small group study guide - squarespace · facilitating a small group can sound intimidating, ......

S M A L L G R O U P S T U D Y G U I D E

Dear Small Group Attendee,

As you dive into this life changing study, you will have the opportunity to begin discovering God’s purpose for your life. We call this your Holy Ambition. You will explore six incre-mental steps that will prepare and engage you in His service. They are, in order of experience:

• Developing a Dislocated Heart

• Experiencing a Broken Spirit

• Practicing a Radical Faith

• Creating a Strategic Plan

• Exercising Personal Commitment

• Growing a Courageous Soul

These six developmental phases are explained and illustrated from scrip-ture through the life of Nehemiah. The story of Nehemiah reveals God communicating a calling to a person to meet a big need. We see this re-peatable process as one that God wants to initiate in your life today. As you study and experience these developmental phases in relation-ship with others in your small group, you will begin to discover your Holy Ambition and a new perspective on what Jesus meant when He said, “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25 NASB).

Introduction

My prayer for our journey together,

Holy Father, ignite us with great dreams and ambitions that are God-given and empowered by Your Spirit and grace. Lord, make us ambitious for Your agenda and Your glory. Do a deep and great work in us and through us that will have great Kingdom impact.

Holy Father, help us with every step of this journey, that the motive of our hearts would hon-or You, that You would give us

Your Spirit and the faith to trust you. We long to plan our lives around Your will and Your plans. We are tempted to stay where life seems safe, even though we know that our only real security comes from You. We long for significance, but fear stepping out to make a difference.

O Holy Father, give us courage, give us Holy Ambition.

Copyright 2015 by Chip Ingram and Living on the EdgeAll rights reserved. No part of this booklet may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Special thanks to booklet contributors: Jim Blazin and Allen WhiteInterior design and layout by Lonnie GilbertPublished by Venture Christian Church16845 Hicks Road Los Gatos, CA 95032 venturechristian.org

How To Start Your Own Small Group 6

How To Get The Most Out Of This Experience 8

Session 1 12Holy Ambition Open House

Session 2 20Developing A Dislocated Heart

Session 3 32Experiencing A Broken Spirit

Session 4 44Practicing A Radical Faith

Session 5 54Creating A Strategic Plan

Session 6 66Exercising A Personal Commitment

Session 7 76Growing A Courageous Soul

Helps For Facilitating Your Group 86

Session Notes (For Group Leaders) 92

Contents

How to Start Your Own Small GroupThe fact that you are even reading this page says a lot about you. It says that you are either one of those people that has to read ev-erything, or it says you are open to God using you to lead a group.

Facilitating a small group can sound intimidating, but it really doesn’t have to be. Think of it more as gathering a few friends to get to know each other better and to have some discussion around spiritual matters.

HOLY AMBITION6

Here are a few practical tips to help you get started.1 PRAY. One of the most important principles of spiritual impact is to realize you

can’t do this on your own. No matter how long you’ve been a Christian or been involved in ministry, you need the power of the Holy Spirit. Lean on Him… He will help you.

2 INVITE SOME FRIENDS. Don’t be afraid to ask people to come to your group. You will be surprised how many people are open to a study like this. Whether you have 4 or 14 in your group, it can be a powerful experience. You should probably plan on at least an hour and a half for your group meeting.

3 GET YOUR MATERIALS. You will need to get a DVD of the video teaching done by Chip Ingram. Facilitators should have received a Holy Ambition DVD at the briefing. If you did not, please contact Venture Christian Church. Also, it will be important for each person to have their own study guide, which is available for download at venturechristian.org/haguide. Additional copies of the Holy Ambition book and DVD are available through the Venture bookstore or the Living on the Edge website.

4 BE PREPARED TO FACILITATE. Just a few minutes a week in preparation can make a huge difference in the group experience. Each week preview the 15–20 minute video teaching and review the discussion ques-tions. If you don’t think your group can get through all the questions, select the ones that are most relevant to your group.

5 LEARN TO SAY “I DON’T KNOW.” These sessions will spark some lively and spir-ited discussions. There are lots of different opinions when it comes to identifying your Holy Ambition. When tough questions come up, it’s ok for you to say “I don’t know.” Take the pressure off. No one expects you to have all the answers.

6 LOVE YOUR GROUP. Maybe the most important thing you bring to the group is your personal care for them. If you will pray for them, en-courage them, call them, e-mail them, involve them, and love them. God will be pleased and you will have a lot of fun along the way.

Thank you for your availability. May God bless you as you serve Him by serving others.

IntroductIon 7

How to get the most out of this experience.The God of the universe is looking for ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things… things beyond your wildest dreams. In this series, from the book of Nehemiah, Chip Ingram will lead us through a biblical process to turn our God-shaped dreams into reality.

Listed below are the segments you will experience each week as well as some hints for getting the most out of this experience. If you are facilitating the group, you will find some additional help and coaching on page 92.

TAKE IT IN (watch the video)It is important for us to get “before God” and submit our-selves to his truth. During this section you will watch the video teaching by Chip. He will introduce each session with a personal word to the group followed by the teaching portion of the video. At the end of the teaching segment, Chip will wrap up the session and help the group dive into discussion.

A teaching outline with fill-ins is provided for each session. As you follow along, write down questions or insights that you can share during the discussion time. Not all of the fill-ins will appear on the screen during Chip’s teaching. You will find an answer key at the end of each session of the study just before the Accelerate section.

Even though most of the verses will appear on the screen and in your notes, it is a great idea to bring your own Bible each week. It will allow you to make notes in your own Bible and find other passages that might be relevant to that week’s study.

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TALK IT OVERWe not only grow by listening to God’s word, but we grow “in community.” The friendship and insights of those in the group will enrich your small group experience. Several discussion questions are provided for your group to further engage the teaching content. Keep the following guidelines in mind for having a healthy group discussion.

• BE INVOLVED. Jump in and share your thoughts. Your ideas are important, and you have a perspective that is unique and can benefit the other group members.

• BE A GOOD LISTENER. Value what others are sharing. Seek to really understand the perspective of others in your group and don’t be afraid to ask follow up questions.

• BE COURTEOUS. People hold strong opinions about the greatest needs in our world. Your Holy Ambition may vary greatly from someone else’s, but that’s ok. We were not all designed in the same way or to accomplish the same things. Spirited discussion is great. Disrespect and attack is not. When there is disagreement, focus on the issue and never allow the discussion to turn into a personal attack.

• BE FOCUSED. Stay on topic. Help the group explore the sub-ject at hand, and try to save unrelated questions or stories for afterwards.

