Discussion question for September 13, 2013.  NOTE: No meeting August 30 or September 6.

Your soul (mind, will and emotions) was designed to be in communion with the Holy Spirit through your spirit.  How have you nurtured your soul in the past?  What happens when your soul and spirit are disconnected?  How can you be more attuned to your spirit?  What can you do to increase the influence of the Spirit on your spirit?

Discussion question for August 23, 2013

Everyone knows someone engaged in sinful behavior, because it affects us all.  How do you respond to a person that does not struggle to overcome sin?  What attitude should you take toward the sinner that seeks your approval?  Whom has God called you to be in regards to family members that fit in this category?  How will you live out that identity for him or her?

Discussion question for August 16, 2013.

Being forgiven by God means we are a new creation and He changes our identity retroactively.  How then should we view others that sin? How persistent is a new identity?  What is your response to a report of a failure in a Christian leader?  What protection do you have for balancing law and love in your response?

Discussion question for August 2, 2013.

Steve introduced the illustration of eradicating blackberry vines as a metaphor for dealing with strongholds.  How can our sin nature be so persistent?  What tools are available to defeat it?  What will keep them from returning?  How do you measure success in your spiritual walk?

Discussion question for July 26, 2013.

In 2 Corinthians 3:3 Paul states: “you show that you are a letter from Christ.”  How does that describe your life right now?  Who do you think is reading this letter?  What impact are you having by what you communicate?  How should your letter be edited?

Discussion question for July 12, 2013.  Note:  No Meeting on July 5, 2013.

The connection between a man’s relationship with his earthly father and heavenly father is well known.  How has your relationship with God been influenced by your relationship with your dad?  How is your relationship with your child or children influencing them?  What do you use to measure your success in relationships?  How will you overcome your past and present weaknesses in this area?

Discussion question for June 28, 2013.

Big and little transitions are part of life, such as a change of employment or retirement.  How is your calling affected by changes?  What about your purpose is unchangeable?  How has a past transition helped you refine your call?  What is one thing you can do to prepare for the next transition?

Discussion question for June 21, 2013.

Now that we have mastered the skill of having crucial conversations with family members, how can we use that skill in conversations with others?  How would you approach a co-worker that seems to disagree with your values?  Why would you engage in this kind of conversation? What would you do to influence young people as they are forming opinions?  What is your “back-out strategy” for when conversations turn irretrievably bad?

Discussion question for June 14, 2013.

We talked about the first step in having a crucial conversation: know why it is important to you.  This requires introspection and truth finding, especially at the throne of God.  Now you’re ready to engage the conversation with another.  Where do you begin?

Discussion question for June 7, 2013.

Sometimes you need to confront someone about a conflict while personally remaining in a healthy balance between judgment and compassion.  What can you do to avoid escalation of conflict?  What is your goal in having these crucial conversations?  How can you introduce a sensitive topic to your wife, child, or other member of your community?  What are your expectations for a successful conversation of this type?