Conversation Questions:
Have you ever had a “long distance relationship” that worked? If so, what made it successful? If not, what caused it to fail?
Remember the cell-phone commercials in which one person ‘dropped out’, making a REALLY awkward (but funny) situations? Tell about any ‘bad connections’ or miscommunications you’ve had which resulted in awkward/funny situations.
Tell about one time in which your prayers were answered in some important way.
Bible Questions:
In Matthew 6: 5-13, Jesus gives his followers a ‘template’ of how to pray.
What is the context of this (what is He responding to? vv.1-7)?
What are the main points of Jesus’ prayer?
V.9:
V.10:
v.11:
v.12:
v.13:
Does Jesus want us to memorize and recite this prayer? Why/why not?
In Luke 5:15-16, we read about an interesting practice that Jesus did.
Why would that be important for Him?
Is it important for you? Why/why not?
In 30 seconds, list all of the places/ways you’ve prayed over the years:
What KINDS of things do you think we should pray for?
In Matthew 7:7-11, we read of the Father’s perspective on answering prayer.
What does Jesus say about God the Father here?
What does He say about our approach to praying?
If the above is true, is there ever a time when the Father will NOT answer a prayer?
Under what circumstances?
Read 2 Corinthians 11:7-10.
Whatever Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” was, God chose NOT to remove it.
What was his answer to Paul?
What does this mean, in practice, for us?
Read Psalm 37:4-5:
According to this passage, what is the key before we can see the Lord “give us the desires of our heart”?
What, then, is to be our response?
Heart Questions:
One author has written that “A life without prayer is a boast before God”…what do you think this means?
How often, in the past week, would you say that YOU have prayed? Do you think the Lord would want it to be more? If so, how can you make that happen?
Is there something you can share that you’ve been praying for that God has not answered?
How can your group members pray for you this week?
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Building Faith Block Three: Worship
Conversation Starters:
What are some of your favorite songs or artists?
Why do you like them?
Scripture:
Read:
Romans 12:1,2 / John 4:23,24 / Acts 20:34-36
What does worshiping God mean?
What could it mean to worship in work or school?
Has your mind ever been in a “fog” or a “funk”?
What got you out of that “funk”?
How can renewing our minds clear out worry and anguish from our heads?
In what ways can you respond to God’s mercy?
How can you be blessed by helping the weak (Acts 20:34-36)?
Have you ever experienced a blessing like that?
Read Psalm 102:16-22
What does God respond to in verse 17?
Have you ever experienced God responding to you when you have responded to his mercy (Romans 12:1)?
An answered prayer?
A blessing?
Other?
God is good! End the study by taking prayer requests and responding to God with prayer.
What are some of your favorite songs or artists?
Why do you like them?
Scripture:
Read:
Romans 12:1,2 / John 4:23,24 / Acts 20:34-36
What does worshiping God mean?
What could it mean to worship in work or school?
Has your mind ever been in a “fog” or a “funk”?
What got you out of that “funk”?
How can renewing our minds clear out worry and anguish from our heads?
In what ways can you respond to God’s mercy?
How can you be blessed by helping the weak (Acts 20:34-36)?
Have you ever experienced a blessing like that?
Read Psalm 102:16-22
What does God respond to in verse 17?
Have you ever experienced God responding to you when you have responded to his mercy (Romans 12:1)?
An answered prayer?
A blessing?
Other?
God is good! End the study by taking prayer requests and responding to God with prayer.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Building Block 2: The Bible
Conversation Questions
Are you the kind of person who stops to ask for directions, or one who tries to figure it out on your own? Can you think about a time when this strategy backfired?
Have you ever learned a lot ABOUT someone before meeting them, only to find out that they were very different than you thought?
Have you ever tried—unsuccessfully—to start a consistent Bible reading time? Why did it not work well?
Bible Questions
Read Psalm 1:1-3 What is the analogy the writer makes to the person who loves the Word of God? Why is this so crucial in the life of a Believer?
Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17 What kinds of things does the Bible teach us?
2 Peter 1:20 and 1 Corinthians 2:10-16 Where, ultimately, do the Scriptures come from? How would understanding the Source of the Scriptures change our thinking about studying them?
Read Psalm 119:9-18, 97-105 What are some of the reasons the writer has for reading God’s Word?
