamgar’s story challenge the idea that only “great” or “powerful” people are used by God? 
2. How does Shamgar’s story encourage us to trust God’s power, even when we feel weak or insignificant? 
3. What lessons can we learn from Shamgar’s story about the importance of using what we have, regardless of how limited it may seem?
   

Summary: The power of the Holy Spirit is what He does. The presence of the Holy Spirit is Himself. The power of the Holy Spirit endorses God’s message. The presence of the Holy Spirit endorses God’s people. The power of the Holy Spirit can change your circumstances, but the presence of the Holy Spirit can change your heart. The power of the Holy Spirit comes upon you. The presence of the Holy Spirit dwells within you. The power is for service. The presence is for salvation. The power helps you to do. The presence helps you to become.

There is a story of D.L. Moody ( an American evangelist, founded the Moody Church, Moody Bible Institute, and Moody Publishers) written by his son in the book The Life of D.L. Moody, meant to remind us all that “being filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18) should be our constant desire, prayer, and aim.

“The year 1871 was a critical one in Mr. Moody’s career. He realized more and more how little he was fired by personal requirements for his work. An intense hunger and thirst for spiritual power were aroused in him by two women who used to attend the meetings and sit on the front seat. He could see by the expression on their faces that they were praying. At the close of services they would say to him: “We have been praying for you.”

“Why don’t you pray for the people?” Mr. Moody would ask.

“Because you need the power of the Spirit,” they would say.

“I need the power? Why,” said Mr. Moody, in relating the incident years after, “I thought I had power. I had the largest congregations in Chicago, and there were many conversions. I was, in a sense, satisfied. But right along those two godly women kept praying for me, and their earnest talk about anointing for special service set me to thinking. I asked them to come and talk with me, and they poured out their hearts in prayer that I might receive the filling of the Holy Spirit. There came a great hunger into my soul. I did not know what it was. I began to cry out as I never did before. I felt that I did not want to live if I could not have this power for service.”

The book then tells of the great Chicago fire, of D. L. Moody’s relief work, the building of the north side tabernacle, and of his visiting in the East to secure funds for his work. Then, the narrative continues:

“My heart was not in the work of begging,” he said. “I could not appeal. I was crying all the time that God would fill me with His Spirit. Well, one day, in the city of New York—oh, what a day!—I cannot describe it, I seldom refer to it; it is almost too sacred an experience to name.  I can only say that God revealed Himself to me, and I had such an experience of His love that I had to ask Him to stay His hand. I went to preaching again. The sermons were not different; I did not present any new truths, and yet, hundreds were converted. I would not now be placed back where I was before that blessed experience if you should give me all the world — it would be as the small dust of the balance.” (pages 146, 147, and 149)”

The Holy Spirit’s power and presence are distinct yet interconnected. Power is the ability to act, and presence is the indwelling of God’s Spirit. The Holy Spirit enables believers to live a transformed life pleasing to God. It’s the power to do what is impossible on our own, to live a life that reflects God’s character and accomplishes His will.

The Holy Spirit dwells within believers, offering comfort, guidance, and a sense of God’s closeness. This presence is a constant source of strength and encouragement, helping believers to navigate life’s challenges and remain steadfast in their faith.

Discussion Questions:

1. What areas do you feel the Holy Spirit’s presence and guidance in your life?
2. In what areas do you feel you need more of the Holy Spirit’s power and presence?

“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. ” – John 14:15-18.

Jesus’s disciples were understandably distressed by His impending departure, as they were about to lose their teacher and leader. In His farewell discourse, Jesus assured them that He would not leave them orphaned, but would send “another Helper” (the Holy Spirit) to be with them forever. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would teach them all things and remind them of everything He had said, one of which was I will not abandon you as orphans.

In New Testament times, orphans described children left without a father or mother. In today’s world, the word orphan has exactly the same meaning. It refers to a child who is abandoned due to the death or desertion of a father or mother. Once orphaned, the child is deprived of parental care, supervision, and protection — unless that child is placed in the custody of a blood relative or a new guardian who assumes a parental role in that child’s life.

