Next Steps--Lesson 6--Go Out & Count the Stars--Genesis 12 & 15

Discussion Questions:

1.  How is faith in God not logical or illogical?  Why must we keep in mind that faith is only true faith if it is Theological? 

2.  What made Abram willing to take the next step with God to go to a land he didn’t know among a people he didn’t know?  What promises has God given to you that help you to be willing to go where He sends you and do what He asks of you?

3.  How much of our waiting upon God is because of Him and how much is because of us? (I know there is no definitive percentage one can give but discuss the implications of this question.). What role does character development play in God being able to move forward with us?

4.  What assumptions about aging and its limitations or a lack of gifts would God probably laugh at or challenge your assumptions if you expressed them to Him? 

5.  How has your limited perspective and being caught up in time led to anxiety or even some doubt or loss of faith?  How does this tie into our faith needing to be Theological?

6.  Why did God take Abram outside and tell him to look at the stars?  What kinds of ceilings have your (wrong) assumptions placed in your life that hinder your abilities to trust in His promises?

7.  How does being in awe influence faith?  What kinds of things help you stay in awe of God?  How do man-made ceilings and wrong assumptions work against maintaining awe of God?

8.  How is God’s presence and activity in your life often like stars in the daytime?  Why is it often in the darkness that God’s presence and direction shine out more brightly?

9.  Why is it important to have faith like a child?  What kinds of things have you seen differently because of your children or other children in your life?

10. The story ends with laughter—Isaac is named “He laughs” and Sarah says God has brought her laughter (Gen. 21:6).  How is that an appropriate end for a sermon series about taking next steps with God?

Next Steps--Lesson 5--Have I Got a Job for You--Exodus 3-4

Discussion Questions:

1.  How would you describe the success of God’s mission to bring transformation into your life?  What things hinder you from accepting that you are a new creation, born again, with a new heart and spirit? 

2.  Explain how one has an immediate new nature when they accept Jesus as LORD and Savior but still must endure a step-by-step process of maturing.  What kinds of things has the LORD provided and done to help you mature step by step?

3.  What kinds of things represent your identity and your security?  How difficult would it be for you to throw them down? 

4.  Tell of any times you reached a point of self-preservation.  How did the LORD move you out from there?  How does having purpose outside of yourself help with moving forward?  How did God use those times to transform you?

5.  Why did God get angry when Moses asked if someone else could do what God was asking of him?  How does God feel when you resist the transformation He wants to bring into your life?

6.  Why did God have Moses pick the staff up again?  What should we learn from the way God used this to emphasize transformation and the role Moses went on to play in shepherding the people of God?  Is there an area like this in your life where God wants to use your identity in a transformed way to accomplish more for His Kingdom?

7.  Why did God have Moses take his shoes off at the burning bush?  Are there things you need to remove to get closer to the presence of God?  Is it a coincidence that Moses gets closer to God than anyone else of his generation?  What does this teach you?

8.  Moses messed his life up in a big way and put himself out to pasture, but God wasn’t done with him yet.  What does this help you understand about your own failings? 

9.  Who is there around you that could be led to freedom from oppression if you took up your staff and entrusted yourself to the LORD?  What will you do to be prepared for opportunities to do this?

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?