Unhindered

Approval That Satisfies
From Trying to Please Everyone to Pleasing Just One

Monday, May 5                                                                    1 Thessalonians 2:1-6
How much does approval from people matter to you? How can it be a good thing to seek approval from people? A bad thing?

In Paul's context here, what does he mention as the potential impure motives behind his actions? How does he justify himself? What are the potential impure motives that live in you when you're in "people-pleaser" mode?

Tuesday, May 6                                                                             Galatians 1:6-10
Why is it a good thing to live to please God alone? Why is it so hard to actually live this way (read Galatians 5:16-17)? What tends to pull you away from living for an "audience of One?"

Paul is clearly here defending the gospel against perversions. Why do people tend to pervert Jesus' teachings? In what way have you seen this done? What are the possible motivations for doing so? How can you protect yourself?

Wednesday, May 7                                                                          Jeremiah 9:23-24
This passage is about measuring ourselves against the standards of our culture: money, smarts, and strength. How are you tempted to find approval / value / worth in these terms? How are these a slippery slope?

What are the opposite values / standards stated here? How do these things lead to real approval that satisfies? How can you know if you're a "delight" to God?

Thursday, May 8                                       Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 5:1-2, 1 Peter 2:9-10
What do these verses have in common? What do they communicate about God's approval of you? How hard is it for you to believe that God not only loves you, but likes you and enjoys you personally?

When you think of God, is He a) a loving, gentle Father, b) a harsh, authoritative taskmaster or c) absent but well intentioned? What do these passages communicate about God's acceptance of you? His presence? His intentions for you?

Friday, May 9                                                                                          Psalm 63
What is the tone of this psalm? What does it have to do with finding approval in God's eyes? What can you take from this psalm (and this week) and apply in your own life? How are you going to do so?

Staying in the Game
Overcoming discouragement with endurance 

Monday, April 28                                                                        Hebrews 12:1-3

Who are some people who encourage your Christianb walk? How do they help you ‘throw off' hinderances and sins that entangle you? Do you have someone who holds you accountable in some way? Verse 2 tells us a way to stay motivated, on what are we to focus? How can someone in heaven really know what we are going through and empathize? What are some situations or experiences that cause you to grow weary and lose heart? To whom do you turn in situations such as these?

Tuesday, April 29                                                                  1 Peter 1:3-7; 4:12

In what should we find our greatest hope in times of trouble, our "living hope"? Why?
Where is it kept safely for us? According to verse 5, through what of ours are we shielded by God's power? Until when? In the meantime, we are to expect what kind of experiences? How do these experiences affect us? In this process, what happens to one's faith? How does our endurance and perseverance result in bringing glory and honor to the Lord?

Wednesday, April 30                                                                1 Peter 5:8-11

What is this 2 part command warning us about? Who wants to capture us and rule our lives? How are we to fight him off? With what tool? Who else is experiencing what we experience in the world? Does that alone encourage you? Who is promised to restore us and make us strong, firm and steadfast? Do you find comfort in this point? Where in life do you sense the presence of this ‘roaring lion' the most? Work? Home? Socializing?
How are you to gain strength in these situations?

Thursday, May 1                                                                 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

To what does the treasure in of the 'jars of clay' refer? What does it show us? List the 4 trials mentioned and the ways we are kept safe in verse 8. Have you ever felt any of these pressures as a Christian? How about the remedy provided for it-have you experienced that? What do we carry around in our bodies? Why? What is it to accomplish? How can our life reveal Jesus to others? How does your life speak of Jesus?

Friday, May 2                                                                           Romans 15:4, 5

Why have we been left these writings from the past? Why would the existence of ancient writings bring hope and encouragement to anyone? How old is your oldest relative? Does their life experience ever fascinate you when you consider all they have lived through? Could there be hope and encouragement in knowing about the lives of folks who have endured great hardship? What is it that draws us to such stories?
What is the second element that is suggested that can bring endurance and encouragement? Why would unity be important in groups representing Jesus?
What happens in groups that fall into dissension and disunity? Which would be God's best for his people?

Flawed Perfection
Pursuing Godliness, despite the setbacks

Monday, April 21                                                                                     1 John 2:15-17
What do you think the "world" represents? Why are we not suppose to love the world? How can we live well in a place we are called not to love? How should we think about the "world?"

Notice the characteristics associated with "the world." What are your cravings or lusts? What do you tend to boast about (if not aloud, at least in your heart)? Why is the Bible so intent about moving away from these things?

Tuesday, April 22                                                                          1 Corinthians 5:9-13
What are the two categories of people Paul is writing about here? What characteristics does Paul give the people of the "world?" Why does he do so? Is this too harsh? Why or why not? How are we to relate to those outside the church?