However, in New Testament times, orphans were used in a broader sense to describe students abandoned by their teacher. Just as children depend on their parents, these students relied on their teacher to teach them, guide them, and prepare them for life. Jesus was a spiritual father to the disciples. He knew they were completely reliant upon Him. Jesus knew the disciples couldn’t make it alone in the world. He sent the Holy Spirit to be their new Guardian and Teacher.

You can’t make it alone in this world either — but you don’t have to, because Jesus did not abandon you. He did not desert you, walk out on you, or throw you away. When He ascended to the Father, He sent the Holy Spirit to care for, guide, and teach you.

Take a moment to let that fully sink in: God did not leave us alone to fend for ourselves. He provided an amazing Helper in the person of the Holy Spirit. We need never be afraid again, or lonely, or hopeless, or sorrowful, or helplessly inadequate, for the Helper is always with us.

Someone is always standing by to assist us no matter what circumstances we face. God has provided every resource we need through His Spirit. When we can’t, He can. When we’re tired, He isn’t; when we’re weak, He’s strong. When we think, “I don’t have the wisdom for this situation, don’t know how to love my prodigal, or I can’t take one more round of hard medical news,” He says that’s why He sent you a Helper.

Discussion Questions:

1. How can we be more aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence and guidance in our daily lives? Power?
2. What practical ways can we cultivate a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit?

“Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.” – Luke 10:33-35.

Polarization is a problem that affects everyone in America. It is no longer just the result of disagreements but the cause of them. There’s little doubt that our society has become more polarized, more afflicted by extremes, less attuned to compromise and middle ground. How do we as Christians deal with the extreme partitions in politics and other facets of life?

We believe that Jesus came to heal divisions and bring peace between people. Unity is one of our loftiest goals, a unity of the Spirit grounded in Jesus that does not erase diversity but celebrates it. “…united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us….He made peace between Jews and Gentiles…” (Ephesians 2:14-15).

A good example of polarization is the parable of the good Samaritan. The polarization between the Jews and the Samaritans in Jesus’s time was as severe, to maybe more so than today. The shortest distance between Galilee and Jerusalem led through Samaria. But to avoid contact with the despised Samaritans, Jews would cross over the Jordan River and travel down its east bank and then cross over the river again at Jericho and take the arduous uphill road to Jerusalem.

Jesus’ parable assumes this extreme polarization. And so we are meant to be surprised when the Samaritan encounters the Jewish man robbed, beaten, and left for dead on the Jericho Road. He stops, cares for the man’s wounds, and pays for his restorative care in an inn. The Samaritan did not overcome the polarization between him and the injured man by preaching against polarization. He overcame it by compassionately reaching out to the injured, hurting man on the other side of the social divide.

Jesus concludes his story by telling the lawyer who asked him: Go and do likewise. It is marching orders for all of us who are troubled by the polarization we see all around us. “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

We gather each week to worship knowing that people will have various political views—and multiple opinions on a host of other things, for that matter.  Nevertheless, we gather knowing we have a shared passion of love for Jesus. Over time, we invest in each other’s lives and grow to love each other.

Discussion Questions:

1. One of the best ways to break polarization is to get to know people who hold different views than you. Agree or disagree, and why?

  “The greatest issue facing the world today, with all its heartbreaking needs, is whether those who, by profession or culture, are identified as ‘Christians’ will become disciples – students, apprentices, practitioners – of Jesus Christ, steadily learning from him how to live the life of the Kingdom of the Heavens into every corner of human existence.” ― Dallas Willard, The Great Omission: Reclaiming Jesus’s Essential Teachings on Discipleship.

Throughout the Book of Acts, people who were followers of Jesus weren’t called Christians but followers of The Way or people of The Way (Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14). Jesus called Himself “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). They were not simply committed to a cultural practice or obligation, nor was Christianity seen as a religion, a system of thought, or just a creed, but a way of life.

It was a distinctive way of life. In other words, it’s not so much that Christians are people who believe certain things, but that they are people who live a certain way. Being a follower of the way is not a path to travel but rather a pattern to follow. The early church was known less for sharing the doctrinal positions of Jesus and more for sharing the example He modeled.

