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?

Next Steps--Lesson 30--Giving Beyond Your Ability

Discussion Questions:

1.     What is the connection between God having your heart and the way you handle your money and possessions?  How difficult do you find it to live as a spiritual being in a material world?

2.     What do you think Jesus was trying to say when He said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”?  What are the things you treasure most in your life?  How is it clear to others what you treasure most?

3.     Do you ever wonder, like the Rich Young Ruler did, what you lack in your life?  Are there things Jesus might tell you to sell or get rid of so you can better follow Him?

4.     What is opportunity cost?  How did Jesus offer opportunity and experience to the Rich Young Ruler?  Why is it more valuable to fill your life with good experiences instead of more things?

5.     Have you ever had a situation that felt like you were on a giant tower that called you to take a step of faith and that brought great hesitation?  How did you take that step of faith?  Who or what helped you reach a point of moving forward?

6.     What did you learn from the Cutting Corners Activity?  How have you seen God supply more than you could give away?

7.     What is “uncomfortable giving”?  What commitment will you make to practice some “uncomfortable giving” this week?

8.     Does it make a difference that the widow’s gift did not go unnoticed by Jesus?  How has her gift been multiplied over the years?  How is the multiplication of her gift like handing Jesus 5 loaves and 2 fish?