Is It Normal? Week 2- Is it normal to experience both clarity and cloudiness in our relationships with God?

Miss Sunday's Teaching Conversation? You can listen in with our PODCAST.

Scriptures From Sunday: Matthew 16:5-23, 6:11,31-33; Lk 24:36a, 44-48; Acts 2:14,22-24,32; 2Peter 3:14-16

REFLECT/DISCUSS:

What is you favorite kind of climate? What does the forecast for your ideal day look like?

What is the biggest swing in weather you’ve ever seen? Where have you encountered the thickest fog? Clearest water? Bluest sky?

Do you have more moments of clarity (where you have a good sense of what God is saying to you and is doing in your life) or cloudiness (where you aren’t so sure)?

What strikes you most about the swings between understanding and confusion described in Matthew 16?

Fred suggested some reasons why Peter and the other disciples may not have understood Jesus’ admonition to avoid the yeast of the Pharisees in Mt 16:5-12:

1. We don’t always think like Jesus.

2. We get distracted by the daily, mundane stuff.

3. We forget what God has done for and taught us in the past.

4. We forget that Jesus is with us.

Which of these do you see play out most often in your own journey?

When was the last time you had a significant moment of clarity in your walk with God? What did God reveal to you or help you understand? Did your feelings mirror what Jesus said about Peter in Mt. 6:18-19 (like you had a more solid foundation, your faith was being built up, something had gotten unlocked for you, ready to do spiritual battle)?

Peter heard some things from Jesus that he didn’t understand and didn’t like in Mt. 16:21-23. Has that ever happened to you? Have your beliefs ever opposed what God wanted to do in and through you?

How does Peter’s declaration in 2 Peter 3:14-16 that he doesn’t understand everything that Paul writes in scripture strike you?

Is knowledge and understanding God’s ultimate goal for us? If not, what is?

For Further Study: Read Acts 10. What does this story tell you about the need for continued growth in our understanding of God? Has God ever shown you that the way you were thinking about and living out some part of your faith was off course? Do you think we’ll ever have a complete and flawless understanding of God here on earth?

Is It Normal? Week 1- Is it normal to fluctuate between faith and doubt?

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Scriptures From Sunday: Matthew 14:22-32; 2 Timothy 2:11-14a

REFLECT/DISCUSS:

When is the last time you wondered if something you experienced (in any area of life) was normal- or if it was just you? When were you last able to re-assure someone else who had these kinds of questions?

Have you ever fluctuated between trusting Jesus and doubting? Feeling so confident in your faith and questioning? Being courageous and fearful? Why? What happened? How long did it last? How did it resolve?

Do you think of the story of Peter walking on the water as a story that is more about faith or doubt? Why?

What is there in/about this story that would lead you to believe that Peter showed great faith?

“Moments of victory and faith are often followed by times of challenge and doubt.” Agree or disagree & explain. Has this played out in your life?

In your opinion, were Peter’s doubts and concerns while walking on the water unfounded or legitimate? What kinds of things are distracting you and making you take your eyes off of Jesus? Are they legitimate or unfounded?

How do you imagine Jesus responding to you when your faith fluctuates? What look do you picture on His face? What tone do you hear in His voice? Do you believe He would immediately close the gap to rescue you like He did Peter?

“You have so little faith! Why did you doubt?” Do you read these words of Jesus as an expression of His disappointment and our failure- or more as a statement about our untapped potential when it comes to trusting? Explain.

Do you think that there is any significance to the fact that the wind and waves that distracted Peter stopped after they get back in the boat- not immediately when Jesus rescued Him? What might we learn from this?

Where would you place yourself in this story? What in this text, teaching or debrief speaks most to where you are with Jesus right now? Where do you want to go from here with Him?

LOVE: Heart, Soul & Mind - 8/15/2010

Scripture From Sunday:
Matthew 22:36-38
Proverbs 4:23
Matthew 15:18-19
Psalm 51:10 (NIV & The Message)
Hebrews 4:12
Galations 2:19-20
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Psalm 131:1-2
Romans 12:2
Ephesians 5:15

Teaching Overview:
Jesus' statement in Matthew 22:36-38 is a widely known passage in the Bible: Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

Most people could recite this verse, even people who are disconnected or uninterested in Christianity. These words are printed on mugs. Framed in art. Preached on countless times a year across the world.

But what does it really mean to love God with our heart, soul and mind? Jesus could have been very general here, but He wasn't. He didn't just command us to love Him with everything we are in a general sense; in this passage, He gives us three specifics as to how we love him with everything we are.

If you missed Sunday's message, you can check it out HERE. Below are a few questions for further reflection and discussion:

• How would you describe love in your own words? Is it an emotion or a decision? Why?
• When you think about your heart, what comes to mind?
  
• Read what King Solomon states about the heart in Proverbs 4:23. How does his caution cause you to rethink your thoughts on your heart?
• Jesus makes a strong statement in Matthew 15:18-19 that all unclean things come from the heart. How does Jesus' statement relate to King Solomon's?
• Do you ever find yourself living with a filter, trying desperately to monitor your behavior so nothing ungodly leaks out?
• Why do you think a filter conflicts with what God wants to do in your heart? Read Psalm 51:10 and consider how David's cry reflects God's focus - the heart; cleansing and purifying us at the source.
• Have you ever thought much about your soul? When you think of it, what comes to mind?
• Hebrews 4:12 refers to the Bible's ability to "divide soul and spirit" in us. In other words, the Bible has the capacity and power to make room in us for God to lead? Can you remember a time when this happened to you? Explain.
• In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Paul reminds his readers that Christians "were bought at a price" and are called to live for God's glory, not self-desires. How are you being intentional to make sure God has room to lead in your life? Explain a time when you made the decision to quiet your soul so that God could lead.
• The Bible tells us that loving God with our mind is more than just thinking good thoughts and rebuking bad ones. In fact, Paul states in Romans 12:2 that our mind needs to be renewed completely - rewired according to God's wisdom, which is completely different than the world's. Can you recall something specific in your worldview that God has been reshaping? Explain.
• Our thoughts influence our beliefs and our beliefs shape our actions. Do you agree? If so, how has this proven true in your own life?
  

Offerings Week 5- Less Have To, More Want To

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Scriptures From Sunday: Acts 4:34-37, 5:1-6; 2 Corinthians 8:1-7, 9:6-8; Luke 21:1-4

REFLECT/DISCUSS:

What motivates you? (Ex. Success? Fear of failure? Praise? Criticism? Etc.)

Which do you think is more important & why- having good circumstances or a good attitude?

How would you describe your attitude about offering your time, talents and resources to God? How about your motivations to give?

What have you been taught about giving in church settings- both directly and indirectly?

Do you think believers have to give? Need to give? Should want to give? Some/all of the above? Which motivates you the most?

What is your reaction to the story of Ananias & Sapphira? What do you think the differences were between their and Barnabas’ offerings?

What kind of pressures might Ananias & Sapphira felt that prompted them to give an offering their hearts weren’t behind?

Read 2 Cor. 8:1-5. What strikes you most about the way these believers gave? What, if anything, would you hope to emulate in your own life & giving?

Have you ever been guilted into giving? What happened? Do you think God was honored by that?

What strikes you most about the story of the widow who gave all she had in Luke 21:1-4? What do you think Jesus would call us to emulate about her offering?

When is the last time you gave an offering that required faith on your part? What happened?

Which would most represent a next step of growth for you- giving joyfully, generously or from faith? Which motivation do you long to leave behind the most- giving from pressure, obligation or guilt?