“Grow Up!”

Read Philippians 3:12-16

  1. What is the goal of Paul’s life?

 

  1. What motivates him to keep pressing toward the goal?

 

  1. Based on Paul’s words here, how would you define Christian maturity?

 

  1. In what areas of your life would you like Jesus to take hold of you?

 

  1. How has God helped you grow toward maturity through difficult circumstances?

 

Read Philippians 3:17-4:1

  1. How have you been encouraged by the example of others?

 

  1. What does ‘citizenship’ mean to you?

 

  1. When have you encountered ‘enemies of the cross’?

 

  1. What challenges does your church fellowship present in your world?

 

  1. If the church is a colony of heaven here on earth, responsible for bringing the life and rule of heaven to bear on earth, what does that mean for your church? For you personally?

A Call to Joy

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  1. If you look back on to your life, your achievements, honours, privileges, what are some things you have treasured or benefited from?

 

  1. Read Philippians 3:1-6. The second half of the letter is introduced with verse 1. It may seem a little cut off from what follows. What is the connection between “rejoice in the Lord” and the warnings which follow?

 

  1. Ethnic membership for a male Jew was circumcision. However, who are the “true circumcision” (v.3)?

 

  1. What are some accomplishments, or aspects of personal or religious heritage, that we use to make ourselves acceptable?

 

  1. Read Philippians 3:1-11. What are Paul’s “profits” and “losses”?

 

  1. How do you respond to Paul’s statement that “knowing Christ Jesus as my Lord” surpasses everything (v.8)?

 

  1. What does your “balance sheet” look like? What would be on your “accomplishments and achievements” side? Does knowing Christ really outweigh everything?

 

  1. What relationship does Paul draw between resurrection and suffering (v.10-11)?

 

  1. What is your takeaway from this study?

 

Dispelling the Darkness

Read Philippians 2:12-18

  1. How does verse 13 make clear that the phrase “your own salvation” (v.12) isn’t meant to contrast the work of the Philippians with God’s work?

 

  1. Whose work then is being contrasted with that of the Philippians?

 

  1. When Paul uses the phrase “fear and trembling” (v.12) he means with utter seriousness. What would it mean for you to work out the practical implications of your salvation this way?

 

  1. Paul tells the Philippians that they must grow in maturity and take responsibility for themselves without Paul being present. Where is God telling you to take responsibility for yourself without reliance on other spiritual leaders?

 

  1. How would the lives of churches be revolutionized if Christians practiced what Paul says in v.14?

 

  1. Who comes to your mind as examples of shining lights in your life (v.15)?

 

  1. What gives Paul cause to celebrate (v.17-18)?

 

  1. Whose faith can you celebrate today?

 

Defeating Discouragement

  1. When were you faced with seemingly insurmountable problems and able to see the good through God’s hand at work?

 

Read Philippians 1:12-18

  1. How would you describe Paul’s mood throughout this passage?

 

  1. In what ways had Paul’s imprisonment helped the gospel on its way?

 

  1. Why did Paul’s imprisonment have such a positive effect on the Christians in Ephesus (where Paul was imprisoned)?

 

  1. What are some ways that Christ could be proclaimed out of “envy and rivalry” these days and what can we learn from Paul’s response?

 

  1. What can we learn from Paul when we find our plans don’t work out the way we envisioned?

 

Read Philippians 1:18-30

  1. Paul struggles with whether it would be better to die in custody or to be released and live. What are the advantages for Paul in either outcome?

 

  1. How can Paul’s attitude serve as a model for us in times of waiting?

 

  1. What is one circumstance right now in which you need to maintain your belief and hope in the midst of troubling feelings?

 

  1. What are some circumstances in your life in which God has proved Himself faithful regardless of how you felt?

How to Study God’s Word

  1. Why should people read the Bible?

 

  1. What challenges do you face when reading the Bible?

 

  1. What prevents you from studying the Bible?

 

  1. What Bible study resources do you use, or that you are aware of?

 

  1. What tips would you give to someone who wants to start reading the Bible? What facts would be helpful to know?

 

  1. What are you going to change so that you read your Bible more regularly?

 

  1. What resources will you use?

 

  1. Who are you going to study the Bible with?

 

  1. Who will hold you accountable?

How God’s Word Comes Alive

  1. What are different ways that God speaks to us?

 

Read John 14:8-11

  1. How do we know that the Bible is God’s Word?

 

Read John 14:18-26

  1. Why did Jesus send the Holy Spirit?

 

  1. What role does the Holy Spirit play in my understanding of God’s Word?

 

  1. If someone were to ask you how to go about hearing God’s voice while reading the Bible, what advice would you give?

 

  1. Do you hear God speaking to you through His Word?

 

  1. Give an example of how God spoke to you through the Bible.

 

Building My Life On God’s Word

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  1. What are the different reasons people read the Bible?