To follow the way, we must be like the way and imitate the way. The early Christians were not called Christians because they were morally superior people. They were called Christians (Christlike ones) because they imitated Jesus by taking on Christ’s compassion, humility, and love.

Look at what is happening by the end of Acts 2. After repenting, being baptized, and being filled with the Holy Spirit, some 3,000 people began to follow Jesus. They devoted themselves to one another and to the apostles’ teaching. They prayed for one another, happily sharing resources. They went to the Jerusalem Temple every day. The apostles were doing many wonders and signs.

They kept doing the things they knew to do, God did the amazing things only He could do, and people were attracted to what was happening.  They were committed. We must remember that being a Christian was quite a cost in those days. Following Jesus was dangerous, and you didn’t do it casually. When you crossed the line of saying, “I’m in, I’m a part of this family,” you were in. You were committed. And, of course, this commitment shows up simply in the word “devoted” (Luke 2:42). This word speaks of consistency and perseverance. These people were committed to being the church together.

How can we be this kind of community and imitate Jesus today? Well, we can start by looking at what He said and did in the Bible. As we read and study God’s Word, we see how much He loves us. Especially in the accounts of Jesus’s ministry on earth, it’s captivating to see how Jesus responded to people. Whether they treated Him with honor or contempt, Jesus wanted them to know His love.. We can also learn about His relationship with God the Father. Jesus is God the Son, and He loved and trusted the Father through everything. In all kinds of situations, Jesus’s character was revealed by His actions. As we study Jesus’s life and trust Him to help us follow His example in our own lives, we will act more and more like Him.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you think it is any different being followers of the way today than in Biblical times? 
2. How do we stay faithful to the way of Jesus?

“Christianity means community through Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ. No Christian community is more or less than this. Whether it is a brief, single encounter or the daily fellowship of years, Christian community is only this. We belong to one another only through and in Jesus Christ.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

So, what’s the difference between getting into a community group and having a group of friends to sit with at church and go grab dinner with on Friday nights? There can be a big difference.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting friends, especially if you attend a larger church where getting lost in the crowd is easy. While both groups of friends and church small groups involve fellowship and connection, the primary focus and purpose differ: friendship groups are built on shared interests and social activities, while the primary purpose of church small groups is to foster deeper relationships, encourage spiritual growth, and provide a space for discipleship and accountability through fellowship, prayer, and shared learning.

Being in a biblical community goes far beyond surface-level conversations and an occasional Bible study where everyone goes around the circle and gives a Sunday school answer. Biblical community is where spiritual transformation can happen on a deep, intimate level.

Belonging to a local church is an essential part of the Christian life. And belonging means so much more than regularly attending a worship service. We are to live in close connection with other believers to share in their joys and struggles while allowing them access to your life. It is knowing their joys and struggles and encouraging them in all seasons toward loving God and others. Godly community helps us grow in love and be encouraged to do good works through the Spirit. But we will only be able to do this when we regularly meet together. This is where small groups become vital.

Small Groups are the best place to connect if you want to grow in your relationship with Jesus. A small group will help you develop significant relationships with others who can encourage and challenge you to consistently apply the truths of God’s Word to each area of your life. They are gifts of God given so that we might “warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.” (Hebrews 3:13).

Think about it: every small group is a microcosm of ‘the “big church.”  The small group meets regularly, worships, shares, feeds on the Word, and reaches outside their walls into the community.  The small group is a powerful, self-sustained group that is a part of the bigger body.  However, what the small group has that the bigger body does not is the ability to know people intimately, aid in the discovery and cultivation of spiritual gifts, and learn to be more Christlike.

It is good to have friends, but it is even better to have a group of people who truly know and accept you, who are actively concerned with your well-being, and who help you grow. That is biblical community, and it is so worth it.

Discussion Questions:

1. Small groups are where relationships develop, and people are encouraged and supported. Agree or disagree and why?
2. How can small groups help make you more Christlike?

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.  If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” – Ephesians 4:9-12.

