Discussion question for February 16, 2024.  NOTE: No meeting on 2/2 or 2/9.

When we are secure in our identity we know what we have to offer to a community.  What are the key characteristics of belonging, and how do you know you are accepted?  How does your relationship with God demonstrate that you belong with Him?  How would you define “meaningful participation” in a relationship or group setting?  What attributes have you had affirmed by someone you trust?  How else have you discovered your gifts in a group setting?  How do you know when you are working in your strengths versus striving to adapt to expectations or cope with stress?

Discussion question for January 28, 2024.

Spending time with God is important, as we discussed last week, but having His heart is vital.  Why did God describe David as a “man after His own heart?”  In what ways are you like David?  How do you know the condition of your heart?  What tempts you to operate with a contrary heart?  How do you distinguish between the operation of your mind and your heart?  What feeds your heart?  How do you recognize the times, topics, or conditions when your heart is misaligned?  What do you want to do about them?

Discussion question for January 19, 2024.

God is omnipresent, and therefore always with you.  What must happen for you to realize that you are spending time with Him?  What are some of your favorite ways to interact with Him?  How do you manage your attention span?  What difference does it make to you when you spend time with Him? How does your countenance reveal His presence?  What must you eliminate from your life (or day) to make room for Him?  What process or procedure helps you when you spend time with Him?

Discussion question for January 12, 2024.

Dallas Willard says: “God has made it possible for us to determine, to some significant degree, what kind of person we will become.”  What disciplines do you practice to influence who you will become (prayer, study, worship, confession, fasting, silence, fellowship, solitude)?  How much time and attention do you give to these pursuits?  What keeps you motivated from day to day?  What changes have you seen in your life because of them?  How do these activities help draw you closer to God?  How do you encourage those younger in the faith to influence who they will become?

Discussion question for January 5, 2024.

God chooses to invite His children into His projects so we can share in what He is doing.  What do you think God will have you do this coming year?  Who are you praying for?  What big breakthrough would you like to see?  How are you setting your mind and heart to be available to God?  What is the most effective way God can communicate with you?  How available are you to His plans?  Who would you like to be in covenant with to see the work of God come to pass?

Discussion question for December 22, 2023.

Ephesians 4:15 uses the phrase “speak the truth in love” in the context of helping people to grow in spiritual maturity.  What experience have you had in sharing the gospel to someone who has never heard it?  How do you share about love to someone who has not experienced love?  What are your most effective ways to communicate with others?  How can you speak the truth to someone you care about very deeply?  What is at risk when you share openly with a family member, a close friend, or another person who is not heeding the voice of God?  How does the context of Galatians 4:16 help form your communication strategy?

Discussion question for December 15, 2023.

Peter wrote that we should always be ready to give an answer for the hope we possess.  How do you distinguish between hope, faith, and trust?  How do you answer when someone asks you?  What have you done to prepare your answer?  When do you defend your answer, and when do you offer it and let it go?  How do you walk alongside someone who is hopeless?  How do you refill your hope rather than allow another to drain it?

The Bible is considered by most Christians to be the inerrant and infallible word of God.  How often do you read from the Bible?  What benefit do you receive while reading it?  What are your hopes or expectations when you read?  What helps you to understand what you read?  How do you treat scripture that doesn’t seem to make any sense to you?  What answer do you give to Biblical skeptics?  What encouragement can you give to a new believer who didn’t grow up with the Bible?  What did you hear from the Lord through His written word recently?

Discussion question for December 1, 2023.

We have observed that cults and religions disallow their followers from questioning their faith.  What risk are they trying to avoid?  When have you questioned your faith? What happened to your understanding when you did?  How do you feel when you discover that someone is questioning their faith?  What is God’s attitude toward those that wonder if He is true?  What tools have you used to help you answer your questions or the questions of others? How do you come alongside someone who is questioning their faith?  What do you do with tough questions that you aren’t able to answer?

Discussion question for November 17, 2023.

Isaiah 30:15 says, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”  What does waiting on the Lord look like in your life?  What helps you to wait patiently for the Lord?  What are you waiting for?  How does waiting help you build relationship and dependence on Him?  What happens to you when you choose not to wait on the Lord?  How does Lamentations 3:25-26 encourage you?  What can you say to someone who is waiting that will bring them into a deeper relationship with God?