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO DOMINATE. Be aware of the amount of talking you are doing in proportion to the rest of the group, and make space for others to speak.

• BE A LEARNER. Stay sensitive to what God might be wanting to teach you through the lesson, as well as through what others have to say. Focus more on your own growth rather than making a point or winning an argument.

IntroductIon 9

LIVE IT OUT – B.I.O.BIO is a word that is synonymous with “life.” Found in those 3 simple letters B.I.O. is the key to helping you become the person God wants you to be.

B COME BEFORE GOD DAILY. To meet with Him person-ally through His word and prayer to enjoy His presence, receive His direction, and follow His will.

I DO LIFE IN COMMUNITY WEEKLY. Structuring your week to personally connect in safe relationships that provide love, support, transparency, challenge, and accountability.

O BE ON MISSION 24/7. Cult ivat ing a mind-set to “live out” Jesus’ love for others through acts of sacrifice and service at home, work, play, and church.

ACCELERATE (20 minutes that turns concepts into convictions)Inspiration comes from hearing God’s Word. Motivation grows by discussing God’s Word. Transformation occurs when you study it for yourself.

If you want to “accelerate” your growth, a short bible study is provided that you can do at home each week. Our convictions become even stronger when we dig into Scripture and discov-er truth for ourselves. To help you get the most out of this ex-ercise, consider partnering up with somebody in your group who will also commit to do the assignment this week. Then, after you have each done the assignment, agree to spend 10-15 minutes by phone to share what you learned and what you are applying.

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The Holy Ambition BookThroughout this video series Chip will make refer-ence to his book on this same topic, also called Holy Ambition. This video series really is an overview and a condensed version of the Holy Ambition book.

If you would like a more thorough look at the first 6 chapters of Nehemiah, the Holy Ambition book would be an excellent companion tool for this video series.

While the Holy Ambition book is not required to par-ticipate in the small group study, the book is a great additional study help.

Please note: In the video Chip will refer to questions in the back of each chapter. For our purposes, we will be using the questions in this study guide rather than the questions in the book.

IntroductIon 11

WELCOME TO OUR GROUP

Welcome to the Holy Ambition study and your group’s open house. Take some time to get to know the other group members, especially if you haven’t met before.

Since this introductory week is more informal, your group will only be going through a few questions in Session 1. Your group will have the full meeting format beginning with Session 2.

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GETTING STARTED1 Let’s get started by sharing something with the group maybe no one

knows about you. Share something like your middle name, or a hidden talent, or something else the group might not expect to hear from you.

session 1 13

TAKE IT IN (watch the video)

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TALK IT OVER (Just a few questions as your group gets acquianted.)

2 If someone is referred to as “ambitious,” what does that usually mean?

3 If God gave you an unlimited check to do anything to really help people, what would you do? Why?

4 What is the difference between “Holy Ambition” and “unholy ambition”?

5 According to James 3:16 wherever you find selfish ambition you will find “disorder and every evil practice.” How do you think “disorder and every evil practice” relates to selfish ambition?

6 A couple of times Chip talked about God working “in us” so that he can work “through us.” What do you think Chip means by the phrase and why is it important to our “Holy Ambition”?

session 1 15

LIVE IT OUT—B.I.O.BIO is a word that is synonymous with “life.” Found in those 3 simple letters B.I.O. is the key to helping you become the person God wants you to be.

B COME BEFORE GOD DAILY. To meet with Him personally through His word and prayer to enjoy His presence, re-ceive His direction, and follow His will.

I DO LIFE IN COMMUNITY WEEKLY. Structuring your week to personally connect in safe relationships that pro-vide love, support, transparency, chal-lenge, and accountability.

O BE ON MISSION 24/7. Cultivating a mindset to “live out” Jesus’ love for others through acts of sacrifice and service at home, work, play, and church.

HOLY AMBITION16

COME BEFORE GOD7 Prayerfully think about people in your life who might enjoy or benefit from

this study. Who among your neighbors, co-workers, relatives, friends and others can you pray about inviting to come with you next week?

DO LIFE IN COMMUNITY8 When you think about your answer to the question about what you would

do if God gave you an unlimited check, what kinds of people or skills would you need in order for that dream to become a reality?

BE ON MISSION9 2 Chronicles 9 says that “the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout

the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” As you close your group meeting, spend some time praying for one another. As a means of direction for your prayer time, complete the fol-lowing statement…

“One of the things that stands in the way of me pursuing my Holy Ambition is…”

Also pray about inviting the people you listed in Question 7.

session 1 17

ACCELERATE (20 minutes that turns concepts into convictions)

Inspiration comes from hearing God’s Word. Motivation grows by discussing God’s Word. Transformation occurs when you study it for yourself.

If you want to “accelerate” your growth, here is an assignment you can do this week. To help you get the most out of this exercise, consider partnering up with somebody in your group who will also commit to do the assignment this week. Then, after you have each done the assignment, agree to spend 10 minutes by phone, Skype, Facetime, or face to face to share what you learned and what you are applying.

COME BEFORE GODThis week read the story of King Asa in 2 Chronicles 14-16.

1 In one sentence, how would you define Asa’s Holy Ambition?

2 What are some practical things Asa does that demonstrate he is a good and godly king?

3 Where do you see selfish ambition in Asa’s life?

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DO LIFE IN COMMUNITY• Connect this week with some-

one who seems to have a “Holy Ambition.”

• Have a spiritual conversation about making an impact with your life.

• Learn from them what steps they have taken to pursue their “Holy Ambition.”

BE ON MISSION• This week work hard at noticing

what is going on around you. It is easy for us to become de-sensitized to the brokenness around us.

• Take 30 minutes and do a prayer walk this week. Slowly walk around your neighborhood or some part of your community and ask God to give you a burden for the things that He cares about.

session 1 19

IF NEW PEOPLE HAVE JOINED YOUR GROUP THIS WEEK, TAKE A LITTLE TIME RIGHT NOW TO INTRODUCE YOURSELVES.

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GETTING STARTED1 Who is the most extraordinary person you’ve ever met? What made them

that way?

SeSSion 2 21


THE 1ST CONDITION… A DISLOCATED HEART• God uses people!

• God is searching . . . for a select group of people!

When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Nehemiah 1:4 (NIV)

• In order to have a dislocated heart, you have to STOP!

HOW MUCH DO YOU CARE?• It all starts with the question: Do you really care?

• Dislocations make us .

• Nehemiah’s body was in Susa (a comfortable place) but his heart was in Jerusalem (an uncomfortable, dangerous place).

