Political discussion is crazy, and it seems like it's only gotten crazier recently. But why is politics such a heated topic when other important things aren't? It comes into focus when we see that politics can become a kind of religion, dealing with our fears, desires, and hopes for the future. When we understand this dynamic, we see how the gospel frees us to keep politics in its proper place.

Application Questions:

1. How have you seen politics function like a religion in the lives of others, or in your own life?
2. How have you seen politics function like afalsereligion, promising a kind of salvation but never delivering on it?
3. What are some ways you personally struggle with politics becoming a religion?
4. How does the gospel put politics in its proper place, and allow you to better engage with politics by the fruit of the Spirit?

Politics can bring out the worst in people. Division, contempt, and frustration pop up anywhere things "get political," and far too often we ourselves get drawn into the fray. It's easy to be overwhelmed, confused, and hopeless that things can be different. But the Christian faith gives us a vision of political engagement that looks very different: the fruit of the Spirit. Far from focusing only on what we should vote for, the Bible emphasizes how we should conduct ourselves: with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control.

Application Questions:

1. How have you seen the works of the flesh at work in the world of politics? How have you been tempted by them yourself?
2. How would the fruit of the Spirit change your experience with politics? What would it look like for Christians to be known for the fruit of the Spirit in their political engagement?
3. How can you practically pursue the fruit of the Spirit in the way you think about, talk about, and interact with politics in the next two months?

Jonah is a reluctant prophet, who doesn't want to preach God's word to his enemies the Ninevites so he runs away from God. But one can never truly run away from God because the God of the Bible is a God whopursues. God pursues Jonah, chasing him even to the bottom of the sea in the belly of a fish. When Jonah relents and turns back to God, then Godsendshim again to Ninevah and the people of Ninevah repent and turn to God. In the story of Jonah God shows us that He is a God whopursuesand a God whosends, and in Christ He has pursued us and brought us back into a relationship with Him, and now He sends us into the world to represent Him.

Application Questions:

1. How has God pursued you in your life?
2. Why is God's pursuit of you a powerful act of His love?
3. To whom are you sent?
4. What is holding you back from representing God and His message to the world around you?

David and Bathsheba is a story about secret sin, consequences, exposure, and unimaginable grace. In a time when we are all isolated, cut off from community, and spending more and more time on our screens, it contains numerous powerful reminders that we all desperately need to hear. Sin may be a secret for a while, but it never stays that way. But when it's exposed, God doesn't meet us with condemnation and shame, but with forgiveness and redemption that is always greater than whatever it is we have said, thought, or done.

Application Questions:

1. Is there any secret sin in your life that God is calling you to confess? In addition to God, who will you confess it to?
2. What are some poor choices you've been making that, if left unchecked, could easily grow into secret sins? Who will you talk with about these choices?
3. How does the story of David, Bathsheba, and Nathan demonstrate the radical and gentle nature of God's grace and forgiveness?
4. How does God's radical grace and forgiveness free you to be honest about your sin, confess it, and pursue genuine repentance?
5. Who in your life might you need to play the role of Nathan for?

David and Goliath may be the single most well-known story in the Old Testament. To read the story is to feel like we've heard it a thousand times. But a more careful look reveals that there's much more to this incredible story than the popular interpretations and applications show. Join us as we dig in and see how the story of David and Goliath not only reveals truth about how we can face our giants but about the nature of God and the unparalleled power of his rescue and salvation.

Application Questions:

1. In what ways do you feel unqualified to be used powerfully by God?
2. What are the voices that most discourage you from being used by God?
3. How does the pressure to feel like you need to "be like David" impact you?
4. How does the call to "follow someone like David" and continue to become like HIM free you?
5. In what ways is the story of David and Goliath more about Jesus than it is about you?

Ruth is an exemplary woman of faith. She models what perseverance looks like in the midst of suffering, and gives us a picture of what it looks like to possess godly faith, godly humility, godly boldness, and to experience godly redemption.

Application Questions:

1. How does Ruth's simple, everyday faith inspire you to trust the Lord more?
2. Why is humility such a powerful virtue in honoring God?
3. What does godly boldness look like in your life?
4. How does Ruth's redemption foreshadow Christ's redemption of us?

The story of Samson is strange: he has amazing strength, and is used by God, but is also often foolish and led around by his own desires. How do we make sense of the stories the Bible tells about Samson and what are we supposed to learn from them? When see ourselves in Samson, and reckon with the deliverance he brought, we learn to look to Jesus for something better, and find how God's grace reached into places we might not expect.

Application Questions:

1. How have you seen yourself be your own worst enemy? How have you seen yourself make peace with sins that enslave you?
2. Highlight similarities and differences between Samson's story and Jesus' story. How does that teach you about the kind of savior you need? How does that compare to the way you normally think about being "saved" from the problems you have?
3. Do you feel like God puts up with you or do you feel like he enjoys caring for you? How does the story of Samson and the story of Jesus show you his heart for his people even when they are turned around? What would change about your life if you understood that God enjoys caring for you even when you fail?

The battle of Jericho—where the Israelites march around a city for seven days until the walls miraculously fall down—is well-known but confusing. What are we supposed to learn from a story like this? There's more to the story than meets the eye, and there's much to learn from the parts that come right before and right after. When we look at Jericho with fresh eyes, we find lessons on the life of faith, and how it intersects with our lives today.

Application Questions:

1. When Joshua asks God if he is "for us or for our adversaries," why does God say "No"? Are there ways you are tempted to use God for your own purposes?
2. Why do you think God has the Israelites win the battle this way? What does that teach us about life with God?
3. How does the story of Rahab and Achan teach us about God's grace? Are there ways you find your value in things that don't matter to God?

The story of the Exodus is the story of God exercising His mighty hand and outstretched arm to rescue His people from slavery in Egypt. At the beginning of Exodus God's people are enslaved in Egypt, the most powerful and impressive kingdom on the earth. But God's power extends over and beyond the power of the kingdom of Egypt. In rescuing His people out of slavery God shows us His power over the kingdoms of this world, His power over the false gods of this world, and His power to rescue and save His people.

Application Questions:

1. Are there ways that the "kingdoms of this world" feel more powerful than God in your life? How does the story of the Exodus give you hope?
2. What are ways that God is demonstrating His power over false gods/idols in your life?
3. How does God's demonstration of His power in salvation lead you to worship Jesus more?
4. What is the connection between God's power and His glory? How does knowing His power lead you to give Him glory?

Deliverance is what every heart yearns for through the various suffering and struggles of life. Seeing God move in the life of Moses from his birth is meant to encourage us that God is always at work in the lives of his people and has nothings but the best in store for them, no matter the circumstances of life.

Application Questions:

1. What are some of the things in your life you want to be delivered from?
2. How does seeing how God delivered His people in the past help you to suffer well?
3. How does God delivering you from sin and death through Jesus empower you to better love God and love others?
4. What are some small acts of faith and obedience you can take today in light of the truth of the gospel?