Conversation Questions:
Name a time when you had to go through some sort of pain in order to fix or improve something? (like a broken arm that had to be reset or some sort of physical therapy)
Did it make you better?
Scripture Questions:
In Genesis the bible says we are make in the image of God.
How are we made in the image of God?
Read Proverbs 20:30, 2 Corinthians 7:9, 2 Corinthians 1:8-10, and Jonah 2:7
Why did God allow pain in Jonahs life?
Why does God allow pain according to Corinthians and Proverbs?
Why does God allow pain in your life?
Choice 8:
Yield myself to God to be used to bring this Good News to others, both by my example and by my words.
Read 1 Peter 3:15, and Galatians 6:1-2
What does these passages say we can do to help others?
What do these passages say as to how we can share the good news to others?
How can you use your pain to help others?
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Road to Recovery: Maintaining Momentum
Conversation Questions:
What is your favorite rollercoaster ride? What do you like about it?
What can rollercoasters teach us about momentum?
Part 1: Causes for relapse.
Read: Galatians 3:3, Zachariah 4:6, Hebrews 10:25, Proverbs 16:18, 1 Corintians 10:12
A relapse is a self defeating pattern that breaks momentum.
What can someone relapse from?
What can cause a relapse?
What can happen if you try to recover on your own?
Have you ever fallen because of Pride?
Part 2: How to prevent a relapse.
Say this together:
Choice 7: Reserve a daily time with God for self-examination, Bible reading, and prayer in order to know God and His will for my life and gai the power to do it.
Read: Mark 14:38 and Psalm 1:1-3
How does Self examination prevent relapse?
In waht ways can someone evaluate?
How does Bible reading prevent relapse?
How does prayer prevent relapse?
How have these things helped you prevent relapse?
How has not doing these things caused it?
How can you plan to safegaurd yourself from falling back into sin in the future?
Close in prayer.
What is your favorite rollercoaster ride? What do you like about it?
What can rollercoasters teach us about momentum?
Part 1: Causes for relapse.
Read: Galatians 3:3, Zachariah 4:6, Hebrews 10:25, Proverbs 16:18, 1 Corintians 10:12
A relapse is a self defeating pattern that breaks momentum.
What can someone relapse from?
What can cause a relapse?
What can happen if you try to recover on your own?
Have you ever fallen because of Pride?
Part 2: How to prevent a relapse.
Say this together:
Choice 7: Reserve a daily time with God for self-examination, Bible reading, and prayer in order to know God and His will for my life and gai the power to do it.
Read: Mark 14:38 and Psalm 1:1-3
How does Self examination prevent relapse?
In waht ways can someone evaluate?
How does Bible reading prevent relapse?
How does prayer prevent relapse?
How have these things helped you prevent relapse?
How has not doing these things caused it?
How can you plan to safegaurd yourself from falling back into sin in the future?
Close in prayer.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Road to Recovery: Repairing Relationships
Small Group Questions
Think back—before your faith became ‘real’ and personal. Before you were dedicated to following Christ.
Without too many personal details, what kind of person were you? How would you have described yourself then? Has there been a radical change in you since Jesus has become real to you?
Have you ever wanted to contact someone from your past and explain that “you’ve changed”(Like at a class reunion)?
If you’ve tried to do so, how did it go?
We all have things we regret in our lives…each of us have a list of those we’ve hurt—perhaps deeply—in our past. We also have a list of those who have hurt us—perhaps deeply.
Which of these two have more power to do damage to us now?
If we are going to continue on the Road to Recovery, we must embrace Step #6: “Evaluate all my relationships. Offer Forgiveness to those who’ve hurt me, and make amends for harm I’ve done to others, except when to do so would harm them or others.”
Part 1 of this is to evaluate my relationships—specifically those in need of my forgiveness.
Again, without too many personal details, who are some of the people who have deeply affected you, and whom you think God might be moving you to forgive?
Read Ephesians 4:31-32: Who are the people in your life (past or present), who you are bitter or angry about?
