Verse 1-2: What age did you decide to really decide to become serious about your faith? What drove you to that decision?

What is the difference between going to church and being the church? What are some things we may be waiting for before being the church? Are you hoping for a shortcut to a righteous life?

Being disciplined and dying to yourself is not natural for us. We must make it a daily part of our lives. Learn to live in such a way that it serves you the rest of your life. You will never be wasting your time when you are deepening in your knowledge of God. Say “yes” to what the Lord would have of you. There is no instance or singular moment when you are going to suddenly “arrive.” There are no short cuts. Don’t worry so much about tomorrow. Do not delay. Focus on following the Lord and seek righteousness today.

Verse 3-5: What was the hardest thing you’ve had to endure as a parent? Do those moments break you or do they credentials for being a parent?

Is your marriage stronger or weaker through working out tough issues?

What are the biggest struggles you’ve had as a Christian? Are you harnessing the power of your struggles to grow stronger in your faith, or are you being consumed by your circumstances?

Verse 6-7: Is your life marked by living a righteous life? Proverbs 12:3 says, “No one is established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will never be moved.” What are the benefits of having lived a righteous life? What do we miss out on if we don’t?

Verse 8: Has anyone ever said anything bad about you? How should a Christian act when we are slandered? Why?

Verse 9-10: Do you ever feel like you are getting less than you deserve? Do you think God feels you are getting less than you deserve? How do we reconcile what we want out of life versus what a God actually gives us?

Verse 11-13: Have you ever been tempted to wallow in your circumstances? Read John 9, the story of Jesus healing the blind beggar. The Pharisees viewed the circumstances of the blind man as a punishment, but a Jesus viewed it as an opportunity to see God working in his life. Have you seen that in your own life?

“As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
‭‭John‬ ‭9:1-3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Verse 14-15: We can’t live a life where we separate ourselves from non-Christians. How do we apply these verses? How can we apply this to dating? Friendships? Work? Church?

Verse 16-18: When a woman gets married, she typically takes on her husband’s last name. Why is that significant?

When we become Christian, we no longer identify with the ways of this world. Do you have any areas you struggle with separating yourself from worldly ways? What would you like prayer for in terms of staying faithful to God?