• A Dislocated Heart is a God-given concern that propels us out of our comfort zone. It is a passionate concern for God’s agenda that super-sedes our own peace and comfort.

THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS• A dislocated heart caused Jesus to leave .

For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, the people of Israel Romans 9:3-4a (NIV)

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TALK IT OVER

2 What does a dislocated heart seem like to you?

3 On a scale of 1-10 (1=not at all and 10=totally) share a number that would indicate where you are in having a dislocated heart.

SeSSion 2 23

ASK FOR A VOLUNTEER TO READ NEHEMIAH 1:2-3.

“Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”

4 Nehemiah is an ordinary person living a comfortable life... much like most of us. What would be a typical response to Hanani’s report for someone living a comfortable life?

NOW READ NEHEMIAH 1:4.

“When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.”

5 What stands out to you about Nehemiah’s response?

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6 What bothers you about your community? What needs stand out? What makes your cry or what makes you angry good indicators. What do you have a dislocated heart for? (Keep in mind, we are looking for a dislocated heart, not the complaint department).

7 How might what dislocates your heart inform your purpose in life?

8 If you were really to have a dislocated heart and get involved in some need that God lays on your heart, what would have to change in your life? What are some potential costs and/or sacrifices?

SeSSion 2 25





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COME BEFORE GOD9 Read Romans 9:1-4. What do these verses reveal about Paul’s dislocated

heart for the people of Israel?

DO LIFE IN COMMUNITY10 As you are seeking to discover and identify your Holy Ambition, perhaps

your group could consider doing a 24 hour fast. If not a fast, maybe your group could commit to a dedicated time of prayer. Make a list of things that each person in the group could pray for during this designated time of prayer.

BE ON MISSION11 What is one small step you could take to engage a need that you authen-

tically care about?

ANSWER KEY FOR TAKE IT IN SECTION: ORDINARY, UNCOMFORTABLE, PERSONAL, HEAVEN.

SeSSion 2 27




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1 In verses 1-4, what are some qualities and characteristics that distinguish Holy Ambition from selfish ambition?

COME BEFORE GODRead the following passage from Philippians 2 slowly and carefully.

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any ten-derness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-mind-ed, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God some-thing to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:1-11 (NIV)

SeSSion 2 29

2 Underline the phrases in the passage on the previous page that indicate that Jesus had a dislocated heart for the salvation of mankind?

3 What other instances in the gospels demonstrate that Jesus had a dislocated heart for broken people?

• Matthew 23:37

• Luke 23:34

• Mark 10:46-52

HOLY AMBITION30

DO LIFE IN COMMUNITY• Get together with a friend

this week via phone, Skype, Facetime, or face to face, and pray together about that which gives you a dislocated heart.

BE ON MISSION• Take a few moments and write

out a prayer to God express-ing the longing of your heart to be used by Him.

• Include in your prayer what it is that you have a dislocated heart for.

SeSSion 2 31

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GETTING STARTED1 Tell the group about a humble person in your life. Why do you think they

are humble?

2 At the end of last week’s meeting, each member was challenged to take one small step to engage a need that you authentically care about. What did you do? Please share with the group, even if it was a small step.

SeSSion 3 33


THE 2ND CONDITION… A BROKEN SPIRIT• 2 timeless axioms

• God rejects .

• God gives grace to the .

• God isn’t looking at your history… He is looking at your .

• When you have a broken spirit, God responds of the time.

HOW A BROKEN SPIRIT IS DEVELOPED• A broken spirit comes from a high view of God and an accurate view

of yourself.

What does your prayer life reveal about the level of broken spirit that you have?

• A high view of God means you are a worshipper. You stand in awe be - fore God.

• God wants to do something deeply in you… before He does something broad through you.

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THE PRIORITY OF PRAYER• Nehemiah spent 3–4 months in prayer and fasting

and worship before he did anything.

• We are better at being busy for God than being with God

• Nehemiah’s prayer is “promise-centered” based on the power and character of God.

• Do we believe that we can get more done on our knees (in prayer) than we can get done with our hands and feet?

• The litmus test of a broken spirit is the quality and the quantity of your

.

SeSSion 3 35

TALK IT OVER

3 To have a broken spirit you must have a high view of God. To have a high view of God means that you are a worshipper. Read Isaiah 6:1-7 to see a beautiful moment of worship. What stands out most to you in this passage? Why?

4 How does a high view of God and personal worship relate to having a broken spirit?

HOLY AMBITION36

ASK FOR A VOLUNTEER TO READ NEHEMIAH 1:5-11.

Then I said: “Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

“Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest hori-zon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’

“They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in rever-ing your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”

I WAS CUPBEARER TO THE KING.

5 How is Nehemiah’s prayer different than the prayers we typically hear Christian’s pray?

6 If God really wants to work in us before He works through us, where do you think he wants to work in you? Complete the following statement: I think God wants to work in me…

SeSSion 3 37





HOLY AMBITION38

COME BEFORE GOD Ask for a volunteer to read James 4:7-10.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sin-ners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble your-selves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

7 Why is this passage so important to having a Holy Ambition? And what part of the passage do you most need to apply?

DO LIFE IN COMMUNITY2 Chip said “the litmus test of a broken spirit is the quality and the quantity

8 your prayer life.” Share with the group what it would take for you to have a more fervent and effective prayer life? And how can those in your group encourage you in this area?

BE ON MISSIONWe’ve talked a lot about prayer in this session. Take some unhurried time to pray for and with each other. Rather than asking God for something, let this be a time to declare your dependence on him. And just like Nehemiah’s prayer, let this be a time of humility and confession.

ANSWER KEY FOR TAKE IT IN SECTION: PRIDE, HUMBLE, HEART, 100%, PRAYER LIFE.

SeSSion 3 39



If you want to “accelerate” your growth, here is an assign-ment you can do this week. To help you get the most out of this exercise, consider partnering up with somebody in your group who will also commit to do the assignment this week. Then, after you have each done the assignment, agree to spend 10 minutes by phone, Skype, Facetime, or face to face to share what you learned and what you are applying.

COME BEFORE GODRead the following passages from John 5 slowly and carefully.

Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. John 5:19-20 (NIV)

By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. John 5:30 (NIV)

UNDERLINE THE WORDS OF PHRASES THAT INDICATE JESUS’ ABSOLUTE DEPENDENCE ON HIS FATHER.

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NOW READ JOHN 15:1-8.

1 What does this teaching have to do with having a broken and dependent spirit?

2 Practically speaking, what does it mean to “remain” or “abide” in Christ?

READ PSALM 51:10-17.

