1.What are some false gospels that you have come to hear about Jesus? Have you come to believed any of them?
2.Can you identify areas in your life where you consider Jesus as an optional resource?
3.Do you personally know Jesus? or Do you know about Him only?
How does it impact you to know that there are men and women with such different backgrounds in Paul’s Band of Brothers?
Where in your life do you want to see an “open door for the word?” Over the next 6 weeks, ask the Father everyday for that open door. Let's see what happens!
When you pray, what do you ask for? Track this for one week. Then take one week to focus on “keeping the Lord before you.” Then share with a friend any ways you would change what you ask God for.
Make a list of moments in your life when you are around people who don’t believe in Jesus. Set a reminder for those times to remind you to pray and ask God for the Holy Spirit in those moments.
1-Husbands and wives talk about what is the hardship of living Col 3:18. Why is it so hard for you to live as this passage says?
2-Parents talk to each other about ways you have "provoked your children". you'll be able to identify this by looking for ways that you have discouraged them. Ask God for help together as parents.
3-Talk about your hearts motivation for why you might work hard at your job. Is it for God or for another reason? Talk about those heart motivations and the benefit of working for the lord and not for man.
To check out the works by Nate & Sharon that Erik references, just click on the pictures above or use this link.
1. What are the things that Paul is telling us to put on in Colossians 3:12-17?
2. Why is Paul telling us to put those things on?
3. Of the things Paul tells us to put on which do you want to grow in and why is it a challenge for you?
4. What is it that you are refusing to let go of that keeps stuck in sinful patterns.
5. What do you plan to do in order to mature in how you treat others?
Please take 10 minutes to have an honest talk about what God spoke to you from this sermon.
Why is the resurrection so important?
What is now ours because Jesus rose from the dead?
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, what did the people do that was an appropriate response to the arrival of Jesus?
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, what did the people misunderstand or reject about Jesus?
What are the obstacles that you face to receive the authority of Jesus at the worship center of your life?
What is the great tragedy or consequence of not receiving Jesus at the worship center of your life?
Of the list of things that Paul says to put to death, which three do you struggle the most/least with? Explain your answer.
Culturally, which parts of your cultural heritage help/hinder you in living for the Kingdom of God? Explain your answer.
What issue(s) of your heart do you most long for Jesus to touch and change? Ask a friend to pray for you about these issues.
Which aspect of redemption do you tend to focus more on: dying with Christ, being made alive with Christ or living in the future glory with Christ? Why?
Which of these three aspects would you like to grasp better so that you can mature in your identity in Christ?
Dying with Christ, being made alive with Christ and sharing in the future glory with Christ produces joy, shapes our love and fuels our hope. Share a story of how you are presently experiencing joy, loving (God or others) well or living hopeful in these days.
What is consuming your mind these days, earthly things or things from above? Consider asking someone to pray for you to have the grace to seek the things that are above and to set your mind on things that are above.
In what ways can you identify the temptation to be “Alive” to the world, to create your own false gospel?
In what ways does being alive to the world and trusting in a false gospel lead to bondage?
In what ways does this false gospel will even pretend to look holy?
Are there any areas in your life that you are looking to find fulfillment or fullness that cause you to reduce or reject Jesus? Are any of these issues creating doubt of confusion in your walk with Christ? If so, actively repent and ask some trusted friends to pray with you.
Walk with Jesus, Rest in Jesus, Focus on Jesus - What is one thing you can do on a daily basis to help you live these three things? Share those with someone who can hold you accountable.
In your pursuit of freedom why is it significant that Jesus disarmed the rulers and authorities?
How has the triumph of our warrior King changed you life?
This lent season are there areas of your life where you feel held down or captive, areas where you are not living in the freedom Jesus has won for you? What are some empty philosophies that may be holding you captive?
Faith talks:
Talk about times in your life when community has: encouraged you, kept you from believing a deluded gospel, helped you understand the gospel.
Talk about an area of your life where God is building you up in the gospel. Think in terms of an area where you have seen a growth in maturity.
Gratitude towards God should be a main characteristic of God’s people. Spend ten minutes everyday this week sharing things that you are grateful for because of God. If you want to take it a step further as a practice in gratitude for this week choose not to complain about anything in your life.
Paul says in Colossians 1:24-29 that it is going to be worth it. It will be worth the effort, worth the pain, worth the suffering. According to Paul, what is so valuable that makes it all worth it?
How motivated are you to grow into maturity, and what is hard for you about growing into maturity?
Paul says in Colossians 1:29 “for this I toil.” What does it look like in your life to “toil,” work, or labor to present yourself and others as mature in Jesus?
How would you describe the mission of Jesus according to Col. 1:21-23?
Of the 4 P’s of the Mission of Jesus which one(s) do you most identify with?
What can you do to grow in your participation in the mission of Jesus?
Jesus above all things: Which aspect of Christ creates the most “wow” in your heart? Share that with someone this week.
Jesus In every moment: What moments is it easiest for you to see Jesus above all things? What moments are the hardest for you to see Jesus as supreme? Share these with a trusted friend and pray for each other.
Which of these facts about the deliverance of God is the most precious to you today?
How does this BIG truth truth about God impact you? How does it change you?
Can you identify the impact in yourself or others of not believing in this rescuing work of God?
Think of situation that you want to pray about.
Of the 3 points of Pauls prayer which one is most needed in that situation.
Ask God to work in that situation the same way Paul asked God to work in the lives and situations of the Colossians.
When somebody does a great spiritual thing, my first reaction is to congratulate them or thank God?
