Scriptures: Philippians 3:3-10, Hebrews 12:4-11, Romans 8:34
Questions for Thought & Discussion:
How do you define your success and failures?
How do you usually respond to success and failures?
How does your walk with Jesus help you deal with these ups and downs?
Scriptures: Psalm 39, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Galatians 5:22-26
Questions:
In what settings do you feel you can be yourself?
How has God used your personality to help others?
Where have you seen the Lord refine your personality?
Scripture Passages for Further Studies
* Psalm 139
* Psalm 8
* Genesis 2:4-25
Questions for Thought & Discussion
1. What are the implications of God knowing everything about you?
2. What are you learning about yourself?
3. What do you see as your strengths and gifts that God has given you?
This Week's Application Activity
Determine how you can learn more about yourself!
Remember
Before a word is in my tongue, God knows what I am about to say.
Scripture Passages for Further Studies
* Matthew 6:25-34
* Proverbs 17:17
* Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
* Hebrews 10:25
Questions for Thought & Discussion
1. What color best describes the color of your heart and why have you chosen that color?
2. What would you say your top 3 priorities are?
3. What does the way you live your life say your top 3 priorities are?!
This Week's Application Activity
Consider each moral, directional and relational decision you make each day and determine whether or not they are governed by scriptures and your priorities.
Remember:
We should not only listen to God’s word but live it out.
Scriptures: Isaiah 30:15-16, Psalm 90:17
Questions for thought & discussion:
What kind of rest will make yo “whole”?
Why is it so hard to rest from our work? What are the reasons we hold on to our work? What does that say about how we view ourselves and our identity?
Have you ever thought about the day when you truly vacate your work, what will you do in those seasons of your life? If you become unable to work? What will your purpose and identity be? Discuss this with your life group.
Scriptures: Genesis 50:16-21, Genesis 42-45, Matthew 6:9-15
Questions for thought & discussion:
Have you experienced forgiveness from others? How did it feel? What was the result?
Have you forgiven others when they have wronged you? What made you take the step to forgive them?
What can we learn about forgiveness and reconciliation from Joseph and his brothers?
What can we learn about our Father’s forgiveness from the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15: 11-32)?
What is the difference between “Forgiven because we forgive others,” and “Forgiven as we forgive others?”
Scriptures: Genesis 41, Philippians 2:1-11, John 3:22-30
Questions for thought & discussion:
How does God’s desire for our “flourishing” differ from our world’s “promise of promotion”?
To take it one step further, does the strength of your faith rely on a sense of prosperity and power over surrender and submission to the will of God?
Scriptures: Genesis 39, II Samuel 11, I Corinthians 10:13
Questions for thought & discussion:
What sin tempts you the most?
How do you usually deal with this temptation?
What do you know will help you overcome this temptation?
Scriptures: Genesis 39-41, Psalm 9:9-10, 1 Peter 5:6-7
Questions:
What can we learn about God’s protection or His providence in Joseph’s story?
When I ask for God’s protection, what am I expecting?
When I ask for God’s protection, do I trust with an open hand?
Scripture: Read through Genesis 41, especially verses 41 to 57
Reflections:
What are some of the elements that stand out to you in this part of Joseph’s story?
How do these elements relate and apply to your life?
What is the “hard work” at this moment of your life and how is the Holy Spirit leading you through it?
Hard work is faith-filled waiting. For victory over adversity we look to Christ and God’s promise in him (Heb 12: 1-11)
Scriptures: Genesis 37-38, Galatians 5, Titus 2
Questions:
What would you say is the difference between Christian character as we see in the Bible and everyday human behaviour?
Is character something you think about every day? Why or why not?
In what ways are you actively pursuing and choosing character in the way of Christ? List 5 practical ways that you can think of and 5 potential ways.
Scriptures: Genesis 37, Galatians 5, Proverbs 27:4
Questions:
In what ways have you seen jealousy ruin a good relationship?
Have you ever been jealous? If so, how have you dealt with it?
Do you think jealousy can ever be totally overcome? Why or why not?
Scriptures: Revelation 1, Matthew 24, 25, John 14: 2-3
Questions:
How does your understanding of “kingship” compare with the Gospel message of Jesus as a King?
In what ways is the coming of Christ encouraging, interesting, confusing, or all of the above to you? Why?
As a believer, how are you preparing yourself and preparing the world for the Coming King?
Scriptures: John 5:1-17, James 5, Psalm 34
Questions:
1. Do you have an area of your life you would like Jesus to make well? Why or why not?
2. Have you ever been healed or have known another close to you who was healed? How did this influence your faith? If they were not healed, how did that influence your faith?
3. Do you trust that God’s grace is sufficient for you, no matter what? What does or would this look like on a day by day basis?
Scripture: Col. 1:17, 1 Thes. 5:23-24, Col 3:10
Questions:
1. Are you growing closer to Jesus today, or are you finding yourself moving away from Him?
2. Have you set yourself apart for God? As in have taken the holiness of God seriously and that as believers, we make sanctification as a way of life?
Message: “ What Kind of Fellowship Do We Need”
Scriptures: 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13
Speaker: Pastor Jayson Tam
Small Group In-depth Questions Sharing
1) Get to know the group members:
Some people think that there are five "Love Languages" - serving, gifting, touching, spending quality time together, and affirming each other with words. Paul wrote this letter expressing his love in words to the Thessalonian believers. What is your "Love Language"?
2) Revisit the sermon:
What five elements does the speaker think a fellowship should have?
3) Personal application:
The speaker identified the challenges faced by fellowships today. Are there any challenges that are preventing you from participating in the fellowship?
4) Spiritual reflection:
It is man’s nature to put themselves first – as an old Chinese saying goes: "Heaven and earth
will destroy those who do not look out for themselves". How do you think a person can
change from "living for oneself" to "working hard, with mind and body, for the spiritual
benefit of others."?
5) Further reading:
Compare Paul's prayer in 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 with Jesus' prayer in John 17:20-26.