THREE THINGS TO KNOW
DON’T MISS THIS. This month, we’re offering MEMBERSHIP CLASSES at each of our campuses on November 23. Membership provides a meaningful way to connect your story with God’s story at Ada Bible Church. When you become a member, you say “yes” to belonging to our local body of believers and committing to grow together in pursuing God’s mission. In the membership class, you’ll learn about our church’s history, what we believe, how we’re structured, and practical ways to get involved. If you’ve been attending Ada Bible and sense God calling you to take the next step, we’d love to have you join us. Register HERE.
GROUP VALUES. We continue our focus on FORMATIVE CONVERSATIONS. In this week’s sermon, we see how the voices Rehoboam listened to shaped the entire trajectory of his reign. He needed people who would tell him the truth, not just what he wanted to hear. Your small group can be a place where you speak truth in love to one another, offer wisdom from experience and help each other make decisions that honor God. This kind of honest, caring conversation requires trust and courage. Discuss how your group can create space for formative conversations that help each other grow.
GROW AS A LEADER. This week’s sermon discusses painful issues from the past that some in your group may be wrestling with. Not everyone is ready to share openly about their past struggles, but many may be quietly wondering where to turn for help. Consider sharing information about the resources available through Ada Bible Church, including pastoral care, counseling and mentoring. Remind your group that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness, and that our staff is here to walk alongside anyone who needs support in working through their past.
DISCUSSION GUIDE
Welcome to the eleventh week of our sermon series, EPIC. This week, we examine King Rehoboam’s life to discover why some people don’t live up to their God-given potential and what we can do to avoid the same mistakes.
ICEBREAKER
Who is someone you’ve seen live up to their potential in a remarkable way, and what do you think made the difference for them?
THIS WEEK’S TEXT
Have someone read 2 Chronicles 10:1-11 aloud.
What request do the people bring to Rehoboam, and why is this moment significant for his reign?
What differences do you notice between the advice given by the elders and the advice given by Rehoboam’s peers?
Based on this passage, what does Rehoboam’s choice reveal about his understanding of leadership?
THIS WEEK’S SERMON
Pastor Aaron continued our EPIC sermon series by exploring why Rehoboam failed to live out his incredible potential and how we can avoid making the same mistakes. As a group, recall some of the sermon’s big ideas and main points.
What keeps people in our culture from recognizing and living out their God-given potential?
Rehoboam didn’t reckon with his past, and it wrecked his and the nation’s future. Why is it tempting to ignore or minimize the impact of our past rather than honestly working through it?
How have you experienced God’s redemption in your story—his rescue from sin and restoration to friendship with him?
Where in your story do you still need to experience God’s redemption and restoration? Share as you are comfortable.
Rehoboam chose to listen to his peers, who validated what he wanted to hear, rather than the elders, who told him what he needed to hear. Who are the voices of godly wisdom and experience in your life that you trust to speak truth to you?
What criteria do you use when deciding whose voice to follow?
At the end of his reign, Rehoboam failed because he had not set his heart on seeking the Lord. In what part of your life are you keeping your options open rather than making a firm commitment to follow God?
Think about the week ahead. What’s one specific area where you need to set your heart in advance to honor God, regardless of what circumstances or feelings you encounter?
WRAP UP
This week, we discussed critical issues that determine whether we live up to our God-given potential. Which of these areas is God asking you to lean into right now, and how can we support you?