Intro Questions:
In his message Sunday, Pastor Dave mentioned that our society has changed, re: Spiritual things. The Judeo-Christian worldview used to dominate morality, even with those who were not Christians.
Also, many people today prefer to put all religions together in a ‘hodge-podge’ of beliefs.
Do you know anyone that these changes describe? Have you had any spiritual conversations with them? Tell about it.
There are many people today who “Like Jesus”, but not the church. What might be some of the reasons for this change?
Do you think the Church is the main culprit, or is society mostly to blame?
How do you think this can change?
Bible Questions:
Read Genesis 1:1-31: Who created all things? As their Creator, who decides right/wrong, limits, etc. for all?
Read John 3:16-17: Why did God send Jesus? What was Jesus’ main mission?
Read John 3:3: What is it CRUCIAL that people understand, with respect to faith in Jesus?
Read John 14:6: Who/What did JESUS say He was? Why is it important?
Read Matthew 28:18-20: What did Jesus want His followers to do after He left? Is that still true today?
Given the changes in how our culture views the church, how are we supposed to ‘Spread the News’?
Read Luke 10:27-28: What are the crucial tests of faith—that haven’t changed—which will show you to be ‘the real deal’ as a Christ follower?
Read Matthew 5:13-16: Jesus calls his followers “Salt” and “Light”. Why are both descriptions important? Which (if either) is most prevalent in your relationship with those who Don’t believe? Which is most difficult for you to be?
Life Impact questions:
Dave introduced a new “Vision Statement” for KCC:
“At KCC…
We envision God forming a new and diverse kind of community—one in which we are committed to loving God with all we’ve got, and to Loving Others in the same way, sacrificing “self” for others.
Having experienced God’s grace and love, we will not close ourselves off from the larger world, but rather will move out into relationships in our communities, demonstrating God’s love in creative, practical, and unexpected ways.
We look forward to God’s healing and transforming impact in our hearts, our families, our local community, and in the world.”
What part of that—if it really happened—would change YOUR life (for the better) the most? Is there any part of this Vision that seems the most relevant or crucial to you?
What part would change the impressions of those we come in contact with the most?
Dave kept asking the question, “What are YOU ‘about’?” .
Given everything you’ve read and discussed, what changes do you think the Lord wants to make within
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Marriage
Intro Thoughts and Questions:
Think about the good marriages you are aware of: Does God play a major role in all, most, some or none?
Describe one of the most Biblically-based marriages you know of.
Being in a God-centered marriage doesn’t mean you will be above challenges, but that you handle those challenges and issues in Faith, acting according to the Bible and not your feelings.
Describe a way you’ve seen this in your marriage (or another strong marriage).
Bible Questions:
Read Genesis 2:18-24; Matthew 19:4-6;
What are some of the lessons about God’s perspective on marriage, and his goals in marriage?
Dave said (quoting Gary Thomas in Sacred Marriage) that God’s primary goal in our marriages is not “to make us happy”, but to “make us Holy”. Discuss your reaction to that.
Read Romans 8:28-29
Dave cited Romans 8:28-29 as an indication that God’s goal may not be our temporary happiness, but rather, our long-term Christ –likeness.
What are some of the possible implications for this in YOUR life and marriage?
Remember James 4:1-4 from a couple of weeks ago…How would our ‘desires’ wage war against a Biblical Marriage?
How would “friendship with the world” harm God’s goal for our marriage?
Dave said that Biblical Marriage is actually a 3-step process:
Step # 1 is God moving toward you—God showing His grace, love, character to you.
Step #2 is you moving toward God—determining to live your life by faith, placing obedience to Him on a higher priority than your desires or feelings.
This is when you begin to notice “the Fruit of the Spirit” (read Galatians 5:16-25) as this passage relates to your marriage, what do you see that you’d want to eliminate?
What evidence do you see that the Holy Spirit is producing ‘fruit’ in your marriage?
Step #3 is you moving toward your spouse.
Why is it so crucial that we keep step #’s 1 and 2 in the right order if we want to have a closer relationship with our spouse?
Sharing Questions:
In what ways has God and your faith been ‘in the center’ of your marriage in the past?
What can you do to invite Him to have more influence over you?
…as an individual?
…as a couple?
Think about the good marriages you are aware of: Does God play a major role in all, most, some or none?
Describe one of the most Biblically-based marriages you know of.
Being in a God-centered marriage doesn’t mean you will be above challenges, but that you handle those challenges and issues in Faith, acting according to the Bible and not your feelings.
Describe a way you’ve seen this in your marriage (or another strong marriage).
Bible Questions:
Read Genesis 2:18-24; Matthew 19:4-6;
What are some of the lessons about God’s perspective on marriage, and his goals in marriage?
Dave said (quoting Gary Thomas in Sacred Marriage) that God’s primary goal in our marriages is not “to make us happy”, but to “make us Holy”. Discuss your reaction to that.
Read Romans 8:28-29
Dave cited Romans 8:28-29 as an indication that God’s goal may not be our temporary happiness, but rather, our long-term Christ –likeness.
What are some of the possible implications for this in YOUR life and marriage?
Remember James 4:1-4 from a couple of weeks ago…How would our ‘desires’ wage war against a Biblical Marriage?
How would “friendship with the world” harm God’s goal for our marriage?
Dave said that Biblical Marriage is actually a 3-step process:
Step # 1 is God moving toward you—God showing His grace, love, character to you.
