Conversation Questions:
Have you ever been really spooked? Why was it spooky?
Have you ever been afraid of something that was unknown to you at the time? If that thing became more known to you, did it continue to scare you?
Study Questions:
Read John 14:16-19
What does this passage tell us about why we should listen to the Holy Spirit? Are there other reasons besides what is in this passage that you can think of for listening to the Spirit?
Two things that keep us from listening to the Spirit is: Noise and Comfort.
How does noise distract us from hearing the Spirit?
Read Mark 1:35 and Psalm 46:10
Why did Jesus set aside time for prayer and alone time?
What could you do to turn down the volume in your life?
How does comfort keep us from hearing God?
When is comfort good? When is comfort bad?
What can you do to have a healthy balance of comfort and challenge in your life?
Do you believe getting out of your comfort zone can help you hear God? Is the idea of interacting with the Holy Spirit sound spooky to you? Why or why not?
Heart Questions:
Bill Hybels in "Whisper" talks about ways we can know when it's The Holy Spirit who is sspeaking to us by asking these questions:
Is it truly from God?
Is it scriptural?
Is it wise?
Is it in tune with your character?
What do people you trust think?
If you have heard a word from God before or if you have heard someone say they had a word from God, tell others about it and run through this test.
Was it The Holy Spirit or not? Why or why not?
Read Ephesians 4:16-21
What are some promises in this passage that Paul (the author of Ephesians) say will come if we listen to the Holy Spirit?
End by praying with emphasis on God helping you listen to the Holy Spirit and the courage to respond to what he might say.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Forgotten God Part 2
The Holy Spirit: What does He DO? Small Group Discussion
Introductory Questions:
Have you experienced any “move” of the Holy Spirit over the last few weeks? Are you asking God to make you more sensitive to His leading? Have you noticed any changes in your Spiritual relationship?
Our bodies need good ‘fuel’ to run on, or they begin to get run down…similarly, our The Spirit within us needs good ‘raw material’ to work with in order to make us more like Jesus.
What kind of ‘fuel’ have you been giving Him to work with lately? Have you noticed a positive (or negative) impact on your Spiritual vitality?
Bible Study Questions:
Read the following Scriptures and fill in the blanks. Comment on this work within YOUR life.
1) The Holy Spirit ________me.
a. John 16:7-8
2) The Holy Spirit ________ me.
a. John 6:44; 3:5-6
3) The Holy Spirit ________ me .
a. John 14:23-26
4) The Holy Spirit ___________ me.
a. 2 Peter 1:3-4; Colossians 1:10-12; Ephesians 3:16-21
5) The Holy Spirit ________ me.
a. Galatians 5:16-25; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
6) The Holy Spirit ________ me.
a. John 16:12-14
7) The Holy Spirit _________ me.
a. Revelation 2:4-5; 3:20; Psalm 80:19
Two Keys: Hearing and Obeying
Read the following Scriptures: Acts 8:29; 11:16; 13:2; 21:1
What stands out to you about the early church’s experience?
Romans 12:1-3: What are the steps necessary in order to know and experience God’s “good, pleasing, and perfect will”?
Application Questions:
Look at the list of the things the Holy Spirit does in our lives (note: that list is NOT all-inclusive)!
What are the top 2 of those areas where you sense God wanting to do more work in your life?
Introductory Questions:
Have you experienced any “move” of the Holy Spirit over the last few weeks? Are you asking God to make you more sensitive to His leading? Have you noticed any changes in your Spiritual relationship?
Our bodies need good ‘fuel’ to run on, or they begin to get run down…similarly, our The Spirit within us needs good ‘raw material’ to work with in order to make us more like Jesus.
What kind of ‘fuel’ have you been giving Him to work with lately? Have you noticed a positive (or negative) impact on your Spiritual vitality?
Bible Study Questions:
Read the following Scriptures and fill in the blanks. Comment on this work within YOUR life.
1) The Holy Spirit ________me.
a. John 16:7-8
2) The Holy Spirit ________ me.
a. John 6:44; 3:5-6
3) The Holy Spirit ________ me .
a. John 14:23-26
4) The Holy Spirit ___________ me.
a. 2 Peter 1:3-4; Colossians 1:10-12; Ephesians 3:16-21
5) The Holy Spirit ________ me.
a. Galatians 5:16-25; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
6) The Holy Spirit ________ me.
a. John 16:12-14
7) The Holy Spirit _________ me.
a. Revelation 2:4-5; 3:20; Psalm 80:19
Two Keys: Hearing and Obeying
Read the following Scriptures: Acts 8:29; 11:16; 13:2; 21:1
What stands out to you about the early church’s experience?
Romans 12:1-3: What are the steps necessary in order to know and experience God’s “good, pleasing, and perfect will”?
Application Questions:
Look at the list of the things the Holy Spirit does in our lives (note: that list is NOT all-inclusive)!
What are the top 2 of those areas where you sense God wanting to do more work in your life?
Forgotten God Part 3
Forgotten God, Week 3
Study Questions
Introductory Questions:
What is the best present you can remember getting, as a child?
Did you have any hesitation in opening it and using it?
Have you ever thought or felt that the Holy Spirit was giving you specific strength or ability to task?
Talk about it.
Have you ever heard of “Spiritual Gifts” or “Gifts of the Spirit”? Do you know what yours are?
If so, how do you know?
Bible Questions:
The Bible has quite a bit to say about Spiritual Gifts…
Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-12. What are some of the points that seem important here? What are some of the specific gifts mentioned?
Read Ephesians 4:11-13: These are the so-called ‘Leadership Gifts”. What is their purpose in the life of a church?
