2/17 Life Group

​There is One Gospel
by CityAlight
 
Verse 1
There is one Gospel on which I stand
For all eternity
It is my story, my Father’s plan
The Son has rescued me
Oh what a Gospel, Oh what a peace
My highest joy and my deepest need
Now and forever He is my light
I stand in the Gospel of Jesus Christ
 
Verse 2
There is one Gospel to which I cling
All else I count as loss
For there, where justice and mercy meet
He saved me on the cross
No more I boast in what I can bring
No more I carry the weight of sin
For He has brought me from death to life
I stand in the Gospel of Jesus Christ
 
Verse 3
There is one Gospel where hope is found
The empty tomb still speaks
For death could not keep my Saviour down
He lives and I am free
Now on my Saviour, I fix my eyes
My life is His and His hope is mine!
For He has promised I, too, will rise
I stand in the Gospel of Jesus Christ
 
Verse 4
And in this Gospel the church is one
We do not walk alone
We have His Spirit as we press on
To lead us safely home
And when in glory still I will sing
Of this old story that rescued me
Praise to my Saviour, the King of life
I stand in the Gospel of Jesus Christ

​Be Still My Soul (In You I Rest)
by Kari Jobe
 
Be still, my soul, The Lord is on thy side
Bear patiently, the cross of grief or pain
Leave to thy God, to order and provide
In every change, He faithful will remain
Be still, my soul, thy best thy heavenly friend
Through thorny ways, leads to a joyful end
 
Be still, my soul, thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake
All now mysterious shall be bright at last
Be still, my soul, the waves and wind still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below
 
      In You I rest, in You I found my hope
      In You I trust, You never let me go
      I place my life within Your hands alone
      Be still, my soul
      …
 
Be still, my soul, the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored
Be still, my soul, when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed, we shall meet at last

​Life-Sharing

1. What has God been teaching you through the message “In Returning and Rest You Shall Be Saved” from ISAIAH 30:1-17 last week? Read the text once more and discern what the holy Spirit is desiring to say through it.

 
          1 “Ah, stubborn children,” declares the Lord, “who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; 2 who set out to go down to Egypt, without asking for my direction,
to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt! 3 Therefore shall the protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame, and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt to your humiliation. 4 For though his officials are at Zoan and his envoys reach Hanes, 5 everyone comes to shame through a people that cannot profit them, that brings neither help nor profit, but shame and disgrace.” 6 An oracle on the beasts of the Negeb. Through a land of trouble and anguish, from where come the lioness and the lion, the adder and the flying fiery serpent, they carry their riches on the backs of donkeys, and their treasures on the humps of camels, to a people that cannot profit them. 7 Egypt's help is worthless and empty; therefore I have called her “Rahab who sits still.”
 
          8 And now, go, write it before them on a tablet and inscribe it in a book,
that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever. 9 For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the Lord; 10 who say to the seers, “Do not see,” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions, 11 leave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.” 12 Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel, “Because you despise this word and trust in oppression and perverseness and rely on them, 13 therefore this iniquity shall be to you like a breach in a high wall, bulging out and about to collapse, whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant; 14 and its breaking is like that of a potter's vessel that is smashed so ruthlessly
that among its fragments not a shard is found with which to take fire from the hearth, or to dip up water out of the cistern.”
 
15 For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling, 16 and you said, “No! We will flee upon horses”; therefore you shall flee away; and, “We will ride upon swift steeds”; therefore your pursuers shall be swift. 17 A thousand shall flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you shall flee, till you are left like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain, like a signal on a hill.
 

1. How were God’s children busying themselves with alternative places of refuge (v.1-7)?
2. What kind of heart attitude resulted (v.8-14)?
3. In their busy lives apart from Him, what is God’s solution (v. 15-17)?
4. Why are we so busy? How can it be dangerous to our life with God and His family?
5. How does becoming busy also make us become “unwilling” to the things of God?

 

1. When has an attitude of unwillingness led to outright denial and distortion of God’s conviction in your life?
2. How are we busy yet still unproductive, especially in our life with the LORD?
3. The central truth of this word was - We make ourselves busier than we need to be. This results in spiritual stubbornness as God interrupts our busy lives. Let us put away our plans that end in shame and unwillingness to enter His rest in quietness and trust. Be busy resting in the solace of Jesus! *What is the difference between “rest” and “recreation” or “relaxation”?
4. *What stood out the most to you through these words of the LORD?
5. How does this Word encourage you to rest?
6. *How has your walk with the LORD been this past week? What areas of spiritual health have been nourished? What areas are still in need of growth that we can treat together with the Word and Spirit?

 
Life-Praying

1. What requests of prayer are still left unanswered, where God has said “no” or “wait”?
2. What requests of prayer have been answered by God, where we can give praise to Him?
3. Read the following Scriptures about prayer. Take a moment to invite the Holy Spirit to fill you, and pray for one another.

 
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18)
 
…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7)