Sacrifice

How would you define sacrifice?

When have you sacrificed for another?

Does true sacrifice have to hurt?

Day of Atonement

Read Leviticus 5 or 16

What does the fact that this "Day of Atonement" took place only once a year (16:34) tell you about its importance?

What does the fact that it had to be repeated every year ("A Lasting Ordinance") tell you about human nature?

And what about the lasting effect of this sacrifice?

Check out Hebrews 9:9-14, chapter 10, or 13:11-13

Jesus

Read Matthew 5:17-20; Luke 24: 27,44

How has Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament?

What's Your Bull?

Read Leviticus 4:1-4

What do you need to bring to God & slaughter it?

What is your favorite "scapegoat" to blame when things go wrong (16:7-10)?

How have you tried to change?

What are you going to do with your sin (bull)?

Read 1 Peter 1:18-21

Discussion Questions

Describe a time in your life when you faced intimidating circumstances.

What has challenged you, changed you or confused you from this week's sermon?

Of the three "giants" mentioned in the sermon (unbelief, fear, or comfort and complacency), which are you most likely to struggle with?

Discussion Questions

What situation in your life (home, work, school, church, relationships or responsibilities, etc.) do you have a choice of voices (or reports) to listen to?

What choice will you make based on God's character and His presence in your life?

Discussion Questions

Have you seen stubbornness displayed (perhaps your own) recently? What was your reaction to it?

Although stubbornness can sometimes be viewed positively, in this week's passage it is viewed negatively. Why? What determines whether being stubborn is a positive or negative quality?

What has challenged you, changed you or confused you from this week's sermon or the Scripture listed above?

Stubbornness can often be rooted in things like:

• Misconceptions about the nature of self, life or others
• A fear and sense of insecurity
• A strategy to protect one's self

What reasons does Moses give the people as a motivation to change their hearts and stop being stubborn?

In what area is God calling you to a more abundant life?

What reasons do you have to stop being stubborn about it?

Discussion Questions

What has challenged you, changed you or confused you from this week's sermon or the Scripture listed above?

Describe a time when you've seen someone stuck at a barrier, unable to move forward (could be physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual).

What do you need to bury from the past so that you can step into the future? What barrier is keeping you from becoming all God wants you to be?

When you think of using the Bible to help you move forward, which of the following is the hardest for you to do? Which do you need the most right now?

• Talking about the Word
• Thinking about the Word
• Obeying what the Word says

In what area of your life is fear or discouragement keeping you from stepping out in faith?

Read Joshua 25:15. How does this verse connect to where you are now?

Discussion Questions

Can you describe a time when you may have been in a cycle similar to the Israelites?

What has challenged you, changed you or confused you from this week's sermon or the Scripture listed above?

Are you more likely to find your identity in your circumstances or in what God says about you? What influences or shapes your thoughts about yourself?

How does the source of your identity affect your willingness to either live life in faith or live life waiting for more of something (more strength, more courage, more _____________)?

When you are facing something difficult, do you tend to focus more on your resources or your weaknesses? How do you bring your faith in God into the equation?

Do you recall a time in your life where it seemed your resources were being reduced at the same time your need was growing? How has that shaped your faith?

God gave Gideon an impossible task and wanted to be glorified (honored) through the victory. How can you face your current situation with faith in a way that will glorify God in the outcome?

Discussion Questions

What has challenged you, changed you or confused you from this week's sermon or the book of Ruth?

We can find it difficult to find God in our broken (or perhaps boring) world. How does the story of Ruth affect your view of God's work in the midst of the brokenness or the mundane?

Is there some situation in your life (past or present) that you just don't understand? How does the story of Ruth impact your view of God's work in that situation?

Read Romans 8:28. In what way does the story of Ruth illustrate, or connect to this verse?

We only live for one lifetime. How does having a limited-time perspective affect how we perceive God's work?

How can you choose change in order to face your current situation with increased faith, trusting God with the outcome?

Discussion Questions

What has challenged you, changed you or confused you from this week's sermon or the book of 1 Samuel?

What area(s) of your life are you finding it difficult to obey God in?

What hinders your obedience to God? (Prayerfully asking the Holy Spirit to search us and give clarity on this area may help!)

How does concern for image affect

• Culture?
• Your family?
• The Church?
• Yourself?

How does the idea of "substance over style" connect to your life at this point in time? Is there some area of your life where that's reversed now?

Read John 14:15. How does Jesus' instruction in this verse connect with what we know about grace?

How is God nudging you to take a step further in your obedience to Him?

What has challenged you, changed you or confused you from this week's sermon or the book of Ruth?

Discussion Questions

What has challenged you, changed you or confused you from this week's sermon or the book of 2 Samuel?

What areas of sin do you think your generation is more susceptible to? What about in the church? Are these areas a struggle for you, or are there others?

