Groups Discussion Guide
Read Scripture. Go Deeper. Ask Questions. Take Action.
Grace, Grace
Scripture
So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.
“What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’”
Main Idea
The dreams God places on your heart, for your family, your finances, or your freedom, are not just personal. They carry kingdom purpose, and they come to pass by God's Spirit, not by your own effort. When the mountain in front of you looks too big and your efforts feel too small, two truths hold: nothing is too big for God and nothing is too small for God.
- Nothing is too big for God: the mountain of problems in your life exists to be leveled so His power is put on display.
- Nothing is too small for God: He rejoices over small beginnings, so do the small thing by His Spirit and trust Him to finish it.
You can't do God's work with your power. You need God's power for God's work.
Discussion Questions
- Zerubbabel worked for nearly a decade with almost nothing to show for it and likely wondered if he had misheard God. Where in your own life have you felt that same discouragement, and what would it look like to trust God there?
- What is one big thing God has put on your heart for your family, your finances, or your freedom, and how might it carry kingdom purpose beyond just you?
- Pastor Justin said, "If you want God's best for your house, you need to bring your best to God's house." What would bringing your best to God's house look like for you this season?
- Instead of talking about your mountain, what would it look like this week to talk to it and shout grace, grace over one specific problem you are facing?
Summary
Zechariah delivered God's word to Zerubbabel during the exile, one of the lowest points in Israel's history. Zerubbabel had brought 42,000 people back to Jerusalem to rebuild God's house, but after almost ten years of setbacks and sabotage he had little to show for it. In that weak moment God gave him a new approach: not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit. The dream in his heart was too big to accomplish on his own, so he was told to shout grace, grace, because grace both starts the work and sustains it to completion.
The same word speaks to whatever mountain stands in front of you. Nothing is too big for God, so every obstacle becomes a platform for His glory when you speak to it in faith rather than only complaining about it. Nothing is too small for God either, and He rejoices over the day of small beginnings, whether that is a verse of the day or a first step toward freedom. It is often the small, invisible routines that create the big, undeniable results. Since God is the author of the vision, you can trust Him to be the finisher, so keep moving forward one small, Spirit-led step at a time.
Take Action
- Name the biggest problem standing in front of you right now, and each morning this week speak grace, grace over it instead of only complaining about it.
- Pick one small step toward the dream God has put on your heart, and do it this week trusting His Spirit to carry it further.
- Set a single verse before you each day this week, reading it slowly and asking God to work it into your life.
