Connect Group – Study 08 - Beyond a Story II

Connect Group – Study 08 - Beyond a Story II

Text: Genesis 7:1-7

Icebreaker: Has anything changed since last week? How are things in your ark?

Last week we heard about 6 ideas that we can learn from the story of Noah’s Ark, and today we will be looking at 5 more points from this story which will help us to have a better life. So, let’s get started: 

7) For safety’s sake, travel in pairs.

We were not made to be alone! God reveals himself in community and relationship.  He made us to be in families and in communities. The fact is that if we try to live as an “oyster”, alone in our shell, we will never be fulfilled because God didn’t make us to be alone.

The Bible is full of references to the importance of sharing with one another in order to be healed (James 5.16: "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.")

It says how powerful it is to pray with other people (Matthew 18.19: “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.)

It also tells us about the importance of meeting in a group to seek Him (Matthew 18.20 “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”). 

Would you like to have a safe and less stressful journey in life? 

Then don’t reject the people that the Lord gave you to walk with you, instead cherish those that God is using to take care of you. Don’t take it for granted!)

Remember YOU ARE NOT ALONE! 

In our church (our ARK) you will only be alone if you don’t ask for help!

8) Speed isn’t always an advantage. The snails who travel at 0.047 km/h were on board with the cheetahs whose top speed is 93km/h or 70 mph.

We live in a society where speed becomes not just a skill, but a necessary quality. Many parts of our society are more concerned with quantity and speed than with quality. Even without realizing it, we absorb this desire for everything to be fast; “Fast food”, instant lifestyle, and wanting everything without waiting for it, has a become more and more normal and so we live life at speed but often overlook our need for quality. Sometimes this will even affect our relationship with our families and with God. 

Remember that quality is more important than speed in many areas of our lives. Would you like to have more quality in your relationships? 

Would you like time to STOP and think (or re-think your life)? Wait! That is exactly what most of us have right now, so enjoy and take that opportunity. 

9) When you’re stressed, float a while.

In Brazil we say: “Are you stressed? Go fishing!” 

The fact is that in the middle of our desert we need to create some “oasis” or a “place of refuge”. Jesus had His prayer time as an oasis in the middle of the chaos of His life and ministry. When you are tired or stressed, what do you do? How do you react? 

Learning to float is a necessity!  

God wants to help us; would you like His help? All you have to do is ask Him. 

10) Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.

One of the marks of the 21^st Century is ‘specialism’ or the rise of the ‘Specialist’; we love this word and will seek help from a specialist when we need something important. 

There is nothing wrong with that, but the problem begins when people prefer to listen to the “professionals” instead of listening to the Lord. Sometimes we prefer what others say, even though it is the opposite of what God says. 

Can you imagine if Noah had listened to the professionals of his time? – We wouldn’t be here because they tried to tell him that it would not rain! 

God wants to be part of your life and remember that He is never wrong. 

Would you like to listen to Him? All you have to do is tell Him that this is what you want and He will respond. 

11) No matter the storm, when you are with God, there’s always a Rainbow waiting…

Are you in the middle of a storm in your life today? Are things getting worse? 

Do you need some help to get out of the storm? 

Remember that the storm will pass…

With God the best is yet to come! Would you like His help in your life? 

He is inviting you to know Him better today. Would you like that? The next step is for you to accept His invitation. 

CONCLUSION:  Jesus doesn’t want you to miss the boat or anything else that He has for you. Your part is to accept Him and to be willing to have more of Him. Would you like to know and have more of God today? Let’s pray.