If no words could be used to explain people around me that I am a disciple of Christ, would they be able to know this because of the love I show to other Christians? Think about your everyday routine
When focusing on the hope laid for us in heaven, how can this change the view of your daily walk? Think on some concrete examples.
What are the 4 foundational truths of Pauls introduction to the church at Colossae?
Which of the 4 foundations did you find most challenging or absent from your relationship with God?
Which of the four foundations already represents something God has been doing in your life?
1. Would the people who live nearest to you characterize you as a complaining person or a thankful person?
2. When you look at your world, do you find yourself celebrating God's common grace?
3. Do you view yourself as one who has been constantly short-changed and or do you view yourself as one who has been unfairly showered with blessings?
4. Do you choose to focus your communication on what is broken and wrong or do you tend to communicate what is beautiful and good?
5. What is your tendency? In your relationships, are you encouraging friends and family to continue their grumbling or are you encouraging friends and family to find reasons to give thanks to God?
6. What is your tendency? In your relationships, do you find yourself frequently tearing others down or do you find yourself frequently building others up?
7. What is your plan to cultivate the discipline that Paul calls Thanksgiving?
Please set aside at least 10 minutes this week as a household to have an honest talk about what God spoke to you in the sermon today.
1.We are called to lay aside every weight and sin. Over the next week or two take 1-3 hours to get alone with God. Ask God to reveal to you the weights and sins in your life that would hinder you from running well. Write them all down and create a plan with the Lord to change those things.
2. When you think about the cloud of witnesses and Jesus cheering you on in your race, how does that make you feel?
3. How can you let the truth that you play a crucial part in God's plan for redeeming all things impact the way you live everyday?
1. If Jesus has such a high view of what we can become in Him, why do we consistently keep selling ourselves short? Name 2 ways you sell yourself short.
2, Are there any areas of your life that are either off limits, or have not be submitted (surrendered) to the Lordship authority of Jesus Christ? What are they, and why are they off limits?
1. Which of the two “bookshelf” illustrations do you identify the most? Why?
2. Can you think of a moment when following Jesus brought joy to you?
3. What is a current area in your life where you find it difficult to follow Jesus? And which of the three obstacles considered today may be preventing you from following him?
Are you creating space for the upward dimension of your life? (If yes talk about how you do that, if no talk about why not)
What ways do you currently invest in the inward dimension of your life? (Christian community) Are you satisfied with how connected you are? Explain.
Talk about spaces around you where you can start investing in the outward dimension of your life. This means being apart of the revitalizing and restorative work of the Gospel in the people around you.
In what ways has God communicated in the Bible that he is good, great, glorious and gracious?
In what ways has God demonstrated in your life that he is good, great, glorious and gracious?
In what ways do you communicate “without words” that God is good, great, glorious and gracious?
Can you identify ways that you communicate “without words” that God is not good, great, glorious and gracious?
1. Something good that happened.
2. Something you learned about God and yourself.
3. Something difficult/challenging that happened and why was it hard.
Faith Talks
Talk together about times/ways Jesus “rode into your life.” What helped you recognize Him? What hindered you from “receiving” Him?
Talk about some of the bigger mountains/obstacles you are presently experiencing that challenge your faith.
1. How do the central elements of the Bread and the Cup in communion explain how Jesus restores our relationship with God the Father?
2. In this story, the disciples fail Jesus. Their spirits may have been willing but their flesh was weak. Did you know that disciples fail? The question is not will you fail as a disciple but rather how do you respond when you have failed God and others? Do you ignore it,rationalize it, deny it, or work to fix it?
3. Based on this story what do you think Jesus would say to you when you fail?
4. In the garden, what does Jesus do when he is confronted with his spirit being willing but his flesh being weak?
5. What is one way that you desire to be more like Jesus and less like the sleepy disciples?
What are the situations/circumstances where you tend to fall asleep spiritually or go “off duty”? (consider times when life is going well as well as when life is not going well.)
What are practices that you do or have heard of that might be helpful to you being more alert/watchful? Are any of these practices ones you might want to embrace for your household? Talk about putting them into practice
For Jesus, love is most important. Talk together about the evidence in your life, over the time you have been walking with Jesus, that you have grown in whole-hearted love towards God and others.
Jesus warns us to watch out for the natural tendency to be like the Scribes who live to impress others, who love to be praised by others. Talk together about the ways Jesus is setting you free of being like a Scribe.
Faith Talks:
The Bible calls us, at times, to be childlike and at times not to be childlike. Talk together about the ways we should and should not be childlike.
Talk about ways in which you want to grow in childlikeness.
In the silent nine months leading up to Johns birth Zechariah started to see, understand and believe that they needed a savior and that the savior was coming. In what ways can you practice being still and quiet like Zechariah? What can you do this Christmas to slow down enough to recognize your need for a redeemer?
Zechariah said that Jesus would come and redeem his people. The two things that redemption looks like is a freedom from fear and a freedom to live holy/righteous. In what ways do you need freedom from fear? In what ways do you try to make yourself righteous?
According to this story in Luke what is your redeemer like? What do you think he is able and willing to redeem you?
FAITH TALKS
In Mark 8, the disciples hear about Jesus’ sufferings, death, resurrection, and second coming for the first time. They also hear that they are to deny themselves and carry the cross for the first time. Why do you think Peter struggled with this? Are any of his struggles the same as your struggles? Explain.
When was the last time you discovered & treasured something about Jesus? Share that story with 2 people.
What are your three biggest obstacles in following Jesus into every are of life? Ask 2 friends to pray for you this week.
The Making: It's all about Jesus. Mark 6:30-56
Discover Jesus in Scripture. Mark 4:1-20
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