LG Questions :: 10/10/2010

For Further Consideration :: Sunday, October 10, 2010

Shawn Cossin :: What Do You See | Week Two

Last week we discussed…

We are part of a bigger story

We have an enemy

We need to know our vulnerabilities

Question: Have you had any thoughts or life experiences in the past week that reinforce any of these realities?

Shawn showed a picture – actually, a picture within a picture. Could you see the young woman? Could you see the older woman? How does this illustration reveal our ability (or even inability) to see what is happening around us?

Shawn told a story about himself – he and his brother cutting across a field to get to church when they were young. He thought the cows were going to trample him, so he’d run. But one day he didn’t, and the cows stopped when he stopped. He said the cows didn’t change; his view of what the cows were doing/expecting changed. How does this story underscore our need to “see” what God is doing around us?

Read Matthew 6:22-23 – Jesus wasn’t talking about our literal eyes, was he? What was he talking about, and why do you think it was important enough to Jesus to talk about it?

Answer this question about yourself with five single words – “Who am I?” What words did you use, and why? Do they communicate who you are? If Jesus were answering this question about us, what words do you think he would use to describe us?

Our identity is important – and yet our Enemy wants to “shred” our identity, which can lead to … low self-esteem, lack of confidence, lack of purpose, poor self-image, and a host of other negative thoughts and attitudes. What do you think Jesus has to say about our identity? Talk about some Scriptures that come to  mind as we consider who we are in Christ.

Read 1^st Peter 2:9 – This was written to the early church, but still has great relevance to us today. What points are made in this verse that you would say are very important for us to understand?

Shawn said that “we in the church often talk about original sin, but don’t talk often enough about original glory.” I think this is an amazingly important truth/statement – why do you think we talk more about original sin than original glory? Why would it be important to talk about both with more balance?

Read Philippians 3:4-9 – What were Paul’s qualifications (take a moment to review them)? What did he say about all the important stuff in his life? Why do you think this perspective is so important to embrace?

Shawn read SEVERAL Scriptures that reveal our identity in Christ (and will soon be posted on his blog at http://live-sent.blogspot.com) - which of those Scriptures jumped out at you? Can you think of others that reveal who we are in Christ?

We looked at a video about identity (see it again at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNvMrZSvPOM). What did this video communicate to you?

Read John 1:12 – We are accepted. What has this meant to you as a Christ-follower?

Read Romans 8 – We are free. What has this meant to you as a Christ-follower?

Read 1^st Peter 2:9 – We are significant. What has this meant to you as a Christ-follower?

IN CLOSING ::

Read Philippians 3:12, and talk about how you can “press on” as a follower of Jesus. After that, take time to pray for each other and for our church, that God would help us be fully aware of our identity as Christians. Pray also for those who have not yet believed, that they would find their identity in Jesus.