Paul says that we should be ‘kind and compassionate, tender-hearted; forgiving each other…”
Why is this so hard in that situation?
Paul says we should forgive “As the Lord forgave us”.
Talk about God’s forgiveness…list as many truths as you can about it. (ie., undeserved, etc.)
Read Ephesians 2:4-5, 8-9; Colossians 3:13.
As a follower of Christ, why should we forgive others?
Read Luke 7:41-47: Why does the woman care so much for Jesus?
How do you relate to that?
Rick Warren says that, in order to be free from my ‘hurts’, I should: 1) Reveal my pain (admit it, share it with a trusted friend, etc.); 2) Release the offender; and 3) Replace my hurt with God’s Peace.
Are there any ‘hurts’ or pain from your past that you’ve never shared with anyone?
Are there hurts that you’ve tried to ignore/pretend never happened?
Have you successfully “released” (forgiven) the offender?
How will you know?
If you can think of them w/o feeling anger/pain.
If you can pray for them.
If you can commit yourself to forgive, every time they come to mind.
If you can ask God to have mercy on them.
…then you’ve forgiven them.
Is there anyone that God is bringing to your mind whom you need to forgive?
Part 2: Make amends, “except when to do so would cause harm to them or others”.
Think back. Without too many personal details, who are the people that you’ve hurt in your life—at a deep level?
Read Matthew 5:23-24: Why would it be so important to Jesus that we go and “be reconciled” before proceeding to the altar?
Who (on my list of ‘people I’ve offended’) is the Lord leading you to go “make amends” to?
What is stopping you from doing so?
If the Lord moves you to, Rick Warren says that there are 3 things to keep in mind:
Timing, Attitude, and Appropriateness.
WHO is ‘in focus’ when you’re thinking about ‘making amends’?
WHAT should be our attitude? (Hint: Read Ephesians 4:15)
Read Matthew 7:12
HOW should we approach this situation?
Take some time to pray and consider—personally—What does God want to do with all of this in your life and relationships?
Think back—before your faith became ‘real’ and personal. Before you were dedicated to following Christ.
Without too many personal details, what kind of person were you? How would you have described yourself then? Has there been a radical change in you since Jesus has become real to you?
Have you ever wanted to contact someone from your past and explain that “you’ve changed”(Like at a class reunion)?
If you’ve tried to do so, how did it go?
We all have things we regret in our lives…each of us have a list of those we’ve hurt—perhaps deeply—in our past. We also have a list of those who have hurt us—perhaps deeply.
Which of these two have more power to do damage to us now?
If we are going to continue on the Road to Recovery, we must embrace Step #6: “Evaluate all my relationships. Offer Forgiveness to those who’ve hurt me, and make amends for harm I’ve done to others, except when to do so would harm them or others.”
Part 1 of this is to evaluate my relationships—specifically those in need of my forgiveness.
Again, without too many personal details, who are some of the people who have deeply affected you, and whom you think God might be moving you to forgive?
Read Ephesians 4:31-32: Who are the people in your life (past or present), who you are bitter or angry about?
Paul says that we should be ‘kind and compassionate, tender-hearted; forgiving each other…”
Why is this so hard in that situation?
Paul says we should forgive “As the Lord forgave us”.
Talk about God’s forgiveness…list as many truths as you can about it. (ie., undeserved, etc.)
Read Ephesians 2:4-5, 8-9; Colossians 3:13.
As a follower of Christ, why should we forgive others?
Read Luke 7:41-47: Why does the woman care so much for Jesus?
How do you relate to that?
Rick Warren says that, in order to be free from my ‘hurts’, I should: 1) Reveal my pain (admit it, share it with a trusted friend, etc.); 2) Release the offender; and 3) Replace my hurt with God’s Peace.
Are there any ‘hurts’ or pain from your past that you’ve never shared with anyone?
Are there hurts that you’ve tried to ignore/pretend never happened?