3 David wrote these words in response to being confronted about his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba. What can we learn about having a “broken spirit” from these verses?

SeSSion 3 41

DO LIFE IN COMMUNITY• Get together with a friend

this week via phone, Skype, Facetime, or face to face, and read together the prayer from Nehemiah 1:5-11.

• Share with your friend what God is doing “in you” and what you are learning about a broken spirit.

BE ON MISSION• Chip said in our session this

week that we are better at be-ing busy for God than being with God.

• Set aside a block of time this week just to “be with God.” Spend time lingering over Scripture, journaling, listen-ing, and reflecting.

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Notes

SeSSion 3 43

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GETTING STARTED1 What does it mean to be radical? Who is “radical” to you?

2 How did it go this past week “abiding” or “remaining” with God during your prayer time?

session 4 45


THE 3RD CONDITION IS… A RADICAL FAITH• A broken spirit always leads to .

• Radical Faith is to step out to fulfill God’s clearly revealed will at possible great personal cost and sacrifice

JESUS’ CALL TO RADICAL FAITH• What Jesus passionately looked for in the disciples was… Faith!

• The only time Jesus rebukes his followers was when he said “O you of little faith” (Matthew 8:26).

• Jesus’ ministry was marked by a consistent call to radical faith.

• Faith is believing in the of God and the of God to the point that you actually take action.

• When you take a radical step of faith, it requires absolute to God.

GOD’S INVITATION TO US• We have been to join in God’s amazing plan.

• God will accomplish his purposes. The question is whether or not we will have the privilege of being a part of what He is doing.

• It’s ok to be afraid. It’s not ok to be afraid and disobedient.

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OPTIMIST

RISK-TAKER

SMALL FAITH

TALK IT OVER3 Who or what do you sense you might be depending on instead of God?

This could be a person, a possession or a position. What would you fear if you lost this?

4 Who would be an example of radical faith… either in the Bible, in history, or in our generation?

5 We all bring our personalities and our past to our Holy Ambition. Based on your natural wiring and experiences where would you rate yourself? Share with the group your perception of yourself and ask for honest feedback.

6 Radical faith doesn’t mean that you’re not afraid. Radical faith just means that you are willing to act despite your fears. Describe a time when you were afraid but moved forward in spite of your fears.

PESSIMIST

RISK AVERSE

BIG FAITH

session 4 47





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COME BEFORE GODREAD HEBREWS 11:1-3, 6.

7 What insights can you gain from this passage that are helpful when think-ing about taking a radical step of faith?

DO LIFE IN COMMUNITY8 When you think about your Holy Ambition and taking a radical step of

faith, where do you sense that you might need support and help from your small group?

BE ON MISSION9 The only way to develop radical faith is to start where we are. At some

point, we actually have to take a step of faith. As you think about your Holy Ambition and what you dream of doing for God, what would be a step of radical faith for you?

ANSWER KEY FOR TAKE IT IN SECTION: ACTION, CHOOSING, CHARACTER, PROMISES, SURRENDER, INVITED.

session 4 49




COME BEFORE GODRead once quickly through Luke 9:23-62 where Jesus defines what it looks like for the disciples to live by faith.

1 In Luke 9:23-24, what does it mean to…

• Deny yourself?

• Take up your cross daily?

• Lose your life?

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READ LUKE 9:28-36.

2 Having great faith is directly connected to the object of your faith. The key to having great faith is rooted in God being big and good!

3 From Luke 9:28-36, what truths can we learn about Jesus as the object of your faith?

4 In Luke 9:46-62 Jesus clearly taught about the costs and dangers of following him. What are some of the costs that Jesus describes?

5 As you think about your life and your Holy Ambition, what are some potential costs for you?

session 4 51

DO LIFE IN COMMUNITY• Who is someone that you

respect as a person of great faith? Make a point to have a conversation with them.

• Ask what has helped them the most in becoming a per-son of great faith.

BE ON MISSION• Spend a few moments reflect-

ing on your Holy Ambition and what radical faith might mean for you.

• Now, take some time to write out your fears and concerns… and one by one, surrender them to God.

• Finally, write out in practi-cal terms what radical faith would look like as you pursue your Holy Ambition.

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Notes

session 4 53

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GETTING STARTED1 How successfully have you been at starting a good habit or keeping a

New Year’s resolution? If not, what happened? What were some of your obstacles to success?

2 In the Accelerate exercise in last week’s session, you were asked to write out what radical faith would look like as you pursue your Holy Ambition. Please share this with the group.

session 5 55


THE 4TH CONDITION IS… A STRATEGIC PLAN• Too often, our sincere and good intentions never get off the ground.

• By way of review, the conditions required to fulfill your Holy Ambition are a…

• dislocated heart

• broken spirit

• radical step of faith

• The next condition for fulfilling your Holy Ambition is…

• A .

THE VALUE OF A PLAN• You have to begin with the end in mind. And you need to develop a

game plan.

• A strategic plan is the big pieces of the puzzle that fit together in order to fulfill your Holy Ambition.

• God doesn’t bless ideas.

• Where God’s agenda is championed, God’s resources always flow.

• You may not be the one to write the strategic plan for your Holy Ambition, but it is your job to make sure it gets done.

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WHAT’S YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN? • A strategic plan is birthed in and

solitude.

• If you are not gifted at strategic planning, be-gin to pray and look for someone who can help you.

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3 If you have a vision or dream of helping others, share what it is. If you still aren’t sure, then share generally where you are burdened. Share what it is that you care about and find yourself thinking about often.

4 Chip said “Where God’s agenda is championed, God’s resources always flow.” Share an experience from your past where God showed up and channeled his resources to meet a need.

5 Nehemiah not only prayed about the problem in Jerusalem, he came up with a plan. Read Nehemiah 2:5-8. What did Nehemiah do that was both strategic and savvy?

6 When developing a strategic plan you need time for solitude and reflec-tion. You must be “still” and listen to God. How difficult is it for you to be still and quiet? As you have been thinking and praying about your purpose in life, what do you sense God has been saying to you?

TALK IT OVER

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COME BEFORE GODREAD NEHEMIAH 2:11-16.

7 Once Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, he spent some time probing the situation and examining the conditions. As you think about the burden God has given you, what do you need to understand further? What re-search do you need to do?

DO LIFE IN COMMUNITYREAD NEHEMIAH 2:17-18 WHERE NEHEMIAH NOW COMMUNICATES THE PROBLEM AND THE VISION TO THE PEOPLE OF JERUSALEM.

