Discussion Questions - Week 1

Transcription

1 Discussion Questions - Week 1 1. What is your reaction to the statement, It is not about you? What do you think and feel about that statement? 2. Why do we find it difficult to start with God rather than ourselves in understanding our purpose and direction for our lives? 3. How are you tempted to trust in human beings rather than God? 4. What does it mean to you to trust in the Lord? 5. Three commitments are needed for this series: weekend messages, small group attendance and reading the book. Which will be the easiest to keep? Which will be the most difficult? How can this group help you?

2 Scripture Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes his flesh his arm, whose heart turns away from the Lord. Jeremiah 17:5 He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. Jeremiah 17:6 Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8

3 Discussion Questions - Week 2 1. Apart from God, what do you adore and worship? Where do you invest the most time, money, and effort? 2. What is different about your love and adoration for things or people versus your love and adoration for God? 3. What does it mean to you to have a friendship with God? 4. Who do you know whose relationship with God you admire? Describe what makes you admire them. 5. Talk about a time in your life when you felt like Job felt (helpless, defeated, like God was punishing him). How did you react? How were you able to maintain your relationship with God?

4 6. Which Gospel are you going to read this week and why? Scripture Matthew: This Gospel was written approximately in A.D. 85 to Christian Jews by Matthew - one of Jesus 12 disciples and a tax collector. Matthew emphasizes Jesus as the promised Messiah of the Jewish people. Jesus is portrayed as the greatest prophet, teaching the New Law and calling people to be faithful to God. (The Catholic Youth Bible Revised: New American Bible) Mark: This Gospel was written approximately A.D. 65 to 70 to non-jewish Christians who were experiencing persecution because of their belief in Jesus. It is most likely the first of the four Gospels to be written. It portrays Jesus as an active healer and miracle worker who accepts loneliness and suffering as the cost of obedience to God s will. (The Catholic Youth Bible Revised: New American Bible) Luke: This Gospel is written by Luke; a Gentile Christian, physician and disciple of Paul in approximately A.D. 80 to 90. It is a clear, orderly presentation of Jesus mission to all people, Jews and Gentiles. This Gospel emphasizes Jesus mercy, compassion, and concern for poor people. (The Catholic Youth Bible Revised: New American Bible) John: This gospel was the last to be written in A.D. 90 to 100 and is the only Gospel that is claimed to be an eyewitness account of the life of Jesus. It is written to all the Christians of the world. John s Gospel seeks to show Jesus as the fully divine Son of God, it portrays Jesus as noble and powerful, fully in control of his own destiny. (The Catholic Youth Bible Revised: New American Bible)

5 Discussion Questions - Week 3 1. Who is part of God s Family? 2. Why is it important for God s Family to meet together? 3. Read Proverbs 27:17. What does it mean to sharpen each other? 4. In the 9 Characteristics of Biblical Fellowship: a. What is your strength? b. What is your weakness? 5. Can you answer the question, What On Earth Am I Doing In A Small Group?

6 Practice See additional print out. If time allows, share some strengths of your group and opportunities for improvement. Praise God together for the strengths and ask the Holy Spirit to help you improve.

7 Discussion Questions - Week 4 1. Purpose #3 is to become more like Jesus. Why is it important to you to become like Jesus? What Christ-like traits do you think you are pretty good at? Which ones do you need to work on? 2. Temptation begins by capturing our attention. What has your attention right now? 3. When are you most tempted? Where are you and who are you with? What time of day is it? What are you feeling (boredom, loneliness, anger)? 4. What is most often your response to the temptation? 5. What ways of escape would help you choose to obey God and become more like Christ? 6. We can t learn to live like Jesus if we don t know how he lived. What will you do this week to become more like Jesus?

8 Scripture Genesis 1:27 says, So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly. (Proverbs 26:11) No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, (1 Corinthians 10:13) Matthew 4: Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread. 4 Jesus answered, It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 If you are the Son of God, he said, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 7 Jesus answered him, It is also written: Do not put the Lord your God to the test. 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 All this I will give you, he said, if you will bow down and worship me. 10 Jesus said to him, Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

9 Discussion Questions - Week 5 What on Earth am I here for? I am here to serve. I ve been shaped for serving God. 1. Tell about a time when you received terrible customer service somewhere. Tell about a time when someone served you and it made you feel welcomed and cared for. 2. Where have you enjoyed volunteering? If you haven t ever volunteered, where might you see yourself serving? 3. What are some reasons that people volunteer in the community or at church? Why should Christians volunteer at their parish? 4. Read Luke 4:18-19 together. How can you serve others in each of these ways? 5. Whether or not you serve in a ministry at Nativity on the weekend, how can you add value to someone s day on Sunday?

10 Scripture We can measure our servant s heart by how we respond when others treat us like servants. How do you react when you re taken for granted, bossed around, or treated as inferior? If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. -Rick Warren in What on Earth Am I Here For? Your attitude must be like My own, for I did not come to be served, but to serve... 20:28 Matt. "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me To preach good news to the poor ; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim freedom for the prisoners, To recove r the sight of the blind, To release the oppressed and proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Jesus insisted on the support and assistance of his disciples throughout his ministry. From the miracle of the loaves and fishes, to raising Lazarus from the dead, those around him were pressed into service to help him. They were expected to assist. Consistently, he would do his part only after the disciples did what they could do. Ministry is supposed to be a team sport. - Tom Corcoran and Michael White I believe a volunteer revolution can happen and that the church should set the pace and energetically lead the way. In my view, people are never closer to living out the teachings of Christ than when they are adding value to someone else s life. And people who are far from God are rarely more impacted than when they see us behaving as Christ behaved. - Bill Hybels

11 Discussion Questions - Week 6 1. Do you consider yourself a passionate or competitive person in general? Right now in your faith walk are you passionate about sharing your faith or more comfortable keeping quiet? 2. Where can you apply your passion for things like painting, singing, working, parenting and also be an example of Jesus' love? 3. Is loving someone who is clearly "in the wrong" hard for you? Pray for the grace this week to grow in love for those who don't know Jesus outside of our community. 4. The book of Acts demonstrates clearly that Jesus needed others to carry out the mission to make disciples once he was gone. Do you believe you are part of the mission and that no one else can accomplish exactly what you can with your personal gifts and talents? 5. The best way to love others is to introduce them to the love you've experienced in your relationship with Jesus. Does knowing this encourage you to share your faith? Look for one

12 creative way to share your faith while doing what you love. A smile to a stranger, a random act of kindness, patience with your most challenging child or co-worker. Practice Commit to another small group series together if you are ready or apply to lead a group.