 

  1. Why are people not reading the Bible?

 

Read James 1:19-25

  1. Is being angry wrong? Explain.

 

  1. What are the dangers of being angry?

 

  1. James calls his readers into action (v.21). What exactly does he want his readers to do, or to stop doing? Explain or give examples.

 

  1. When does going to church regularly, and listening to a sermon, become a danger to Christ-followers?

 

  1. Give examples of how to be a doer of God’s Word.

 

  1. How do you put God’s Word into practice in your life?

 

Breaking Down the Characters of Christmas: The Surrendered

1. What comes to your mind when you hear the word ‘surrender’?

2. Is there a difference between surrender and submission?

Read Matthew 1:18-25:

3. What difficulties did Joseph face?

4. Does God still speak to us in dreams?

5. How did Joseph respond to God’s word?

Read Luke 1:26-38:

6. What was so troublesome about the angel’s greeting? (v.29)

7. Mary had difficulties believing in a virgin birth. Do you? Explain.

8. How did Mary respond to the angel’s message?

9. How are Joseph and Mary’s responses an example of discipleship?

10. Where do you need to submit to a word or a calling from God?

Breaking Down the Characters of Christmas: The Seekers

  1. What is wisdom? What characterizes a wise person?

 

  1. How do you gain wisdom? Or are you born with it?

 

  1. Read Matthew 2:1-12. What do we really know about the magi and what is myth?

 

  1. Why do you think Matthew includes this story in his gospel?

 

  1. Read 1 Kings 10:1-13. What parallels do you see between this story and the story of the magi? What are the differences?

 

  1. Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. Paul says that in Christ we see God’s wisdom (v.30). How does Christ display God’s wisdom? How does it compare to other ‘wisdoms’?

 

  1. If we find all wisdom in Christ what do you need to do to gain wisdom for life?

 

Breaking Down the Characters of Christmas: The Stubborn

  1. Share moments in your life when you tried to prevent the inevitable. What would you do differently in hindsight?

 

  1. Jesus was born into a time of violence and fear, spearheaded by a paranoid, neurotic king. But God made sure His Son survived. How was this knowledge a source of comfort to His people then, and can be for you today?

 

  1. Jesus, together with Joseph and Mary, lived as refugees in Egypt for several years. How would this be relevant today?

 

  1. Innocent children had to die because Herod wanted to secure his power. How does this play out in our society today? Where do you see the powerful and mighty defend their status at the cost of the innocent? Has the church ever done that in history?

 

  1. The Messiah came and survived in spite of the efforts of Herod. You can’t stop the unstoppable God. How do you see this play out today? In your life?

Sowing & Reaping – Learning Generosity

1. “You reap what you sow!” To what areas of life does this principle apply? Give examples.

2. Where does this principle not apply?

Read 2 Corinthians 9:

3. Paul is encouraging the churches he had planted to collect money for the poor of the church in Jerusalem. How did Paul make sure that that the generous gift of the church in Corinth was ready at the time of collection? (v.1-5)

4. How exactly does the principle of sowing and reaping apply to giving? (v.6) Give examples.

5. What kind of giving is acceptable before God? (v.7)

6. Why can a follower of Christ afford to be a generous giver? (v.8-11)

7. What effect does the gift of the Gentile churches have on the Jewish church in Jerusalem? (v.12-15)

8. What insights have I gained through this text for my own giving?

Praying Persistently

Read Luke 11:5-8

1. What does this parable teach about God?

2. What does Jesus want me to know about prayer as He shares this parable?

3. How does this parable apply to my life? What would cause me to make God “get out of bed and help me”?

Read Luke 18:1-8

4. If you compare this parable with the one in Luke 11 above, what are the similarities and what are the differences?

5. Why does Jesus tell this story? What is His purpose? What does He want to tell us?

6. What light does v.7-8 shed on circumstances that call for persistent prayer?

7. Summarize what insights you have gained for your own prayer life as you contemplate these texts!

Praying Confidently

Share your experiences with prayer:
1. Are all your prayers answered?

2. Do you pray regularly?

3. How do you pray?

4. What hinders you from praying?

Read Matthew 7:7-12
5. What is prayer according to v.7-8?

6. These verses do not only apply to our prayers. They also describe how we are to relate to other people (consider the context in v.1-6). Explain.

