In the Workshop--Lesson 7--A Lifestyle of Prayer--Mark 1:32-37 + Various Passages

Discussion Questions:

1.  What struggles have you had with maintaining a disciplined prayer life?  What victories have you experienced in your prayer life?  What did you learn from Jesus’ model of prayer this week that surprised you and/or challenged and blessed you?

2.  How is prayer simply talking to God?  How is prayer more than simply talking to God?  What purposes do you find in prayer? 

3.  Did you know prior to this sermon how often Jesus is recorded to be praying?  What does this say to you about Jesus and how He modeled humanity for us? 

4.  How does prayer develop the image of God in us?  Why would Jesus need this, or was He merely modeling what He knew we need?  How does one explain Jesus being completely human and not giving into temptation along with His ability to stay focused on the will of the Father?

5.  Why is feeling guilt or shame about praying counterproductive?  What are some creative ways to fit prayer into a busy schedule?

6.  Why do we struggle with putting the urgent in front of the important?    How is the story about Mary & Martha in Luke 10 helpful in understanding putting the important above the urgent, particularly in the context of prayer? 

7.  Are there times you have been tempted to do works of service for Jesus instead of sitting at His feet to build relationship with Him?  How is prayer the investment above the works we do?  How do God’s words to Moses in Exodus 3:11-12 when Moses questioned who he was to set the Israelites free from Egypt reveal the true significance of prayer versus works?

8.  What are some biblical stories that would have been different if the individuals involved had stopped to pray before pressing on?  How does hearing George Muller’s prayer habits excite you and motivate you in your own prayer life?  What is it that makes us think God will answer other people’s prayer like he did with George Muller, but not ours?

In the Workshop--Lesson 6--An Exercise in Spiritual Disciplines--Matthew 7 & John 15

Discussion Questions:

1.  What have you learned about being a disciple of Jesus (apprentice) that you did not know prior to this study?  How has this study brought about any changes to your thinking and actions?

2.  What part of dropping nets, being transformed, using Jesus as a template, making use of the power provided by God, and maintaining a priority of love do you struggle with?  What part excites you?

3.  What is your understanding of spiritual disciplines?  Are they mandatory?  What is their ultimate purpose?  What makes them difficult to maintain? 

4.  Which of the spiritual disciplines do you find particularly helpful?  Which ones scare you or seem intimidating?  Which ones seem to come fairly easy to you?  Are certain ones meant for particular personalities?

5.  What percentage of your spiritual life is contemplation versus action?  Why do you think you lean one way more than the other?  How are both important for spiritual development?

6.  Do you agree that the inside leads to the outside?  Are there times when the outside leads to the inside?  Discuss this with one another. 

7.  Why does James say our faith is useless (barren) without works?  What did Jesus do to the fig tree that had no figs on it?  Why did Jesus curse the fig tree when it wasn’t the season for figs? (Mark 11:12-13).

8.  How do spiritual disciplines help us to grow in good works?  How is not practicing spiritual disciplines like having an umbrella and not using it?

9.  How do our good works glorify the Father?  What works would you say are in your life that bring the Father glory?

In the Workshop--Lesson 5--The Priority of Love--Luke 5-6 + Various Passages

Discussion Questions:

1.  Why do stories where one sacrifices out of love have such a strong appeal to us? 

2.  What are some spiritual disciplines you practice in your daily life?  What is the goal of each of the disciplines you keep?  What role does love play in these disciplines you do?

3.  Why did Jesus touch the leper He healed?  Why is His touch important in your own life?  How does being part of the body of Jesus influence the touch you put in other’s lives?

4.  How do Law and love go together in God’s Kingdom?  Describe the ugliness human beings are capable of when we emphasize Law without love.

5.  Jesus demonstrated through the stories in Luke 5 that God is approachable, touches our lives, forgives sin and offers table fellowship with sinners.  Why are each of these qualities valuable for your life?  What does doing these 4 things tell you about how Jesus views the balance between Law and love?

6.  David and his companions eating the consecrated bread is a clear violation of the Law!  How do we justify times like this when God’s Law is clearly violated but people are not held accountable? (See II Chron. 30:18 for another example). How do we know when it is ok to violate what God says, versus when it is not ok?  (Nadab & Abihu or Ananias & Saphira are some examples).

7.  How do you read the story of James & John wanting to call down fire on the Samaritans?  Were their motives evil?  Why was it ok for Elijah to call down fire?  How are things different when we view each day as a day of salvation instead of a day of judgment?

8.  How does Jesus bring the Law and love together?  How are we capable of keeping the Law today?  Do you feel set free by what He has done?  Why, or why not?

9.  Why is it important to see John connect commandment keeping with love in his first epistle?  How do we view people different when we see them through the lens of salvation instead of judgment?  Are there any areas of your life you need to change the way you see people?