How is Biblical kindness different than being nice?
What does courageous kindness look like in your life?
How have you seen kindness be contentious?
Do you have a story where you have seen kindness be contagious?
How is God inviting you to respond to His kindness toward you this week?
Read 1 Corinthians 13 incarnationally. How do you see God expressing His love toward you today?
What’s the difference between the world’s definition of patience and Christ like patience?
Describe one way you are currently experiencing God’s love as patient?
Biblical patience is best defined as, “love untiring.” Note three places in Scripture that you see God’s “love untiring.”
Read Romans 2.4. Why is God patient with us? In your own words, describe this verse being lived out through your story.
Consider the life and ministry of Jesus. What three words would you use to describe the pace of His ministry?
“Jesus was busy but never rushed.” Do you agree or disagree with that statement? How so?
What qualities or expressions of love can you do when you are rushed or in a hurry? What qualities or expressions of love can you give when you are taking your time?
Read Mark 9.14-27. How do you see as “fully man” and “fully God” in this text?
When and where have you prayed, “I believe. Help me with my unbelief.” Who has joined you in that space? How has God ministered to you there?
Read 2 Peter 3.8-10, 15. In your own words, describe the truth of this text.
How do you sense God’s patience as salvation?
With a family member, friend, or co-work talk about your responses to the following:
Read Galatians 5 incarnationally. Where do you find yourself in this chapter?
As you consider the fruit of the Spirit, how do you see God at work in you conforming you to the image and character of Christ?
Where and when most recently have you sensed the deep peace of God?
Read John 14.25-27. What is the peace Jesus is talking about here? What is the peace He gives?
How is His peace vastly different from the peace of this world?
Read Philippians 4.7. In your own words, note how you would describe this truth to a non-Christian friend.
Why and how did Jesus make peace for you?
In what ways do you see yourself as a peacemaker? What’s the difference between being a peacemaker and a peacekeeper? Which is more difficult? Why would Jesus call us “blessed” for living out that which is most difficult?
How desperate is our world for the peace of Christ? As a peacemaker, what is one step you’ve taken to bring peace to our unpeaceful world?
Read, and reflect on the words of Mark Labberton: “There’s no place for an easy kind of common agreement. All naive expectations about some kind of easily achieved shalom (peace) have to be in some way to be reordered, shattered, left in disarray until sufficient agreement and readiness together has been created in order to necessarily come to a new future.”
Read Isaiah 58. What’s at the heart of this text?
What does “fasting” mean here? Why would Isaiah press the care and love of others as a higher call?
How might God be calling you to literally participate in Isaiah 58.6-12?
Read and reflect on the words of Alec Motyer. “To loose the chains of injustice/’fetters of wickedness’ points to the need to labour for the abolition of every way in which wrong social structures, or wrongdoers in society, destroy or diminish the due liberty of others. To untie the cords of the yoke refers to the need to eliminate every way in which people are treated like animals.” Alec Motyer, The Prophecy of Isaiah.
Is God a conditional God? It appears there is a condition implied here. What do you make of this tension?
What role does obedience play in the life of a follower of Christ?
How are you challenged and encouraged by Jesus’ words as recorded in John 16.33? “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Begin by reading three passages from John’s Gospel. John 10.10; 15.11; 17.13. Then 1 John 1.1-4 and answer the following questions:
What does Jesus say about joy? What is His joy? What does it mean to you to know Jesus prays for you to live in His joy?
When you think about the attributes of the Trinity in the heavenly realm, what comes to mind?
C.S. Lewis said, “Joy is the serious business of heaven.” Dallas Willard wrote, “Undoubtedly God is the most joyous being in the universe.” How do these two phrases encourage you? How do they shift your perception of God?
Lewis Smedes said, “To miss out on joy is to miss out on the reason for your existence.” You exist to know joy, to live in joy, to experience the joy of the Trinity. In what ways are you currently experiencing this kind of joy?
Read Galatians 5.22-26. What is the Fruit of the Spirit? What’s the purpose of the fruit? We learned on Sunday “The Fruit of the Spirit is the character of Jesus Christ produced by the Spirit of Christ in the life of every follower of Christ.” What one specific way do you sense the character of Christ being formed in you?
Three questions were asked in the message on Sunday. Share your answer for each.
Read Psalm 133, and Philippians 2.1-4. How important is unity in the heavenly realm? How important is the unity of His Church to you? How are you fostering a spirit of unity in our Faith Family?
Read, reflect and respond to the truth shared by Eugene Peterson. “Joy is not a requirement of Christian discipleship, it is a consequence. It is not what we have to acquire in order to experience life in Christ; it is what comes to us when we are walking in the way of faith and obedience.” Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction
Read Nehemiah 8.1-10 and answer the following questions.
Describe the power of God’s Word on display in this text. Where do you sense the Holy Spirit at work in the text? How did the people respond to the Spirit’s conviction? Is it surprising to you that Nehemiah encouraged the people not to sorrow, but to celebrate? Nehemiah says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” How have you experienced joy as God’s strength in you? Where do you need His joy to give you strength today?
Read Acts 9. What similarities do you see between the text and what has happened or is happening in your life today?
Describe a season when you felt “scales fall from your eyes.” Read and reflect on the words of Andy Westmoreland, President of Samford University.
Andy Westmoreland President at Samford University said, “Something like scales” are falling from the eyes of millions of Americans as we confront the fact that many of us who are white have done far too little to oppose racism. We have taken comfort in the knowledge that our own views are not typically “racist” and we support the concept of racial equality. If we have learned anything in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd and the subsequent protests and tensions throughout our country, it is that whatever we have done—or believe we have done—to overcome racism, we have not done enough.” How are you relentlessly and redemptively acting on behalf of another?
Joy can be lost. The sin of King David led him into a season of joylessness. Read 2 Samuel 12, and then Psalm 51. Describe a season of joylessness you may have experienced. How did that season conclude? What role did conviction or confession play in you entering into a new season of life.
Joy is the serious business of heaven. How might you take a step in living in His joy today?
