Let Me Introduce Myself 

Jesus is the Door 

 

Discussion Question # 1

[Jhn 10:7-10 NKJV] 7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 “All who [ever] came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have [it] more abundantly.

 

  1. Are there some places in your life spiritually that are left unguarded? 

 

Discussion Question # 2

  1.  Is Jesus your ear gate, is Jesus your eye gate.

 

Discussion Question # 3

  1.  Where in your life do you need Jesus to be the door

 

 Let me introduce myself 

Jesus is the light of the world

 

Discussion Question # 1

John 8:12-12 (NKJV) Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

 

  1. Who is Jesus to you?

 

Discussion Question # 2

John 8:12-12 (NKJV) Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

 

  1. Tell of a time when you needed more light?
  2. What are your thoughts about abortion and same sex attraction?

 

Discussion Question # 3

Matthew 5:14-14 (NKJV) “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

 

  1. How comfortable are you inviting people to Church or sharing Christ with others?

 

Discussion Question # 4

John 8:12-12 (NKJV) Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

 

  1. Following Jesus implies forsaking other nouns.
  2. How would you rate your commitment to following Jesus. 10 Being Totally committed, 1 being not committed.  How can your group pray for you in this area?

 

Psalms 119:105-105 (NKJV) NUN Your word [is] a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

  1. Brainstorm with your group practical ways to improve following Jesus

 

Discussion Question # 5

John 8:12-12 (NKJV) Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

  1. Share ways Jesus is the light of your life!

 

  1. Let Me Introduce Myself

    Jesus is the Bread of Life

    John 6:25–27 (NIV84) 25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” 26 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

     

    Exposure #1 Consumeristic Christianity

    1. Question #1 What type of Christianity do you have?
      1. Do I have a “what am I getting out of this Christianity”
      2. Or do I have Beverly Crawford type of Christianity, if He doesn’t do anything else for me, He’s already done enough!!!

     

    35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.

     

    Exposure #2 Spiritual Blindness

    1. Question #2 What level are you functioning on?
      1. The Followers in verse 36
      2. Jonah
      3. 1 Cor. 10:13

     

    John 6:37–40 (NIV84)

    37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

     

    Exposure #3 True Christianity

     

    1. Question #3 What has taken place in your life that assures you of the authenticity of your Christianity?

     

     

     

  1. I ALWAYS REAP IN A DIFFERENT SEASON THAN I SOW

Ecclesiastes 3:1-5 offers principles for planting. How does the wisdom in this verse help us to be patient when waiting for the fruit of our labor to appear?

  • What would you say to a person who told you that they started tithing a year ago, but still are struggling financially?

 

  1. I ALWAYS REAP MORE THAN I SOW

When we are careful to plant in good soil, what kind of yield can we anticipate, according to Mark 4:8?

  • No matter what people choose to plant, the “law of multiplication” is constant—we always reap more than we sow. This can produce results either negatively or positively. Discuss a time when what you sowed brought you much more than you expected. What kind of fruit did your choice produce?

 

  1. I CAN INCREASE MY HARVEST BY PLANTING MORE SEED

Compare and contrast the behaviors described in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 and Proverbs 11:24. (If possible, read Proverbs 11:24 in The Message paraphrase for a vivid word picture.)

  • “The law of proportion”—we always reap in proportion to what we sow—provides the guideline for anyone who chooses to follow it. How does it make you feel when you live generously?

 

  1. THE TIME TO START PLANTING IS NOW!

Read together Ecclesiastes 11:4, 11:6 and 2 Corinthians 9:10. What do these verses imply about the perfect time to plant?

  • It’s human nature to put things off until we “feel like it.” But what usually happens when we follow that life plan?
  • Who is most impacted by the stingy heart?
  • How can we assess the kinds of seeds we are planting in our lives and relationships?

 

  1. TO REAP THE HARVEST I MUST BE PATIENT AND NOT GIVE UP

Read how Mark 4:26-28 describes the mystery of life that occurs when we plant a seed.

Galatians 6:9 encourage us to persevere in our “farming” efforts with what promise?

  • We’ve all heard that anything worth doing takes time. What happens when we get impatient waiting for results? Share a time in your life when either impatience or patience won the day.

Galatians 6:7 (NKJV) 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

 Grow Financially

 Leverage The Law

  

  1. EVERYTHING STARTS AS A SEED (POINT #1 In order to leverage the law we must RECOGNIZE POTENTIAL)

What does Genesis 1:11 say about how God created the plants and trees? How did he plan for them to reproduce?

  • The largest redwood tree on our planet is 390 feet tall, but it came from a seed about the size of a piece of sawdust. Name other things that grew big from a small seed.
  • There is infinite potential in a seed. Every idea, dream, achievement in your life began as a small idea that grew. What about your financial life would you like to see grow? How do you start?

 

  1. UNLESS THE SEED IS PLANTED, NOTHING HAPPENS (Point #2: 1 In order to leverage the law we must TREAT YOUR MONEY AS SEED )

What insight does John 12:24 give us regarding the life cycle of a plant?

  • If we buy pumpkin seeds but neglect to plant them, will our field produce? Will complaining about our barren field produce fruit? What basic action must we perform?
  • What happens when we plant the Word of God in our hearts? Give an example from your own life.

