CPC Discussions: August 2013

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

8/18: "God Snobs" (Jonah 3)

1. Are their areas of your life that might be considered "snobbish?" What are these areas?

2. How can we be snobs when it comes to God?

3. How does your relationship with Christ and Scripture put these attitudes into perspective?

4. Is God calling you to reach out to others or to take a certain action but you feel hesitant to do so? Why? What does Jonah 3 teach us about obedience to God?

5. How does the message of Jonah 3 remind us of God's graciousness towards us?

Thursday, August 1, 2013

7/28: "Fondness for the Foyer: Reflections on the Exiled Life" (1 Peter 2:11-12)

1. In what ways do you see yourselves as exiles in this world? In light of this, how should we then live?

2. What desires wage war against your thoughts and affections?

3. What motivation does Peter give to abstain from over-reaching desires?

4. How are we called to be ambassadors for Christ here on earth? How can we do this on a daily basis?

Seven Tips For Staying On Track

1. Read through the Bible together with other people.

2. There will be some passages that you may not find interesting and / or difficult to read. Remember 2 Timothy 3:16-17 as you read these passages: "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be equipped for every good work." Ask yourself why God spoke this particular passage, and how it is profitable to you.

3. Do the whole reading for each day, but look for a "best thought" for each day - something you can ponder the rest of the day, a verse to memorize, something memorable.

4. As you come the Word each morning, ask God to open your eyes to the wonders found in his word.

5. Let your prayers for others flow out of what you read. Pray and read Scripture. After you read a passage, pray that passage for yourself and for others.

6. Some readings will be long and some short. Take advantage of shorter passages by reading them carefully, reflecting, asking questions, praying for answers, engage.

7. Look for ways you can practically live out what you're reading. James 1:22, "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves."

*The above is taken from Stephen Witmer, http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2010/12/29/two-year-bible-reading-plan/