What does it look like to glorify God in the workplace?
Can you glorify God at work without explicit evangelism? What are some examples?
Can you think of an example of someone who glorifies God in all that they do from their job, to the church, to homelife and everything in between? What does that look like?
Have you ever considered your Spiritual Gifts? What would you say your gifts are? (For a partial list, see: Romans 12:6-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:4-11)
What would another person say your gifts are?
How are you using, or how could you start using, the gifts God has given you to serve others in the church?
How are you using, or how could you start using, the gifts God has given you to serve others outside of the church?
What would practicing hospitality without grumbling look like for you in your circumstance and culture?
Can you relate to any experiences where you didn’t fully understand the responsibility of a role you were in? How did that understanding change over time?
What does it look like to love God in these three areas of our lives (heart, soul, strength)? Can you identify specific examples where one of these areas may need more attention in your own life?
How can we join together as a church to better support the spiritual growth of children? What role do you think you personally play in this responsibility?
What responsibilities do church members beyond parents have in investing in the lives of the younger generation?
How can the church community support parents and caregivers in raising spiritually healthy children? What specific actions can we take as a church to partner with parents?
Can you think of a verse, song, or Bible story from your own childhood that has shaped your faith or comforted you during hard times? How can we ensure that children have these kinds of spiritual anchors?
How does recognizing God’s intentional care for future generations impact how we approach raising children and supporting life in all stages?
How do you personally prepare to answer tough questions about your faith? What has helped you grow in your ability to answer these questions in a way that points people to Jesus?
When have you experienced the power of words, either to create or to destroy? Think both of how you have used words and others have used words toward you. Has someone's words ever shaped you?
When have you seen words "create" a new future---either positively or negatively? Examples can include someone's gratitude creating more joy for those around them or someone's constant grumbling/criticism tearing apart a family, church, or team.
Have you encountered people who justify their brash/unfiltered use of words as simply "who they are?" How would you counsel such people? What could be damaged if they never think before speaking?
Have you encountered people who often seem hesitant to speak? How would you counsel such people? What could we lose if they never speak up?
Discuss the balance of encouragement and correction. Are they mutually exclusive? Why or why not?
Which one (encouragement or correction) comes more naturally to you? How can you intentionally add the other? What is at stake if you neglect one in favor of the other?
In what ways has Jesus' complete unconditional acceptance of you paired with His correction of your errors informed the way you speak? If it hasn't, how could it?
Have you ever been asked in a job interview about your weaknesses? How did you handle that question?
What do you think it means to boast in your weakness? How does the call to delight in weakness challenge your natural instincts, values, and assumptions?
Describe a time when God said “no” to your prayers. Did it cause you to question His existence or to doubt His goodness or love?
What does the fact that God didn’t remove Paul’s “thorn,” but chose to use Paul’s weakness to demonstrate His own power, tell you about God’s priorities and purposes?
What does it mean that God’s grace is sufficient for you? In what particular ways is it sufficient? How and why is God’s power made perfect in our weakness?
Based on this Scripture passage, what might it look like to steward well your trials and personal pain? What might it look like to squander or to waste your trials and personal pain?
What are some specific ways that God can be glorified in your weakness or in a particular trial you are going through right now?
What has helped you grow in generosity and joy of giving? Was it an example of a friend or mentor? Reading Scripture? Life experience? Something else?
As you grew in generosity, what else did you notice changing in your life? Were any relationships influenced? Feelings of peace versus anxiety? More or less margin in your monthly budget? Something else?
In Matthew 6:24, Jesus instructs, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Why do you believe He singles out “money” as a competing master to God–versus friendships, pleasing people, career success, fame, or something else? Is there something particular about money that can control us?
Why can the topic of “money” sometimes be such a touchy subject? What does our sensitivity to those conversations reveal to us–if anything?
In every area of our spiritual lives, God always has a “next step” for us. He wants better for us in the areas of prayer, fellowship, community involvement, love of Scripture . . . and finances. What do you believe could be your “next” in regard to stewardship of finances?
As you reflect on the last six weeks of studying God’s gifts of time, work, children, words, trials, and finances, what has God revealed to you? What do you want to change? How can this group support you in those changes in the weeks and months to come?
