Series Resources

sermon-based study guide

This guide is designed to guide a group discussion around the weekend sermon. You can also use this as an individual, but we highly recommend finding a friend and inviting them to discuss with you. Menlo Church has Life Groups meeting in-person and online using these guides. We’d love to help you find a group.

What you will find in this guide: A discussion guide for groups and individuals. If you are using this as an individual be sure to engage with each question in a journal or simply in your mind as you prayerfully consider what you heard in the sermon and seek to discover what God is inviting you to know and do.

Study Guide: Noah

Connect

With everything in this universe that could consume God’s time and energy, how much do you think God really cares about what happens in your life?
There are two sides to every story and then there’s the truth. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

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Engage

Read Genesis 6:5-22 and 8:18-22

What do these passages tell you about God?
What do these passages tell you about humanity?
How did Noah respond to God’s commands?
How did God in turn respond to Noah? What promise did he make?

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Apply

When are you tempted to assume a bad outcome and believe that things will always be “this way”?
How can the story of Noah remind you that God sees and remembers you even in the most dire circumstances, is present in your pain and loss, and promises a hope and a future?
What can you believe God will do this week that can positively change your attitude and outlook - about family, your job, your education, or relationships - even if the circumstances or outcomes don’t change?

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Prayer

Spend time sharing in your prayer needs together.

Prayer Practice:

Prayer of Release – Find a place to sit and be comfortable. Lay your hands out with your palms up in a posture of release. Ask yourself, what are concerns/situations/people that I need to release into God’s control? As one comes to your mind, close your hands, and open them when you are ready to release to God. You can end your time by simply praying to God:

“You are the ruler and creator of all. I trust in you for all things.”

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Going Deeper

Sharing Stories in Life Groups:

Summer is a great time to go deeper with each other by sharing life stories. Even if you’ve been together for years, you’ll learn something new and deepen your relationships with each other and God. You can find tips in the Life Group Leader Guide on pages 50-51 or contact your Adult Discipleship Director.

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The Rest of the Story Resources:

Go to this website to see all the resources for this series including a guide for lectio divina. https://menlo.church/the-rest-of-the-story

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Menlo Midweek Podcast:

Tune in every Wednesday for a conversation with the previous week’s speaker. It’s a deeper dive into the message and an engaging time to learn, reflect, grow—and have fun.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/menlo-church-sermon-podcast/id129950807

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