Next Steps--Lesson 36--Oil & Water (Husbands & Wives)--I Peter 3

Discussion Questions:

1.     Why would God design man and woman to be so different from each other?  How is this an advantage to each of them?  How does it produce the necessity for a third party and show the intention of design from the beginning?

2.     How have you seen husbands and wives be like oil and water?  What is an emulsifier?  How have you used God as an emulsifier in your marriage (if you are married)?

3.     How does living with your wife in an understanding way help them to fulfill the call to be submissive to their husband?  How is this especially true when we get shaken up by challenges in life (like the snow globe)?

4.     With stats that show how couples praying to and worshiping God together have a much lower divorce rate and a higher level of satisfaction in marriage, how is Satan so successful in hindering couples from keeping this in their marriage?

5.     Why is Adam blamed for sin entering the world in Rom. 5:12 & I Cor. 15:22?  How deos passive leadership factor into the problem in the Garden of Eden?  How does living with one’s wife in an understanding way provide a solution to what is needed in leadership?

Next Steps - Lesson 35 - Kingdom Marriage - Various Passage

Discussion Questions:

1. Why is it important that marriage is more from creation than culture? How does this help you to see marriage from a larger perspective?

2. How have you seen marriage be like the 3-ring circus described in the sermon (engagement ring; wedding ring; suffer ring)? How does knowing God’s purpose for marriage over Satan’s ploys to corrupt it help with enduring, and even circumventing the suffering?

3. Why is covenant such an important part of what marriage is about? How has being in a covenant helped you weather storms and build better intimacy in marriage and/or as part of the church?

4. What fears do you have about being alone? Why is it not good to be alone? What appreciation does this help you have for what singles and singles again must endure?

5. What are some ways to find and live in contentment in whatever your situation is? How does having purpose and working to fulfill that purpose assist in higher levels of contentment?

6. Why is it important to find “a helper suitable”? If you are married, what kind of things can you do to be a more suitable helper? If you are single, what qualities are important to you to find in a helper suitable and to also be a helper suitable?

7. Why is marriage NOT heaven on earth? How can understanding this help you set better expectations for a marriage relationship?

8. Why is it dangerous to set happiness as your goal in marriage? Do you agree that if you marry for happiness, you will be more likely to divorce because of unhappiness? Why, or why not?

Next Steps--Lesson 34--What Tree Will You Eat From? Genesis 3

Discussion Questions:

1.     What does it mean to work out your salvation?  What is our role in salvation and what is God’s?  How does God’s commands to Adam & Eve and His providing the raw materials in the Garden show that building Kingdom is a priority and a work for God and man together?

2.     Why is it important to remember we are building a temple to God?  How does this change and/or influence the way you go about your everyday tasks of job, parenting, marriage, etc.?

3.     In what ways have you seen mankind’s desires for independence and power distort the image of God to the world?  How have you seen the image of God shattered by mankind’s brokenness?

4.     Satan tried to remove the idea of God being LORD (Yahweh) from mankind’s image of Him.  Why is this significant in seeing His authority in our lives?  Why is removing this a distorted view of His investment in us and care for us?  What helps you remember and surrender to God’s authority, and keep in mind how much He has invested in you?

5.     Why is it important to remember our limitations, like Adam being created from the dirt (adamah)?  What helps you maintain awe for God? 

6.     How have you seen mankind try to bring God down to our level?  How have you seen mankind try to raise themselves up to God’s level?  What is the danger in both?

7.     What ploys have you seen Satan use to get people to question God’s goodness?  How has God shown from the beginning that He is good and that He literally wants to help us live in joy? 

8.     What is the requirement to have life from God?  What struggles do you have with reflecting God’s holiness to the people around you?  How does holiness set up the direction your relationships go?