DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS

1. What stood out to you in this message?
2. What are your thoughts about the statement that many see God as insecure and self-centered in requiring worship from His creation?
3. Why are humans more resistant to glorifying God over against honoring people who do noble things?
4. What do you think makes it difficult to glorify God each day the way He deserves?
5. Does the statement that human beings are glory hogs seem true with you? Explain.
6. Do you find the reality of eternity comforting in the struggles of this life? Why or why not?

The post The Five Solas: Soli Deo Gloria appeared first on Reston Bible Church.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS

1. What stood out to you in this message?
2. Discuss Calvin’s statement that human beings are essentially “idol factories”? Do you think this is true? Why or why not?
3. Why do you believe that we tend, even as believers in Christ, to add to His finished work?
4. In what things other than Jesus do you tend to seek to find your identity?
5. If being a more consistent worshiper in daily living helps keep our focus on Christ alone, what gets in the way of this process?
6. What is one step you can practically take to ensure that Christ is in his proper place – “in Christ Alone”?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

What is the hypostatic union?
Got Questions

The post The Five Solas: Solus Christus appeared first on Reston Bible Church.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS

1. What makes it difficult for people to embrace the reality that faith is necessary to apprehend salvation and not works?
2. Discuss the idea that “being good” in the realm of this world although important, is different for the measure of being good for salvation. How are these things different?
3. How are followers of Jesus able to keep those two realities clear in our lives?
4. We said that good works do not gain us salvation but should be the outgrowth of it. What should the fruit of salvation look like?
5. If we’re being honest, we don’t always feel like “living it out” the way we could. What should be the proper motivation for living out our salvation in good works?
6. As a follower of Jesus Christ, how can we avoid a sense of pressure to simply be good?

The post The Five Solas: Sola Fide appeared first on Reston Bible Church.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS

1. What stood out to you in today’s message?
2. Discuss the point that we are sinners before we sin and therefore not essentially good? Why might this be a hard set of truths?
3. How would you help an unbeliever in Jesus come to grips with this reality?
4. Each day we assign value to people and things. How do you keep the world of comparison from invading the notion of “I am fallen but valued”?
5. Why do you believe it is difficult, after we are saved by grace, to then live each day by grace?
6. Discuss the reality that when offended we want justice, but when we offend we want grace. Why is it so difficult to give grace to others?

The post The Five Solas: Sola Gratia appeared first on Reston Bible Church.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS

1. What stood out to you in this message?
2. What makes it difficult to find meaningful time reading the Bible?
3. When it comes to reading, studying, meditating on and memorizing Scripture, where do you see yourself doing well and what could use more attention?
4. What are key life verses or concepts that have guided your journey?
5. What is a matter in life about which you need guidance and what step could you take to engage the wisdom of the Bible?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Why is it important to believe in biblical inerrancy?
GotQuestions.org

How do we decide which books belong in the Bible since the Bible does not say which books belong in the Bible?
GotQuestions.org

The post The Five Solas: Sola Scriptura appeared first on Reston Bible Church.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS

1. What is the most impressive natural sight that you’ve ever seen in person (Redwoods, Grand Canyon, etc.)?
2. Where does pride tend to rear its ugly head the most in your life?
3. How can success make pride more difficult to recognize?
4. David mentioned that “pride rejects God’s preventative grace.” What are some ways God might warn us before humbling us?
5. What is one practical step you can take this week to cultivate humility?

The post Character Studies: Nebuchadnezzar appeared first on Reston Bible Church.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS

1. What stood out to you in this message?
2. Who is another biblical personality who experienced failure, restoration and mission? Discuss the distinctives of their journey.
3. Who is someone you know in life who has experienced failure, has been restored and is now on mission?
4. What are the critical disciplines and factors in maintaining a life that is resistant habitual failure? Read Romans 7:13-25 and Romans 8:1-8.
5. What steps could you take to create a more bullet proof journey against failure that sets you back spiritually?
6. How do you believe God is calling you to be on mission for Him? What might need to change in order to see this mission come to greater fruition?

The post Character Studies: Peter appeared first on Reston Bible Church.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS

1. What stood out to you in the message?
2. Over the course of your journey, what has been your attitude toward Mary the mother of Jesus? Have you tended to over value her or under value her? Explain.
3. When you hear the word ‘submission’ what is conjured up in your mind and why?
4. Who in the Bible beside Mary do you see as having submitted to God at great personal cost? Discuss.
5. Have you ever felt that God has had a call on you that you didn’t really want to do? Explain.
6. What is something God is asking you to do right now that you are processing?

The post Character Studies: Mary appeared first on Reston Bible Church.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS

1. What’s one thing that stood out to you in this message, and why?
2. How would you describe your life today as it relates to being surrendered to God for His glory and purpose?
3. As you fight the good fight (staying surrendered the Lord), what are some things that you battle against?
4. What advice would you give to a believer who is not fully surrendered to the Lord?

The post Character Studies: Timothy appeared first on Reston Bible Church.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS

1. What were you most challenged about in this message?
2. What were you most encouraged about in this message?
3. What are some of the promises of God in his Word that you can count on, that serve to deal with doubts you might face?
4. Is there a time in your life you remember when you experienced doubt? How did you face those doubts? What did God use to help you face those doubts?
5. We’re all different and yet, in so many ways, alike. What are the kinds of doubt you have experienced in your spiritual journey?
6. Why are “feelings” a poor barometer of truth?

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