7 If you had 60 seconds to articulate your burden and your vision, what would you say? Get feedback from the group on how clearly and com-pellingly you articulated your vision.

BE ON MISSIONFrom the book of Nehemiah, there are 7 steps in launching your Holy Ambition.

• Clearly define the problem • Identify with the problem • Propose a “we” solution • Give a clear, strong challenge • Motivate at the deepest level • Help others see God’s hand in the vision and the success • Explain specifically how others can be involved in the project

Which of these 7 is something you do well and which one is a weakness?

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A LITTLE HOMEWORK FOR THIS WEEK:SET ASIDE ONE HOUR TO JUST BE SILENT AND LISTEN TO GOD. WRITE DOWN WHAT HE IMPRESSES ON YOUR HEART DURING THAT HOUR.

Some helpful suggestions for your hour with God.

• In order to make this hour happen, you need to set an appointment with God on your calendar. You might need to get up a little earlier in the morning. Maybe you can take advantage of a quiet lunch break or set aside an hour on the weekend.

• Find a quiet place where you can focus. This may be a favorite spot in your house, a beautiful outdoor location, or any other quiet place you can find. Remove all distraction. Turn off your phone for the hour. Keep a pad and pen handy not only to record what God says to you, but also to make a To-Do list of all of the distracting things that might pop into your head.

• Take some time this week to write out a concise and clear paragraph that captures your burden and Holy Ambition. In your paragraph answer the following questions:

• What is the problem? • Why does the problem burden you? • What do you plan to do about it (with God’s help)? What is the first

step you can take? Get more information about the problem? Contact someone at the church or in the community who has experience help-ing in that area? Maybe pray daily and ask God to open a door for you to serve, then pay attention to what doors open?

• A vague idea is not going to convert into action. Be specific. Put your first step on your calendar, then begin to plan your second, third and further steps. This probably won’t come together in a week, but if it lingers over a decade, it won’t happen either.

• Come to the group meeting next week prepared to share at least the first step of your strategic plan.

ANSWER KEY FOR TAKE IT IN SECTION: STRATEGIC PLAN, UNDERSTANDING, VAGUE, SILENCE.

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COME BEFORE GODCarefully and slowly read Exodus 18. In this passage Moses has been giv-en the Holy Ambition of leading the people of Israel to the Promised Land. However, Moses’ strategy for governing the people is very inefficient and eventually will lead to him burning out.

1 In Exodus 18:5-12, what are some of the signs that Moses and Jethro had a good relationship?

2 In Exodus 18:13-18, why was the current strategy that Moses was using ineffective?

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3 In Exodus 18:19-23, what were the key elements of Jethro’s proposed strategy?

4 In Exodus 18:24-27, how did Moses demonstrate a teachable spirit?

5 What does this passage teach us about needing other people to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives?

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DO LIFE IN COMMUNITY• When you think about developing a plan for

your Holy Ambition, who is somebody that could help you in developing a plan?

• Try to connect with them in the next week or two and share with them your Holy Ambition and explore their willingness to help.

• Pray before meeting with them and don’t be afraid to ask for their help.

BE ON MISSION• Start praying for God to raise up your Holy

Ambition team.

• Start boldly asking God to bring people with skill who have a similar passion and burden as you.

• Spend some time meditating on and reflect-ing on Luke 11:1-13 to see how God invites us to boldly come to him with our needs.

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Notes

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GETTING STARTED1 If you examined your bank account and your calendar, what would they

reveal about the top 3 things you committed to?

2 Share your progress on your strategic plan from Session 6 with the group.

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THE 5TH CONDITION IS… EXERCISING A PERSONAL COMMITMENT• By way of review, the conditions required to fulfill your Holy Ambition

are a…

• Dislocated heart

• Broken spirit

• Radical step of faith

• Strategic plan

• The 5th condition required for fulfilling your Holy Ambition is… a personal .

• When a leader makes a personal commitment, it will inspire and attract others to get involved.

PERSONAL COMMITMENT DEFINED• A commitment is a pledge or a promise. It is dedication to a course of

action, relationship, project or cost.

• When you see any kind of movement of God, you will find a handful of people who have made a deep personal commitment.

• As part of the journey of Holy Ambition, there is usually a “______________ of a dream” experience.

…unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. John 12:24 (NASB)

• Some Holy Ambitions might be small in the eyes of the world but in the eyes of God.

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WHAT IS YOUR LEVEL OF PERSONAL COMMITMENT?• No one will be more committed to your Holy Ambition than

are.

• Nehemiah recruited at the highest level of motivation. So, ask people to make big commitments.

• You can be bold because you aren’t asking for your benefit. You are asking on behalf of God’s kingdom and glory.

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3 When it comes to your Holy Ambition, what’s your biggest fear? What’s the thing that holds you back the most from taking the step of personal commitment?

4 Who have you been able to watch up close and personal that was a per-son of “deep personal commitment”? How did the person impact you?

5 Nehemiah understood the value and importance of recognition and affirmation. Who is someone that has encouraged and affirmed you? How would you rate yourself when it comes to generously handing out affirmation?

6 When you think about your Holy Ambition, what is one specific commit-ment you could ask for from somebody else?

TALK IT OVER

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COME BEFORE GODREAD PHILIPPIANS 3:7-14.

7 What most stands out to you about Paul’s level of personal commitment?

DO LIFE IN COMMUNITY• Spend a few minutes encouraging each other. You can either share out

loud with each other, or put each group member in a “hot seat” in the middle of the group, and allow each member of the group to encourage that person. You could also pass out cards to the group and have each member write their name on a card. Then pass the cards around to the rest of the group and have each member write something encouraging or a positive quality they see in the group member on their card. Group members can share what others have written with the group. Complete the following statement about somebody in the group… “What I see in you is…” or “I can see God using you to…”

BE ON MISSION• Spend the last portion of your meeting praying for one another. Go back

to some of the fears that people mentioned in question one. Pray for those in your group to have courage and faith and surrender as they pur-sue their Holy Ambition.

ANSWER KEY FOR TAKE IT IN SECTION: COMMITMENT, DEATH, GREAT, YOU, OWN.

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COME BEFORE GODRead Philippians 3:1-21 where we get a clear and compelling picture of Paul’s personal commitment.

1 Living out your Holy Ambition to follow Christ will likely require you to make some sacrifices. According to Philippians 3:1-6, what did Paul have to give up to follow Christ? And is there anything that you sense God is asking you to abandon so that you can follow your Holy Ambition?

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2 In Philippians 3:7-14 underline all the words that speak of what Paul abandons and circle all the words that speak of what Paul gains in following Christ.

