Weekly Wednesdays: CALLED Men’s Group | Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Meeting #7 | This Week’s Leader: David Goodno
Introduction: Welcome everyone, this is the seventh meeting of the winter 2025 semester of the Men’s “Called” Growth Group. We will continue to meet every Wednesdays through 03/26/2025; 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm.
Everyone is welcome to attend; it does not matter if you are a new-believer, or solid in your faith; everyone is welcome. And you do not have to have been at a previous meeting (or prior semester) to attend this week, or at any meeting in the future.
Friendly reminder that we all come from various backgrounds, we have different points of view and are at different places in our individual faith journey; the purpose of our meeting tonight is to come together, read the Bible, study God’s word and have a friendly discussion. If there are differing points of view, we should not feel attacked or become hostile to one another. We came together as friends and brothers in Christ; we should leave the same (as friends and brothers in Christ). Often there is no right or wrong answer; just interpretation of scripture – ultimately, JESUS IS THE ANSWER.
We are continuing a SOAP(-Q) study (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer and Questions) of the book of Zechariah, who stressed the importance of maintaining a presence with the Lord for His people and also the necessity to remain in obedience to the Lord, especially in matters of justice, mercy, compassion and truthfulness. Zechariah was concerned that the exiles returning to Jerusalem, could repeat previous mistakes of their forefathers whose disobedience brought the Lord’s judgement. Zechariah addresses the present and future condition of the people and Jerusalem. Zecharia’s book is helpful to direct our thoughts to the Lord’s plan for blessing and cleansing.
This book focuses on concerns of the temple, priesthood, and purification of the people. Chapters 1-8 deal with the rebuilding of the temple, the priesthood, and the future of Jerusalem. And chapters 9-14 deal mostly with the distant future and the coming Messianic kingdom.
*** REMINDER *** ANNOUNCEMENT: UP COMING MEN’S CONFERENCE – MARCH 15, 2025
For more Information visit: https://www.mantourministries.com/centralpamantour
Register: https://www.mantourministries.com/events/the-central-pa-mantour-8
Price is $20 Early registration ($25 after cut-off), youth 18 and under can register for $5.00.
The world is full of broken, defeated men. It is time to get off the mat and get back in the fight. It is not God’s will for men to live broken, defeated lives. The 2025 Mantour conference is designed to help men get up and gain victory.
The conference is at Celebration Church located in Dillsburg, PA, which is about 20 miles from FV Church. The conference isn’t too far away, the cost is affordable, and is a one-day commitment Saturday, March 15, 9:00 am – 12:45 pm. We’ll meet at FV Church at 8:00 am, and Carpool (or you can choose to meet) at the conference center
Celebration Church, Dillsburg, PA: 1048 South Mountain Road, Dillsburg, PA 17019.
Get to know and be comfortable with sharing the three circles.
Three Circles video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcj5G_4dwrI
Last week we read about the Zechariah having a vision of four chariots possibly symbolizing war, strength, and power. The four spirits of heaven who went out to do the Lord’s work. Jeshua/Joshua was crowned with silver and gold crown. A man called “the Branch” (Jesus) will branch out from Jerusalem to build the Temple of the Lord. Then he will receive royal honor and will rule as King and priest from His throne.
Zechariah gives a sermon warning the people and instructed them to judge fairly, be merciful and show kindness to one another. But the people refused to listen; so, the Lord scattered the people to desolate lands.
This Week’s Prayer: Father God, we thank you for allowing us to come together tonight and study your word tonight. Lord, when we feel inadequate or unable to accomplish the calling you have set upon us, give us strength to continue on. When we want to give up, send someone to enter our lives to encourage us to keep moving forward, strengthen our faith and remain in you. – Amen
Scripture, Read: Zechariah Chapter 8:1 – 23. (23 Verses)
Observation, Application & Questions: (Identify/Discuss Among the Group)
How do we define courage; what do we think courage is? - Discuss among the group.
Think of any doubts or fears you’ve had to overcome in the past. What did you do? If you are willing, share with the group/discuss.
Key verses for discussion:
Zechariah 8:1-23,
Passion (zeal, or enthusiasm) is a basic element of the Old Testament concept of God. God’s passion results in punishment for sin, and restoration for repentance.
I am returning to Mount Zion, and I will live in Jerusalem… The great hope for the Jewish community was that the Lord would return to dwell amount his people (See Ezekiel 48:35).
