Character Building--Lesson 7--So Much Potential--Judges 13-16

Discussion Questions:

1.  What compromises with the world have you seen our church family struggle with?  What areas in your personal walk are tempting to compromise?

2.  How is our rebirth and walk with God like the birth of Samson?  What advantages have we been provided through the Spirit of God?  What signs has God provided of the strength and victory available to you?

3.  Why, when we see thousands of blooms on the strawberry plants is it difficult to pick them off and wait another year?  How does this delayed gratification work in other areas of life?

4.  Do you have any areas of Kryptonite (or Samsonite) that you are willing to admit in front of a group?  How do you get rid of this baggage, so you are not influenced by it?

5.  Describe the encouragement it rings you to see God answer the prayer of one who failed as bad as Samson did, and how a stubble of faith can accomplish so much.

Character Building--Lesson 6--It Doesn't Take the Spectacular...--Esther

Discussion Questions:

1.  What difficulty do you have choosing things for the sake of others instead of focusing on taking care of your own needs?  How is this connected to bearing the image of God and your character?

2.  Do you take time to think about how each day is one piece of a bigger picture?  How would this help you to appreciate the various situations in your life, even the trials?

3.  Why do you think God often chooses to work in our lives in covert ways?

4.  How do you deal with the silence of God?  How have you seen people contrive ways of showing God’s presence?  Why is this not necessary?

5.  The Passover and the Feast of Purim are reminders of God’s deliverance.  What helps you to keep His deliverance in mind, especially in times when it seems like He is silent?

Building Character--Lesson 5--How Deep Are You?--I Samuel 8-25

Discussion Questions:

1.  With all the trials David experienced, how did he become a man of praise instead of bitterness?  What strategies do you see from his life that will help you praise more and complain less?

2.  Why do the roots of your faith need to be both deep and wide?  What helps you to grow in these different ways?  How is your faith walk both a sprint and a marathon?

3.  What signs were there that Saul was going to struggle with the responsibilities of being king?  Why do you suppose God put him in this role anyway?

4.  Why can a kingdom be no greater than the character of the individuals?  What does this teach you about being intentional with the development your own character?

5.  Which do you have more trouble doing: recognizing your sin and confessing it, or changing so you don’t continue in it?  God changed Saul’s heart in I Samuel 10:6. Why did it not stay changed?