What attitude and behavior is necessary, in order to benefit from those the Lord has called to Leadership in the church?
Read Romans 12:3-10: Several gifts are mentioned here, but so are some crucial attitudes. Talk about why this would be important in the life of a faith community.
Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3: Why does Paul think this is so important to stress, in the midst of a discussion about Spiritual Gifts?
Read 1 Corinthians 12:14-27: How does God put so many different people with different gifts together in one church?
Application Questions:
Spiritual gifts can be a divisive, contentious area of study and discussion…but it doesn’t need to be.
What attitudes within the church are necessary in order for these to accomplish God’s will?
Pastor Rick Warren says that it’s not only “Spiritual Gifts” that prepare us for the service God has for us, but also our Heart (passion), Abilities, Personality and Experiences. Do you agree or disagree?
What do you think your area of Spiritual Giftedness might be?
In what ways are you actively using those gifts for God’s glory, and the good of the Church?
If you need help, go here: http://www.kodachrome.org/spiritgift to complete a free online Spiritual Gifts inventory as a starting point.
Study Questions
Introductory Questions:
What is the best present you can remember getting, as a child?
Did you have any hesitation in opening it and using it?
Have you ever thought or felt that the Holy Spirit was giving you specific strength or ability to task?
Talk about it.
Have you ever heard of “Spiritual Gifts” or “Gifts of the Spirit”? Do you know what yours are?
If so, how do you know?
Bible Questions:
The Bible has quite a bit to say about Spiritual Gifts…
Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-12. What are some of the points that seem important here? What are some of the specific gifts mentioned?
Read Ephesians 4:11-13: These are the so-called ‘Leadership Gifts”. What is their purpose in the life of a church?
What attitude and behavior is necessary, in order to benefit from those the Lord has called to Leadership in the church?
Read Romans 12:3-10: Several gifts are mentioned here, but so are some crucial attitudes. Talk about why this would be important in the life of a faith community.
Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3: Why does Paul think this is so important to stress, in the midst of a discussion about Spiritual Gifts?
Read 1 Corinthians 12:14-27: How does God put so many different people with different gifts together in one church?
Application Questions:
Spiritual gifts can be a divisive, contentious area of study and discussion…but it doesn’t need to be.
What attitudes within the church are necessary in order for these to accomplish God’s will?
Pastor Rick Warren says that it’s not only “Spiritual Gifts” that prepare us for the service God has for us, but also our Heart (passion), Abilities, Personality and Experiences. Do you agree or disagree?
What do you think your area of Spiritual Giftedness might be?
In what ways are you actively using those gifts for God’s glory, and the good of the Church?
If you need help, go here: http://www.kodachrome.org/spiritgift to complete a free online Spiritual Gifts inventory as a starting point.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Forgotten God Part 1
“Forgotten God; The Holy Spirit” series
Small Group Questions for week 1
Introductory Questions:
Have you ever felt like your Spiritual Life was similar to Dave’s illustration of “pushing a car with no engine”?
On a scale of 1 (terrible) to 10 (Perfect), how would you rate the following in your Spiritual Life?
1) Intimacy with God.
2) Confident Faith to Follow His lead.
3) Ability to ‘hear God’s voice’ clearly.
4) Times of real, deep-level prayer.
5) Consistency and quality of Bible reading and study
Do you want a closer relationship with God, or are you content right now with where you’re at?
Bible Study Questions:
Read Genesis 1:2, 26-27: How long has the Holy Spirit been around?
Read Luke 3:21-22: In what ways is the “Trinity” pictured here?
Read John 14:16-17; 16:7: In what way(s) was it good for the Disciples that Jesus went away?
Do you ever wish that Jesus was here—in person—so that you could learn from Him directly? Why is it “better” for us that we have the Holy Spirit?
Read Acts 2:1-4: Jesus had said (John 14:17) that the Holy Spirit “IS with you, and WILL BE in you”…this happened for the first time on the day of Pentecost.
Read Galatians 5:16, 24-25: Paul wrote that we “live by the Spirit”. What do you think he could mean here?
Application Questions:
In what ways are you nurturing your relationship to God?
Are there additional (or different) things you need to do in order to ‘live by the Spirit” more?
In what areas of your life do you think God wants to do the most work?
Small Group Questions for week 1
Introductory Questions:
Have you ever felt like your Spiritual Life was similar to Dave’s illustration of “pushing a car with no engine”?
On a scale of 1 (terrible) to 10 (Perfect), how would you rate the following in your Spiritual Life?
1) Intimacy with God.
2) Confident Faith to Follow His lead.
3) Ability to ‘hear God’s voice’ clearly.
4) Times of real, deep-level prayer.
5) Consistency and quality of Bible reading and study
Do you want a closer relationship with God, or are you content right now with where you’re at?
Bible Study Questions:
Read Genesis 1:2, 26-27: How long has the Holy Spirit been around?
Read Luke 3:21-22: In what ways is the “Trinity” pictured here?
Read John 14:16-17; 16:7: In what way(s) was it good for the Disciples that Jesus went away?
Do you ever wish that Jesus was here—in person—so that you could learn from Him directly? Why is it “better” for us that we have the Holy Spirit?
Read Acts 2:1-4: Jesus had said (John 14:17) that the Holy Spirit “IS with you, and WILL BE in you”…this happened for the first time on the day of Pentecost.
Read Galatians 5:16, 24-25: Paul wrote that we “live by the Spirit”. What do you think he could mean here?
Application Questions:
In what ways are you nurturing your relationship to God?
Are there additional (or different) things you need to do in order to ‘live by the Spirit” more?
In what areas of your life do you think God wants to do the most work?
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Road to Recovery: Recycling My Pain
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?
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?
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?
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