Next Steps--Lesson 9--Looking for a Fight--I Samuel 13-14

Discussion Questions:

1.     What does the concept of needing to look for a fight mean in our spiritual service to the Kingdom?  In what ways is playing it safe risky?

2.     In what ways have you seen being timid or fearful limit spiritual growth and lead to mediocrity?  Are there ways you live according to not losing or being defensive instead of being on the offensive?

3.     Do you think the measure of spiritual maturity is sitting in a worship service for 90 minutes every week?  How is this similar to Saul’s sitting under a pomegranate tree?  How is it different?

4.     How did Saul’s sitting around, not being engaged in the fight, contribute to his paranoia about David and fear of losing what he had?  How have you seen this type of thing in our own time?

5.     It was said in the sermon that we cannot grow to experience more of the LORD without disrupting our comfort level.  Do you agree with this?  In what ways are you disrupting your comfort level to grow in your experiences of the LORD?

6.     How important is seeing the victory through faith in the LORD before going into battle?  What kinds of things help you to look for and focus on the victory that awaits you?  How has this made a difference in the spiritual battles you have encountered?

7.     Why does every Jonathan need an armor bearer?  What opportunities have you seen for you. to be an armor bearer for someone else in their battle?

Next Steps - Lesson 9 - Looking for a Fight - I Samuel 13 & 14 + Various Passages

Discussion Questions:

1. What does the concept of needing to look for a fight mean in our spiritual service to the Kingdom? In what ways is playing it safe risky?

2. In what ways have you seen being timid or fearful limit spiritual growth and lead to mediocrity? Are there ways you live according to not losing or being defensive instead of being on the offensive?

3. Do you think the measure of spiritual maturity is sitting in a worship service for 90 minutes every week? How is this similar to Saul’s sitting under a pomegranate tree? How is it different?

4. How did Saul’s sitting around, not being engaged in the fight, contribute to his paranoia about David and fear of losing what he had? How have you seen this type of thing in our own time?

5. It was said in the sermon that we cannot grow to experience more of the LORD without disrupting our comfort level. Do you agree with this? In what ways are you disrupting your comfort level to grow in your experiences of the LORD?

6. How important is seeing the victory through faith in the LORD before going into battle? What kinds of things help you to look for and focus on the victory that awaits you? How has this made a difference in the spiritual battles you have encountered?

7. Why does every Jonathan need an armor bearer? What opportunities have you seen for you. to be an armor bearer for someone else in their battle?

Next Steps--Lesson 8--Taking Worship Another Step Forward--John 4 + Various Passages

Discussion Questions:

1.  What kinds of things in your life make you thirsty for more?  How is spiritual thirst different from thirst for things in a physical or emotional way?  How does spiritual thirst being satisfied help with other kinds of thirst?

2.  After Solomon experimented with so many areas of life to find meaning or purpose, what made him conclude that they were all meaningless or vanity?  Why do things like wealth, accumulating things, sexuality, etc. appeal to us if they are truly meaningless or empty?

3.  How have chasing after the American Dream or other worldly quests brought thorns or thistles into your life?  What makes people so easily duped into thinking they are better off without God?

4.  What are some stories from the Scriptures that show that God has a plan to help satiate our true thirst? 

5.  How was Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well tied to her recognizing her thirst and finding an eternal solution?  What kinds of things do you see the woman thirsting for, based upon the discussion and questions she raised with Jesus?

6.  How are Jesus’ dealing with Nicodemus and the woman at the well similar?  In what ways did Nicodemus and the woman at the well show acts of worship towards Jesus after their encounters with Him?

7.  How does gathering for corporate worship help or hinder your worship of God?  What are some other ways you find helpful to have a heart and desire for worship?  How are these things directed at seeing beyond our temporary thirsts to what will satisfy for eternity?

8.  What does it mean to worship in Spirit and truth?  What part of worshiping in Spirit and truth is brought about by you?  Why is it important to recognize and understand this?

9.  Why is it important to recognize and confront sin in our lives to reach a place of worship towards God?  If idolatry is satisfying our thirst in means other than God, how many areas of idolatry do you have in your life?

10. Her steps of worship involve seeking more, repenting, sharing what she has received, showing mercy and forgiveness towards those who have hurt her, not being exclusive, but showing that the opportunity to worship is open to everyone.  How many of these things do you feel called toward because of our corporate times of worship?  What are some ways we could improve our time together so people grew in all of these areas?