The Glorious Mystery of Marriage Part 2

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Small Group Questions

1. Husbands, in light of the call to lead your wife with tenderness, by nourishing and cherishing her as you do your own flesh, are there any areas where you'd like to grow in walking with your wife in holiness?

2. Wives, in light of the call to submit to your husband and respect him, are there areas where you want to grow in waking with your husbands in holiness?

3. As you consider one another in the small group, are there areas where you want to encourage one another, noting how someone else is walking well in his/her marriage relationship?

4. For those who are single, widowed, married to an unbelieving spouse, etc., how did this sermon and text affect you? How was it helpful, comforting, challenging, painful, etc.?

5. Are there any other ways the text affected you and what are some areas where we can be praying for each other in light of this text?

The Glorious Mystery of Marriage Part 1

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Small Group Questions

1. Can you think of some implications of the fact that marriage was intentionally designed to be a picture of the relationship of Christ and his church? In other words, what all realities flow out of that truth as we consider marriage, etc.

2. Married men, are there any ways that you'd like to adjust how you relate to your wife in light of this text? Married women, are there any ways that you'd like to adjust how you relate to your husband in light of this text (realizing that wives haven't been the focus of the sermon yet)?

3. For those who are not married, how does sitting under a sermon on Ephesians 5:22-33 affect you?

4. How might we aid one another in terms of living out marriage relationships that are honoring to the Lord?

5. Are there any other things that came out of listening to the sermon or looking at the text that challenged or comforted you?

Falling Forward

Small Group Questions

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1. How can we guard ourselves from temptation, both externally and internally?

2. What do you think produced the arrogance we see in David in chapter 11 of this story? How can we cultivate humility before the Lord instead of arrogance?

3. Why are we sometimes reluctant to be open and honest with God about our sins? What should motivate us to confess and repent of sin?

4. Does God use even the sins and failures of believers for our ultimate good? How should that truth affect our lives?

5. Was there anything else from the sermon that you want to discuss?

A Series of Contrasts and the Need to Walk Carefully

A Call to Walk in Sexual Purity

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1. Were there any areas where you were convicted by this text and want to change?

2. How can we make sure that we're not listening to those "empty" voices (v. 6) telling us that judgment isn't coming for those characterized by sexual immorality?

3. What can we do to make sure that our children and grandchildren are properly guarded against sexual immorality in a culture where it's everywhere?

4. Can you speak of a situation where someone else walking in light brought conviction to you (by exposing sin) and made you want to pursue greater holiness?

Trusting in the Steadfast Love of God

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1. God's power at work in us helps us receive his love in our weakness. How have you seen or experienced God's strength interlock with human weakness?

2. Saul's slaughter of the priests and people of Nob was a tragic and evil event that he and Doeg the Edomite felt justified in executing. Have you ever justified evil in your life? How does the justification of evil open you to every kind of evil?

3. The boasts of the mighty in this age are momentary. God's steadfast love for his people is constant. Do you know and feel God loves you?

4. Have you seen or experienced the power of the age to come at work in yourself or in others? What might that look like? Or do you counter with, "I live in the real world?"

5. Is the coming judgment of God a topic that is avoided by you, a part of biblical truth you find unhelpful, or comforting to you? How should the truth of the coming judgment be received by Christians?

6. Are you firmly planted in the truth of God's steadfast love for you, and how does that impact your daily life?

"Some Specifics for Life Together as a Church"

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1. What do we need to do in order to make sure that even our righteous anger doesn't linger too long and go past its "expiration date?" How might we make sure to be faithful in doing this?

2. Part of the reason we work hard is so that we might share with our brothers and sisters in need. What might this look like in our lives?

3. We want to make sure as a church that we're not using speech that tears down one another but only that which builds up one another. What are some practical ways we can make sure that we're doing this?

4. How does knowing that we are beloved children of God help us to love others well, being kind and tenderhearted toward them, forgiving them as we've been forgiven?

5. Is there anything else from the text or sermon that you found comforting or convicting?

Living a Holy and Distinct Life

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Living a Holy and Distinct Life

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Small Group Questions

1. Is there an area of life where you're tempted to want to fit in with the unbelieving world instead of honoring Christ? Then, how can this text help you fight that?

2. Is there a specific struggle you're facing where you need to "put off the old self?" How can the group pray for you in this?

3. Discuss some particular struggles we might face and what renewing the spirit of our minds in accordance with the Scripture might look like in these areas?

4. What are some areas in life where you've successfully been "putting on the new self" (i.e. walking in holiness) where you may have once struggled to obey? How can the group pray for you to persevere in this?

"Unity, Diversity, and Walking Worthy of Our Calling"

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Small Group Questions

1. How might we cultivate a posture of grace toward one another (i.e. making sure we're living before one another with humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with one another in love)?

2. How have you seen a clear eagerness to maintain unity played out in what people have said/done as good examples for us?

3. Have you seen yourself as a gift from Christ given to this church? Why or why not? How has this affected you?

4. What are some ways that you've poured into others lives in the church (as one gifted by Christ and given to them), and what are some ways that this has been done toward you?

5. Is there anything more from the text or the sermon that was particularly helpful or challenging or comforting to you?

The Song You Are Meant to Sing

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Small Group Questions

1. If we cannot simply conjure up true worship within ourselves, what should we do to orient our hearts to God in worship?

2. Are you prone to let your circumstances interpret God's disposition toward you instead of allowing God to interpret your circumstances? How can we guard against the former and practice the latter?

3. Timothy mentioned playing around with sin and prayerlessness as two indications of trusting in ourselves rather than God (v. 6). How can you fight against either one or both of these patterns of behavior?

4. Do you see worship as an occasion for rejoicing in God, or is it just something you're supposed to do? How can you cultivate greater joy in worship?