So Thankful--Lesson 2--Neither Snow Nor Rain Nor Heat Nor Gloom of Night...--Psalm 107

Discussion Questions:

1. How does going through problems and being thankful fit together? What role does God’s

lovingkindness (covenant love or hesed) play in these things fitting together?

2. How does being redeemed demonstrate both sides of this Psalm—that we will encounter

trouble and that we are not alone in our troubles, but have the means to overcome?

3. Why is it so important for the redeemed to say so? What are some ways to share what the

LORD has done to rescue or redeem you?

4. What experiences have you had lately with feelings of being stuck in a desert with no

provisions, or being imprisoned by poor choices, or dealing with sickness and loss of

appetite to the point that it felt like you were going to die, or from storms that threaten to

overwhelm you? How does sharing these things with others help?

5. How do the pictures of Jesus from Psalm 107 show that God is present in the various trials

and struggles we endure?

So Thankful--Lesson #1--The Key Ingredient of Lemonade is...--I Chronicles 16

Discussion Questions:

1. What sweet & sour stories do you have from 2020 that give you reason to reflect on the

sovereign plan of God and praise Him with thanksgiving?

2. What helps you to see beyond the events happening in your life to see God working in

your midst?

3. Why is God’s election of you a reason to give thanks?

4. How is God’s covenant love and protection a basis for security in your life? Explain why

being a descendant of Abraham through your faith in Jesus provides you with the same

covenant love and protection that Abraham was given by God.

5. Are there times when your worship of God and your proclamation of His good deeds

feels more like a chore than a joy in your life? What can you do to better maintain a heart

of gratitude so your worship is alive and vibrant?

Healthy Politics--Lesson 9--The Work is Never Done--Nehemiah 13

Discussion Questions:

1. Why are “happily ever after” endings so appealing? How realistic is it that the book of

Nehemiah does not conclude with a “happily ever after” ending? How has a constant

battle been your experience in maintaining a healthy spiritual walk with the LORD?

2. What are the top two things in your daily routine that present the most compromise with

the things of this world? How do you keep these things under control?

3. What do you think of Nehemiah’s seemingly harsh responses to the broken promises and

unholy actions of the Israelites? How does Nehemiah’s use of the word “hesed”

(committed covenant love) in Nehemiah 13:14 offer a beautiful context for his seemingly

harsh responses?

4. Nehemiah refers to earlier history when he reprimands the Israelites for not keeping the

Sabbath and for not keeping themselves separated from what would make them unholy.

How does knowing the stories of the bible help you know the path to walk in a culture

that tolerates just about everything except intolerance?

5. What danger do we face in losing a generation because they do not know how to speak

the language of faith in God as well as they know the ways of the culture around them?

6. How has our study of healthy politics helped you see beyond the ugliness of our physical

political battles to the security of the Kingdom we truly serve? What qualities of healthy

leadership have stood out to you?