Read Hebrews 4:12 God’s word can ‘divide soul and spirit’ and expose our innermost thoughts. This doesn’t sound very comfortable…so why would a person do it?
Read Hebrews 8:10-12 God promised to make a New Covenant, and we are living in that age…what are some of the characteristics of that covenant that we can experience?
Heart Questions:
Do you feel as though you know more ABOUT God, or that you “Know” Him? Which do you want? Why?
Obviously the Lord would want you getting into His word consistently. Have you done so? Will you do so in the future? Why or Why not?
It takes certain character traits and behaviors to learn from God’s Word. What do you think those are? Do you have them?
What can you do THIS WEEK to begin getting into God’s Word more consistently?
Are you the kind of person who stops to ask for directions, or one who tries to figure it out on your own? Can you think about a time when this strategy backfired?
Have you ever learned a lot ABOUT someone before meeting them, only to find out that they were very different than you thought?
Have you ever tried—unsuccessfully—to start a consistent Bible reading time? Why did it not work well?
Bible Questions
Read Psalm 1:1-3 What is the analogy the writer makes to the person who loves the Word of God? Why is this so crucial in the life of a Believer?
Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17 What kinds of things does the Bible teach us?
2 Peter 1:20 and 1 Corinthians 2:10-16 Where, ultimately, do the Scriptures come from? How would understanding the Source of the Scriptures change our thinking about studying them?
Read Psalm 119:9-18, 97-105 What are some of the reasons the writer has for reading God’s Word?
Read Hebrews 4:12 God’s word can ‘divide soul and spirit’ and expose our innermost thoughts. This doesn’t sound very comfortable…so why would a person do it?
Read Hebrews 8:10-12 God promised to make a New Covenant, and we are living in that age…what are some of the characteristics of that covenant that we can experience?
Heart Questions:
Do you feel as though you know more ABOUT God, or that you “Know” Him? Which do you want? Why?
Obviously the Lord would want you getting into His word consistently. Have you done so? Will you do so in the future? Why or Why not?
It takes certain character traits and behaviors to learn from God’s Word. What do you think those are? Do you have them?
What can you do THIS WEEK to begin getting into God’s Word more consistently?
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Building Faith Block One: Lordship
Conversation Starters:
What was one of the first things you ever built or made all by yourself?
How did you do?
When you make or build something do you always measure, do you sometimes measure twice?
What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever made?
Bible Questions:
Read Romans 12:3
What does Paul (the author) mean by, “measure of faith”?
Why is understanding your “measure of faith” important?
Read Matthew 7:24,25
In the analogy, what or who is the rock? What or who is the house? What could be the rain, streams and wind?
What words that Jesus said can you think of that you have put into practice?
Read Romans 7:19-26
What “things” do you think Paul is talking about?
Why can’t he do what he wants to do?
According to this passage, why does making Jesus our Lord free us to do what’s right?
Heart Questions:
How does making Jesus our Lord enable us to build our lives rightly?
What would you say your “measure of faith” is? (1- 10)
Have you had “rains, streams, or winds” in your life recently?
Have you stood like a house on a rock, or fallen?
What do you think you can do to be stronger the next time things get tough?
What can you do to start or continue building your life on Jesus ?
What can you do to make Him the Lord and Head Contractor in building your life?
What was one of the first things you ever built or made all by yourself?
How did you do?
When you make or build something do you always measure, do you sometimes measure twice?
What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever made?
Bible Questions:
Read Romans 12:3
What does Paul (the author) mean by, “measure of faith”?
Why is understanding your “measure of faith” important?
Read Matthew 7:24,25
In the analogy, what or who is the rock? What or who is the house? What could be the rain, streams and wind?
What words that Jesus said can you think of that you have put into practice?
Read Romans 7:19-26
What “things” do you think Paul is talking about?
Why can’t he do what he wants to do?
According to this passage, why does making Jesus our Lord free us to do what’s right?
Heart Questions:
How does making Jesus our Lord enable us to build our lives rightly?
What would you say your “measure of faith” is? (1- 10)
Have you had “rains, streams, or winds” in your life recently?
Have you stood like a house on a rock, or fallen?
What do you think you can do to be stronger the next time things get tough?
What can you do to start or continue building your life on Jesus ?
What can you do to make Him the Lord and Head Contractor in building your life?
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