1. Share what your mother was like?  Did she know the Lord? How do you think this influenced your upbringing, whether she believed or didn’t believe? Share some of your best memories with your mom growing up (if your mom wasn’t in your life share about whoever played that role best in your life).

2. Read Proverbs 31. This is the teaching of King Lemuel’s mother. What are some of the lessons of life she taught him?   What was something your mother tried to teach you in life?

3. Read Proverbs 1:8.  What does God’s word tell us about how we should respond to our mother’s teachings?  What lesson from your mother did you not listen to and have to learn the hard way?

4. “If momma ain’t happy nobody’s happy”. Why do you think this statement is so true? (Proverbs 15:20; 25:24). Who’s anger did you fear more as a kid, mom’s or dad’s? Why?

5. Read 1 Samuel 1:27-28. How has your mom prayed for you? How have you prayed for your kids? How much of your life has been affected by your mothers care?

6. Read Proverbs 31:10,13-15b.  Who was the hardest working parent at your house? What did that look like? What did you think of the video “Being Mom”, demonstrating what it’s really like being a mom? How many of you mom’s can identify with it?

7. Read 1Timothy 5:4 & 8. How does God want us to handle our elderly parents?  How has caring for our elderly parents changed over the generations? Why do you think it has changed? These verses are what challenged me, Pastor Thomas, to move back to Washington for my mom.  How do these verses challenge you? If you are fortunate enough to still have your mom (parents) how could your attitude be better towards her?

8. Read Proverbs 23:25.  How are your kid’s (young or adult) lives affecting you as their parent? What do you wish they would learn?

John 7:19-36

1. Why do you think that the Holy Spirit is so little spoken about or wrote about compared to the Father and the Son?  Why is the Holy Spirit controversial to some people?

2. Read John 7:37-39. From where would the river of living water flow from?  What or who was Jesus really speaking about?

3. Read John 16:113-4. What is the purpose of the Holy Spirit as stated in verse 14? How will the Holy Spirit accomplish this (13-14)?

4. Read Ephesians 5:18. What is being filled with the Holy Spirit compared to?  Why do you think that Paul used this comparison? What controls a person when they are really drunk? What influences their decisions greatly?  How does this relate to the Holy Spirit? The word “filled” means to be continually filled, like a pitcher left under running water. When was the last time you felt that your life was “filled” with the Holy Spirit and under His influence? Share what that is like?

5. Read Mark 1:12. What impelled or drove Jesus into the wilderness? In Acts 8:29 who told ) Philip to go and share the Gospel with the Ethiopian, which lead to his salvation?  Read Romans 8:14. Who are the sons of God? What does it look like in your life to be led by the Holy Spirit?

6. Read Romans 7:6.  What have we been released from? Have you died to the law (laws of Moses)? What is the result of being released and having died to the law? How do we serve now according to this verse?  Do you find yourself being legalistic sometimes? How many have been turned away from Christ by legalistic judgmental people? What does it look like to serve in the newness of the Spirit?

7. Read Acts 7:51.  How did Stephen describe those that resisted the Holy Spirit? Read Ephesians 4:30. How do we resist and grieve the Holy Spirit today? How can you open yourself to the voice and leading of the Holy Spirit?

LIVING INSIDE OUT

HELPING KIDS TO HELP OTHERS

New & Free Program for Kids K – 5th

Wednesday Nights from 6 – 7:30pm

John 7:1-18

1. Read John 7:15. What kind of spiritual education did Jesus have? Why do we now put so much emphasis on seminary or the title phd?  Jesus first disciples were uneducated as well, why do you think God did it this way and pointed it out (what does it mean to us)?

2. Read John 7:16-18.  In verse 17 what must we be willing to do to know God’s ways for our life?  Would you ask someone to do something if you knew they would not ever do it? In verse 18 who is the true person who will do the will of God?

3. Read Proverbs 3:5-6. What does it mean to you to trust in the Lord with all your heart? The word “intelligence” means-life experiences and intellect. When was a hard time for you to follow what God’s word said verses what you have experienced or thought in life?

4. Read James 1:5-8. What are three things named in these verses that we are responsible for to receive God wisdom? If we are unwilling to follow through (doubting) what can we expect from God?  Have you ever felt like God is not answering your prayers? How can we increase our faith? Is there something you are struggling with right now to trust to God?

