Matt Irvine | Sandy Lake Wesleyan
For Further Consideration | LG Questions
12/19/10 | Week 4 :: The Stories of Christmas
Today we talked about the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Who are some of your favorite characters from that movie? What are some of your favorite scenes? What’s the central theme/point of the movie?
Read Isaiah 53 and discuss the implications of its message…
Right up front, Matt asked a REALLY BIG question - What difference is my life making? Before you explore the difference your own life is making, take a moment to think of the impact OTHERS’ LIVES have made on you – here are the questions:
What person/people have most dramatically impacted your life?
What person/people have offered the most support encouragement?
How would your life be different if this person/people hadn’t been in your life?
Consider John Ortberg’s thoughts about “Moral Therapeutic Deism”
:: There is a god who created the earth and watches over it
:: God wants us to be nice, fair and good
:: The central goal of life is to be happy and feel good about yourself
:: God doesn’t need to be involved except when there is a problem that needs a “Celestial Performance Enhancement”
:: Good people go to heaven when they die
:: What’s missing? JESUS
Question: How do you see this (Moral Therapeutic Deism) attitude bleeding through our culture these days?
Read Acts 17:6, then consider the following questions:
What was the reputation of these disciples?
Why were they called in?
What reputation do many of today’s Christians have?
George Bailey gets a second chance from God, and he basically acts like a crazy man running around wishing everyone a ‘Merry Christmas’ – Have you received a second chance from God, and how have you responded to that second chance?
Read Romans 12:1-2, then consider the following questions:
What does it mean to “offer our bodies to God”? What would that look like?
How would doing this be considered a “spiritual act of worship”?
Read Luke 2:13-14, then consider the following questions:
Before this proclamation, God had been silent for 400 years. How do you think that time of silence felt to generations that passed through during this time?
How is God NOT silent anymore? How has he spoken, and what has he communicated to us?
Matt asked, What difference has Christ made in your life? And what are you doing with your second chance?
IN CLOSING :: Take some time to thank God together as a group for the people who have positively impacted your lives. Take time to thank God for his work and impact in and on your lives. And take time to ask God to use us to make a difference in the lives of others.
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