Judges: The Sound of Silence
Judges: Men without chests
Faith Talks:
Micah’s view of God was to demonstrate religious effort to gain access to God so that God would do what Micah wanted. Can you see that in the religious culture around us? In what ways have you see that in your life?
Chapter 18 opens with the statement that there was no king in Israel. In the story of Micah and the Danites, what is the indication that there is no King?
C.S. Lewis used the phrase 'men without chests'. A man or person without a chest is a person that operates from their head (reason) and their gut (appetites). They are strategic in their thinking, but what ultimately drives them is their appetite. Their chest would be the place of identifying what they worship, coming under authority and ordering their values. The result is saying no to certain appetites at certain times. So, how is your chest? Is it healthy? What are the areas of your life that are driven more by your gut (appetite) than the chest and the voice of God?
Judges: The Death of Samson
Faith Talks:
Examine your heart for God. Would you say your heart is alive, numb, or mostly dead toward God? Explain your answer to a trusted friend.
In Samson’s life we see many sinful issues: pride, lust, anger, vengeance, complacency, rejection of God’s call. Are any of these causing your heart to drift from God? If so, make this a matter of repentance and process. Ask God to realign your heart so you rely on Him and live from a heart aligned with the will of God for your life.
Judges: Samson Begins
Faith Talks:
In Judges 14, we find the people of Israel very comfortable among the Philistines. In what ways does the story indicate that Samson and Israel have assimilated into Philistine culture, that they are no longer distinct as God’s people?
Why is assimilation into culture so attractive to God’s people? In what ways have you felt that pressure in your own life?
In the story of Samson, what does God do for his people who have assimilated into the culture of the Philistines? In what ways has God worked in your life to rescue you from being assimilated into a culture that is against God?
There are many things Samson did that were empowered by the Holy Spirit, yet his life was filled with compromise. What is the warning you receive from Samson’s life?
Judges: The Birth of Samson
Faith Talks:
What’s one way you would want God to use your life to shape the next generation? Write it down and share it with a trusted friend. Commit to pray over this for 1 year.
What ‘good things’ in your life can you set aside to devote yourself to God? Name them and setup an accountability relationship to help you.
Baptism - Community Day
Judges: Jephthah
Faith Talks:
- What does it mean that idolatry and slavery go hand in hand?
- Jephthah obviously did not know the character or ways of God. What are some ways in which your view of God has been based more on tradition and culture then on how God has reveled himself in scripture?
- What did you learn today are the signs of true repentance and how can you cultivate true repentance?
Judges: Gideon Part 3, The Cost of Compromise
Faith Talks:
- What are the patterns of failure in Gideon’s that become more obvious in the failure of Abimelech?
- What are patterns of failure in the generation before you that you wrestle with and desire victory over?
- What hope does this story point to and what hope do you have for winning the battle over the sin of the previous generation?
Judges: Gideon Part 2
Faith Talks:
- What are things that God has revealed to you about himself that have enabled you to be bold in the face of opposition?
- Can you identify times in your own life where God has weakened you? In those times of weakness in what ways did you see God’s strength and deliverance?
- It seems that God does a lot of work in order to be praised. Why is it so important that God is praised or that God is glorified?
Judges: Gideon Part 1
Faith Talks:
- What are things that God has revealed to you about himself that have enabled you to be bold in the face of opposition?
- Can you identify times in your own life where God has weakened you? In those times of weakness in what ways did you see God’s strength and deliverance?
- It seems that God does a lot of work in order to be praised. Why is it so important that God is praised or that God is glorified?
Judges: 7/29
Faith Talks:
What are the leadership tests in front of you?
In what ways have you said yes to following God into those leadership tests and in what ways have you given your glory to another?
Judges: The Need for a Unifying Leader
Faith Talks:
What causes you to lose sight of God?
What are patterns in your life that need to be broken?
Judges: A Spectacular Mess
Faith Talks:
Why do you think that second generation, the one after Joshua’s generation was so lost?
Discuss areas in your life where you can identify the reality of both the unconditional and a conditional aspect of God’s promises?
Judges: The Fallout of Compromise
Faith Talks:
- Are there any compromises in your life that are (or have been) affecting your faith? Intentionally repent of these and ask Jesus to help you.
