Transformation--Lesson 2--How Much of Him Do You Want?

Discussion Questions:

1. How should our walk with Jesus demonstrate His incarnation? What kinds of things in the

activity of the church help you to see that God is still with us?

2. What made the early church compelling to those who did not know Jesus? What are some

ways we can be more compelling to the community around us?

3. What kinds of things put you in danger of selling out your birthright from God? What would

your bowl of stew be?

4. What are some things you can do to dedicate your talents and gifts and occupation solely

to God’s glory? What distracts you from this?

5. What kinds of struggles do you have with your integrity when no one is around? What

shortcuts are you tempted to take?

Transformation--Lesson 1--Ready for Change?--Matthew 13

Discussion Questions:

1. Why does it take so much work to produce fruit in a garden? What kind of lessons should

we learn from the work it takes, especially for our spiritual growth?

2. How much trouble do you have seeing "earth crammed with heaven"? How do we better

see "every bush afire with the presence of God"?

3. Jesus makes it clear that there are two things working against the production of fruit for the

Kingdom—the enemy, Satan, and ourselves. Which do you have more trouble with?

Which one do you take more for granted and why?

4. Can you relate to the story in Matthew 13:53-58 where the people move from being

astonished at Jesus to suspicious to taking offense and then unbelief? How has this been

a personal struggle or how have you seen this in trying to share Jesus with those who do

not know Him?

5. What kind of practices would help you to better receive the words of God immediately,

deeply, and exclusively? How would doing this assist you in transformation and

sanctification?

New Year's Sermon--Cleaning Out the Closet--Colossians 3

Discussion Questions:

1. When is the last time you cleaned out the closets of your life? Are there some things that

need to be discarded in your life?

2. What kinds of memorials and/or monuments do you have in your life? How do these help

you to stay secure and focused on your walk with God?

3. How does self-control work? How have you witnessed both your role and God’s role as

you deal with areas that require self-control?

4. Why does the closet need to be cleaned out so often? Why did God create us in a way

that requires routine closet cleaning?

5. How have you seen looking back help in moving forward? When has constantly looking

back hindered moving forward? How do you balance the two?