FirstSF

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. C. S. Lewis said that the incarnation is the central miracle in the Christian. Do you think he’s right? Why is the incarnation so central in the story of redemption?

2. What does this passage teach us about why the incarnation happened? Why are these important truths to know?

3. Jesus set a perfect example for us in his life. But we can’t imitate him if we don’t regularly spend time looking at him. What is your plan to spend time looking at Christ this week?

4. What does this passage teach us about Jesus’ death? How does Jesus’ death give us freedom from fear of death? How are you walking in this freedom?

5. How can you practically turn to Jesus for help in temptation, fear, or suffering, rather than relying on your own strength?

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. What is something that you’re passionate about? What is a topic that if someone brings it up you can easily start talking about it? What are some things we can do to help ourselves grow more passionate about Jesus?

2. Read Colossians 1:15. What does it mean that Jesus is the image of the invisible God? Why is the historicity of Jesus an important component of our faith?

3. How does this passage help us understand the supremacy of Jesus? How is the supremacy of Jesus connected to the sufficiency of Jesus? In what areas of life do you most struggle to trust that Jesus is sufficient?

4. Jesus is over creation, the Church, and every individual Christian. Is it ever difficult for you to submit to Jesus’ authority? Discuss what it will practically look like for Jesus to be your authority this week.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. What is your experience with the Apostles’ Creed or other creeds? Did you grow up reciting them in church? Do creeds feel foreign or strange to you?

2. Read Romans 10:9-10. Why is both believing in the heart and confessing with the mouth necessary for salvation? What did confessing Jesus is Lord mean for the original audience of Romans? What does it mean for us?

3. Read through the Apostles’ Creed and discuss how it communicates the gospel. Which of the foundational doctrines mentioned in the Creed do you feel like you most need to grow in your understanding of?

4. Do you think that living in an individualistic culture tends to shape the way we think about faith? In what ways? How can reciting the Creed together and with the Church help remind us of the communal nature of our faith?

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. What is different from the way Habakkuk speaks at the end of the book compared to the beginning of the book? Is there anything that is the same? How is this instructive to us on what it looks like to live by faith?

2. Describe the requests that Habakkuk makes in verse 2. What is the heart behind these requests? What would it look like for you to make similar requests to the Lord?

3. Take a few minutes to remember what the Lord has done in your life. How can remembering encourage you to continue to live by faith? How can you make remembering a part of your regular spiritual rhythms?

4. What does it mean to rejoice in the Lord? Why is it possible to rejoice in the Lord in even the worst circumstances? What does this look like in your life?

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. In what ways does this passage teach us not just about Babylon but about all of the kingdoms of the world? In what ways does it teach us about ourselves?

2. What idols are most commonly worshipped in our culture? Which idols are you most tempted to worship?

3. No matter what kingdom is in power in the world, God is still on His throne. How should this truth impact the way we live in this world?

4. Read Habakkuk 2:14. Discuss how this verse can give us comfort and hope during difficult times.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. What does it mean that the righteous shall live by faith? Why do you think this phrase is quoted multiple times in the New Testament (Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38)? What does it look like for you to live out this truth in your everyday life?

2. Habakkuk recounts God’s attributes, but complains that he doesn’t understand how God’s actions match His character in this situation. How is this an expression of faith? What does it look like for you to trust in God’s character even when you don’t understand His actions?

3. Habakkuk commits to waiting on the Lord and taking his position as a spiritual watchman, which was the call of the prophet. What has God called you to do? How can you obey this call even when you have doubts and questions?

4. What truths and promises in God’s Word will you cling to in the midst of trials?

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. Why is it good news that God’s ways are mysterious? Why can this be difficult to trust in certain times?

2. Can you think of a time where you couldn’t understand what God was doing in the moment but later on you were able to see that He was working for good? How can thinking of these times help us when we are in the midst of trials?

3. Is it ever difficult for you to see how God is moral and just when you look at injustice in the world? What truths can we draw on from Scripture to help us know that God is moral in all of His ways?

4. How do we see God being merciful even in the midst of the judgment of this passage? How can we remind ourselves and each other that God is merciful in all of His ways when we can’t understand how He is working?

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. How is the context of Habakkuk relevant to our current times?

2. Have you ever been like Habakkuk and felt that God was silent in the face of injustice or suffering? How did you respond?

3. Read Psalm 13 and compare and contrast it with Habakkuk 1:2-4.

4. What can Habakkuk’s approach to prayer teach us about how we can come to God with our doubts and questions?