"Take Heart" Sermon Discussion

During our Wednesday night gathering, we discuss applications of the sermon before spending time in prayer. Here you can find the discussion questions, with our most recent questions at the top.

These questions coordinate with our sermon series from January-February 2019: "Take Heart: With Power and Purpose."

Each week, we will start the discussion asking the following:

Case study: Help me counsel "Paula." Paula says she is without peace for the following reasons: her husband doesn't listen, her children are getting bad grades, she's tired of cooking for church, and the neighbor's yard is embarrassing. How can we help Paula find peace?
What are some areas in which you feel a lack of peace?
What do you think it would take to obtain peace in these areas?
Is it just cliché to suggest that we trust God's promises? What promises do you struggle to trust?
Colossians 3:15 says to let the peace of God rule in your hearts. How do we do that practically? What does that look like?
How can we avoid our pursuit of holiness and mission becoming casual or extinct?

How can we find strength in God’s ownership of us instead of turning to it like a Band-Aid?
What are some practical ways that we can keep God’s Word... in discouraging circumstances? in a challenging relationship? amidst frustration or devastation?
How does the fact that you belong to God (as a believer in Jesus) convict and encourage you?
Because we belong to God, what further implication does that carry for us in our daily living?
What are some ways that we can live distinctly because we belong to God?
What might cause us to hold back from giving our all to glorify God?
Jesus is glorified in sinners who belong to Him. How does that transform your attitude, thinking, and perspective?

How can we learn to depend on God’s preservation of us, yet pursue what He has equipped us for our mission?
What does deep unity look like, as opposed to a shallow or counterfeit unity?
In what ways are we prone to forsaking our unity?
Meditate together: how is God a God of joy? How can we grow in and reflect God’s joy together?
How do we dismiss and excuse joylessness in our lives? How can we move from discouragement to joy without simply masking or burying our struggles?
How does the loss of joy show us that our “joy” is counterfeit or misplaced?
In what ways do we inadvertently imitate the world and seek the world’s approval?
“In this world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). If our joy, unity, and identity are to be constant and unshakable, then how can we change our thinking about conflict?

What are some discouragements you are personally and presently facing as our church pursues its mission?
What hope and encouragement can help us amidst those discouragements?
What are some ways in which you have sought to be defined by truth today?
What fears and hesitations do you have when it comes to evangelism?
What are some ways in which we have been more isolated from the world?
In what ways do we inadvertently imitate the world and seek the world’s approval?
What are some fresh ways we can engage the community without compromising truth?

“Church would be great if it weren’t for the people.” Do you identify with this? What truths and lies are contained in this mindset?
What do you suppose the greatest cause of broken relationships is? Why? Consider in what ways you struggle with this and might grow in this area.
How can unity be so easy and so hard at the same time?
What are some frequent ways that our selfishness can hinder and shatter our unity?
How can we grow together in unity though disagreements?
What makes a church a family, and how can we learn to work together and enjoy one another more like a family?
How have you seen the impact we can have as a small church? How does that encourage you?

How do we guard against the mindset that life and Christianity are ultimately about me?
What does it look like to abide in Jesus and be one with Him?
In what ways do Christians use God as they seek satisfaction in the world, rather than find satisfaction in Him?
Do you long to see God’s glory? What will it be like to enjoy His glory in eternity?
Sometimes we may miss God’s love because we want love the way we define it. What is God’s love like, and how does He give His love to us?
How does Jesus’ prayer encourage you in your life and His mission?
How can we better enjoy sharing our satisfaction in God with others?

Sunday Morning Bible Study9:30am

Sunday Morning Worship Service11:00am

Address 7107 Cherry Lane, Laurel, Maryland 20707

Phone301-725-5347

Email office@GraceIs.Us