WEEK 01 · INTRODUCTIONS
Start with
what you have.
Get to know the men at the table, explore Moses’ calling, and identify one small step you can take with what is already in your hands.
01 / MEET THE GROUP
What are you building?
Let’s get to know each other—what we’re working on, what’s been challenging, and what we hope to get out of this group.
We’ll take turns answering the questions below. Aim for 3–4 minutes each, and feel free to ask follow-up questions.
- What are you building—or what do you hope to build?
- What feels hardest about it right now?
- What are you hoping to get from this group?
- If this group was incredibly valuable to you six months from now, what would have happened?
Our commitments: how we listen, share, and support each other ↗
Your answers will help shape the coming weeks. Consider, too: what could you contribute to help that happen?
02 / THE BUSINESS IDEA
The bird-in-hand principle
Entrepreneurship often begins in uncertainty: you may have a direction without a finished plan. Saras Sarasvathy’s effectuation research describes a practical starting point—look at the means already available to you and ask what you can do with them.
Who I am
Your strengths, interests, values, and abilities.
What I know
Your experience, training, skills, and knowledge of real problems.
Whom I know
People you can learn from, serve, or collaborate with.
Main ideas
- Begin with available means. Your first opportunity may be closer than you think.
- Let action teach you. Start small, learn from the response, and refine your direction.
- Look for possibilities in combination. Your experience plus someone else’s skill may make a useful next step possible.
Watch together
Bird-in-hand discussion video · Start at 27:13 ↗
Discuss the business idea
- What strength, experience, or relationship are you overlooking because it feels ordinary to you?
- What could you try this week with the resources you already have?
- Who could help you learn—and what could you offer them in return?
- What do you genuinely need before starting, and what are you waiting for that could be learned along the way?
Source: The Five Principles of Effectuation. Bird in hand is a starting method, not a guarantee of success or a reason to skip necessary preparation.
03 / OPEN THE WORD
Moses: “What is that in your hand?”
The situation
Israel is oppressed in Egypt. Moses is tending his father-in-law’s flock in Midian when God speaks to him from a burning bush. God has heard his people’s cries and sends Moses to Pharaoh to lead them out. Moses asks who he is to undertake this task; God promises to be with him (Exodus 3:1–12).
In chapter 4, the conversation continues. Moses fears that people will not believe him and says he is not an effective speaker. God gives signs, promises help with his speech, and names Aaron as his partner. The ordinary rod in Moses’ hand becomes an instrument of God’s power.
Keep the story’s center in view: this is God calling Moses to deliver Israel. Our business application is an analogy about using what is available, receiving help, and taking a faithful step. The passage does not promise that every business idea is a calling from God or will succeed.
Read Exodus 4:1–17
The full passage is below. The highlighted verses—2, 12, 14–15, and 17—are the key anchors for our conversation: what Moses has, God’s promised help, and Aaron’s role. Read the surrounding verses to hear Moses’ fears and God’s response.
1 Moses answered, “But, behold, they will not believe me, nor listen to my voice; for they will say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’ ”
2 KEY VERSE The LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A rod.”
3 He said, “Throw it on the ground.” He threw it on the ground, and it became a snake; and Moses ran away from it.
4 The LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand, and take it by the tail.” He stretched out his hand, and took hold of it, and it became a rod in his hand.
5 “This is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”
6 The LORD said furthermore to him, “Now put your hand inside your cloak.” He put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous, as white as snow.
7 He said, “Put your hand inside your cloak again.” He put his hand inside his cloak again, and when he took it out of his cloak, behold, it had turned again as his other flesh.
8 “It will happen, if they will not believe you or listen to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.
9 It will happen, if they will not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, that you shall take of the water of the river, and pour it on the dry land. The water which you take out of the river will become blood on the dry land.”
10 Moses said to the LORD, “O Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before now, nor since you have spoken to your servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.”
11 The LORD said to him, “Who made man’s mouth? Or who makes one mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Isn’t it I, the LORD?
12 KEY VERSE Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth, and teach you what you shall speak.”
13 Moses said, “Oh, Lord, please send someone else.”
14 KEY VERSE The LORD’s anger burned against Moses, and he said, “What about Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Also, behold, he is coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.
15 KEY VERSE You shall speak to him, and put the words in his mouth. I will be with your mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what you shall do.
16 He will be your spokesman to the people. It will happen that he will be to you a mouth, and you will be to him as God.
17 KEY VERSE You shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs.”
World English Bible (public domain). Read Exodus 4 in context · Read the background in Exodus 3
Main ideas
- Moses names his fears. He worries about credibility and his ability to speak (vv. 1, 10).
- God uses what is already present. Moses has a rod; the signs depend on God’s power (vv. 2–5, 17).
- God’s presence is the foundation. The answer to Moses’ inadequacy includes God’s promise to teach and help him (vv. 11–12).
- Help comes through another person. Aaron will speak alongside Moses; God promises help to both (vv. 14–16).
- Honesty can become avoidance. Moses eventually asks God to send someone else, and God responds with anger as well as provision (vv. 13–15).
Discuss the Scripture
- What does Moses fear, and how does God answer each concern?
- Why does it matter that God promises “I will be with your mouth,” rather than simply telling Moses he is talented enough?
- Where do you recognize yourself in Moses’ hesitation? How can you distinguish a real need for preparation from avoidance?
- What does Aaron’s role teach us about receiving help? How could this group help us take faithful steps?
04 / PUT IT INTO PRACTICE
What is in your hand?
Take two minutes to write down one strength, one piece of useful experience, and one person you could learn from or work with. Then choose one small action before our next meeting.
“With what I already have, this week I will __________. I’ll ask __________ for help.”
Share your step if you’re comfortable. We’ll close by praying for wisdom, courage, humility, and one another’s needs.