Read 2 Samuel 12:1-7. Nathan came to David with both subtlety (the story) and boldness ("you are the man") to confront David's sin. What has been your experience with the confrontation of sin? In hindsight, was it needed? What did you learn from that experience?

In what area are you prone to going down the road of sin instead of returning to innocence? What might the cost be in continuing down the road? What could be gained in returning to innocence?

Read 1 John 1:9. Sin is difficult to talk about, yet the remedy to sin (once committed) has a communal aspect to it (with the principle of private sin, private confession; public sin, public confession). How have you seen this work?

Read Psalm 51 and 2 Corinthians 5:17. How well do you do with asking for and receiving God's full and complete forgiveness? What about with other humans? What is God moving you to change in your view of sin and the return to innocence?

Discussion Questions

What has challenged you, changed you or confused you from this week's sermon or the book of 1 Kings?

Can you describe a time when you were running on empty? Does that describe you now?

Which of the three main points (rest, release my frustration, and remember & refocus on God) is easiest for you? Which is most challenging?

Which do you need most right now? How might God be providing that for you?

Read Lamentations 3:19-24. How do you balance honesty about the hard things in life while still trusting the Lord?

What do you need to think, believe, or do in order to live out the rest, release, remember & refocus God might be calling you to today?

Discussion Questions

Everyone living has experienced pain; you can't outrun it
• What pain have you experienced that you wish you could have outrun?
• How have you seen pain get redeemed in your life?

The church thrives when its back is against the wall.
• What does it look like for us to thrive here and now?
• How do we thrive as families or communities?

What circumstances are out of your control now?

We want a show, but God wants our hearts.
• How can you surrender your life to Jesus in the small moments of being at home more this week?

Discussion Questions

What has challenged you, changed you or confused you from this week's sermon or the book of 1 Chronicles?

Read 1 Chronicles 13:5-14 (about Uzza & the Ark) and then 15:2-4, 12-15 about David’s preparation to move the Ark the second time.

• We see David shift from
  1. a place of being angry and fearful of God (13:11-12)
  2. to a place of obedience (the verses from chapter 15)
  3. to a place of praise and thanksgiving (chapter 16)
• What did David think/believe/do to move through that sequence?
• Do you think this change was genuine? Why or why not?

David’s shift through that sequence involved a passage of time. If you are close to someone who is in a phase similar to David’s phase 1, how can you walk alongside them through it?

In the sermon, Johnny used a number of “Un-” words to describe life:

• Unpredictable
• Unstable
• Unreliable
• Uninteresting
• Unclear
• Unsure
• Uncertain

Have you ever felt like one or more of those words described life for you, or perhaps even God Himself?

What did you do about it? Or if it’s a current situation, what can you do about it?

This week, what do you need to think, believe, or do to remain grounded in God’s glory?

Discussion Questions

What has challenged you, changed you, or confused you from this week's sermon or the book of 2 Chronicles?

Read 1 Chronicles 13:5-14. How does that verse impact you, given our current situation?

When you think through Jehoshaphat's whole prayer,

• What similarities does it have to your prayers?
• What differences?

Which of the points from the sermon challenge you? Which comes more naturally?

• I pray first
• I keep my eyes on God
• I have to humble myself
• I thank God by faith
• I look for the good in the bad

This week, what one thing will you change because of God's Word in this passage?

Discussion Questions

What has challenged you, changed you or confused you from this week's sermon or the book of Ezra?

What are some blessings you can recount from the past? How can focusing on the way things used to be (in the "good ole days") trip us up, make us discontent, or cause us to miss what God is wanting to do now?

What portions of your present situation have you accepted with grace? What parts have you fought against? (This could spark a side conversation on how to work to change things for the better while still exercising godly contentment.)

In what way do you need to resolve to obey God right now, in your current situation?

What role could praising God for His goodness play in your resolution to obey Him?

Discussion Questions

What has challenged you, changed you, or confused you from this week's sermon or the book of Nehemiah?

Where have you seen the idea played out that "progress prompts opposition"? Perhaps a situation in politics, in business, or in your life?

Take a few moments in your discussion and celebrate the progress you've made. (A prayer or expression of thanks, a song, or just verbally recognizing it!)

Together, list some possible courses of action that can be taken when you experience opposition. Adding "build and battle" to your list, which one(s) might be needed in your current situation?

In what areas of your life do you need to resolve to keep going, to persevere?

What role does having a group of friends who can encourage and help you play? What is one thing you could do this week to strengthen those relationships?

What role could praising God for His goodness play in your resolution to obey Him?

Discussion Questions

What has challenged you, changed you, or confused you from this week's sermon or the book of Esther?

One of the points of the sermon indicates that God often reveals his will by first putting us in an uncomfortable position. How do you react to those uncomfortable positions? As you think through Esther and Mordecai's reactions of hope and trust no matter the outcome, what situation is God leading you to think of differently?

A somewhat well-known idea from the book of Esther is "for such a time as this" – the thought that God arranges the circumstances of life so that when the right moment comes, we will be in exactly the right place to do His will. Have you seen this in life?

