{"id":102403,"date":"2022-01-07T06:58:17","date_gmt":"2022-01-07T11:58:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/discovergrace.com\/?p=102403"},"modified":"2023-09-19T16:52:26","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T20:52:26","slug":"sermon-discussion-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/discovergrace.com\/sermon-discussion-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Sermon Discussion Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Week 1: Generosity \u2013 How Sacrificing Empowers Us<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  1. Our annual theme is \u201cLiving in the Fullness of God.\u201d Before listening to the sermon, how would you have defined the \u201cfullness of God\u201d? How would you define it now?<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Read Ephesians 3:16. If God has given us everything we need spiritually out of an abundance of His \u201cglorious riches,\u201d then why are we afraid to sacrifice our resources? <\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Do you tend to live with an \u201cabundance\u201d or \u201cscarcity\u201d mindset? Explain. What kind of mindset was present in your childhood home?<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. What does our giving say about what we believe about God? <\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Is there a \u201cnext step\u201d you\u2019d like to take in the area of generosity this year?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Week 2: Belonging \u2013 How Connecting Sustains Us<\/strong><\/p>\n

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    1. Read Ephesians 3:14-19. How does this text promote Christians living together in community? What phrases stand out to you?<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. Agree or disagree: \u201cIf your best friends are not Christians, that\u2019s a problem.\u201d Why?<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. What are some of the benefits of having meaningful relationships with other believers? <\/span><\/li>\n
    4. How does connecting with other believers make it easier to understand the love of God? <\/span><\/li>\n
    5. If Christian community is so beneficial, why do we sometimes avoid it? How can we overcome hurdles to living in Christian community?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Week 3: Gathering \u2013 How Teaching Changes Us<\/strong><\/p>\n

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      1. One of our House Rules at Grace is Biblical Maturity: <\/span>We expect to grow. We teach through the Bible verse-by-verse because it is the best way to know the Bible, and the Bible is the best way to know Jesus. <\/span><\/i>How have you grown in your understanding of Jesus through studying the Bible? <\/span><\/li>\n
      2. On a scale of 1-10, how much would you say contemporary Christian culture values biblical maturity? How much do you value biblical maturity?<\/span><\/li>\n
      3. Why is it important to study the Bible in community? How does hearing solid Bible teaching with other believers change us? <\/span><\/li>\n
      4. Read Ephesians 3:19. One of the main priorities of teaching is that we will \u201cknow\u201d the love that surpasses knowledge. How have you grown in knowing and experiencing God\u2019s love this past year? <\/span><\/li>\n
      5. Imagine a Christian friend confides that he or she is struggling with apathy, saying, \u201cI don\u2019t feel motivated to read the Bible, listen to God\u2019s Word, or go to church.\u201d How could you exhort your friend with <\/span>grace-centered truth<\/span><\/i>?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Week 4: Serving \u2013 How Giving Our Lives Away Heals Us<\/strong><\/p>\n

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        1. Tell us about one of your best experiences serving somewhere, whether in church or another organization. What made it meaningful?<\/span><\/li>\n
        2. When it comes to serving in the church, what are some of the first words that pop into your mind and why?<\/span><\/li>\n
        3. Read Ephesians 3:20-21. How have you experienced healing or blessing through serving others? <\/span><\/li>\n
        4. How have you grown or been encouraged through our study on Ephesians 3:16-21? What was one of your greatest takeaways?<\/span><\/li>\n
        5. As we look forward to 2022, let\u2019s reflect on God\u2019s faithfulness. How has God been good to you in 2021? What are some of your hopes and\/or goals for 2022? <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Ice-Breakers and Extra Questions for Extra Time:<\/strong><\/p>\n