Have you successfully “released” (forgiven) the offender?
How will you know?
If you can think of them w/o feeling anger/pain.
If you can pray for them.
If you can commit yourself to forgive, every time they come to mind.
If you can ask God to have mercy on them.
…then you’ve forgiven them.
Is there anyone that God is bringing to your mind whom you need to forgive?
Part 2: Make amends, “except when to do so would cause harm to them or others”.
Think back. Without too many personal details, who are the people that you’ve hurt in your life—at a deep level?
Read Matthew 5:23-24: Why would it be so important to Jesus that we go and “be reconciled” before proceeding to the altar?
Who (on my list of ‘people I’ve offended’) is the Lord leading you to go “make amends” to?
What is stopping you from doing so?
If the Lord moves you to, Rick Warren says that there are 3 things to keep in mind:
Timing, Attitude, and Appropriateness.
WHO is ‘in focus’ when you’re thinking about ‘making amends’?
WHAT should be our attitude? (Hint: Read Ephesians 4:15)
Read Matthew 7:12
HOW should we approach this situation?
Take some time to pray and consider—personally—What does God want to do with all of this in your life and relationships?
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Road to Recovery: Making Changes
Study Questions for Road to Recovery, Week 5
Making Changes
Have you ever “volunteered” for something that was demanding? Share about it.
Why did you do it?
What was the ‘payoff’—what did you get out of it?
The “Voluntary” element of Christianity is important. I must VOLUNTARILY CHOOSE to submit to God.
It seems that many people who believe in Jesus as “Savior” don’t want to embrace Him as “Lord”…they don’t want to “submit” to Him fully…why do you think this would be?
RECOVERY STEP #5: “I must voluntarily submit to every change God wants to make in my life and humbly ask Him to remove my Character Defects.”
Have you identified the “issue” or issues that God might want you to work on during this series?
If you can, share with the group.
Read Matthew 5:6. What do you think it means to ‘hunger and thirst’ for righteousness? How have your ‘issues’ made this “hunger” and “thirst” more powerful?
There are 3 main areas that we choose to blame for our character defects, ‘issues’ and sinful behavior:
Our Chromosomes: Our DNA and the way we’re made definitely influence us.
Our Circumstances: The way we’re raised, the kind of environment we grew up in and live in now… …definitely makes a difference.
Our past Choices: The things we’ve chosen to do—the people we’ve hung with, the places we’ve gone, the standards we’ve adopted—these have also had an impact on us.
Which of these 3 areas have had the most influence in your life—especially over the “issues” God is dealing with in you right now?
Which of these 3 areas provides an excuse for your sins?
All of these play a role in our ‘issues’, sins, character defects and temptations…but NONE of them are ‘responsible’ for our current sins! (In the sense that they provide an excuse, so that we are not responsible.)
These “3 C’s” can make it very difficult to change…but read Philippians 4:13;…God has all the strength we need in order to live a life of freedom and victory!
HOW are we to gain victory?
First, in cooperation with God! Read Galatians 5:16-25: It is in cooperation with God’s Holy Spirit that His “fruit” is produced in my life. The fruit is FROM HIM!
Second, it may be a question of FOCUS (from Rick Warren)
*Focus on one defect—one hurt, habit, or hang-up, one sin—at a time:
*Focus on one victory—one temptation to overcome—at a time:
Read 1 Corinthians 10:13. Can you describe a time when you’ve clearly ‘heard’ the voice of God telling you to get away/get out of a tempting area, and have complied? Tell about it!
*Focus on GOD’s Power, not ‘my willpower’.
Read Ephesians 3:20; 2 Peter 1:3. What are the only limitations to God’s power in our lives?
How can we grow more, so that His power can work more in our lives?
*Focus on what you want, not what you don’t want.
Read 2 Corinthians 10:5; Philippians 4:8. Often, we focus so much on NOT doing/wanting something that we forget to focus on what we DO want—i.e., to please Christ! What are some of the things that you, personally, can focus on (Phil. 4:8) that will help you overcome?
