Group Guide
This Week's City 7:
4. Can a person be good enough to go to heaven? No. Because Jesus rose from the dead proving He is God, I believe a person is saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
Ice-Breaker:
Married folks: What were your expectations or dreams of marriage when you were growing up? What did you think it would be like? Singles: What are your expectations now? What is it you're looking for in a mate?
Discussion Questions:
- It's interesting how sometimes our expectations of what we hope marriage will be seem to fall way short of reality. And when you look around today, so many marriages are just not working. In fact, it's really, really scary when you start to read about the statistics. Depending on what article you read or what survey you read, somewhere in the neighborhood of 50% of marriages don't make it. If this is the case, and if half of marriages fail, don't you think it's time we change our strategy when we go into a marriage? Before you got married, would you say you were spiritually and practically equipped? If you're single, what are you doing now to be as equipped as possible for a future marriage?
- It was in every Disney movie we watched growing up... the fairytale that you are supposed to dedicate your life to finding the "one". Instead, you should be searching for your "two". In marriage, God must be our "one". Exodus 34:14 says, "You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you." Our God is a jealous God. If we put our spouse above God, they have now become an idol in our life. Putting God first makes our spouse our "two". This is what it takes to not only be fulfilled in marriage, but in your life in general. Your spouse can't meet needs that only God can meet... no matter how badly you want them to. What can happen in relationships when we put our significant other before God? What happens when we turn to THEM to meet all of our needs? What are the pitfalls and dangers? Singles, are you truly seeking the "one" while preparing for your "two"?
- Another pitfall in marriage is how we prioritize our marriage in relation to our kids. Many times our kids can dominate our lives to the point that we put our marriage on the back-burner. We can easily fall into the trap of neglecting our marriage for the sake of the kids. One thing Clayton said on Sunday is that we need to realize that while children are amazing, and a blessing from God, they are a TEMPORARY assignment. We have them for 18-20 years, while we have our spouse for a life time. If we prioritize our marriages, we will realize that a healthy marriage leads to healthy children. Have you ever felt the tension of this in your life? How are kids affected by an unhealthy marriage in the house? What about a healthy, prioritized one? How can we take steps to prioritize our marriages?
- Most men have a natural instinct to protect your families. No doubt you would die for them! But what about spiritually? Did you know that when it comes to your family's spiritual wellbeing that God is looking at you? When Eve ate the apple in the garden, God came looking for Adam. Your role as the spiritual leader of your household is to do everything in your power to keep God #1 in your house. You are to lay yourself down for the sake of your families, do whatever it takes. Talk about how you feel you are doing leading your family spiritually. Where do you need to grow? What steps can you take?
- On Sunday Clayton challenged us to make some promises. For married people, that you would promise God would be your FIRST priority and your spouse will be your SECOND. For singles, it was that you will seek the ONE while preparing for your TWO. The Big Idea was that you'll never be FULFILLED until you meet THE ONE. After everything we've discussed, what are the things that stick out the most to you? What area needs the most attention? What steps do you need to take?
Prayer Topics:
- That God would be our ONE, spouses our TWO.
- That we would only look to God for the things only God can give.
- That men would lead their families spiritually.
- That we would prioritize our marriages over our kids.
1 Comment
Amen! Praise the Lord!