Step #2 is you moving toward God—determining to live your life by faith, placing obedience to Him on a higher priority than your desires or feelings.
This is when you begin to notice “the Fruit of the Spirit” (read Galatians 5:16-25) as this passage relates to your marriage, what do you see that you’d want to eliminate?
What evidence do you see that the Holy Spirit is producing ‘fruit’ in your marriage?
Step #3 is you moving toward your spouse.
Why is it so crucial that we keep step #’s 1 and 2 in the right order if we want to have a closer relationship with our spouse?
Sharing Questions:
In what ways has God and your faith been ‘in the center’ of your marriage in the past?
What can you do to invite Him to have more influence over you?
…as an individual?
…as a couple?
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Loyalty and Commitment
Conversation Questions:
What makes a true friend?
What sort of things would a true, loyal friend do? What wouldn't a true friend do?
Where would you rank loyalty in importance in your friendships?
Bible Questions:
Read Proverbs 17:17
When is it hard to love your friends?
What makes it difficult to walk through adversity with your friends and family?
How do you feel when your friends and family don't love you at all times or stand by you during trials?
Read Genesis 18:16-33
What do you notice about Abraham's interaction with the three men?
How did he show reverence?
Is there anyone in your life so important that you would have spoken up even once to God? How about 6 times?
If so, is that person anything like Lot?
Read John 15:13 and Romans 5:8
How would you describe Jesus' friendship?
Heart Questions:
How would your friends describe your friendship?
Are you a Proverbs 17:17 friend/brother?
Who do you more resemble: Abraham or Lot?
What makes a true friend?
What sort of things would a true, loyal friend do? What wouldn't a true friend do?
Where would you rank loyalty in importance in your friendships?
Bible Questions:
Read Proverbs 17:17
When is it hard to love your friends?
What makes it difficult to walk through adversity with your friends and family?
How do you feel when your friends and family don't love you at all times or stand by you during trials?
Read Genesis 18:16-33
What do you notice about Abraham's interaction with the three men?
How did he show reverence?
Is there anyone in your life so important that you would have spoken up even once to God? How about 6 times?
If so, is that person anything like Lot?
Read John 15:13 and Romans 5:8
How would you describe Jesus' friendship?
Heart Questions:
How would your friends describe your friendship?
Are you a Proverbs 17:17 friend/brother?
Who do you more resemble: Abraham or Lot?
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Love=Self Sacrifice
From: 5/30/2010
Introductory Questions:
Dave said that one of the primary ways that we SHOW love is by sacrificing for those we love.
What is one way that your spouse, parents, or another significant person has sacrificed for you recently?
What is one way that you have sacrificed for someone else whom you love?
What is one of the ‘everyday sacrifices’ that you are called on to make regularly that is a struggle? (ie., washing dishes, giving up remote, filling gas tank, making dinner, etc.)
Bible Questions:
There are several examples of this kind of loving self-sacrifice in the scriptures.
Read 1 Samuel 20: Who sacrificed for whom?
John 15:9-15; Matthew 26:39: Talk about Jesus’ example.
Read Philippians 2:3-8: Why was Jesus’ example so remarkable? What does this do to our defense of our selfishness?
Read James 4:1-4: Why does James say that we have so many conflicts? What is at the root of it? How does “friendship with the world” play into this?
Read James 4:7-10: How are we to correct this?
Read Romans 12:1-2: How does God change us?
Sharing Questions:
In what ways do you typically let your ‘desires’ cause you to ‘wage war’ with those you love?
Is there a way in which you have become “friend to this world”, and are being “conformed to this world”? How might that be effecting you, spiritually?
If you knew that God was moving you to sacrifice for those you love in some way, would you?
Based on your own past behavior, on a scale of 1 (not at all) to 10 (totally), how self-sacrificing would you say you are (when it comes to those you love— esp. family)?
If you had the opportunity to become more sacrificial, would you take it? Would you be willing to change some priorities to accomplish this?
If so, what specific priorities do you think God would want you to change?
Introductory Questions:
Dave said that one of the primary ways that we SHOW love is by sacrificing for those we love.
What is one way that your spouse, parents, or another significant person has sacrificed for you recently?
What is one way that you have sacrificed for someone else whom you love?
What is one of the ‘everyday sacrifices’ that you are called on to make regularly that is a struggle? (ie., washing dishes, giving up remote, filling gas tank, making dinner, etc.)
Bible Questions:
There are several examples of this kind of loving self-sacrifice in the scriptures.
Read 1 Samuel 20: Who sacrificed for whom?
John 15:9-15; Matthew 26:39: Talk about Jesus’ example.
Read Philippians 2:3-8: Why was Jesus’ example so remarkable? What does this do to our defense of our selfishness?
Read James 4:1-4: Why does James say that we have so many conflicts? What is at the root of it? How does “friendship with the world” play into this?
Read James 4:7-10: How are we to correct this?
Read Romans 12:1-2: How does God change us?
Sharing Questions:
In what ways do you typically let your ‘desires’ cause you to ‘wage war’ with those you love?
Is there a way in which you have become “friend to this world”, and are being “conformed to this world”? How might that be effecting you, spiritually?
If you knew that God was moving you to sacrifice for those you love in some way, would you?
Based on your own past behavior, on a scale of 1 (not at all) to 10 (totally), how self-sacrificing would you say you are (when it comes to those you love— esp. family)?
If you had the opportunity to become more sacrificial, would you take it? Would you be willing to change some priorities to accomplish this?
If so, what specific priorities do you think God would want you to change?
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