Next Steps--Lesson 4--Courage to Take the Next Step--Matthew 19 & Nehemiah 1-2

Discussion Questions:

1.  How do you know what the will of God is for your life?  What next step do you think God wants you to take in your spiritual development and your service to the Kingdom?  What fears or doubts or other struggles are holding you back from taking that next step? 

2.  How has fearing what you might lose hindered you from achieving more with God?  Are there things in your life right now that you will look back on later and wish you had done them differently?

3.  What next chapter do you think the author and perfector of faith would like to write into your life?  How much license do you give Him to write your story?

4.  What things do you typically find yourself praying about?  What kinds of things move you to tears or to disciplines like fasting?  How are these passions a sign of where to spend your energy and time for the sake of the Kingdom?

5.  What stuck out to you from Nehemiah’s response when he heard about the condition of Jerusalem?  Why would he leave the position of cupbearer to fix walls in Jerusalem?  What security has God asked you to let go of so you can fulfill a good work for His Kingdom?

6.  Why does fulfilling a passion often come with suffering?  How did Jesus provide a model for this?  How did Nehemiah overcome the heavy amount of opposition and suffering that came with fulfilling his passion?

7.  How have you seen passion help someone overcome what seemed impossible?  What is one area of your life where your passion could be used by God to accomplish good things for His Kingdom?

8.  How have you seen remaining in one’s comfort zone hinder growth or fulfilling good works in the Kingdom of God?  Is this always the case?  What helps you to get comfortable with being called out of your comfort zone?

Next Steps--Lesson 3--Memorial Sunday--Sharing What God Has Done--Genesis 3 & Luke 4

Discussion Questions:

1.  What did you see in the memorials that moved you and helped you see God’s involvement in the lives of our church family?  How did seeing people’s stories encourage you in your faith? 

2.  How does ruling over the earth and subduing it play out in our time today?  What is the significance of the serpent being in the form of a serpent?  Is it really possible to rule over the serpent?

3.  What are the steps the serpent takes to deceive the woman?  (Isolation; Raise questions based on desires; Step away from God and redefine good & evil for yourself)  How have you seen him use these steps in your own life?  How can you overcome these lies and acts of aggression?

4.  Why is the advice to follow your heart a foolish endeavor?  Is this true after God gives you a new heart—a heart of flesh instead of a heart of stone (Ezekiel 36:26)?

5.  In what ways is Jesus the 2^nd Adam?  Why is He referred to this way?  How does Jesus show us the way to live that we forfeited through our rebellion and being deceived by the serpent?

6.  How is Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness parallel to the fall of mankind in the Garden?  How is it very different? 

7.  Why did Jesus overcome what the devil threw at Him?  What practices did Jesus have that enabled Him to be victorious rather than succumbing to His flesh?

8.  How has Jesus helped you get your place and your calling back?  How does the memorial of communion help you to remember this?

Next Steps--Lesson 2--Memorials & Moving Forward

Discussion Questions:

1.     How have you seen God’s desire to be actively involved in your life?  What kinds of things has He done to let you know He is with You and wanting to share life with you? 

2.     How has God provided the same type of things He gave to the Israelites as they walked through the wilderness?  What struggles do you have with not noticing or forgetting what God has done for you?

3.     Are there any markers or memorials you have established so your children can ask what they mean and give you the opportunity to tell how God has actively led you or rescued you?  Are there any you should establish so they will not be forgotten?

4.     What role has covenant played in your walk with God?  What kinds of things help you to reaffirm your covenant vows to God and grow in your bond of intimacy with Him?

5.     Are there times you have experienced Ichabod (no glory) due to trying to handle things by your own wisdom and strength?  How have you seen God change times of Ichabod (no glory) into times of Ebenezer (stone of help) in your own life? 

6.     How fitting for this fallen world is it that the Philistines would attack during a time of worship and devotion to God?  How have you seen this take place in your lifetime?  Why did they experience victory in this instance versus when they tried to take the ark of God into battle a few chapters earlier?

7.     Why is it important to build memorials?  Why is it important to recognize that we must continue to move forward from the situation that caused us to build a memorial? 

8.     What struggles have you seen with living in the past instead of moving forward?  How does one have a healthy balance of remembering the past, but not getting stuck in it?