- Are there any values in your life that have become idols? What is one step you can take to remove that idol from your life?
Knowing God: To follow Jesus do I have to believe in heaven and the resurrection?
Faith Talks:
Talk about your level of certainty regarding heaven and resurrection. In what way can you see your current life affected by your belief in heaven and resurrection?
We all have questions about heaven and resurrection. Talk about your questions. Make a list and come prepared next weekend to see what questions get answered.
Knowing God: Application of Spiritual Gifts
Faith Talks:
- Talk about what you think if your top motivational spiritual gift.
- Are you currently using your spiritual gifts? Why or why not?
- What are next steps you can take to discover, develop and deploy your spiritual gifts?
- Fill out the connect card with your top motivational spiritual gift.
Knowing God: Doctrine of Spiritual Gifts
Faith Talks:
- Talk through each of the spiritual gifts; which two most resonate with you?
- Why do you think knowing and developing your spiritual gift is so important from God’s perspective?
- Where are you in your journey to discover, develop and deploy your spiritual gifts?
- What are next steps you can take to discover, develop and deploy your spiritual gifts?
Knowing God: Spiritual Gifts
Faith Talks:
Based on today’s teaching what are two significant things that we miss when we do not employ our spiritual gifts?
Share a story of a time when God used you to bless another person as you followed Jesus using your spiritual gifts.
Prayerfully consider talking to another person, this week, about any obstacles you face when thinking about using or when using your spiritual gifts.
Knowing God: Resurrection
Faith Talks:
- According to the teaching today why was the resurrection so important to the early church?
- How could a belief in the resurrection of a man 2000 years ago impact your life today?
- Be intentional, or as Pastor Nate said last week, be subversive and plan together 1 or 2 things that you will do this week because Jesus is alive.
Knowing God: What does the Atonement change?
Faith Talks:
- In what aspect of Jesus’ New World (citizenship, identity, status, posture, relationship, purpose, your body, hope) do you MOST need to fight for faith?
- Talk together about creative ways to do intentional “acts of subversion” so you can hold onto faith in Jesus in defiance against the World we live in.
Knowing God: Atonement Past, Present & Future
Faith Talks:
- Which of the three views of atonement we looked at today (Christus Victor, Christus Exemplar, Regeneration) stick out to you as most/least accessible? Explain your thoughts to a trusted friend.
- Do you tend to think of atonement more as past, present, or future? Share your thoughts with a trust friend this week.
- How does being ‘at-one’ with Jesus change the way you approach each day? Be specific. List 2-3 things that you want to change.
Knowing God: To follow Jesus do I have to believe He died for my sins?
Faith Talks:
- What are you currently involved in where you need the presence of God? If you aren't involved in anything where you need his presence talk about why not.
- Talk about a time in your life when you felt like the presence of God protected, empowered, or encouraged you to live out the things of the kingdom.
- Pray everyday this week for clear signs of the presence of God in your life.
Knowing God: Living the Doctrine of the Kingdom
Faith Talks:
- What are you currently involved in where you need the presence of God? If you aren't involved in anything where you need his presence talk about why not.
- Talk about a time in your life when you felt like the presence of God protected, empowered, or encouraged you to live out the things of the kingdom.
- Pray everyday this week for clear signs of the presence of God in your life.
Knowing God: Why Church? Ephesians 4:11-16
Faith Talks:
- Talk about ways Jesus' Church has been His Body -- acting on His behalf in this World. Think about in your own life, in the life of LFA, even in other countries.
- Talk about your place in Jesus' Body. What gifts has He given you? In what ways have you served? Are there ways you would want to serve?
Knowing God: I like Jesus but I don't like the church
Faith Talks:
- What ways can you relate to the statement “I like Jesus but I don't like church”
- What did you learn today about the dangers of independence?
- What did you learn today about the blessing of interdependence?
- What will you do about the areas in your life where you lean towards the idolatry of independence?
The Story: Peace
The Story: Peace
Faith Talks
1. How can you identify with the need for peace?
2. The Angels made it clear that there is a connection between our experience of peace and God being glorified. Can you identify a time in your life when you experienced a loss of peace because you had made something less than God most glorious?
3. From the teaching tonight what did you learn are “the things that make for peace?”
The Making: Reveal Jesus With Your Gifts
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