God's hand on our hearts - Nov 14 2004

Small Group questions
Ezra Ch 1

Big Idea:
God is at work, God is in control
In unlikely circumstances
through unlikely people
in the hearts of people

Overview
What were the things that struck you from Sunday's sermon?

Read Jeremiah 29:10-14
A favourite passage for many is Jeremiah 29:11, but this word is given in the midst of things looking out of control. Reflect together on the situation of the Israelites, and how they may have felt hearing this word while in exile.
Read Ps 137 for a heartfelt context.

What impact does this context make on your understanding of Jeremiah 29:11 and the way God exercises his control and power for his people?

It is a matter of perspective, who can relate a time where in the middle of the situation they thought – “where is God”, but now see very clearly God's hand in it all.

The Sermon on Sunday had three main points
God is at work, God is in control
In unlikely circumstances
through unlikely people
in the hearts of people

The writer of Ezra saw that God was at work in the heart of the pagan king Cyrus. The passage Isaiah 44:28-45:6 tells us about God's perspective on Cyrus.
Where in the world and your world might God be using unlikely people to achieve his purposes?

1 Tim 2:1,2 Paul encourages Christians to pray for all people, including kings and governments. What should we be praying for?

A sermon like this can raise the issue of God's sovereignty and our freedom and responsibility. Our response could be passive: that God is in control, he changes the hearts of people according to his will, who are we to resist. We become mere pawns in God's hands.
Why is this never the response of godly people throughout the bible?
why is the response of God's people “Response of God's people is not to passivity but to pray”

Application questions
“God moved the heart of the King”
What perspective does this give us now on who and what we pray for?

Nov 28 we are having a “prayer and thanks” Sunday
are we clear on what this is for?
what are our thoughts about a day like this?
what kind of things ought we to be praying for on this day?