Seeing Beyond the Darkness--Lesson 1--Are You Having a Bad Day?

Discussion Questions:

1. Why does God allow us to experience terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days? How do these kinds of days strip away your hope, peace and joy?

2. How helpful is it to know that God entered our world with a specific plan to experience the darkness so that He could overcome it for us?

3. How does what Jesus did on “Good Friday” provide us the means to see the “Good” in every day?

4. How does being reminded that it is God who holds the sword or the storm or the difficult situation help you to have peace in the midst of this fallen world with all of its troubles?

5. How have your experiences in life shown that “There is none like the God of Jeshurun” as Moses states in Deuteronomy 33:26?

Mission Holiness--Stand Alone Sermon--Exodus 20

Discussion Questions:

1. What struggles have you had with trying to keep a foot in both worlds?

2. Why do you think the standards of God call for no compromise? Does this make God seem harsh and demanding?

3. (See Exodus 32:25) How did making the golden calf violate the call for Israel to be a holy nation? How did it also violate the requirement for Israel to be a kingdom of priests?

4. How do God’s 10 Words (The 10 Commandments) provide order and ultimately goodness for your life?

5. How does defining sin as things that tear apart community with God and with one another help you to see the destructive nature of sin and the purpose of God’s 10 Words?

Wise & Foolish Building--Stand Alone Sermon--Matthew 7

Discussion Questions:

1. What kinds of things make it difficult to hear and obey the will of God?

2. How have the storms tested you in every way?

3. How have you seen God’s ways provide a foundation that withstands the storms you face?

4. In what ways have you been like the foolish man? What makes the things of now so appealing instead of waiting for something better?

5. How have you struggled with doing the things Jesus says and letting them change you? How will you fly this week instead of settling for waddling?