7. What does v.9-11 teach you about prayer?

8. What assumptions about God may hinder you from praying?

9. When you pray, what image of God do you have in mind, consciously or subconsciously?

10. How does v.12 fit into Jesus’ teaching on prayer?

11. How will you apply what you have learned into your own prayer life?

When Crisis Comes

1. Share a time in your life when you faced a crisis or a major challenge. What did you do? What was the outcome?

Read 2 Chronicles 20:1-31

2. What was the threat Israel had to face and what was Jehoshaphat’s initial reaction? Can you relate?

3. Admitting that he didn’t know what to do, what steps did Jehoshaphat take facing the looming crisis? Is there any wisdom you could gain from that?

4. Observe how Jehoshaphat prays. Instead of rushing into God’s presence with Israel’s problem what did he do? Why did he start his prayer that way?

5. What can you learn from Jehoshaphat when you turn to God in prayer facing a crisis?

6. How did God answer Jehoshaphat’s prayer? What does it tell you about how God may answer your prayers?

7. Although God promised that the battle is His, the people of Israel still had to obey and do their part. They sing and pray Psalm 136 (v.21). What may God want you to do as you face your crisis?

8. When has God given you reason to rejoice over your enemies?

9. What do you hear God telling you through this story? What do you need to do?

Consider God’s Works

1. How much time do you think you spend watching TV, on social media, on browsing the internet, per day, combined?

2. In light of what you know about God, what gives you reason to praise Him?

Read Psalm 111:

3. How would you put verse 1 into practice the next time to you meet with other Christ followers?

4. Do you agree with what the author says in verses 2-4? Explain.

5. What events and stories, either from the Bible, or from your own life, come to your mind when you read verses 5-10?

6. How is verse 10 true? Can you give examples?

7. Make a point to take at least five minutes each day this week to ponder God’s work in your life, or around you, and praise God for it. Observe what effect it has on you.

An ABC for a Crisis

1. Can you a remember a time in your life when you faced an existential crisis (illness, danger, money, etc.) but somehow you came through, maybe by God’s intervention or the help of others?

2. How did you feel when you got “saved”?

3. What did you learn from it?

Read Psalm 34:

4. What is the occasion for this Psalm? (1 Samuel 21:10-14)

5. Put yourself in David’s shoes. What must it have felt like to be on the run knowing that Saul is out to kill him and as well as the people of Gath? How did it feel to escape certain death?

6. How does David describe his experience in hindsight? (v.3-6)

7. What was his first reaction? (v.1-2)

8. What lessons did he learn? (v.7-10)

9. Summarize the advice David gives to those who face a crisis. (v.11-22)

10. What have you heard God saying to you through this Psalm?

11. What are you going to do about it?

God Turns Life Around

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1. How does this Psalm characterize a fool?

2. How does this kind of foolishness manifest itself today?

3. Do you agree with God’s assessment in v.2-3? Explain.

Read Romans 1:18-32; 3:10-18
4. Where in this text do you find similarities with Psalm 14?

Read Psalm 14:4-6
5. What do fools overlook?

6. Can you give evidence of the fact that God is with those who obey Him and that he protects them?

Read Psalm 14:7
7. Has God started to restore His people already or does this still lie in the future? Who are His people?

8. What do you think God wants you to do in response to what He is telling you through this Psalm?

This Is My God

Imagine someone asks you:

Where does God live? Where can I find God?

What is your answer?

 

Read Psalm 48:

Where did the poet locate God?

 

What do Matthew 1:23; 18:20; 28:20; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 tell us about where God is to be found today?

 

Where have you seen or experienced God at work this week? (v.4-8)

 

What does worship have to do with meditation? (v.9-11)

 

When you think of how you have experienced God recently, what gives you reason to worship? What do you want to tell God?

 

What would you want people who are searching for God to see so that they can find God? Where would you want them to look for God? (v.12-14)

 

What do you sense God is telling you as you study this Psalm?

 

What does God want you to do?

 

 

No More Tears to Cry

  1. “No More Tears to Cry” – can you relate to that experience? How?

 

  1. Have you ever felt that what you’ve done is unforgivable?

 

  1. What are common ways to cope with despair and pain?

 

Read Psalm 130:

  1. As you try to recapture the feeling of despair how does v.4 sound to you?

 

  1. Why does God forgive?

 

  1. Can you identify with v.5-6? How?

 

  1. The poet shares how he eventually found comfort in God’s promises (v.7-8). What would you like to share with others about how God comforted you?

 

  1. How has God spoken to you through this Psalm?

 

  1. What do you think you need to do?