Following the Path of Brokenness

Genesis 32

Nov 29, 09 

1. What are some things that you have placed your confidence in?

2. Have you lost confidence in them yet?

3. What are some things in life that have blindsided or broken you?

4. How did you get through the brokenness?   

5. Did these things that broke you make you more or less dependant upon God? How?

6. What are some things you have "wrestled over" with God?

7. What area of life do you feel is in the path of brokenness right now?

8. How and where do you "get hold" of God?

9. How where you changed when you encountered God?

10. What pot in life needs to be broken for the light of God to shine through you?

"Tis The Season (For)giving

Nov. 22, 09 

Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, "Have everyone leave my presence!" So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh's household heard about it.  Genesis 45:1-3

 When you read Joseph's story, what are some of your reactions?

Which side of the story have you been on, needing the forgiveness of extending it?

What is your first reaction when you get hurt by someone?

 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.  Matthew 6:14-15

Is it possible to be a Christian and not be forgiving? Explain your answer.

If you are still working through the act of forgiveness where are you in that process? i.e. angry, sad, close but not sure...

What is your reaction to the statement, "You cannot heal until you have forgiven?"

What is your is your reaction to the statement, "Your ministry and witness will not be effective until you forgive."

WHO IS IT THAT YOU HAVE NOT FORGIVEN?

A Living Hope

1st Peter 1:3-9

Nov. 15, 09

In the midst of life, and all that comes with it, how do you praise God?

Describe some things throughout life that have given you hope.

Do they still give you hope? Explain.

Describe the quality of hope that you find in your relationships, finances or material possessions.

Is it bad or wrong to have hope in these things? What is a good perspective to have when thinking about these things?

Describe what it was like when you lost hope in something or someone that was important to you.

In Verse 7 Peter talks about how everything will perish and that our faith needs refining to be proved genuine. What is the one thing in your life right now that God wants to refine to prove your faith genuine?

Was there a time in your life that you felt God was failing you in your time of need? How did it turn out?

What are the things that Christians are called to put their hope in? (Salvation, return of Christ, the resurrection of the saints, God's love)

"It's all in your Mind"

ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

Nov. 8, 2009

Giving it away...have you ever found yourself giving part of your soul away? What was that like?

Jesus came to give life. What are some ways that Jesus was able to give your soul back?

CONTENTENT THIEVES

Pastor Dave talked about comparing and how it stole our contentment.

Have you ever been compared to someone else? What was that like? How often do you catch yourself comparing to someone else?

What areas would you have more in if you could?

What is your "Tile" experience? How did it turn out?

What are your areas of discontent today? (Material, spiritual, circumstances) What do you think God needs to do to bring you to contentment?

CHOOSE TO BE...

...I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation...I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13

Pastor Dave talked about choosing contentment and controlling you emotions.

The verse in Philippians gives us some insight. Talk about this verse and what part gives you strength to control your thoughts and attitude.

Paul writes..."I have learned the secret of being content..."  What do you think that secret is?

What is one thing that you are thankful for?

This week: express your gratitude to one person this week. Share with the group how that affected you and the other person.

Truth Or Snare

  Nov 1, 09

1. If it has happened to you, tell of a time when you believed something to be true and it wasn't. What happened?

2. Pastor Dave talked about our "Blind Spots" today. What are some of those blind spots for you? What catches you by surprise?

3. Who do you ask to help you with your blind spots?

RECOGNIZE THE LIES

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. Proverbs 14:12

4. Ever do something that seemed right but ended in disaster? What was it?

5. What lies has Satan told you about yourself?  Have you ever found support for these lies in Scripture?

6. What messages, philosophies, advertising or lies do you see about happiness in the world today?

7. What lies has Satan told you about God?

RESIST THE LIES

8. What are some truths you have learned about yourself, God and Life that help you combat Satan's lies?

9. What is you line that you drew?  What is your testimony about this line drawn?

RENEW YOUR MIND

10. What is a Scripture that helps you stay on track and centered on the truth of God.

11. What lie did you believe that is now been replaced by Scripture.

12. What one thing did you take away from this session?

Strongholds

Oct 25, 09

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

What are a couple of things about today's message that really spoke to you?

Pastor Dave opened the message by talking about our "inner conversations". What we dwell on are of paramount importance. What is important to you? What is it that you dwell on?

Our strongholds are "entrenched" "hidden" and difficult to attack. What are some defenses we employ when our stronghold is exposed?

Discuss the statement "We become so familiar with our thoughts, that we don't even realize we are thinking them".

What are some thoughts and strongholds that you have broken free from?

How did God show you those strongholds? How did you even become aware of those strongholds?

What strategies did God give you to break free from strongholds in your life?

"We become susceptible to deceptive thoughts when we do not know who we are in Christ and we don't know He can change us". What do you think Pastor Dave was talking about when he said this?

What are some ways to protect against this?

..."and we take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5

How do we do this?

What are some truths about God that you have learned...that have changed the way you see him and yourself?

What one thing did you get from this session?

Ephesians 6:12-18 Use this week to hide this Scripture in your heart.

Attitude Check

October 18, 2009

For as he thinks within himself, so he is. Proverbs 23:7

Would you say you are more prone to positive or negative thoughts?

What people, events and experiences most influenced your perspective?

What can you do to become a more positive person?

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

Which words in this verse speak to you? Which ones would you emphasize?

In what way could memorizing this verse impact the way you think?

You were taught...to put off your old self...to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created like God in true rightousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24

In your own life, what does it mean to put off the old self?

How much have you put off?

What are soem things you need to continue to put off?

What would your "new self" look like?

Bad company corrupts good character. 1 Corinthians 15:33

How do you deal with bad company that you may have to be around?

...we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians10:5

What are some ways you can "take captive" a thought?

How do you make a negative thought obedient to Christ?

...the peace of God, which trancends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brothers, whatever is true...noble...right...pure...lovely...admirable-if anythingis excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Phillipians 4:7-8

Give an example of how you have replaced a negative thought with a positive one.