Winterfest E-mail Special

USE THE QUESTIONS BELOW TO TURN YOUR DVD INTO A SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY

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Small Group Discussion Questions for MEET ME IN BAGGAGE CLAIM:

(Copy and paste these into a document for your  use)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR LESSON ONE

1.  How do you feel when someone goes through your baggage or looks through your purse or wallet? 

     What about someone looking into your past or personal history?  What triggers those feelings?

2.  Read I John 1:5-10.  What problems does John seem to be addressing?  What is the result of denying sin in our lives?  What is the result of confessing sin in our lives? 

     Why do we struggle to do the latter over the former?

3.  Read Psalm 32:1-5.  How would you describe Davids experience when we tried to "hide his baggage"?  What dangers are there in admitting our baggage to others? 

4.  How would your respond to someone who said "My baggage is between me and God.  No one else needs to no anything about my personal life or past."

5.  What would it mean for your group to be a safe "baggage claim" zone?  Pray together for God to help your group be that kind of place.      

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR LESSON TWO

1.  What kind of special markings have you seen people put on their bags to help identify them?  Why is it important to be able to "identify" my spiritual baggage? 

2.  Read I Corinthians 15:9-10.  How does Paul claim his own baggage?  Why do you think he chose to do that?  How did it impact his readers?

3. Read Ephesians 2:4-10.  In what way does God get the glory when I claim my baggage and own my habits or hang-ups?  Which of the 5 results of claiming our baggage

     is most important to you right now?

4.  Read II Peter 1:5-9. How would you respond to someone who asked, "If my sins are forgotten by God, why is it important for me to remember them? 

     Shouldnt I forget all that baggage?"       

 5,  Is there baggage that you should ID with your group so that they can pray for you as you get Gods continued help with it? Pray together for the courage and

     clarity to "ID your baggage."

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR LESSON THREE

1.  What keeps you from accepting help from someone when you need it?  How do you feel when someone provides help when you really need it?

2.  Read Matthew 11:28-29. How does Jesus describes us?  How do those words fit your life today?  What other words might you use?

     What does a "light yoke" mean?

3.  Read Romans 3:20-23.  What is the bad news about humanity here?  What is the good news?  What stands in between the two? 

     How does accepting the gift change our view of our baggage?

4.  How would you respond to this statement, "You cant get help with your baggage until you admit you have it and you have identified it."  

     Why is it an important truth?      

 5,  What reasons would you today for not letting Jesus help with your baggage?  Pray together that God will give your group the courage to

     identify their bags and hand them over to the Lord today.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR LESSON FOUR

1.  How do you feel when you hear someone else be open about their faults and struggles?  What does it do for your relationship? How does it impact your openness?

2.  Read I Corinthians 6:9-11. Why does paul bring up their baggage?  What impact does this have on his message to them?  How would you have felt hearing

     those facts about your fellow Christians past?

3.  Read Mark 5:1-20.  What does Jesus ask the ex-demoniac to do after he is healed?  How difficult might this have been?  What would his testimony have sounded like?

4.  Which of the 3 reasons to share to "let your baggage talk" is most important to you?  If you had 3 minutes to share with someone how Gods has helped you deal

     with your own baggage, how would you tell that story.  Try sharing it with your group.      

 5.  We need to be ready to share the story of Gods grace in our lives with any who will listen.  Pray that God will prepare you to share with someone about your baggage this week.

Small Group Discussion Questions for ONE IN CHRIST:

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Lesson One: A Holy Union

1. How was the covenant of marriage portrayed when you were a child in movies and TV?  Has that changed today?  If so, how has that change impacted the way

               Christians view the marriage covenant?

     2.       Read Matthew 19:3-6.  What reasons does Christ give for honoring marriage vows?  Why does he suggest that divorce came into being? 

               How serious in the covenant of marriage to Christ? 

     3.      What does "God has joined together" mean?  In what ways is God the unseen hand in a Christian marriage?  How should this impact the way we think about our marriages ?

     4.      Read Malachi 2:14-16.  What does the prophet mean by "breaking faith"?  How has this action impacted their relationship with God?  What does this passage teach us today?

     5.      Respond to the statement:  "If youre not happy in a marriage, its better to just get out now."   Review the commitment at the end of the lesson and pray that

               commitment as you pray for all our marriages.

Lesson Two: The Ties that Bind

1.       When you think of marriages you respect, what are the attributes that come to mind?  How have you seen those acted out in day-to-day living?  How do those actions form a

          cycle in the relationship?

2.       Read Ephesians 5:21-33.  How do the instructions to men and women differ in the passage?  What is the significance of the difference?  How have you experienced that?

3.       How would you define submission "out of reverence for Christ"?  How does this differ from submission to authority?  What are the results of Christ-centered submission?

4.       Read Ephesians 4:29-32.  How can our speech meet each others needs and edify one another?  When are you most likely to disobey this verse?  What do you need to seek

          from God to change that pattern?

5.       Review the 3 cycles from the lesson and identify where your relationship is living.  Share one practical step you could take to live out the vow of mutual submission in honor of Christ.

Lesson Three : Torn Asunder

1.       In what ways has divorce touched your life?  What has God taught you through those experiences?

2.       Read Mark 10:2-12.  What did Jesus teach about divorce?  Why has it become so prevalent in our culture?  How can we help the next generation avoid this heartache?

3.       Which of the two metaphors of how marriages are destroyed, earthquake and erosion, is more important for you right now?  Which do you think is the more

          common tool of Satan against Christian marriages?  Why?

4.       Read Job 31:1-4.  What are some practical hedges against an affair that Christians can put in place?  How can we support one another in these?

5.       Review the habits that can erode a marriage.  Which of these do you most need prayers to overcome?  Pray together for the marriages in your group and our congregation.