What stands out to you? Discuss among the group.
God would return to Jerusalem not just because the Temple had been rebuilt, but because the Hebrew community had been purified.
Isaiah compared Jerusalem to a faithful woman who became a prostitute (Isaiah 1:21-23); Zechariah shared Isaiah’s vision of Jerusalem’s change into a faithful City (Isaiah 1:26-31).
Discuss among the group.
Old men and women walking and boys and girls playing in the streets indicate repopulation. And restoration of normal family life. The return of God’s presence to His rebuilt temple would bring peas and safety to the city (Jerimiah 33:10-18).
No traveler was safe from the enemy… the neighboring peoples opposed the rebuilding of the temple (Ezra 4:1-5) and Later enemies opposed Nehemiah’s rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem (Nehemiah 4:1-9).
In 8:16, God expects his people to act with integrity and justice (Ephesians 4:25-27).
God is with you… God’s presence is restored to the people. (John 1:14).
Zechariah’s sermon is connected to the previous one from Chapter 7 (verse 2-7) and responds to the questions about fasting. Fasting would change into feasting. – Now I will rescue you and make you both a symbol and a source of blessing…
Discuss among the group.
Other questions to explore:
What was the context? What was going on at the time this was written?
What and where is this happening?
What makes what was happening meaningful?
Is there anything special about the location (or locations)?
Who is involved?
How do they respond to God?
What character traits do you notice about them?
What is the significance of their involvement?
What do you think is the key message?
Did anything surprise you? What was it?
Were there any repetitive words or themes that stood out to you? What were they?
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Is there anything that stood out to you? Share with the group and discuss.
Is there anything that left you with more questions? What were they? Share with group, discuss, and research.
Biggest takeaway?
Prepare for next week’s meeting. Read: Zechariah 9:1 – 10:12 Is there anything that stands out when reading these verses? Be ready to discuss it at the next meeting.
REMINDER: FV Church has multiple events planned in the future to help you and your family stay involved with the church and connected. Please monitor https://fv.church/events for more information.
Men’s Conference: March 15, 2025, at Dillsburg, PA.
For more Information visit: https://www.mantourministries.com/centralpamantour
Register: https://www.mantourministries.com/events/the-central-pa-mantour-8
Price is $20 Early registration ($25 after cut-off), youth 18 and under can register for $5.00.
References/Acknowledgements:
Elements of today’s Bible study were referenced from:
NLT Courage for Life Men’s Bible, New Living Translation (NLT); copyright 2023 Tyndale House Ministries Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. https://www.tyndale.com/sites/courageforlifebible/
NIV Study Bible, Revolution, copyright 2011. The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV); copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan. https://www.zondervan.com/p/niv-bibles-for-teens-true-images-revolution/
NKJV The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (NKJV); copyright 2013 David Jeremiah, Inc. Holy Bible, New King James Version, copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. https://www.thomasnelson.com/bibles
Knowing the Bible, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, by Steven M. Coleman, J. L. Packer, Dane C. Ortlund; copyright 2018 by Crossway, Wheaton, Illinois.
The Good Book Guide to Zechariah, God’s big plan for struggling Christians, by Tim Chester, copyright 2005 by the Good Book Company. https://www.thegoodbook.com
Schedule: Month, Meeting Number, Date, Book/Chapters/Verse/ (Total Verses)
January 2025:
_x_ 001, 01/22 Haggai 1:1 – 2:23. (38 Verses)
_x_ 002, 01/29 Zechariah 1:1-21. (21 Verses)
February 2025:
_x_ 003, 02/05 Zechariah 2:1 – 3:10. (23 Verses)
_x_ 004, 02/12 -- Canceled due to weather --
_x_ 005, 02/19 Zechariah 4:1 – 5:11. (25 Verses)
_x_ 006, 02/26 Zechariah 6:1 – 7:14. (29 Verses)
March 2025:
_x_ 007, 03/05 Zechariah 8:1- 23. (23 Verses)
__ 008, 03/12 Zechariah 9:1 – 10:12. (29 Verses) – updated.
__ 009, 03/19 Zechariah 11:1 – 12:14. (31 Verses) – updated.
__ 010, 03/26 Zechariah 13:1 – 14:21. (30 Verses) * - updated.
*Please monitor FV.church/events for more information about the next semester.