Next Steps--Lesson 33--Do You Know Your Calling?--Genesis 1 & Luke 15

Discussion Questions:

1.     What should it look like for mankind to rule, subdue, and fill the earth?  What purpose do you find for your own life in these commands of God?

2.     Why did Adam need a helpmate (partner)?  How does having people to partner with you in your areas of purpose or calling help you to stay focused and able to accomplish more?

3.     Why is it important that God’s plan starts us out as a single with a purpose?  What struggles have you seen when two singles come together who have not worked out their purpose or who have contradicting purposes?

4.     How have you seen a lack of purpose or calling or unfulfilled purpose or calling drain the vitality and joy from an individual; a family; and even a church family?  How can a sense of calling be rediscovered or revitalized?

5.     How have you seen culture present a false view of calling that gets us to settle for less than what God intends for us?  How have you seen independence become slavery and dependence upon God become the thing that sets one free?

6.     How was Gideon’s reminder of who he really was (a mighty warrior) and the calling God placed in his life similar to when God told Adam and Eve to rule, subdue and fill the earth?

7.     If you spend the week reviewing what God told Adam and Eve to do in their calling, and how God brought the prodigal back as a son, and how God reminded Gideon of the strength he had to carry out his calling, what do you anticipate the result will be?  Is there a way others can hold you accountable to do this?

Next Steps--Lesson 32--Love is a Noun and a Verb--I John 4

Discussion Questions:

1.     How do you feel about God commanding you to love?  How is loving one another a new command?

2.     Why is it important that God is love and therefore, love is a noun?  How does this emphasize the importance of relationship with the LORD in order to have healthy relationships with people?

3.     Why is it important that love is a verb?  How can you incorporate love as a noun and a verb in your relationships?

4.     What struggles have you had with going through the motions of love without the substance?  What helps you to avoid being a clanging gong?

5.     How have you seen your capacity and desire to love grow as you have been transformed by God?  Besides provision, healing and service, what are some other attributes of love that could have been represented in the gift box?

6.     Do you believe that love comes from God?  How are you bringing God into your relationships so love can be more evident in each one?

7.     If Jesus could expect a tax collector and a zealot to love each other, is there anyone God will exempt you from loving?  Why do we let division exist?

8.     How did walking down the Via Dolorosa (The way of Suffering) make Jesus’ love greater?  If He is the model, how might God call you to face some difficulties, and even suffering, in your relationships so they exhibit more depth of love in them?

9.     What does washing feet, dying on a cross, and telling husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church, giving Himself up for her, teach you about the action and depth of love God desires from us?

Next Steps--Lesson 31--Mustard Seed Faith

Discussion Questions:

1.     Have you ever felt like you needed your faith increased?  How does Jesus comparing faith to a mustard seed show that this is the wrong thing to seek?

2.     How is the object of your faith more important than the size of your faith?  Discuss how this applies to putting faith in your financial security and retirement plan.

3.     Next Steps is about walking with God and drawing nearer to Him.  What steps do you see God calling you to take in the way you view and handle your financial resources?

4.     How important is planning and moving forward so your faith does not stagnate?  What does it look like to plan and move forward in the realm of your finances and use of your possessions?

5.     If you graded yourself from A to F in having a budget and your ability to stick to it, what would your grade be and why?  How about your grade for praying over what you do with the finances and material possessions God enables you to enjoy?  If needed, what can you do to grow in these two areas?

6.     Are there times you are guilty of wanting God to act before you get your feet wet?  What is a step concerning your finances and giving you can take to get your feet wet making room for God to act upon your faith in Him?

7.     When it feels like your dreams are a mile away, could it be that they are only one step of faith away?  What fears or concerns or distractions are keeping you from taking that step of faith?