5. Read Psalm 37:3-5. What are four things listed in this verse to receive the desires of your heart?  How does delighting yourself in the Lord connect to receiving your hearts desire? Can we live like the devil and expect the Lord to trust us with His will?

6. Read Psalm 38:8-9.  How are we like mules? What is something that you were stubborn about to follow God in? How can you use that lesson to encourage others to not be a mule?

7. Are there things we don’t need to pray about since God’s word already made it clear what His will is? Name some (1 Thess. 4:3).

8. What about things that aren’t clear (read Romans 14:22-23)?

Please click,  Read more, below to view the Bible Study Questions

John 6:48-71

1. Read John 6:48-51.  The Jews were challenging Jesus to do something as great as the manna Moses provided.  What does Jesus say is greater about Him (the bread) verses the manna?  Why do we struggle focusing so much on the physical instead of the spiritual? (Example: we make sure we eat 2 to 4 times a day but struggle to read His word and pray daily) Read Luke 9:23-25 and discuss.

2. Are you satisfied in your soul with your work for God or is there a sense of incompleteness?  Read Matthew 6:31-34.

3. Read John 6:52-58.  What does the old saying, “You are what you eat” mean?  Since we are to take Jesus into our bodies (be consumed with him) how should that reflect in our lives?

4. Read Galatians 2:20.  In what ways did Paul’s life reflect a life that was no longer living for himself but Christ?  The end of the verse explains why Paul lives this way, what is it?  Share some ways that you have been crucified to self and live for Christ?  How would you feel if you gave up a kidney to help a loved one live and then they turned around and used it to be a drunk and waste their life?  How does this relate to this verse?

5. Read John 6:59-66.  How does verse :60 describe their reaction to His teachings and who were they?  What was the result as told in verse :66?  What are some things that are taught in the Bible that cause people to walk away?  Have you ever had a teaching of the Bible that was hard for you (example: non-believers going to hell)?

6. Read John 6:67.  What was Jesus response when the crowd left Him?  Are you surprised that He didn’t try to stop these disciples and explain Himself better to keep them?  How can this be applied today in the church and our lives?

7. Read Matthew 6:24; Luke 9:23; Matthew 10:38.  What kind of dramatic change do these verses call for?  How are these verses that could cause someone to walk away?

1. What insights, principles, or observations from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful or eye opening? Explain?

2. Read John 6:41-44.  Why do you think Jesus responded this way to these grumblers?  Do you ever grumble about doing things God’s way? Like returning kindness to those who aren’t kind (spouse, kids, co-workers, strangers)?

3. Some people have used John 6:44 as proof that God selects who will be saved, hand picks them? What would that mean if God didn’t choose one of your family members? Would it really be their fault they are not saved? How would that make you feel about God?

4. The word “draw” in Greek means – to draw without necessarily the notion of force. It is used by Jesus on the cross drawing by His love, not force. Read Jeremiah 31:3. Like fishing God lures/draws us with love but we must “take the bait”. How does this understanding help you understand this passage better?

5. Read 2 Peter 3:9.  The promise talked about here is Jesus’ return.  Why does Jesus patiently hold off His return? How many does He want saved? Does John 3:16 say God loved the elect, meaning only those chosen? Why doesn’t it say that?

6. Read Luke 13:6-9.  How does this passage illustrate a drawing?  Do you feel like God is trying to cultivate you for something in your life?  How and what do you think it is? If not do you think God is done wanting to use you for ministry? Is there such a thing as retiring from being an active Christian?

7. In John 6:45-47 who has the opportunity to come to Jesus and have eternal life? If everyone has the opportunity to have eternal life what responsibility does that put on us as believers? Read Romans 10:12-15.

1. What was Easter like with your family when you were growing up? What kind of traditions did you have? Did you go to church?

2. Read John 1:1,2,9-11.  Discuss the impact that it has on you when you think of what Jesus left in heaven to come to earth? What do you think it was like for Him?

3. Read Acts 2:22-24.  It says that it was God’s predetermined plan that Jesus would come and be nailed to the cross, how does that impact you?  If you knew someone you were about to meet was going to cause you serious harm if you met them would you meet them or avoid them?  What does this say about Jesus’ love towards us?