3 From Philippians 3:15-21, what are some leadership lessons we can learn from Paul that are helpful as you think about your Holy Ambition?

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DO LIFE IN COMMUNITY• Read Philippians 3:7-8.

• Who is somebody you know that has a vibrant and deep walk with Jesus. Get together with them and ask them what they do to keep their walk with Christ fresh and growing.

BE ON MISSION• Look back at Philippians 3:13-14.

Paul says “But one thing I do.” In this season of your life, what is the “one thing” you feel like God is asking you to give yourself to?

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GETTING STARTED1 What is the most courageous thing you have ever done? This will be dif-

ferent for everyone. For some, it may be joining this group.

2 When you think about your Holy Ambition, what are some obstacles that are keeping you from committing wholeheartedly? What are some steps you can take in overcoming these obstacles?

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THE 6TH CONDITION IS… A COURAGEOUS SOUL• A Holy Ambition is almost always followed by intense .

• To fulfill your Holy Ambition you will need a soul.

EXPECT OPPOSITION“…In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33b (NASB)

• Fulfilling your Holy Ambition is , but always hard and challenging.

• External opposition will come (Nehemiah 4)

• Internal conflict will occur (Nehemiah 5)

• Personal attack will come at you (Nehemiah 6)

• There are some predictable ways that Satan will try to discourage you…

• loss of strength

• loss of vision and perspective

• loss of confidence

• loss of security

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LEAN ON GOD’S GRACE AND STRENGTH

• God will you all that you need.

• Refuse to give up… Have a courageous soul.

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3 Where do you feel most overwhelmed and where do you feel most discouraged?

4 Read Nehemiah 4:1-2. No sooner had Nehemiah started rebuilding the wall and he became the target of ridicule and criticism. Share honestly how you deal with criticism and the impact it has on you.

5 What is an area of your life or a situation you are facing where you need to be more courageous?

6 In the next 30 days, what are some practical steps you need to take in pursuing your Holy Ambition?

TALK IT OVER

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COME BEFORE GODREAD JOSHUA 1:3-10.

7 What stands out to you from this passage? Why do you think God tells

Joshua to be strong and courageous 3 times in this short passage?

DO LIFE IN COMMUNITY8 As your group finishes this study, is there some way that this group could

support and encourage you going forward as you pursue your Holy Ambition?

BE ON MISSION9 As you close out this series, break up into groups of 3 and spend some

time praying with and for each other.

ANSWER KEY FOR TAKE IT IN SECTION: OPPOSITION, COURAGEOUS, REWARDING, GIVE.

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COME BEFORE GODREAD JAMES 4:7-10.

1 As you pursue God’s purpose for your life, which of the items on this list do you need the most?

READ ROMANS 5:1-5.

2 Where are you not sensing peace or are not rejoicing these days? Is this because something is out of line with God’s plan or are you sensing op-position to God’s plan?

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3 Set aside some time this week to do a serious study of Nehemiah 4-6. Then, review Chip’s outline below. Which one of these key ideas do you most need to be aware of or put into practice?

• THREE CLUES TO THE PRESENCE OF OPPOSITION: • Ridicule • Criticism • Discouragement

• FOUR CAUSES OF DISCOURAGEMENT: • Loss of strength -- you’re tired. • Loss of vision and perspective -- you’re feeling confused. • Loss of confidence -- you’re feeling uncertain. • Loss of security -- you’re feeling vulnerable.

• FOUR KEYS TO OVERCOME DISCOURAGEMENT AND MAINTAIN A COURAGEOUS SOUL:

• Be proactive: Do something practical and positive. • Remember who’s on your team: Remember the Lord. • Fight! Fight! Fight! • Never fight alone.

4 In Philippians 3:7-14 underline all the words that speak of what Paul aban-dons and circle all the words that speak of what Paul gains in following Christ.

5 From Philippians 3:15-21, what are some leadership lessons we can learn from Paul that are helpful as you think about your Holy Ambition?

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DO LIFE IN COMMUNITY• Who is a courageous person in your life?

If they are available spend some time with them this week. Hear what they’ve faced and how they’ve overcome. If you can’t meet in person, then meet via Skype, Facetime or phone. If it’s someone you don’t know, watch a video about them on-line or read a blog post about them.

• Find someone who can inspire you even further.

BE ON MISSION• What’s the next step? If you stop here, you

may very well feel more guilty or frustrated than when you started. Keep in mind, you don’t need to have all of the steps spelled out right now. In fact, usually plans will morph along the way anyway.

• What is the next right step? Take it!

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Helps for Facilitating Your Group

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Group AgreementPeople come to groups with a variety of different expectations. The purpose of a group agreement is simply to make sure everyone is on the same page and that we have some common expectations.

The following Group Agreement is a tool to help you discuss specific guide-lines during your first meeting. Modify anything that does not work for your group, then be sure to discuss the questions in the section called Our Game Plan. This will help you to have an even greater group experience!

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Our Game PlanWhat day and time will we meet?

Where will we meet?

How long will we meet each week?

What will we do for refreshments?

What will we do about childcare?

Tips for facilitating your group meetingBEFORE THE GROUP ARRIVES: • BE PREPARED. Your personal preparation can make a huge difference

in the quality of the group experience. We strongly suggest previewing both the DVD teaching by Chip Ingram and the study guide.

• PRAY FOR YOUR GROUP MEMBERS BY NAME. Ask God to use your time together to touch the heart of every person in your group. Expect God to challenge and change people as a result of this study.

• PROVIDE REFRESHMENTS. There’s nothing like food to help a group relax and connect with each other. For the first week, we suggest you prepare a snack, but after that, ask other group members to bring the food so that they share in the responsibilities of the group and make a commitment to return.

• RELAX. Don’t try to imitate someone else’s style of facilitating a group. Conduct the group in a way that fits your style and temperament. Remember that people may feel nervous showing up for a small group study, so put them at ease when they arrive. Make sure to have all the details covered prior to your group meeting, so that once people start arriving, you can focus on them.

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TAKE IT IN (watch the video)• GET THE VIDEO READY. Each of the sessions on the DVD are about

13-15 minutes in length. At the end of each session Chip will set up the opening discussion question for your group.

• HAVE AMPLE MATERIALS. Before you start the video, also make sure everyone has their own copy of the study guide. Encourage the group to open to this week’s session and follow along with the teaching. There is an outline in the study guide with an opportunity to fill in the outline.

• ARRANGE THE ROOM. Set up the chairs in the room so that everyone can see the television. And, arrange the room in such a way that it is con-ducive to discussion.

