Sermon Discussion Questions | Garden Ridge Church

Love God; Love People; Follow Jesus--Lesson 3--Looking Forward to Follow Jesus

Discussion Questions:

1. What kinds of things tempt you to go “but first” in your walk of faith with the LORD? What

kinds of seasons or situations are you/have you waited through before becoming more

committed to Him and His ways?

2. Why is it tempting to look backward? What makes this a hindrance to faith? How did

looking backward influence the Israelite’s experience in the wilderness?

3. Why do you think James & John wanted to call down fire upon the Samaritans? What kinds

of things make you feel like calling God’s judgment down upon people? What are some

ways to overcome these feelings?

4. Why did Elisha burn his farming equipment and slaughter his oxen? What kinds of things

from your past need to be destroyed so you can move forward?

5. How is Jesus’ commitment to us even more important than our commitment to Him? How

did His commitment to us provide life and a second chance?

Discussion Questions:

1. How often do you find yourself having eyes that look rather than eyes that see? What

difference does this make for your daily living?

2. How many persons do you think gather for worship with conditions or situations hindering

their ability to grow in the LORD? What can you do to notice the hindrances persons face?

3. What kind of situations move you to treat persons as “its” rather than persons? What

would help you see persons more clearly?

4. How does it help you when others see potential in you, rather than gauging things

according to your past? How can you do this for others?

5. What does it mean to you that love is emphasized twice, and things are done for the glory

of God when Jesus waits for Lazarus to die? How does this apply to the unpleasant

situations in your life and what God might be doing with it?

Discussion Questions:

1. How have you seen things get out of balance in your walk with God?

2. What kinds of things help you maintain God as your 1st love?

3. How can one be intolerant of things while still being loving?

4. When is a church not a church? Do you see any areas where the church family at Garden

Ridge needs to remember their 1st love and repent?

5. How would the story of Martha and Mary be different if Jesus was invited into Martha’s

frustration? Why do we so often focus on what frustrates us instead of what brings

balance?