The Lion Never Sleeps--Stand Alone Sermon--I Peter 5:8-9

Discussion Questions:

1.  Why is dependence upon others an important quality?  How have you seen people spared from or rescued from attacks of the lion because they had a herd to live with?

2.  Why do people want to get as close to danger as they can?  How have you seen the lion (devil) use our propensity for this to his advantage?

3.  Are there people you can think of who have gone missing?  What should be done to rescue them or bring them back into the herd?  Whose task should it be to accomplish this?

4.  Is it encouraging or discouraging to hear that no one is immune from the attacks of the lion?  How does hearing other people’s stories of overcoming the attacks of the lion encourage you in the battles you face?  What stories from the bible or from your own life inspire you in the face of a daunting challenge?

5.  What kinds of things cause you to reach a point where you want to take on the lion and “sort it out”?  What chance do you have of overcoming standing alone in that battle?  How has God provided the weapons and tools that enable us to stand firm against the evil one; to resist the devil so he will flee from us?

6.  Did the group prayer time at the conclusion of the sermon encourage you?  Do you have people in your life you can circle up with and share the things you face?  Why is it uncomfortable for us to ask for help from those who are part of our herd?

In the Workshop--Lesson 21--Take Up Your Cross & Surrender--John 21 + Various Passages

Discussion Questions:

1.  What is your understanding of taking up a cross to follow Jesus?  Why is this a necessary step in living as an apprentice of Jesus?

2.  What are some things God has asked you to leave behind or let die in your life?  How are power and control false illusions of what the Kingdom of God is about?  Why is it so difficult to give up power and control?

3.  What kinds of struggles did Jesus have with carrying His cross (physically and emotionally)?  In what ways did God provide for His need and in what ways did God allow Him to struggle and persevere to victory?  What should we learn from God acting in both ways?

4.  How do a window and a mirror illustrate the problems we face being influenced by the world?  What are some things you do to put your flesh to death? 

5.  Why does God have us live in flesh, knowing the struggles we will have because of our flesh?  How does going through these battles lead us to entrust ourselves to our faithful Creator?

In the Workshop--Lesson 20--Obedience to His Call & Direction--John 21 + Various Passages

Discussion Questions:

1.  How is obedience to what God says a vital part of transformation?  What are some things Jesus did to provide a model of obedience?

2.  Why is obedience to what God says difficult?  What kinds of preconceived ideas about who God is and how His Kingdom works have you had to let go of or overcome to live a more obedient life? 

3.  Peter, Andrew, James & John dropped their nets and left family to follow Jesus.  What kinds of things have you been asked to let go of to follow Jesus?  What have you found difficult to let go of?

4.  When Jesus asks the apostles if they want to leave Him along with the crowd, why is Peter’s response that Jesus has the words of eternal life and that He is the Holy One of God so profound?

5.  What does Jesus mean in John 15:5 when He says, “apart from Me, you can do nothing”?  What helps you to stay connected to Him?  What kinds of things break this connection to Him?

6.  Are there some areas of your life where you are susceptible to trusting your own expertise, skills or knowledge over what God says?  How have you seen Jesus allow you to fail or cause you to wait for fulfillment so you grew out of dependence upon yourself?

7.  Tell of a time when you experienced hardship, frustration or discouragement and it turned into an “It is the LORD!” moment.  Why are these kinds of moments so valuable for faith-building and becoming a better apprentice of Jesus?