In the Workshop--Lesson 6--An Exercise in Spiritual Disciplines--Matthew 7 & John 15

Discussion Questions:

1.  What have you learned about being a disciple of Jesus (apprentice) that you did not know prior to this study?  How has this study brought about any changes to your thinking and actions?

2.  What part of dropping nets, being transformed, using Jesus as a template, making use of the power provided by God, and maintaining a priority of love do you struggle with?  What part excites you?

3.  What is your understanding of spiritual disciplines?  Are they mandatory?  What is their ultimate purpose?  What makes them difficult to maintain? 

4.  Which of the spiritual disciplines do you find particularly helpful?  Which ones scare you or seem intimidating?  Which ones seem to come fairly easy to you?  Are certain ones meant for particular personalities?

5.  What percentage of your spiritual life is contemplation versus action?  Why do you think you lean one way more than the other?  How are both important for spiritual development?

6.  Do you agree that the inside leads to the outside?  Are there times when the outside leads to the inside?  Discuss this with one another. 

7.  Why does James say our faith is useless (barren) without works?  What did Jesus do to the fig tree that had no figs on it?  Why did Jesus curse the fig tree when it wasn’t the season for figs? (Mark 11:12-13).

8.  How do spiritual disciplines help us to grow in good works?  How is not practicing spiritual disciplines like having an umbrella and not using it?

9.  How do our good works glorify the Father?  What works would you say are in your life that bring the Father glory?

In the Workshop--Lesson 5--The Priority of Love--Luke 5-6 + Various Passages

Discussion Questions:

1.  Why do stories where one sacrifices out of love have such a strong appeal to us? 

2.  What are some spiritual disciplines you practice in your daily life?  What is the goal of each of the disciplines you keep?  What role does love play in these disciplines you do?

3.  Why did Jesus touch the leper He healed?  Why is His touch important in your own life?  How does being part of the body of Jesus influence the touch you put in other’s lives?

4.  How do Law and love go together in God’s Kingdom?  Describe the ugliness human beings are capable of when we emphasize Law without love.

5.  Jesus demonstrated through the stories in Luke 5 that God is approachable, touches our lives, forgives sin and offers table fellowship with sinners.  Why are each of these qualities valuable for your life?  What does doing these 4 things tell you about how Jesus views the balance between Law and love?

6.  David and his companions eating the consecrated bread is a clear violation of the Law!  How do we justify times like this when God’s Law is clearly violated but people are not held accountable? (See II Chron. 30:18 for another example). How do we know when it is ok to violate what God says, versus when it is not ok?  (Nadab & Abihu or Ananias & Saphira are some examples).

7.  How do you read the story of James & John wanting to call down fire on the Samaritans?  Were their motives evil?  Why was it ok for Elijah to call down fire?  How are things different when we view each day as a day of salvation instead of a day of judgment?

8.  How does Jesus bring the Law and love together?  How are we capable of keeping the Law today?  Do you feel set free by what He has done?  Why, or why not?

9.  Why is it important to see John connect commandment keeping with love in his first epistle?  How do we view people different when we see them through the lens of salvation instead of judgment?  Are there any areas of your life you need to change the way you see people?

In the Workshop--Lesson 4--Entrusted with Power--John 14 + Various Passages

Discussion Questions:

1.  What is the definition of being human?  Does your definition come from God’s holy plan for you or from the brokenness sin has caused in this world?  Why is it important to see ourselves from God’s perspective of humanness rather than the world’s?

2.  Why do you think the 1st heresy about Jesus was over His being human rather than God (Docetism)?  Does this hold significance for us today?  Do you have any struggles with believing Jesus was completely human, and that He had no advantage over you in respect to dealing with your human flesh? 

3.  Discuss how the miracles Jesus did show that He was from God.  Did the miracles prove Jesus was God?  If so, do the miracles the apostles do prove they are God?  If not, what is the discrepancy, and what do we learn about dependence upon God from this?

4.  How is our apprenticeship and our fulfillment of the “good works which God prepared in advance” (Eph. 2:10) all tied to our level of connection to Him through Jesus?  What are some specific areas in your life that attempt to unplug or loosen your connection to Him?  Are there some things you need to confess and repent so your light will shine and glorify the Father in greater ways?

5.  What does it mean that we will do greater works than Jesus?  How many miracles have you accomplished in your lifetime?  If it is not miracles that are our greater works, what does Jesus mean?  The works of Jesus were to lead us to belief in Jesus and the Father.  What kind of works are present in your life that are leading people to belief in Jesus and the Father?

6.  What does it mean that Jesus offered anticipation, and we offer completion?  How does this enable us to do greater works than Jesus?

7.  What is the beauty of the Holy Spirit being “another Helper”?  How are we at an advantage because of living in the time of the Holy Spirit instead of during the physical presence of Jesus on this earth?

8.  How often are we guilty of not using the power available to us?  What would you like to see accomplished in your life and/or in this church with the power that raised Jesus from the dead?  What hinders that from happening?