Kettlebrook West Bend

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

1. Share something that you have experienced in your life that your parents didn’t equip you for. If you are a parent, what might be one example of something that you are not able to equip your children for?

2. The wisdom/foolishness dichotomy very often shapes how we have been parented and how we parent. Some parents tend towards rules and others a lack of rules. Growing up, which side of this coin do you feel your parents tended towards and why? If you have children of your own, which side do you tend towards?

3. Paul suggests that there is a third and better way (the gospel). How have you seen the gospel to be wisdom? Foolishness?

4. Read 2 Corinthians 2:6-16. Why would it be significant that the Spirit is able to search our hearts? How might this be helpful and relevant to us (individually and as parents)?

5. What are some specific ways that you can better create (for yourself and your children if applicable) an environment to hear gospel-formed wisdom from the Holy Spirit?

6. What is one situation in your life that you can apply the concepts shared in this text to this week?

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

1. When you think of the word “injustice” in the world today, what comes to mind? Why do you think this specifically comes to mind for you?

2. Describe a time when you have wanted justice. What was that like for you?

3. Read Psalm 64. In what ways can you personally identify with the complaint that David expresses?

4. In what ways do you have difficulty understanding God’s justice or lack of justice? How have you dealt with the times that you feel justice was not served?

5. David understood the pain of receiving justice. Share a story of when you were in the wrong, had sinned, and plotted injustice, but instead of receiving justice, you received mercy. Having received God’s mercy, has this changed the way you view personal injustice? If so, how; and if not, why?

6. How does Jesus make it possible for God to be perfectly just?

7. In light of the 4 takeaways above:

- Are there sins & injustices you have not Taken Ownership of & need to repent of?

- Are there ways you trusted in your righteousness & have not Taken Refuge in Jesus?

- Have you neglected Taking Action against injustice or sharing God’s mercy to you?

- Have there been times you have given in to fear, and not Taken Heart?

8. After sharing with one another, read John 16:33 and then pray for one another in the ways God desires you to grow.

Verses: Lamentations 3:1-8, John 9:1-7, 35-41

Reflection Questions:

1. Has there ever been a time when you thought that God was disappointed in you or against you? What did that look like? Why did you feel like that?

2. Where do you think we got an image of a God that is disappointed in us? Where did that come from? Who taught us that?

3. Read John 9:1-5. What does Jesus clearly say about tragedies in our life? Why do you think we have this need to connect dots (ex. “this happened because of this”)?

4. What might we miss when we only try to connect cause and effect in the irritations, frustrations, and tribulations of life?

5. Have someone read John 9:13-41 and then have someone else retell the entire story in their own words.

6. Read verses 35-41 one more time. What do you think Jesus meant from verse 39?

This week, how will you respond to the irritations, frustrations, and tribulations that come your way? Ask God to help you face them well.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

1. Describe a time when you felt as though someone else in your life was not cooperating with you. What was that like for you?

2. Describe a time when God did not seem to be cooperating with you. What was that like for you?

3. Read Psalm 22: 1-2. In what ways can you identify with David’s words? Do you find any solace or even hope in seeing David wrestle this way with his own thoughts & with God? Have you ever prayed to God this way? What was the situation, and what was the result?

4. Which of the two different types of compasses shown this morning best describe how you honestly approach life and why?

5. In Psalm 22, there is a significant change in tone between verse 21 and verse 22 as David’s perspective changes and he remembered what God has done for him. If you were to remember things that God has done for you, what comes to mind? How might this change your perspective when facing trials?

6. Psalm 22 is quoted 15 times in the narratives of Jesus’ suffering and crucifixion. Why do you think that is the case? What are the implications for you life and relationship with God?

7. Knowing that we’re not alone in that Christ has struggled, suffered, and been tempted, and that we’re also not alone because of His Church body, would you consider being honest in sharing (and praying for one another for) some real struggles, temptations, & suffering that you are going through right now?

Questions for discussion:

1. Have you ever had a time or experience when God didn’t make sense to you? What was that like? Explain the situation if it’s not too difficult.

2. What do you think is the difficulty in trying to understand God solely by our circumstances? What are some other ways we might understand who God is and what he is like?

3. Read John 11:1-6. What strikes you as odd about this passage? What would you have expected Jesus to do? Why do you suppose he waited?

4. Have there been times in your life where it seems like God has been distant? What do you think might have been happening in your situation?

5. What do you think is so important about verse 11:35? What does that tell us about God?

6. Read verses 25-26. What do you think Jesus might mean by what he said? He ends that sentence asking “do you believe this?” Do you believe this? Why?

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

1. When you think of people or places in the world that need reconciliation, what comes to mind?

2. Read 2 Corinthians 5:16-21. What sticks out most as you read this text? Why?

3. Share some ways (or individuals or groups) in which you are guilty of regarding others “from a worldly point of view.” Why are we not to see people this way? What might Jesus say to you with respect to this?

4. Verse 17 tells us in Christ the old has gone and the new has come. If you are in Christ, share evidence of this from your own experience (including both bad stuff and your merit badges).

5. Who in your life are you withholding reconciliation from? Why? What does this text have to say to this situation? How might you respond to this situation this week in light of this text?

6. If you are in Christ, who are you specifically seeking to be an Ambassador for Christ to in your life? Spend some time in prayer for them.