Read 1 John 5:18-19. What (who) is in control of this world? Why is Satan allowed to control the world? What is the promise for those "born of God?"

Wednesday, April 23                                                                            James 4:4-5
What about the culture of the world seduces you or seems attractive? What about our culture upsets you? What groups or individuals make you mad, as a Christian? Why? Why is friendship with the world "hatred toward God?"

What is the lie being sold that appeals to you? Why do you think that accepting the ideas of the world and being comfortable with them can make God envious? If you loved someone very much would it bother you if they spent all their time going after things that you knew would disappoint them?

Thursday, April 24                                                                                   James 4:7-8
What tends to get in the way of your submitting fully to God? Is it love of something from the world? A fear that you will not be happy without things of this world? Is it fear that you will not be accepted by the culture?

What is the promise if you resist the devil? What are the sins you need to wash off your hands? How can you purify your heart and move away from the "world" and toward God? What is the promise of doing so?

Friday, April 25                                                                                          John 3:16-17
How does "hatred for the world" square with this passage? Why did God give so much if the world is so off? What should be our response, given that God goes this far to redeem (bring people back to right relationship with Him)?

Read 1 John 4:4-7. How does this passage encourage you? What does John say should be our response to all this (v. 7)?

Losing Your Baggage
Shedding the past for a new perspective

Monday, April 14                                                                                   Philippians 3:4-9
What are the things / characteristics / accomplishments that you place confidence in? Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Why? What things should you let loose of in order to gain more of Jesus Christ in your life?

What are the things that Paul now considers "loss for the sake of Christ?" Why? What is the perspective that Paul has gained? How do you identify?

Tuesday, April 15                                                                                     Philippians 3:10-14
What is it that Paul longs to know from v. 10? What does that mean? What does it look like to "take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me?"

What does it mean to "[forget] what is behind?" What are the things from your past that you need to let go of in order to win in the Christian life?

Wednesday, April 16                                                                                  1 Samuel 10:17-27
What do you notice about Saul in this story? Where is he hiding when Samuel seeks to anoint him king? What do you think cause Saul to hide?

What is the "baggage" in your life that tends to keep you from moving forward? Is it a wound or hurt from the past? A doubt or insecurity? How can you identify that barrier, and begin to move past it to embrace what God has called you to do and to be? Share this with someone who knows and cares about you.

Thursday, April 17                                                                                       Jeremiah 9:23-24
According to this passage, what are the things that people tend to brag / be proud about? Which of these three things is a "bag" that you tend to hold on to in your life?

On the other side, what are the things that God values? How can you pursue these in your life or start orienting your perspective around them? How is this challenging in our world?

Friday, April 18                                                                                                 Isaiah 43:16-21
What is this passage saying about the past and its effect on us? What is it saying about God? About your life?

What are some of the "new things" that God has brought into your life since you've started walking with Jesus? How has He used or overcome your "baggage" to bring healing and a better understanding of Him? Spend some time thanking God, who works "all things for the good of those who love Him."

A Brand New Identity
Discovering a new self-image in Jesus Christ

Monday, April 7                                                                          Colossians 3:5-14
How does Paul talk about someone trying to follow Christ (v. 12)? What is that communicating about who you are?

Are there "rules" that, as Christians, we must follow? Why or why not? What are the old patterns of behavior ("practices") listed here that are being called into question here? What are the behaviors associated with following Jesus (v. 12-14)? If you compare them o the first list, what's the difference?

Tuesday, April 8                                                                      2 Corinthians 5:16-21
What is the biggest difference you notice about yourself as a "new creation?" What parts of the "old" life still come back and bite you? How can you continue building into the new and stop feeding the old?

What does it mean to be "in Christ?" How does or should that affect your self-image? What doe you think God thinks about you? Why? Read Galatians 2:20. What does this verse say about Jesus' love for you?

Wednesday, April 9                                                                   Ephesians 4:20-24
This passage talks about the "former way of life." Would you consider someone who doesn't live any differently now than they did before Christ a "Christian?" Why or why not? How does that challenge you?

What is the corrupting influence listed here? How do you differentiate between "corrupting desires" and regular desires? How is a Christian supposed to handle themselves in regard to these things?
Thursday, April 10                                                                       Romans 6:1-11
How does following Jesus (and some of the guidelines that He lays out for us) offer freedom? How is this accomplished practically? What does this accomplish for us spiritually?

How do we practically live "dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus?"

Friday, April 11                                                                                            Galatians 6:15
How does being a "new creation" matter more than following rules (of circumcision or other)? Read Hosea 6:6. What do these passages have to do with one another?

When God makes us a new creation, what does that mean? How are we new? What is being left behind? How does that speak to your self-image or identity?