Next Steps--Lesson 21--No Compromise--Daniel 3 + Various Passages

Discussion Questions:

1.  What does it mean that God is sovereign?  How does believing in the sovereignty of God play into the development of one’s character and integrity?    

2.  What trouble have you had standing when everyone else seems to be bowing to the gods of this world?  Are there any areas of your character or integrity in which you know you should have stood, but you bowed down anyway? 

3.  How did Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego prepare themselves long before the situation of bowing to the golden statue arose?  How have you seen choices from your past help or hinder your ability to do the right thing in a moment of quick decision?

4.  How have you seen people shift from faith in God to faith in faith?  How has this affected their peace and hope?

5.  How does trust in the sovereign plan of God help with things like suffering and other heinous events that take place in this fallen world?  How have you seen God allow or even use darkness to bring about His good intentions?

6.  Why is it best for our character to be based upon God’s promises and covenants?  How does this bring stability to what seems to be shifting sand in ethics and morality?

7.  Why have comfort and happiness become gods in most people’s lives?  How does emphasis on comfort and happiness work against healthy character and integrity? 

8.  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego wound up providing a witness to God by the standing they did.  How have you seen witnesses provided in our own time by people who chose to stand when most everyone else bows?

Next Steps--Lesson 20--Discipline of ther Mind

Discussion Questions:

1.     What struggles do you have with keeping your mind focused upon the eternal Kingdom instead of getting caught up in focusing upon the temporary?  What kinds of things help you think about what matters for eternity?

2.     How are anxiety and worry tied to what you place into your mind?  What kinds of filters or boundaries do you have for the types of things you let into your mind?

3.     How is our view of money more a character issue than an amount issue?  How did Paul learn to be content whether he had much or little? 

4.     Why is understanding the King and the ways of His Kingdom so important for character development?  How do you suppose the Master would have reacted in the Parable of the Talents toward the person with one talent if when the Master returned he told him he had lost his talent because there was someone in need and he gave it to help them out?

5.     What “glasses” has God provided for you to see Him and His Kingdom better?  How often do you forget to put on your “glasses”?  Why do we let ourselves get used to life without “glasses”?

6.     In what ways have you seen people use distortion to fix distortion?  How does one effectively surrender their viewpoints to the viewpoints of the LORD?

7.     Do you agree that our reactions show better who we really are than our actions?  What kinds of reactions does God need to transform in your life?

8.     What kinds of lies do you tell yourself that you know are not true if you take time to compare the lies to the word of God?  How do these lies maintain their power in our lives if we see they are not true?

Next Steps--Lesson 19--Character and Government--Genesis 11; Psalm 128 + Various Passages

Discussion Questions:

1.  Why is God’s design of government contingent upon the character, integrity, and self-governing of the individual? 

2.  Why did God emphasize the sanctity of life right after the flood and new beginning?  Why are the values of life and property an important foundation for government?  How does knowing this assist in character and integrity development?

3.  What is a theocracy?  How is this the appropriate model for what God desires for our government?  How are religion without relationship with God and government without relationship with God the same thing?

4.  What is the connection between government of the individual, the family, the church, and the state?  How does Psalm 128 show the beauty of these working together?  How many benefits can you see listed in Psalm 128 when fear of the LORD is at the core of government?

5.  What does the Tower of Babel account teach us about decentralized government?  Why is a one-world centralized government system dangerous? 

6.  How have you seen mankind fall into the trap of building towers to reach the heavens in modern times?  What are some ways you see better wisdom in God’s ways to save mankind than what human governing has come up with?

7.  How is self-governing, character development, humility, and fear of the LORD vital to having peace instead of chaos? 

8.  There are no perfect candidates, so how do these concepts assist in what to consider when elections arise in determining what candidates one should vote for?