Imagine a man who read the Bible for an hour a day, spent another hour memorizing scripture, and listened to Christian music on his commute to work and Christian teaching podcasts on his commute home. He found news depressing, and the current sitcoms didn’t make him laugh, so he bought a subscription to Pureflix and watched Christian movies after dinner on a nightly basis. Now, imagine he never talked to another Christian. He never went to church. He was not a part of a small group. He spent his life alone with Christian music, movies, and podcasts. Those media were great, but he was never encouraged, admonished, or corrected by other believers. He never had the opportunity to speak the truth in love to others, and nobody did the same in his life. He was alone. How much would he grow spiritually? How much would he be transformed into the image of Christ?

The answer is relative, but we know that we are transformed one at a time, not alone. Every believer benefits from being part of a group. The writer of Hebrews makes this clear: “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24–25).

This verse is often used as an admonition to come to church. But it is more than just coming to church every Sunday. Sitting in straight rows at church and listening to uplifting music and Biblical teaching is good. But it is also talking about other opportunities, such as small groups. Andy Stanley says, “Circles are better than rows.” Small groups are where we encourage one another. Circles encourage us to start their day with the Bible on their lap. Circles ask hard questions.  Circles listen. Circles hug. Circles love. Circles transform.

Community provides a spiritual growth and transformation space where individuals can be challenged, encouraged, and held accountable in their faith journey. Through shared experiences, prayer, and fellowship, believers can learn from one another and grow closer to Jesus. In a world where people feel isolated and alone, throughout His ministry, Jesus modeled and taught about life in community.

We were not created to do life or ministry alone. Community was God’s plan to change the world. Jesus was completely capable of preaching, teaching, and healing by Himself. It’s not as if Jesus needed anyone to help Him. But God designed us to need each other, and Jesus lived this out by taking along 12 friends.

Discussion Questions:

1. In order to enjoy God in community, we must share God in community. What makes sharing with other Christians difficult? What makes it easy?
2. Have you experienced deep fellowship with someone who you might not otherwise be friends with?

Note: The nature of God is beyond our figuring out.  We need help if we are going to begin to understand who God is and how we can relate to Him.  It takes God to know God.  This is why He gives us His many names that describe who He is.  The reason knowing the names of God will help us trust Him with our daily affairs and with our eternal destinies is that in Scripture, a person’s name often signifies his character or ability or mission — especially when God gives the name.  Over the next few Fridays, we will look at the different names of God in the scriptures. This week, we look at El Shaddai – God Almighty.

“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life. I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants.” – Genesis 17:1-2.

The name El Shaddai appears multiple times in the Word of God. In the Book of Genesis, we read about the immutable, unbreakable promise that God made to Abraham. This promise changed the world. Every Jew upon the face of the earth is a living testimony of the faithfulness of Almighty God. And this God who keeps His promise to Abraham is the same God who keeps His promises to you and me through Jesus Christ.

God introduces Himself as El Shaddai in Genesis 17. Some background is in order: God had promised Abram that he would have many descendants.  But the years have gone by and he and his wife Sarai are still childless.  Abram was 99, and Sarah was approximately 90 when God promised that Abraham would be the father of many nations and that Sarah would bear a son.  The onus is on God. Multiple times, the Lord tells Abram something that He will do for him. God only asks of Abram to keep the covenant, walk before God, and be blameless. If Abram walks in obedience, there is a great blessing ahead for not only himself but all his descendants. God would be sufficient for Abram’s every need. He would be Abram’s El Shaddai.

God never calls us to walk before Him and then disappears, leaving us to figure it out ourselves. The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit provides everything we need to walk the path God is taking us on. He promises to be sufficient for anything that He allows in our lives.

We can find peace in God’s limitless power and sovereignty. He is the creator of all things and can do anything, offering comfort and strength in the face of challenges. “Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing” (Isaiah 40:26).   

This week, reflect on the truth that God controls all things, past, present, and future, and that no situation is beyond His reach. So, when facing difficulties, find comfort in knowing that God’s power is available to us and that we can trust Him to work through any situation.