TALK IT OVERHERE ARE SOME GUIDELINES FOR FACILITATING THE DISCUSSION TIME:• Make this a discussion, not a lecture. Resist the temptation to do all the

talking, and to answer your own questions. Don’t be afraid of a few mo-ments of silence while people formulate their answers.

And don’t feel like you need to have all the answers. There is nothing wrong with simply saying “I don’t know the answer to that, but I’ll see if I can find an answer this week”.

• Encourage everyone to participate. Don’t let one person dominate, but also don’t pressure quieter members to speak during the first couple of sessions. Be patient. Ask good follow up questions and be sensitive to delicate issues.

• Affirm people’s participation and input. If an answer is clearly wrong, ask “What led you to that conclusion?” or ask what the rest of the group thinks. If a disagreement arises, don’t be too quick to shut it down! The discussion can draw out important perspectives, and if you can’t resolve it there, offer to research it further and return to the issue next week.

However, if someone goes on the offensive and engages in personal at-tack, you will need to step. In the midst of spirited discussion, we must also remember that people are fragile and there is no place for disrespect.

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• DETOUR WHEN NECESSARY. If an important ques-tion is raised that is not in the study guide, take time to discuss it. Also, if someone shares something per-sonal and emotional, take time for them. Stop and pray for them right then. Allow the Holy Spirit room to ma-neuver, and follow his prompting when the discussion changes direction.

• SUBGROUP. One of the principles of small group life is “when numbers go up, sharing goes down”. So, if you have a large group, sometimes you may want to split up into groups of 4-6 for the discussion time. This is a great way to give everyone, even the quieter members, a chance to share. Choose someone in the group to guide each of the smaller groups through the discus-sion. This involves others in the leadership of the group, and provides an opportunity for training new leaders.

• PRAYER. Be sensitive to the fact that some people in your group may be uncomfortable praying out loud. As a general rule, don’t call on people to pray unless you have asked them ahead of time or have heard them pray in public. But this can also be a time to help peo-ple build their confidence to pray in a group. Consider having prayer times that ask people to just say a word or sentence of thanks to God.

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LIVE IT OUT—B.I.O.At this point in each week’s session, you will engage the B.I.O. pathway. B.I.O. is a process that is designed to help Christians live like Christians. As you integrate these three vital practices into your life, it will result in spiritual momentum and help you thrive as a follower of Jesus.

• COME “BEFORE GOD” DAILY To meet with Him personally through His Word and prayer in order to en-

joy His Presence, receive His direction, and follow His will. This section will always takes you to a passage of Scripture and lead your group to interact directly with God’s Word.

• DO LIFE “IN COMMUNITY” WEEKLY Structuring your week to personally connect in safe relationships that

provide love, support, transparency, challenge, and accountability. This section will always lead your group to discussion about the content plays itself out in our relationships in community.

• BE “ON MISSION” 24/7 Cultivating a mindset to “live out” Jesus love for others through acts of

sacrifice and service at home, work, play and church. This section will be action oriented and help the group wrestle with how they can implement what they are learning.



This 20-minute exercise is meant to be done apart from the group meeting. It is a great way to go deeper with the material and turbo charge people’s growth. You can lead the way by doing personally doing the Accelerate sec-tion each week. And then encourage others to join and take a few moments in your group meeting to talk about what people have been learning from this section.

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Session Notes for Group LeadersWelcome to this series called Holy Ambition… Turning God-shaped dreams into reality. This com-pelling series is based on the first 6 chapters of Nehemiah. The principles Nehemiah used in re-building the wall around Jerusalem, are the same principles we can use to pursue the Holy Ambition that God has given us.

Whether you are brand new at leading a small group or you are a seasoned veteran, God is going to use you. God has a long history of using ordinary people to get his work done.

These brief notes are intended to help prepare you for each week’s session. By spending just a few min-utes each week previewing the video and going over these session notes you will set the table for a great group experience. Also, don’t forget to pray for your group each week.

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SESSION 1 • HOLY AMBITION

• If your group doesn’t know each other well, be sure that you spend some time getting acquainted. Don’t rush right into the video lesson. Remember, small groups are not just a study or a meeting, they are about relationships.

• If this is a new group, be sure to capture everyone’s contact information. It is a good idea to send out an e-mail with everybody’s contact information so that the group can stay in touch. At the back of your study guide is a roster where people can fill in the names and contact information of the other group members.

• When you are ready to start the session, be sure that each person in your group has a copy of the study guide. The small group study guide is im-portant for people to follow along and to take notes.

• Spend a little time in this first session talking about B.I.O.

These 3 core practices are the pathway to maturity. You will see these let-ters and terms throughout this study guide. Start getting your group com-fortable with the concepts of “coming before God”, “doing life together in community”, and “being on mission”.

• Facilitating the discussion time. Sometimes Chip will ask you as the facil-itator to lead the way by answering the first question. This allows you to lead by example and your willingness to share openly about your life will help others feel the permission to do the same.

• One of the critical points that Chip will make in this opening session is that God made us to have ambition. And as long as that ambition if God-focused, it can be a powerful thing. One of the questions this week will ask your group to unpack the difference between Holy Ambition and un-Holy Ambition.

• There will likely be some people who don’t have any idea what their Holy Ambition is… or feel pressure to come up with some big world-changing idea. Help take the pressure off and let people know that you are just beginning the process and that the size of our Holy Ambition will vary depending on our personalities and calling.

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SESSION 2 • DEVELOPING A DISLOCATED HEART

• Why not begin your preparation by praying right now for the people in your group. You might even want to keep their names in your Bible. You may also want to ask people in your group how you can pray for them specifically.

• If somebody doesn’t come back this week, be sure and follow up with them. Even if you knew they were going to have to miss the group meet-ing, give them a call or shoot them an e-mail letting them know that they were missed. It would also be appropriate to have a couple of other peo-ple in the group let them know they were missed.

• If you haven’t already previewed the video, take the time to do so. It will help you know to best facilitate the group and what are the best discus-sion questions for your group.

• Ask good follow up questions… the only thing better than a good ques-tion is a good follow-up question. Think of your group discussion like an onion. Each good follow-up question allows you to pull back another lay and get down beneath the surface.

• One of the things your group will be challenged to consider is doing a 24-hour fast together. If this is something the people in your group have never done, it can be a great experience of seeking God. Encourage peo-ple to take the time they would normally spend eating, and spend time in God’s word and in prayer. If your group isn’t comfortable with the idea of a fast, at least set aside a dedicated time of prayer during this next week.