 

  1. WHATEVER I SOW IS WHAT I REAP POINT #3: 1 In order to leverage the law we must LIVE IN LIGHT OF THE TRUTH

How does Galatians 6:7 describe the results of seed planting? Can we plant an apple seed and get a tomato?

  • Describe a situation where someone reaped what they sowed in life, both the good and the bad. (These examples can be from the Bible or from someone you have observed.)
  • If we want people to be generous and kind to us, what should we do?
  • A wise person said, “When I have a need, I plant a seed.” Discuss strategies for applying this principle to your finances.

 

  1. I’M NOT THE ONLY SOWER Point #4 1 In order to leverage the law we must SOW forward!

How does John 4:8 encourage us that we are not alone when it comes to sharing God’s message?

  • We drive on roads we did not build. We use computers we did not design. We enjoy freedom because some people before us paid dearly. Name a blessing you have now that someone else worked hard to provide.
  • Discuss what it cost Jesus to purchase our salvation. What did he sow? What blessings do we reap because of what he did?

 

Getting Money Together

  1. Why is finances such a difficult subject in marriage and relationships?
    1. How Does 1 Timothy 1:6 inform this question?
    2. 1 Timothy 6:10 (NIV84) 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
  2. Do you sacrifice more for money or for God?
  3. Do you view your money as a tool or a goal?
  4. Some of the questions that Dr. Vernon encourages dating couples to ask are some questions that married couples have not asked. With that being said, On a scale of 1-10 married or unmarried how willing are you to face the tough questions and Why?
  5. Kingdom, Kindred, Kindness to the poor.
    1. How well do you ideally align with these Biblical Priorities for money?
    2. How well do you experientially align with these Biblical Priorities for money?
  6. Esteem and Security
    1. In what ways can me offer security to women in relationships
    2. In what ways can women offer esteem to men in relationships
    3. In what ways can we actively draw on these things from God

 

Eliminating Emotional Economics

REMEMBER GOD IS MY SOURCE

In times of economic downturn, we might lose our financial perspective.  Our salary is not our source: our savings aren’t either.  God is your source and his blessings can never be taken away from you. God wants us prosper, however he wants us to do it his way, not ours.

               

Deuteronomy 8:18 tells us that only God gives us the ability to produce wealth.  We must develop the habit of making resources, not wasting them. If we have security in God, why do you think there is so much tension in our lives concerning money?

Christianity says that what is mine is God’s and I’m willing to share it. How can you develop a greater trust in God that facilitates sharing our resources?

Describe what life changes you could make so your life more deeply reflects God as your source.

 

HONOR GOD FIRST

If we love God, we give him honor above everything else.  Our first offering to him should always be the thing we most want God to bless.

 

The Bible describes four actions we can take to put God first.

What does God promise in Proverbs 3:9 –10?

What is the purpose of our giving, as delineated in Deuteronomy 14:23?

According to Malachi 3:10, where (place) should you bring your tithe?

1 Corinthians 16:2 tells us we should put aside some of what we have earned during the week. When should we give?

PLAN MY SPENDING

Read Proverbs 21:5 aloud in your group.  What does this verse say about planning how to spend your money?

If you tell your money where you want it to go, rather than wondering where it all went, what affect might it have on your family?

Discuss in your group ways that you have used or have heard about to help you resist “impulse buying?”

 

What does Proverbs 21:20 say about the wisdom of someone who spends money too quickly?

How have you used a budget in the past? What have been the obstacles to having a budget “work” for you?

If our goal is to be debt-free, we need to know four things about our finances: what we own, what we owe, what we earn and where it’s going. Discuss in your group which one of the four is the most difficult to identify.  Talk about why you think that is so, AND how a budget would help you to avoid future debt. 

 

KEEP GOOD RECORDS

Proverbs 27:23-24 suggests that you should keep track of your “flocks and herds.”  What would that mean for your family, in today’s economy?

Take a few minutes in your group to discuss ways that you have found to be successful in understanding the state of your finances.

What would be the consequences of not knowing the extent of your debt and your financial assets?

 

What do Proverbs 21:5 and Proverbs 23:5 say about keeping a grip on your money?

If money can disappear so quickly, as the Bible says in both of these verses, what would be the benefit of keeping good track of your resources?

What do you think that these verses imply about getting easy credit, or even using credit cards?

 

SET UP A REPAYMENT PLAN

Read what Proverbs 3:27 and Romans 3:18 say about debt.

Discuss some of the common causes of debt. Does it usually happen overnight?

Why is it a bad idea to take out a loan to buy items like cars? What can we do instead?

What happens when we make only minimum payments on our bills?

Talk about practical steps anyone can take for paying down debt and eventually becoming debt free.

 

SAVE MONEY WISELY

Read Proverbs 21:20 aloud in your group.  What does this verse say about the character of a man who chooses not to save for the future?

Since the Bible tells us to save money, why do you think many Christians have difficulty making a commitment to save on a regular basis?

If you are working hard to earn a living, and not saving, you are working for money. How could saving cause money to work for you?

 

How does Ecclesiastes 11:2 suggest that you should invest your resources?  For what reason?

Has there been a time in the past when you were grateful that you had money saved because of an unexpected event in your life?

If you were to get a raise right now, say of $1000 a month, what would be the kinds of things you might be tempted to do with the extra cash? Read Proverbs 13:11.  For what things might you instead be better advised to save?  What would be the benefit of making that choice?