Discussion Questions:

1. What does the name “El Shaddai” reveal about God’s character?
2. What does it mean to you that the Creator of the universe is also your personal God, capable of handling any challenge you face? How does this knowledge bring you peace and confidence? 

Summary: The Book of John is often considered a great starting point for studying the Bible because it explicitly emphasizes Jesus’ divinity. It presents Him as the Son of God and focuses on His identity and teachings in a clear and personal way, making it easier to understand the core message of Christianity.

The Bible can seem like a big, overwhelming, sometimes highly confusing book. So, people who are reading the Bible wonder where to start. Do they start in Genesis? Is it something they can open and dive into from any page? Do I go for the Old Testament first or the New Testament? What is the best order to read the gospels?

While there is no one way to read the Bible, the book of John is a good place to start if you are new to the faith or to regularly reread if you have been a Christian for years. The book of John points to Jesus. From the very first verse we are left in no doubt that Jesus is the divine Son, sent from God, sharing the nature of God.

John had a special relationship with Jesus and is known as “the disciple whom Jesus loved. “ John was one of Jesus’ closest disciples and a witness to many of Jesus’s most important events. John sat close to Jesus at the Last Supper. He was at the foot of the cross when Jesus died, ran to the tomb after Jesus’s resurrection to confirm that it was empty, and saw the resurrected Jesus.

John has a purpose and an agenda when writing the book. It’s not hidden, but he buries the lead: he tells you at the end of the book. John’s explicit purpose for writing is “…so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name” (John 20:31).

The Gospel of John is not an information dump. It is meant to be more than just a string of events or a Biblical textbook.  It’s intended to make you look inward at your heart, challenge your assumptions, and draw you into a relationship with a living God. The book is meant to motivate you and direct you to God. John wants you to find Jesus so compelling that you don’t want to let go.

We all have best friends. Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend is always loyal…” The story of David and Jonathan is an example of deep, enduring friendship; highlighting the responsibility to be a good friend by listening, encouraging, and being present in times of need, while also recognizing that our ultimate best friend is God who is always with us.

Read the gospel of John from the perspective of a best friend who desperately wants you to know how amazing their person is and to join them in a relationship that will lead you to a better life. Jesus left you the words of one of His closest friends so you could get to know Him… and believe.

Discussion Questions:

1. Have you read the book of John? How can this book help you be more like Jesus? 

Summary: Human beings, not human doings, means that our actions or accomplishments do not solely define our value as individuals, but rather by our inherent existence and the qualities we possess as human beings, emphasizing the importance of “being” over “doing.”

“God is far more interested in what you are than in what you do.” – Rick Warren.

“We are human beings, not human doings.” While we don’t know the origin of that quote, it sticks in the mind because it rings all too true. We live at a time when we are so focused on doing, doing, doing to accomplish things that we often forget to pay attention to the person we are becoming. We need to pay attention to who we are in our lives because of all we do. Are we a loving person? Are we being of service to others? Are we being a good friend, a trusted worker, a kind parent? Just what is it we are being?

But we must remember that anything and everything we are capable of being is dependent on the grace of God. Going through life on our own is like a jockey who brags he will win the race, completely forgetting the fact that he is riding a horse. No matter how gifted the jockey is, he cannot win the race without the involvement and assistance of that horse, and we, as human beings, cannot win the race of life without God’s grace and help.

To be the person God intended us to be, we need God’s presence in our lives: Reading or meditating on the Bible, praying, serving, fasting, keeping the Sabbath, or engaging in any other spiritual practice is something we do. Engaging in spiritual practices means ceasing to do some things: not racing around, not obsessing, not trying to prove we’re worthy, not trying to earn God’s approval. God’s primary concern is who we are becoming in the process. The will of God has much more to do with being than doing.

What we do will have more impact when we know God’s presence. Being in His presence will prepare us for doing the works He has planned for us to do. Galatians 2:20 says, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Paul is telling us we need to put to death our inclinations of doing for God to attain His love. Instead, we should strive to be Christlike and allow His love to flow through us.

God desires me to do things for Him, but my doing should result from becoming more like Him.

Discussion Questions:

1. Is there a right balance between doing and being? How do we arrive at that balance?