Sunday Discussion Questions

1. What is a favorite family memory from your childhood?

2. When did you realize your family wasn't perfect? 

3. What influence from your family of origin are you proud of as an adult?

4. How is the family of God important in your life today? 

5. Which of the "one anothers" is the most difficult for you to embrace? Which is the easiest? 

• Love (John 13:34)
• Restore (Galations 6:1)
• Carry (Galations 6:2)
• Bear with (Ephesians 4:1-2)

1. When you think of the word family, who comes to mind?

2. What's an area of your life where you feel like your family misunderstands you?

3. What does it mean for you to make obedience to God a priority over all else?

4. Where do you currently experience the importance of Kingdom Family?

5. In what area of your life are you prioritizing your earthly family over God? What could you change to make God the priority?  

1. Have you ever resister what may have been a God nudge? What happened? 

2. Have you ever engaged in an act of sacrificial obedience? What happened? 

3. What, if anything, is standing in the way of you living in a posture of surrender? Fear? Doubt? Selfishness? 

1. Jesus helped people from all walks of life, including strangers. Can you think of a time when someone questioned your generosity towards someone else? 

2. When have you looked at someone else's life and wondered why God hasn't answered your prayers? 

3. What recenet circumstance has tempted you to question God's faithfullness in your life? 

4. Joel mentions three ways to respon when God seems to be holding out on you: Look back. Look out. Look up. Which one is the easiest for you? Which one is the hardest? 

5. What practical ways help you look beyond your circumstances?

1. Have you ever been confused by or discouraged by God's aparent inconsistency? 

2. Have you ever been presented with a formula guaranteed to get the miracle you're asking for?  Do you know anyone who did something unusual because a preacher promised it would "work"?

3. Does the idea of concluding your prayers with "not my will, but thy will" feel like a cop-out? Like you're giving God an out? 

1. Have you ever asked God for a miracle? When and what? 

2. What happened? 

3. How did that event affect your faith?  

No discussion questions this week. 

1. What are some signs that someone is not truly listening to you? 

2. What things/situations make it difficult for you to listen to God? 

3. How can you take ownership for how you listen to people in your life? And how you listen to God? 

4. What one or two specific steps could you take to influence the posture of your heart, based on the suggestions for your posture? 

• Hard heart - Be open. 
• Weak heart - Support it.
• Distracted heart - Focus. 
• Good heart - Benefit by blessing others. 

1. Think of a recent instance where you had to forgive someone. What made you decide to do so?

2. Which part of the story of the unforgiving servant is hardest to believe and/or accept?

3. What makes forgiving hard for you?

4. In what area of your life could you replace bitterness with gratitude?

5. In what relationship might you be holding back forgiveness? What step could you take to move toward forgiveness? 

1. What is one of your favorite books or movies? What theme in the storyline are you most drawn to? 

2. In the story of the lost son, which one of the brothers do you most relate to, and why? 

3. Joel challenges us to consider both brothers as "lost." What are your thoughts on that perspective? 

4. When have you witnessed something God would celebrate, and you weren't able to?

5. In what area of your life could God be challenging you to join the "search party" (e.g., your workplace, neighborhood, moms' group)? What step could you take? 

1. Rhetorical: Do you have a morning routine designed to prepare your physical appearance for the day ahead?

2. Do you have a morning routine designed to prepare your heart for the day ahead?

A verse to consider: Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)Above all else guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.