*Focus on Progress, not Perfection.
We can only stand because of God’s GRACE. Jesus was the only Perfect person, ever. You will never be perfect in this life, and the Lord does not demand this from you! When the voices come trying to shame you because of your imperfections, stand on His grace!
Making Changes
Have you ever “volunteered” for something that was demanding? Share about it.
Why did you do it?
What was the ‘payoff’—what did you get out of it?
The “Voluntary” element of Christianity is important. I must VOLUNTARILY CHOOSE to submit to God.
It seems that many people who believe in Jesus as “Savior” don’t want to embrace Him as “Lord”…they don’t want to “submit” to Him fully…why do you think this would be?
RECOVERY STEP #5: “I must voluntarily submit to every change God wants to make in my life and humbly ask Him to remove my Character Defects.”
Have you identified the “issue” or issues that God might want you to work on during this series?
If you can, share with the group.
Read Matthew 5:6. What do you think it means to ‘hunger and thirst’ for righteousness? How have your ‘issues’ made this “hunger” and “thirst” more powerful?
There are 3 main areas that we choose to blame for our character defects, ‘issues’ and sinful behavior:
Our Chromosomes: Our DNA and the way we’re made definitely influence us.
Our Circumstances: The way we’re raised, the kind of environment we grew up in and live in now… …definitely makes a difference.
Our past Choices: The things we’ve chosen to do—the people we’ve hung with, the places we’ve gone, the standards we’ve adopted—these have also had an impact on us.
Which of these 3 areas have had the most influence in your life—especially over the “issues” God is dealing with in you right now?
Which of these 3 areas provides an excuse for your sins?
All of these play a role in our ‘issues’, sins, character defects and temptations…but NONE of them are ‘responsible’ for our current sins! (In the sense that they provide an excuse, so that we are not responsible.)
These “3 C’s” can make it very difficult to change…but read Philippians 4:13;…God has all the strength we need in order to live a life of freedom and victory!
HOW are we to gain victory?
First, in cooperation with God! Read Galatians 5:16-25: It is in cooperation with God’s Holy Spirit that His “fruit” is produced in my life. The fruit is FROM HIM!
Second, it may be a question of FOCUS (from Rick Warren)
*Focus on one defect—one hurt, habit, or hang-up, one sin—at a time:
*Focus on one victory—one temptation to overcome—at a time:
Read 1 Corinthians 10:13. Can you describe a time when you’ve clearly ‘heard’ the voice of God telling you to get away/get out of a tempting area, and have complied? Tell about it!
*Focus on GOD’s Power, not ‘my willpower’.
Read Ephesians 3:20; 2 Peter 1:3. What are the only limitations to God’s power in our lives?
How can we grow more, so that His power can work more in our lives?
*Focus on what you want, not what you don’t want.
Read 2 Corinthians 10:5; Philippians 4:8. Often, we focus so much on NOT doing/wanting something that we forget to focus on what we DO want—i.e., to please Christ! What are some of the things that you, personally, can focus on (Phil. 4:8) that will help you overcome?
*Focus on Progress, not Perfection.
We can only stand because of God’s GRACE. Jesus was the only Perfect person, ever. You will never be perfect in this life, and the Lord does not demand this from you! When the voices come trying to shame you because of your imperfections, stand on His grace!
Road to Recovery: Coming Clean
Conversation Questions:
Who is the "clean" person in your family? Are you glad they clean up around the house?
Have you or someone in you family ignored a problem before (like clogged sink in the video)? What happened to that problem?
Message Questions:
Read: Psalm 32:1-2
What guilt in your life has been forgiven?
What do you still feel guilty about in your life?
What are some of the things that can happen to us when we live with guilt?
Read: Proverbs 28:13
Why should we not hide things from God?
How does mercy help us recover?
How to openly examine and confess my faults to myself, to God, and to someone I trust.
