The Gift of Faith
From the Ash Heap
Discussion Questions for Community Group
- Read Psalm 113 as a group.
- Rick began his sermon by saying Naomi is here. What did he mean by that?
- Psalm 113 asks "Who is like the Lord?" What are some moments in your life that have caused you to ask this question?
- Psalm 113 begins by praising the name of the Lord. What does this mean?
- God tells us his name is "I am who I am." What sort of things does this tell us about the character of God?
- How can other world religions plagerize the first six verses of Psalm 113?
- What is unique about our God, according to Psalm 113?
- Read Eph 2:4–10. What does this reveal about the work of God?
- Psalm 113 would have been sung by Jesus and the disciples in the upper room. What is the significance of this?
- Sometimes as Christians, we are content to dwell on our own personal salvation, but Jesus also calls us to wash the feet of others. How does this look in your life? How can your community group wash the feet of each other?
Encouraging Word from Rwanda
Community Group Discussion Questions
- Bishop Mbanda shared many things that the Anglican church is doing in Rwanda. What are some particular ministries and programs that stood out to you?
- From what we heard of the work in Rwanda, what are some key differences you noticed between ministry in America and ministry in Rwanda?
- Bishop Mbanda shared an African saying: "What comes from another person's home can only come until the rain is over." What did he mean by this, and how does it inform his ministry?
- Throughout history, many people have separated "saving souls" and "feeding sheep." What is the relationship between spreading the Gospel and doing works of righteousness?
- Ask someone to read Romans 12:1-13. How does ministering to people's immediate needs and spreading the Gospel look in your own life? How can you better love your neighbor?
- Spend some extra time in prayer this evening, praying for the church in Rwanda, Bishop Mbanda, his wife, Chantal, and their three children, Erica, Eric, and Edwin, especially Erica who is moving from America to Rwanda in November. Pray for the raising up of Christian leaders who can spread the Gospel and minister to the people of Rwanda.
True Contentment
Community Group Discussion Questions
- What does it mean to have Christian contentment?
- What are some unhelpful understandings of contentment?
- What are the dangers of riches?
- How can we protect ourselves from building an unhealthy reliance upon riches?
- Fr. Graham said "You can buy a bed, but you cannot buy a good night's rest." What does this mean? What are some other ways of saying this same idea? Do you have any examples from your life of this concept?
- True contentment is not material, but __? (A: relational). How does Jesus bring contentment into your life?
- In what ways are we called to be discontent in relationship to justice and the poor?
Are you investing in the kingdom of God?
A Glimpse of our Personal and Living God
Discussion Questions for Community Groups
Scripture passage: Luke 15:1-10 (The parables of the lost sheep and lost coin).
- Who are some important mentors in your life? What made them special to you?
- Fr. Lyle said there are three things we can learn about the character of God from these parables: 1. Our Father is a loving and wooing God, 2. God isn't focused on the masses, but instead cares for the individual, and 3. God personally rejoices over single souls coming back into relationship with him. Which of these three principles is particularly meaningful to you? Why?
- The Bible says that God is the creator of the entire universe, and yet he still knows us by name. How does this comfort us?
- What kind of tension does this bring up regarding unbelievers (that God cares for individuals)?
- Fr. Lyle emphasized that your view of God shapes how you view people. How did the Pharisees view God, and how did this impact their view of people?
- As Christians, we are called to be like God. In light of this passage, how can we become more like God?