Has God ever seemed absent in your life? When this occurs, what can you conclude about God's character? About His presence in your life?

The sermon pointed out that God often requires us to face one basic question: “Am I willing to do God's will without regard to the consequences?” What step of obedience to God's will do you need to take this week, no matter the consequences?

Discussion Questions

What has challenged you, changed you or confused you from this week's sermon or the book of Job?

Although story/book of Job brings some life's big questions to the forefront, it doesn't answer them all. When God doesn't answer your questions aren't answered, how are you prone to respond?

Have you encountered a time when it's hard to trust God's wisdom rather than demanding to figure out the "why" behind it all?

The reality that the Bible doesn’t answer all of Job's questions (or ours) about suffering should cause us to pause when we are quick to offer advice to people who are suffering. When we face suffering, either in our life or someone's life we are observing, we can tend to simplify God on the one hand, or on the other, accuse God.

• If you were to err in this, which direction would you tend to go?
• What are some ways that we simplify God?
• What are some ways that we accuse Him?
• What are the results of these extremes?

One thing the book does (in chapters 38-41) is contrast the human perspective, wisdom and power with God's perspective, wisdom and power. When occurs within you when you consider the difference in the two?

Another concept that becomes plain in this book is that God honors the way job struggles (chapter 42) – with honesty, authenticity, and ultimate submission to God regardless of the inexplicable suffering. How are you with allowing yourself or others to struggle with God?

The last question I’ll take right from this week's sermon: Will you love & worship God no matter what happens (trusting God with every part of your life, including your future)?

Discussion Questions

What has challenged you, changed you or confused you from this week's sermon or the book of Psalms?

In the sermon, Johnny noted that David asked God, argued with God, and then affirmed his faith in God. Which of those three comes most naturally for you? Which of the three don't come as easily?

• Asking
• Arguing
• Affirming

Can you remember a time when it felt like God was silent? What did you think/feel? How did you come through it?

Read Isaiah 55:8-9.How is God’s silence an example or illustration of this verse?

In verses 5-6 of Psalm 13, list the 3 action verbs David chooses to do. It doesn’t seem God has answered David’s asking or arguing at this point. What causes David to choose these actions?

As you consider your current circumstances, do any of these steps apply to you?

• Do you need to ask God something?
• Perhaps even argue with Him?
• Do you need to affirm your faith in the midst of the unknown or in the midst of His silence?
• Will you take that step now?

Discussion Questions

What has challenged you, changed you or confused you from this week's sermon or the book of Proverbs?

Have you ever needed to make a fresh start?

Read through the 5 points from the sermon:

• Stop making excuses (Proverbs 28:13; 24:10)
• Take an inventory of my life (Proverbs 27:19; Galatians 5:22-23)
• Act in faith (Proverbs 29:25; 1:7)
• Refocus (Proverbs 4:23)
• Trust (Proverbs 3:5-6)
• Do any of those connect with your life now?
• How do these steps connect with God's grace in your life?

How do you wrestle with these two Biblical concepts:

• We are saved by faith alone
• Faith without works is dead

What action do you need to take this week, within His grace, to make this fresh start?

Discussion Questions

What has challenged you, changed you, or confused you from this week's sermon or the book of Ecclesiastes?

In the sermon, these three priority barometers were noted (our schedule, our spending, & our speech). If someone were to follow you around all day, listen to your conversations, and observe your spending from the time you wake up until the time you go to bed, what conclusions would they draw? What questions might they have? What other barometers might there be in your life? (Netflix history? What angers us? What we look forward to most? etc.)

Are there some common threads these barometers point to in your life?

• What are some good readings they give?
• What are some unhealthy readings they give?

What change would you like to make this week toward living a more ultimately meaningful life?

Discussion Questions

What has challenged you, changed you, or confused you from this week's sermon or the book of Song of Solomon?

Have you ever witnessed a declaration of love increase the security of the one being loved? Have you ever seen someone's security damaged?

If your passion is waning, what can you do to ignite love?

What are some really effective ways you've seen investment in friendship happen?

What obstacles to loving others are you experiencing right now?

Though the book is about romantic love:

• What applications can you make toward friendship?
• Church life?
• What kind of impact does this have on loving your enemies?

What love-building step is the Holy Spirit empowering you to take this week?

Discussion Questions

What has challenged you, changed you, or confused you from this week's sermon or the book of Isaiah?

How does this passage increase your faith in Jesus? How does it increase your hope?

Can you think of examples where someone has given first-class allegiance to second-class causes? What were the results?

Have you ever misplaced your allegiance (in big or small ways)?

What obstacles to loving others are you experiencing right now?

The sermon used the illustration of filling a jar with different things in order to show the significance of putting the most important things first. What do you have in your "jar of life" that isn’t one of the most important things? What is the Holy Spirit prompting you to remove from your life? What is He prompting you to put in?