Myths we need to get rid of

Life will contain no surprise or shock

Everything will go according to my plan

If only God would make himself more evident then...

If only God would answer this one prayer then...

If only God would be fair then...

"I am the resurrection and I am the life."

Jesus is involved in our shattered dreams.

The faith we exercise is faith in Jesus

Jesus can transform our shattered dreams.

"Do you believe this...?"

What myths have you bought into when it comes to the ChrisIan life?

What has been your experience with shattered dreams personally or through a loved one or friend? How have you/they responded?

Do you believe God can take our shattered dreams and make something beautiful out of them?

What would it take for you to put your trust and faith back in Jesus who said, "I am the resurrection and the life"?

Matthew 5:31-32; Matthew 19:3-12

Puttng the text in its proper context...

In the context of creation

In the context of Old Testament Judaism

In the context of New Testament Judaism

In the context of the Kingdom of God

For Further Discussion

What were your thoughts on divorce and remarriage before today's talk? Have your thoughts changed as a result of hearing the talk? In what ways?

Why do you think there has been such an emphasis on "biblically legal grounds" for divorce and remarriage?

Which of the many causes of divorce mentioned are not related to the problem of hardheartedness?

Where does divorce and remarriage fit within the Kingdom of God?

What is God's disposition toward those who have been divorced and remarried?

From the Pit to the Palace

Joseph's Pit | Genesis 37

Joseph's Prison | Genesis 39

Joseph's Palace | Genesis 50

From the Pit to the Palace

Our Pit | Matthew 10:16

Our Prison | Matthew 18:23-35

Our Palace | Revelation 3:18

Betrayal of trust is one of the most painful and damaging offenses that can be committed against another person. Why do you think it is so difficult to forgive such an offense?

Forgiveness is a necessary part of the healing and/or reconciliation process. How would you describe the process in terms of time and effectiveness?

Do we have the right to be offended? How do we handle our feelings/desire of wanting revenge?

Does forgiveness mean that we become someone's doormat and allow the behavior to continue? If not, why not? Isn't that the loving thing to do?

Does forgiveness always result in reconciliation? If not, why not? If not, what will forgiveness look like?

Discuss the idea of God causing all things to work together for our good, which is being conformed to the image of Christ. (Romans 8:28-29) What experience of betrayal have you had in which that principle proved to be true?

"A moment of maybe..."

You are standing at the top of the Olympic ski jump ramp, 394 feet in the air. You have a decision to make; either push off or take off the skis and retreat. If you push off, you are going down the hill one way or another. It is a "moment of maybe."

Unfaithfulness | 2 Samuel 11-12

The occasion | 2 Samuel 11:1

The rationalization | 2 Samuel 11:1-5

The cover-up | 2 Samuel 11:6-27

The causes | 2 Samuel 12:1-8

The consequences | 2 Samuel 12:10-25

The cure

"Anyone is a candidate for adultery!" What are your thoughts about that statement? What about those people who have a good, healthy marriage?

From today's text, how did King David rationalize his actions toward Bathsheba? What danger is inherent in this kind of rationalization? What kind of rationalizations have you heard from friends/family regarding affairs?

What would you say causes most affairs? How can these things be handled to prevent affairs from happening?

The consequences of King David's adultery were horribly dreadful. What consequences have you felt or witnessed as a result of someone's unfaithfulness?

As it relates to the cure for unfaithfulness, where in this text do we see the cross, love, mercy and forgiveness of Christ?

"My son, obey your father's commands, and don't neglect your mother's instruction. Keep their words always in your heart. Tie them around your neck. When you walk, their counsel will lead you. When you sleep, they will protect you. When you wake up, they will advise you. For their command is a lamp and their instruction a light; their corrective discipline is the way to life."

- Proverbs 6:20-23

The Power of Words

Past Impact

Present Impact

Future Impact

The Best Kind of Words

Speak Truth

Speak Love

Speak Life

How have you seen God redirect a family's story because of the faithfulness of one parent/couple?

Why is it important to view parenting as a marathon vs a sprint?

What are some things you can do to build health into relationships?

What are some things you can do to repair relationships damaged by hurtful words?

Why is it important to speak truth and love in all situations?

What are some examples in the Bible where Jesus spoke life and helped people discover their life mission?

"There are some who walk with God, some who walk away from God and some who do both!"

- Phil Jeansonne, pretty good pastor, wanna-be mystic, hater of socks, lover of wine

Walking in faith

2 Chronicles 22:10-12; 23:1,3,16; 24:4-10

Walking away from faith

2 Chronicles 24:17-19; 24:20-25

Why do people walk away from the faith?

Why do I continue in the faith?

In your experience, why do people leave the faith? Why do children, raised in church walk away in their teen years or early adult years? Why do some adults walk away...spouses, friends, siblings?

Describe your experience with walking away or keeping the faith.

Why do you continue in faith and walking with God?

Does God get your attention?

Deuteronomy 6:1-9 (NLT); Matthew 22:37-38 (NLT)

GodLESS is a me-centered, no-God life.

GodPLUS is a life that thinks highly of God but feels the need to add something extra to the relationship. (God plus the American dream; God plus property; etc.)

GodONLY is a more than enough, "all-in" life with God.

The "What If" game:

a GodLESS, me-centered life...

the best

the worst

Does your heart get your attention?

Does your family get your attention?

Deuteronomy 6:20-25 (NLT)

God gets our attention because...

Sin is Ordinary | Galatians 5:19-21 (MSG)

Choosing Jesus is Extraordinary | Romans 8:11-17 (MSG)

How do we live a GodONLY life? We stay connected to the Vine.

John 15:4-5 (NLT); John 10:10 (NLT)

Reflect on this past week. Who and/or what had your attention? Were any of these things a distraction? Why/why not?

What stands in the way of us truly living the GodONLY life?

Play the "What If" game. What if you decided to live the GodLESS life? What is the best that can happen from living a GodLESS life? What is the worst that can happen from living a GodLESS life?

Read John 15:4-5, how can we give God our attention and live a GodONLY life?

The undeniable legacy of our families of origin...

Genesis 12:10-20; Genesis 20:1-2

"What's past is prologue." - William Shakespeare

All of life's history sets the stage for the present experience.

Genesis 26:1; 6-9

It runs in the family...the consequences of family issues and sins

Exodus 20:5 – what it means and doesn't mean

Breaking the chains, both familial and personal

Ezekiel 18:1-2; 20-23

Have you seen the legacy of your family of origin in you? If so, in what areas? What patterns or unconscious drives seem to have been handed down to you and/or your siblings?

In today's text from Genesis 12, what was Abraham's weakness that kept tripping him up and caused him to repeat the behavior? How did this pattern affect his son, Isaac?

Compare Abraham's narrative with Isaac's. (Genesis 12:10-20 and Genesis 26:1-9)

Exodus 20:5 has been a challenge for translators for centuries due to the word "punishing". Given what we know of the nature of God, what could this text mean?

Are we destined to live out our parent's sins, weaknesses and patterns? What about the chains that we have placed on ourselves?

Luke 15:11-24

Insights from the prodigal son's journey home:

You do not have to be young to find yourself in the younger son's position.

Leaving certainly comes before losing but no one leaves with the intention of losing anything! We leave to pursue something better.

You do not have to travel very far to be in a faraway place. At times, the traveling is all in the imagination.

A profound sense of distance from home and a quiet desperation for home may bring us to our senses and lead us on the journey home.

The representative journey of Jesus and its connection with our journey home.