SESSION 3 • EXPERIENCING A BROKEN SPIRIT

• Did anybody miss last week’s session? If so, make it a priority to follow up and let them know they were missed. It just might be your care for them that keeps them connected to the group.

• Don’t be afraid of silence. We don’t like dead time, do we? It makes us feel uncomfortable. To be a good facilitator, you must learn to get com-fortable with silence. Silence gives people a moment to process and fig-ure out what they want to say. If you move on too quickly, you miss some of the best input.

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• Think about last week’s meeting for a moment. Was there anyone that didn’t talk or participate? In every group there are extroverts and there are introverts. There are people who like to talk and then there are those who are quite content NOT to talk. Not everyone engages in the same way or at the same level but you do want to try and create an environment where everyone wants to participate.

• Follow up with your group this week to see how they did with the Accelerate assignment this week. Don’t shame or embarrass anyone who didn’t get to the assignment, but honestly challenge them to make this a priority in the coming week.

• Much of the focus this week is on prayer. Most Christians do not have a vibrant and rich prayer life. And it is easy for people to feel a lot of shame and guilt about their prayer life. Don’t allow the discussion to be all about how bad everyone’s prayer life is. Let the conversation be about the small, proactive steps that people can take to deepen their prayer life.

SESSION 4 • PRACTICING A RADICAL FAITH

• Don’t feel any pressure to get through all the questions. As people open up and talk, don’t move on too quickly. Give them the space to what is going on inside them as they interact with this teaching.

• Share the load. One of the ways to raise the sense of ownership within the group is to get them involved in more than coming to the meeting. So, get someone to help with refreshments… find somebody else to be in charge of the prayer requests… get someone else to be in charge of any social gathering you plan… let someone else lead the discussion one night. Give away as much of the responsibility as possible. That is GOOD leadership.

• If your group is not sharing as much as you would like or if the discussion is being dominated by a person or two, try subgrouping. If your group is 8 people or more, this is a great way to up the level of participation. After watching the video teaching, divide the group into a couple of smaller groups for the discussion time. It is good to get someone you think would be a good facilitator to agree to this ahead of time.

• One of the questions this week asks people to share a time when they were afraid but moved forward in spite of their fears. It would be helpful for you to think of a story ahead of time that you can share. As you share honestly it will give others the courage to be vulnerable and transparent.

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SESSION 5 • CREATING A STRATEGIC PLAN

• You are now a little more than halfway through this series. How is it going? How well is the group connecting? What has been going well and what needs a little work? Are there any adjustments you need to make?

• Confidentiality is crucial to group life. The moment trust is breached, peo-ple will shut down and close up. So, you may want to mention the impor-tance of confidentiality again this week just to keep it on people’s radar.

• Each time your group meets take a few minutes to update on what has happened since the last group meeting. Ask people what they are learn-ing and putting into practice. Remember, being a disciple of Jesus means becoming a “doer of the word”.

• Revisit the importance of B.I.O. this week. Reinforce the importance of people integrating these core practices in their lives. For example, talk about the priority of coming before God each day and submitting to the authority of God’s truth.

• Don’t chase rabbits. This happens in every group. You will ask a discussion question and someone will take you down a trail that really isn’t relevant to the discussion. It is your job as the group leader to discern when you need to bring the group back. Here is how I often handle that situation… I will look for a moment to jump in and say “Hey, this is great discussion but I want to come back to our topic and focus our discussion there.”

• This week there is a little homework assignment for your group. They will be asked to set aside an hour to be quiet and pray and listen to God. Also, they will be asked to write a paragraph about their Holy Ambition. Encourage your group to take this homework assignment seriously and then check in with them the next time your group meets.

SESSION 6 • EXERCISING A PERSONAL COMMITMENT

• One way to deepen the level of community within your group is to spend time together outside the group meeting. If you have not already done so, plan something that will allow you to get to know each other better. Also, consider having someone else in the group take responsibility for your fellowship event.

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• As you begin this week’s session, do a check-in to see what people are learning and applying from this series. Find out if any of them did the homework assignment from the previous week. Don’t be afraid to take some time at the beginning of your meeting to review some key ideas from the previous week’s lessons.

• Consider asking someone in your group to facilitate next week’s lesson. Who knows, there might be a great potential small group leader in your group. It will give you a break and give them a chance to grow.

• Your job is not to lead a good meeting. Your job is to help develop those in your group into mature followers of Jesus. So, encourage people to take a next step in their growth. Don’t just ask them what they could do, ask them what they WILL do. We don’t grow by talking about obedience, we grow by “obeying” and being “doers of the word”.

• Since this is the next to the last week of this study, you might want to spend some time this week talking about what your group is going to do after your complete this study. You might even consider having a com-puter available where your group can go to livingontheedge.org and ex-plore other small group studies from Chip.

• This week your group will be challenged to encourage one another. They will be asked to complete the following statement about somebody in the group… “What I see in you is…” or “I can see God using you to…”. Be sure that everybody in the group receives some kind of affirmation or encouragement.

SESSION 7 • GROWING A COURAGEOUS SOUL

• Consider sending an e-mail to each person in your group this week let-ting them know you prayed for them today. Also, let them know that you are grateful that they are in the group.

• Take a few minutes this week before you get into the study to talk about the impact of this series so far. Ask people what they are learning, apply-ing, and changing in their lives. For this series to have lasting impact it has to be more than just absorbing information. So, challenge your group to put what they are learning into action.

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• Obviously the pursuit of a Holy Ambition is more than a 7-week study. So, one of the questions for this week is… “In the next 30 days, what are some prac-tical steps you need to take in pursuing your Holy Ambition?” As the group leader, you might want to put a note on your calendar to send out an e-mail 30 days from now to check in with people and see how their Holy Ambition is going.

• It is often a good idea to take a week break and do something different. This also helps the group un-derstand that small group is more than just a meet-ing. You might consider taking one night off from your group meeting to just have dinner together and share/celebrate how God has used this series in your lives. Or, you could take a night off from your group meeting to do your ministry project and “do good” for someone in need.

• “Thanks” for you willingness to lead this group… and thanks for your faithfulness in investing in those in your group. And I hope you have grown and been blessed by this material and by the people in your group.

• Be sure that everyone is clear what your group is doing next after this study.

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Prayer and Praise ReportOne of the most important things you can do in your group is to pray with and for each other. Write down each other’s concerns here so you can re-member to pray for these requests during the week!

Use the Follow Up box to record an answer to prayer or to write down how you might want to follow up with the person making the request. This could be a phone call, an e-mail or a card. Your personal concern will mean a lot!

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Group Roster

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Notes

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