Take a personal inventory
Read: Lamentations 3:40 and Psalm 139:23-24
This verse asks us to take a personal inventory, why is "examining our way's" important for recovery?
What kinds of thing could you do to examine your ways?
Accept Responsibility
Read Proverbs 20:27 and I John 1:8
Who is always still there when you run away from a problem?
When a problem is 90% someone else’s fault, how should we deal with that person? What should you do with the 10% that's your fault?
Ask Forgiveness
Read Isaiah 1:19
Is there anything you have done that is unforgivable?
Admit to another person
Read James 5:16
What does confessing to someone you trust do to help you recover?
Do you know someone you can trust?
Will you come clean to that person?
Accept God's forgiveness and forgive myself
Romans 3:23-24
Have you accepted God's forgiveness?
Have you forgiven yourself?
Read Psalm 139:1-4, 23-24 together and close with prayer.
Who is the "clean" person in your family? Are you glad they clean up around the house?
Have you or someone in you family ignored a problem before (like clogged sink in the video)? What happened to that problem?
Message Questions:
Read: Psalm 32:1-2
What guilt in your life has been forgiven?
What do you still feel guilty about in your life?
What are some of the things that can happen to us when we live with guilt?
Read: Proverbs 28:13
Why should we not hide things from God?
How does mercy help us recover?
How to openly examine and confess my faults to myself, to God, and to someone I trust.
Take a personal inventory
Read: Lamentations 3:40 and Psalm 139:23-24
This verse asks us to take a personal inventory, why is "examining our way's" important for recovery?
What kinds of thing could you do to examine your ways?
Accept Responsibility
Read Proverbs 20:27 and I John 1:8
Who is always still there when you run away from a problem?
When a problem is 90% someone else’s fault, how should we deal with that person? What should you do with the 10% that's your fault?
Ask Forgiveness
Read Isaiah 1:19
Is there anything you have done that is unforgivable?
Admit to another person
Read James 5:16
What does confessing to someone you trust do to help you recover?
Do you know someone you can trust?
Will you come clean to that person?
Accept God's forgiveness and forgive myself
Romans 3:23-24
Have you accepted God's forgiveness?
Have you forgiven yourself?
Read Psalm 139:1-4, 23-24 together and close with prayer.
Road to Recovery: Admitting We Need Help
Study Questions for “Road to Recovery”, week 2
Believe and Receive
1) Have you ever used “Google Earth” to find your own house? (If not, try it…it’s really cool…and a little disturbing!)
2) When you consider the fact that God in heaven doesn’t just have “street view”, but has watched you from before you were born, and knows your heart and mind, what does this make you feel?
3) Dave said that we (Americans) are ready to depend on almost anything…except God. One way to test what you might be ‘dependent’ upon is to think of what you do when you’re stressed, depressed, anxious, angry.
a. What are some things you do to ‘cope’ with these times? (Eat, drink, shop, exercise, pray…)
b. Has this ‘strategy’ kept you from being dependent and confident in God?
c. THESE may be some of the things you need to ‘recover’ from.
Principle #2 in the Road to Recovery is: “Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to Him, and that He has the power to help me recover.”
Rick Warren says that, in order to do this, we must do the following:
Acknowledge that God exists…read Psalm 19:1-4; Romans 1:20.
Understand His character…read Colossians 1:15-20. Paul says that, when we’ve seen Jesus, we’ve seen the Father. What, then, are some characteristics of God the Father?
One characteristic of God the Father is POWER. Read Ephesians 1:19-20: What power is at work in us?
Accept God’s Offer of Help…a conscious choice must be made. We are either going to try to do it ourselves, or depend on God. Given all we’ve learned about God and His power, is there any ‘issue’ that we might have which He could not overcome? Read Philippians 1:6;4:13. Do YOU have confidence in God’s commitment to bring you healing and victory?
The next Principle in the Road to Recovery is #3: “Consciously Choose to commit all my life and will to Christ’s Care and Control.”
It is one thing to believe that God is able, it’s another thing to actually CHOOSE to commit my life to Him.