4. Read Colossians 2:13-14. How many of our sins did Jesus pay for?  Are there any sins that are too big that Jesus can’t pay for them?  Why do some people think there is?  How would you feel if someone paid your house or car or any major debt off for you?  Think of how many sins you alone Jesus had to pay for, what number would you put on it? How much more thankful should we be for Jesus?

5. Is it possible to be a Christian and believe in all the good of Jesus and the cross but not in His literal resurrection?  Read 1 Corinthians 15:15-17,20.  What are we called if Jesus wasn’t raised from the dead? What would that mean to us if He wasn’t? Since He was what does that say about those who say He wasn’t?

6. Read John 11:25-26.  Do you believe?  Do you remember how you felt about your eternal life before you believed?  How did it feel to think you had to earn your way to heaven?  Do you still remember how it felt when you first believed?

1. What insights, principles, or observations from this weekend’s messages did you find to be most helpful or eye opening? Explain?

2. Read John 12:12-16. Why did you think Jesus road a donkey instead of a white stallion (Read Zechariah 9:9)?  What did most people on the ground and why do you think they did it? (Read Matthew 20:4-11).  Why do you think they wanted Jesus to be their King but later rejected Him as their King? (Read Mark 15:12-13). Did Jesus let them down somehow in their minds? Have you ever been let down by Jesus due to your expectations on Him? How did you get through it?

3. How should the fact that Jesus is the KING affect our relationship with Him? Do you think many people only see Him as a savior and friend and forget about His Kingship? James and Paul and other thought of themselves as servants to the King Jesus, how does thinking of yourself as a servant to a King affect you? How does Luke 6:46 apply to this?

4. In Esther the Bible tells us that if someone approached the throne of the King for a request that they could die if not accepted (Esther 4:11). In Exodus 33:20-23 God warns us from approaching Him. How did Jesus make it possible for us to come to the throne with boldness? Read 1 Timothy 2:5-6 and the awesomeness of our ability to approach the throne? Did it change how you think about entering prayer?

5. Read Romans 8:16-17 and Galatians 4:7. When was the last time you truly thought of yourself as royalty and an heir to a kingdom that has no end? How does it make you feel?

6. Jesus came as a humble King on a donkey but how will he return? Read Revelations 19:11-16 and discuss how different His return will be.

7. Discuss the video at the end and what you thought of it.

John 6:37-40

1. Have you ever felt like you were no longer saved?  Were you raised in a church that taught you to doubt your salvation based on you good works?  Could you ever really feel at peace if you were never sure of your salvation?  Could you take some credit for your salvation if you played a part in keeping it?  Read Ephesians 2:8-9 and 1 John 5:11-13 and discuss them.

2. The question isn’t whether you have lost your salvation, it’s did you ever have it to lose? Read 2 Corinthians 13:5.  Ask yourselves, “Do I know for sure that if I died I would go to heaven (yes, no or maybe)? How does someone get to go to heaven, what must they do?”

3. Some people think that Judas was saved and then lost his salvation when he betrayed Jesus.  Read John 6:70-71. What did Jesus call Judas long before the betrayal?  Read John 6:64 When did Jesus know that the one who would betray Him, Judas, was not a true believer?  Read John 13:18,21. Why did Jesus chose Judas as a disciple if he knew he would betray him?

4. Can you see how reading Romans 11:22 by itself would make someone think that an individual could lose their salvation?  Can you see when you read Romans 11:22-25 that Paul is talking about a people group (Jews and Gentiles) and not individuals? If it meant individuals then no Jews would have been saved, like Paul, Peter etc Read 2 Peter 2:4-6 and insert “since” for “if” and see if it has same meaning but more clarity with “since”. For example Sodom and Gomorrah were either destroyed or they were not.

5. In John 1:12 what do we have to do to BECOME children of God? Once you have children are they always your children, regardless of their actions? In Romans 8:38-39 what can separate us from the love of God?  In John 10:27-29 who can snatch us away from the hand of God?  In 1 Timothy 2:11-13 who’s faithfulness is our salvation dependent on?

6. How does knowing your always saved make you feel? Does it make you feel freer to sin or serve Him more out of love?