IBC Richmond

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
• How critical is trusting God to thanking God?
• What causes you discontentment? What can you thank God for in your deepest discontent?
• Find the simplest Bible verse that encourages thankfulness and commit it to memory. What is the verse?
• Is peer-to-peer comparison a valid way to find thankfulness?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
• How do you choose the things you pray about? Is there a biblical reason for that prayer? Are your prayers balanced between personal and group needs, physical and spiritual needs, etc.?
• What does "without ceasing" mean? Are you faithful to it?
• Give a reason why God would ask believers to pray without ceasing.
• What emphasis does communion with God have in prayer? Please discuss.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
• What does it mean to rejoice?
• How does rejoice "always" fit in the rhythm of everyday life?
• How does the future return of Christ inform a theology of suffering?
• Who is the most joyful person you know? What is their source of joy?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
• What does the word “repay” assume?
• List 2-3 ways evil can be suppressed and 2-3 ways good can be encouraged.
• Are there boundaries around “to one another” and “to everyone”? Please describe.
• Why is it necessary to apply these two commands to a church?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
• What situation or person needs more patience from you?
• Why is patience with people particularly difficult, especially close family and friends?
• Identify examples of waiting in the Bible. What can you learn from their patience?
• Name a few spiritual blessings of patience.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
• What is weakness? How would you identify a person as weak?
• Recall a time of personal weakness and share how someone helped you.
• Where does a spiritual desire to help the weak originate? How can you cultivate this desire?
• What is the church’s responsibility to help the weak in the church and in society?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
• What does it mean to be fainthearted? How have you experienced this recently?
• What is gospel-defined hope?
• Describe the church member's responsibility to "encourage the fainthearted."
• How should Christians view pain (physical or emotional)? What biblical examples of pain inform your conclusions?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
• Who “admonishes” who according to 1 Thessalonians 5:14?
• What does it mean to admonish? Have you given it or received it lately?
• Share examples of idleness.
• In what regular ways can a church “admonish the idle”?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
• To what "day" is Amos referring (Amos 9:11, 13)?
• What specific words in Amos 9:11-15 refer to restoration? Are the fulfillments figurative or literal?
• Since verse 13 speaks of God’s abundant blessings, list ways in God his blessed you abundantly.
• Since God preserves a remnant of Israel today, how should Christians value Israel as a people group and as a nation?