Giving up control—in any situation—takes a few characteristics. What are they? (For one, see Matthew 5:5)
Read Matthew 11:28-30.
Jesus said He had a “Yoke” for us to take up. A “Yoke” is farm implement which tethers 2 animals together to insure that they go in the same direction.
What is Jesus saying about the ‘direction’ we are to go?
He says that His yoke is ‘easy’ and His burden is ‘light’. Yet following Him can be hard sometimes. What could he mean by this?
Why is it difficult to give up control of our lives to Jesus? (List ‘bullet point’ reasons).
Which of this list do YOU, personally, struggle the most with?
Taking the step of Consciously Choosing to commit my life to His care and control is absolutely crucial—not only for ‘recovery’, but for all of life!
How do we do it?
How, then, do I take this step?
1) I accept God’s Son as my Savior. (Acts 16:31)
2) I accept God’s Word as my Standard. (2 Timothy 3:16)
3) I accept God’s Will as my Strategy. (Romans 12:1-3)
4) I accept God’s Strength as my Strength. (Philippians 4:13)
Are there any of these areas that you are currently struggling with?
Believe and Receive
1) Have you ever used “Google Earth” to find your own house? (If not, try it…it’s really cool…and a little disturbing!)
2) When you consider the fact that God in heaven doesn’t just have “street view”, but has watched you from before you were born, and knows your heart and mind, what does this make you feel?
3) Dave said that we (Americans) are ready to depend on almost anything…except God. One way to test what you might be ‘dependent’ upon is to think of what you do when you’re stressed, depressed, anxious, angry.
a. What are some things you do to ‘cope’ with these times? (Eat, drink, shop, exercise, pray…)
b. Has this ‘strategy’ kept you from being dependent and confident in God?
c. THESE may be some of the things you need to ‘recover’ from.
Principle #2 in the Road to Recovery is: “Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to Him, and that He has the power to help me recover.”
Rick Warren says that, in order to do this, we must do the following:
Acknowledge that God exists…read Psalm 19:1-4; Romans 1:20.
Understand His character…read Colossians 1:15-20. Paul says that, when we’ve seen Jesus, we’ve seen the Father. What, then, are some characteristics of God the Father?
One characteristic of God the Father is POWER. Read Ephesians 1:19-20: What power is at work in us?
Accept God’s Offer of Help…a conscious choice must be made. We are either going to try to do it ourselves, or depend on God. Given all we’ve learned about God and His power, is there any ‘issue’ that we might have which He could not overcome? Read Philippians 1:6;4:13. Do YOU have confidence in God’s commitment to bring you healing and victory?
The next Principle in the Road to Recovery is #3: “Consciously Choose to commit all my life and will to Christ’s Care and Control.”
It is one thing to believe that God is able, it’s another thing to actually CHOOSE to commit my life to Him.
Giving up control—in any situation—takes a few characteristics. What are they? (For one, see Matthew 5:5)
Read Matthew 11:28-30.
Jesus said He had a “Yoke” for us to take up. A “Yoke” is farm implement which tethers 2 animals together to insure that they go in the same direction.
What is Jesus saying about the ‘direction’ we are to go?
He says that His yoke is ‘easy’ and His burden is ‘light’. Yet following Him can be hard sometimes. What could he mean by this?
Why is it difficult to give up control of our lives to Jesus? (List ‘bullet point’ reasons).
Which of this list do YOU, personally, struggle the most with?
Taking the step of Consciously Choosing to commit my life to His care and control is absolutely crucial—not only for ‘recovery’, but for all of life!
How do we do it?
How, then, do I take this step?
1) I accept God’s Son as my Savior. (Acts 16:31)
2) I accept God’s Word as my Standard. (2 Timothy 3:16)
3) I accept God’s Will as my Strategy. (Romans 12:1-3)
4) I accept God’s Strength as my Strength. (Philippians 4:13)
Are there any of these areas that you are currently struggling with?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
