Read this…Genesis 41:1-40; Matthew 25:31-46; Proverbs 3:27Ponder this…What do you think is the most important question of the day? Does the Gospel message speak into or about that situation? Do you think that being a Christian in our culture is viewed as being like white noise or irrelevant? Why or why not? If so, how could we make it better? Note: It is one thing to see something that needs to change, and another to know that you will be a part of solution. Do you believe that evangelism is best worked out in relationships? Why or why not? This week, would you say that you lived for eternity or for the ‘day”? Who is one person or a group of people that you think God may be placing in your midst so you can share the Gospel with? Proverbs 3:27, “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.” Pray this…That God will give you an audience to share your personal experience with Christ? Magnify Christ, not the experience.

Read this…Genesis 37:12-36; Matthew 8:18-22; Acts 7:9; 1 Corinthians 15:10Ponder this…Have you ever been at a point of crisis that made you realize that you had to make a big change in your life? What were the repercussions of that change? If other people were involved, how did they respond? Have you ever had to let go of something that you considered very dear to you? Relationship, hobby, damaging behavior, etc..We often don’t change until the need to see change overcomes our desire for things to stay the same. Do you think this is true? Why or why not?C.S. Lewis said, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”What does this say about God? What does this say about the way you should interact with God? Pray this…Pray that the desire for change in your life will overcome your desire to see things stay the same. You were made for the change you seek, so why not allow God to develop in you what he has put there?

Read this…Genesis 37:5-11; Isaiah 42:8; Jeremiah 29:11; Philippians 1:6Ponder this…What are your passions? What do you see in the world that you get ramped up about? Have there been any events (good or bad) in your life that have shaped you?Is it possible that God wants to take what was once bad and shape it into something usable? If so, why would he do this? If you think that this is not true, how would you explain those events? Do you feel like you have a gift(s)? How could those gifts be used in conjunction with your passion?If God has a dream for you, why wouldn’t he use all these things to do a good work in you and through your life to help redeem someone else?Jeremiah 29:11 NIV, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”Pray this…Pray that you will be moldable, teachable, and usable.

Read this…Genesis 37:1-11; Acts 7:9; Philippians 1:6, 2:3-4; 1 Peter 5:10; 1 Cor. 2:10-15Ponder this…Would you say that you are on top of the “mountain” or the bottom right now? Why did you answer this way?Have you ever been through a layoff, pay cut, promotion, or an unexpected move?What circumstances led to this change? Has there been any lasting effects of this event? Has your relationship with God been strengthened through this event? Why or why not?If God is trying to develop more within you, should we maybe look at lives challenges as an opportunity to grow? Why or why not? Favoritism in relationships, parenting, and the work place is never a good idea, can you see why Joseph’s character issues where only made more obvious when his father favored him?Why is favoritism a problem? Is there someone you can talk to about possible favoritism in your life? Pray this…That Christ would deepen your joy even though circumstances are challenging to you.

Read this…Luke 15:11-24; Romans 8:15-17; Jeremiah 33:3Ponder this…In the story of the Prodigal Son, how do you relate? In what way? Father, mother, or son/daughter?In what way has the love of God affected you? Why does this love matter?The son found himself in a real bind before coming to his senses? Has this ever happened to you personally? If so, how did God help you through it? Did you recognize his hand at work at the time or was it a while longer? The amazing truth at work here is reconciliation. God is a God of healing and reconciliation. He desires the best for us, and within his character, he lets us choose to have fellowship with him or not.And yet, his grace is sufficient to fulfill our deficiencies. God sometimes uses a pigpen to help us see our real position and need for him. You may find yourself in a mess, but in the mess there is always a message from the Messenger. Pray this…Ask Him what the Message could be in your present situation or crisis.

Read this…Luke 15:11-24; Romans 8:15-17; Jeremiah 33:3Ponder this…In the story of the Prodigal Son, how do you relate? In what way? Father, mother, or son/daughter?In what way has the love of God affected you? Why does this love matter?The son found himself in a real bind before coming to his senses? Has this ever happened to you personally? If so, how did God help you through it? Did you recognize his hand at work at the time or was it a while longer? The amazing truth at work here is reconciliation. God is a God of healing and reconciliation. He desires the best for us, and within his character, he lets us choose to have fellowship with him or not.And yet, his grace is sufficient to fulfill our deficiencies. God sometimes uses a pigpen to help us see our real position and need for him. You may find yourself in a mess, but in the mess there is always a message from the Messenger. Pray this…Ask Him what the Message could be in your present situation or crisis.

Read this…Matthew 6:19:16-22; Romans 8:28; Galatians 6:10; Titus 3:4-8Ponder this…Have you ever met someone who did not associate themselves with Christ that would be considered a good person?Several years ago I had a discussion with a close family member about accepting Christ and spending eternity in heaven and she said, “If my good outweighs my bad I will go to heaven.” In your groups, respond to this statement. My heart sunk because I don’t think that is a true statement. If that were the case why would Jesus have had to come? Didn’t Jesus come to give a way for us to be cleansed of our sin problem and bring us back to himself? So what’s up with trying to be “good”? Good is a standard of which we try to live, but where does that standard come from?Matthew 19:17 NIV, “There is only One who is good…” God himself is good, but we can have a relationship with goodness. (see also Psalm 145:8-9, 119:68)As defined by Wayne Grudem, “Good is what God approves.”Good is something we can do in the world today. Can you name people or organizations (Christian or not) that are doing good in the world? What is the good you are doing in your world? How could DBC help you in that effort? We can do good in our world, and we should, because God is so very good to us. Pray this…Pray that your eyes would be opened to the good in the world and want to partner with it in a personal way because “good is what God approves.”

Read this…2 Kings 19:14-37; Proverbs 21:30; Ephesians 1:11-12Ponder this…When life is going well, who do you give the credit to? Why?When life throws you a curve, who do you tend to blame? Why?If your answers are not the same, why do you think there is a difference? Do you think God desires more for you than you have experienced? What are some specific things you think you have missed along the way? Hezekiah’s prayer invited God into the pain. What do you think he would have missed from NOT asking God to intervene?God never stops being God. His nature is never in conflict. He can do anything that is consistent with his nature. He never goes back on his word (Heb. 6:18). He is always ABLE. He listens to the cries of the broken as Hezekiah learned. Pray this…That your pain, worry, and stress will no longer be a solo effort, but one that you can better rely on the God who is ABLE to still your drifting heart.

Read this…Exodus 3:1-15; Acts 17:23-25; John 5:26Ponder this…Have you ever spent any amount of time reflecting on God’s independence (self-existence)? Why does this attribute of God really matter?If God relied on something else or someone else, what would that say about his character? Could we trust him fully with our lives, troubles, etc.?In Exodus 3 when Moses had the encounter with God he was shaken. At first he thought it was someone, and he responded more casually, but then when he realized it was the great “I AM” he was humbled (Exodus 3:6b).If you have crossed the faith line, tell your group of that experience and if there was any similarity to Moses experience with humility. Why are your spending habits an act of worship? Why should we view our work habits as an act of worship? Is loving your spouse an act of worship? Why?Do you agree with this statement? For corporate worship on Sunday to be authentic, it must be an overflow of a heart for God Monday thru Saturday. Have you truly celebrated the resurrection this week? Pray this…Pray that God will reveal to you more about himself (his character, his attributes, and his nature in the weeks to come). If you grasp that a little more, you will worship the Creator more and the creation less.

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