Week of May 20-26, 2012

Scriptures:

1 Corinthians 9:27I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

Acts 8:1a Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen.

Acts 9:1 Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers.

Acts 22:4 And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison.

1 Peter 2:9-10 But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.

Would God Still Use Me? 

Discussion Questions:

1. Have you ever been disqualified for something?  What was it?  How did being disqualified make you feel? 

2. Read Philippians 1:6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.  Do you believe this scripture confirms that God will still use us even if we fail?  Why or why not? 

3. ReadEphesians 2:10For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. 

What does this scripture reveal about you and God’s plan for you?

4. Have you ever felt like you were unqualified for something?  What was it?

5. The main point in this teaching was stated as follows, “It’s not what you see but what God sees that qualifies you”.  Do you believe you live like God sees you or how you see yourself? 

Moving Forward

What could you do this week to begin seeing yourself as God sees you?

Changing Your Mind

Philippians 1:6God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again.

Week of May 13-19, 2012

QR Scriptures:  Could God Still Love Me?

Philippians 3:13

“Brothers and sisters, I don’t consider that I have taken hold of it yet. But here is the one thing I do. I forget what is behind me. I push hard toward what is ahead of me”.

1 Corinthians 15:9

“For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church.

Matt. 10:33

“If you deny me before men I will deny you before my Father in heaven?” 

Mark 16:7

An angel said, Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.”

John 21:15-17

After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.   Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.   A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.

Romans 8:38-39

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 3:16

For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

Could God still love me?

Most everyone has doubted God’s love at one time or another.  It seems the guilt of our past or current failures we experience leads us to carry around bags of shame.  This baggage makes it nearly impossible to move forward in life.  In this lesson, we will discuss how to recognize the baggage and ways to begin focusing on God’s unfailing love for us.

Questions:

1. Have you ever carried around the baggage of shame?  Are you still burdened down with shame?  Explain
2. Have you ever experienced God’s forgiveness and love with regard to past failures?  Share your story with the group.
3. Read Romans 8:38-39:  Does this scripture encourage you?  In what way?
4. Why do you believe we have a difficult time believing God loves us when we fail?
5. Do you currently know of someone who is dealing with shame?  Why don’t you write down their names and pray for them as a group at the end of your Life Group session.

Moving Forward

What can you do this week to receive God’s love and share God’s love?

Changing Your Mind

Romans 8:39b Nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Week of May 6-12, 2012

Quit Wishing and Hoping

Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)
¹ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

 
Hebrews 11:6 (NLT)
⁶ So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith.  Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

Habakkuk 2:4 (NLT)
⁴ “Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked; but the righteous will live by their faith.

Romans 1:17 (NLT)
¹⁷ This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

Galatians 3:11 (NLT)
¹¹ Consequently, it is clear that no one can ever be right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

Hebrews 10:38 (NLT)
³⁸ And a righteous person will live by faith. But I will have no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”

Romans 10:17 (NKJV)
¹⁷ So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Luke 11:5-10 (NLT)
⁵ Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this illustration: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You would say to him, ⁶ ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ ⁷ He would call out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and we are all in bed. I can’t help you this time.’ ⁸ But I tell you this—though he won’t do it as a friend, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you what you want so his reputation won’t be damaged(Or because of his shameless persistence). ⁹ “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks.

Mark 4:35-41 (NLT)
³⁵ As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” ³⁶ He was already in the boat, so they started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). ³⁷ But soon a fierce storm arose. High waves began to break into the boat until it was nearly full of water. ³⁸ Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. Frantically they woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you even care that we are going to drown?” ³⁹ When he woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the water, “Quiet down!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ And he asked them, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still not have faith in me?” ⁴¹ And they were filled with awe and said among themselves, “Who is this man, that even the wind and waves obey him?”

Romans 8:28 (NLT)
²⁸ And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Intro:

God wants us living our lives by Faith, believing and acting on the word of God, no matter how I feel because God promises a good result.  Life can go sideways up or down but God doesn’t want us living our lives based on our circumstances.  He wants us living by Faith.

1. Does life’s circumstances effect your view of God?  How?
2. What does Faith mean to you?
3. Does Faith seem like something you can actually live by? 
4. Have you taken the training wheels off or Jumped off the diving board in regards to your Faith in God?
5. What are some of the things you struggle letting go of?
6. What does God’s word have to say about those?
7. What is the number one area in your life you need to increase your faith in?

Take Away:

            God’s word says you are going to make it!

Week of Apr. 29 - May 5, 2012

Honeymoon in Paradise:  The Honeymoon is Over?

Ephesians 5:1-2 [The Message]

Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.

Ephesians 5:25:  For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her.

Ephesians 5:25-27 [The Message] Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end. Love never dies.

Discussion Questions:

· What do you think people mean when they say, “The Honeymoon is over”?  Do you believe that statement is true for believers?  Why or Why not?

· Read Ephesians 5:25:  Have the men in the group share how the kind of love in this verse might look in a marriage relationship?  After the men share, have the women share what they think it may look like.

· Pastor Will made the following statement, “You can keep the honeymoon alive when you continue to discover your lover.”  Do you believe continuing to discover your lover is important?   Why or why not?

· If you were writing out a strategy to “discover your lover” what would your strategy include?

· Have you ever experienced a self-centered marriage or a kid-centered marriage?  What are some of the things you had to change in order to make it God-Centered again?

Moving Forward

You can keep the Honeymoon alive when you continue to discover your lover.  What could you do this week to discover your lover?

Changing Your Mind

Ephesians 5:21 (NCV) Yield to obey each other as you would to Christ.   

Week of Apr. 22-28, 2012

Honeymoon in Paradise:  Vive la Difference

Discussion Questions:

1. If you were going to share one of the funniest differences that you’ve noticed between males and females what would it be? 

2. In a survey to a 1000 men (both Christian and non-Christian) responded overwhelmingly that they would rather feel alone and unloved than to feel inadequate and disrespected (74% to 26%).  Women:  Is that difficult for you to believe?  Men:  Would you consider yourself part of the 26% or the 74%?

3. Do you buy into the idea that the primary need of a man is respect?  Why or why not?

4. In Ephesians 5:33:  Do you believe it is possible to respect your husband unconditionally?  Why or why not?

5. Men:  When you feel disrespected by your spouse do you get angry?  What other responses have you noticed when you feel disrespected?  Is it difficult to talk to your spouse about feeling disrespected? 

Moving Forward

What could you do this week to show your husband unconditional respect?

Changing Your Mind

Ephesians 5:33 So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.