In this week’s message, entitled “Developing Personal Convictions”, we looked at Ephesians 5:8-10. We heard how, in light of God’s love towards us, we should walk towards him. To better understand this path of developing personal convictions, let us consider these questions:
- How clearly have you understood the distinction between “principles” that we are all called to and “practices” that we each must discover? How has this understanding affected the way that you have lived and related to others?
- Why is it so important recognize the ongoing nature of learning what is pleasing to the Lord?
- How does your understanding of the patience of the Lord affect the way that you relate with others as they seek to develop personal convictions?
- Have you tended to see your development of personal convictions as primarily a relational pursuit or an establishment of rules? How was Sunday’s message a help in this? Why is our having a relational perspective so important?
Let’s give thanks this week that as each of us grows, we have a loving, ever patient, heavenly Father who is constantly drawing us to him.
This week’s message was entitled “Parenting in Weakness”. Dave Harvey taught us from 2 Corinthians 11:30-12:10. We heard how, for the Christian, power flows through weakness. In application, we were pointed to the reality of this truth in our parenting. In order to better understand how God’s power is made perfect in our weakness, consider these questions:
- Why is trusting God over methodologies so important? How has this played out in your life?
- In grace, God is inclined to come to us in our weakness. Are you typically aware of this gospel truth when you feel weak, or even desperate? What is the effect of remembering, or not remembering, this truth?
- Who knows where you are weak? How can you grow in pursuing relationships in which your weaknesses are known?
- Instead of hiding your weakness, how can you boast in your weakness? How does this magnify God’s grace?
- How has God used “thorns” in your life to reveal his strength? How can you share this story with others in order to display the grace of the gospel?
Let’s pray for one another this week, making our weakness known and then placing our trust in God’s strength.
In this week’s message, entitled “Celebrating Our Differences”, we examined Romans 14:1-10. We heard how we can extend a wholehearted welcome to others because we have been accepted by the Father. To better understand the significance of this kind of acceptance, let us consider these questions:
- One of the greatest enemies of grace is legalism. Why is this so?
- If acceptance is defined as “wholehearted welcome”, how would you describe how you accept others?
- When do differences in others tempt you to think something like, “what is wrong with this person?” How can you better deal with these kinds of temptations?
- How can standards in peoples lives begin to replace your trust in God’s faithful activity? How can you resist this inclination?
- How can we not only accept different convictions in the body of Christ, but celebrate them? Why is this so important?
Let’s give thanks for this week for our differences, with an awareness of God’s grace at work in our lives and in the lives of others.
This week’s message was entitled “Ambassadors of Christ”. From Romans 15:1-7 we heard how we can be ambassadors of grace in the way that we welcome and accept others. In order to better understand this aspect of being a community of grace, consider these questions:
- When are you tempted to evaluate how much someone is like you rather than extending immediate welcome?
- What differences in others make it hard for you to accept them? How can you overcome these kinds of obstacles and extend grace?
- How does Christ’s example help you in evaluating the way that you accept others?
- As you have grown in your understanding of God’s love for you, how has this affected your acceptance of others?
- How can you better love those outside of the church, in your school or workplace, in your neighborhood, and in your family?
Let’s ask in prayer this week, “Who can I accept? Who can I serve? Who can I encourage?” as we grow in being a community of grace.
This past Sunday we had the joy of welcoming 11 new members to the KingsWay family! It is always a joy to celebrate God’s work among us in such specific ways. Click on the image below to watch the video introducing our new members.
In this week’s message, entitled “Growth is a Community Project”, we examined Ephesians 4:11-16. We heard how the church is a gift to us and how it is God that places each member as he desires. To better understand the importance of this in our lives, let us consider these questions:
- We heard, “it takes a church to raise a Christian.” What did you think of the statement and what it implied?
- When it comes to the importance of “church”, how has your view changed over time, and what difference has this made in your life?
- How would you describe the importance of Sunday meetings and community group meetings? What scriptures would inform your understanding?
- How has your understanding of our various roles in the church grown over time? How has your view or your role changed?
- In what ways can you better embrace the local church as a means of grace in your life?
Let us give thanks for, pray for, and fully participate in our local church that we may grow in God’s transforming grace together.
