Jonah: Week 2

Text: Jonah 1:1-3

Sermon: Rev. Matt Kennedy (Jonah Runs from God)

1.  What is the difference between dread and fear?  Does Jonah show signs of either?

2. (v.2) Jonah's understanding of God's will is clear and concise.  This shows us that God's will for Jonah is not something elusive, unreachable or lofty.  God gives us many ways to make certain what His will is for us.  What are they?

3. (v.3)  What is Jonah's reaction to God's calling?  Why does he choose those actions?

4. (v.3)  Jonah uses his effort, his time and money to make himself too busy to follow God to (initially) use.  Has there been a time where you make yourself too busy for God?

5. (v.1-3) Can anyone (including Jonah) flee from God's presence or will?  Read Psalm 139:7-10 for further reference.

6. (App)  Jonah is disheartened at God's plan to redeem Nineveh.  It's not uncommon for God to call us out of relationships, situations and attitudes that are not in line with His plan.  In time, God's way will be done, but only through great hardship.  Share a time where you and God have had to settle things "the hard way."

7. (App) What could have been done on your part to make that situation not so hard?

8.  (Thanksgiving Bonus) What are you thankful for this year?

Questions Colossians 3: 15 - 17

Text: Colossians 3: 12 - 17

Sermon: Rev. Matt Kennedy

1. [Lead-In] How do you typically make a decision when a choice is not clear or easy to make?

2. [App] Why might “being at peace” in a situation be a good or bad indicator for the choices we make?

3. [v.15] What is the “peace of Christ” and how is it different than the feeling of “being at peace?”

4. [v.15] How does “Christ’s rule” bring unity to the body of believers (that is, the church)?

5. [v.16] What is admonishment and how is it effectively used in the church?

6. [v.16] How is worship with gratitude, teaching in wisdom, and admonishment used to understand Christ’s word?

7. [v.16] How do these same practices (mentioned in question 6) shape us as believers?

8. [v.17] To do something “in the name of Christ” is to do so in accordance or in the same spirit as Christ did it.  What steps should we take, or what indicators are there telling us if something should be done in Christ’s name?

9. [App] When we dwell in Christ’s word for prolong periods of time, what happens to us individuals and as a church?

Questions for Colossians 3:12-13

Text: Colossians 3:12 - 14

Sermon: Rev. Matt Kennedy

1. [Review] What does it mean to be God’s chosen, holy and beloved?

2. What does “clothe yourself” mean?  What does the imagery imply?

3. Many of the qualities in verse 12 require us to be honest with ourselves.  How does someone be honest with themselves?  Or, what questions do we need ask ourselves?

4. What does compassion in community look like?

5. Although compassion is a feeling, it is more so an action.  What does this mean in how we practice compassion?

6. In what situations is kindness necessary?  Can you speak in truth and in kindness simultaneously?  What does this look like?

7. How do we measure our own and other’s humility?

8. What does a congregation with humility look like?  What do they do? How do they do it?

9. How does gentleness (or meekness) differ from a lack of confidence?

10. How is meekness used by God to bring His kingdom?

11. How can our patience grow?  Consider what is written in verse 13.

Questions about our Sin Nature

Text:  Ephesians 1:3 – 5, Colossians 3:12 – 25

1.  (Lead-in) Can you think of a time where someone’s hypocrisy frustrated or angered you?  Please refrain from using specific names.

2.  (Eph 1:4, Col 3:12) God is intimately aware of our sinful and hypocritical thoughts and actions before the Creation of the universe, yet still chooses to love us.  How should we approach ours and other’s hypocrisy?

3.  (Eph 1:4, Col 3:12) Discuss the difference between “Jesus died on the cross because He loves us” and, “Jesus loves us so much that He died on the cross.”  Is there even a difference at all?

4.  (App) Why does God clean up our sin lives, when He knows we will never be perfect?

5.  (Col 3:12) Through Paul, God calls us chosen, holy and beloved despite our imperfections.  How are we bestowed with such unworthy titles?

6.  (Col 3:12 – 25) What particular characteristic(s) in Colossians 3: 12 – 25 strike you as the most difficult as an individual or as a community?  (We will be investigating these in more depth in future weeks.)

7.  (App) Our sin nature tempts us away from commitment.  What reasons and excuses do people, including us, make to avoid commitment and accountability?

8.  (App) When we refuse to let Christ in our lives, we choose to commit to ourselves and not to a community of believers.  What is the consequence of that choice?

Questions for Colossians 3: 5 – 8

Text: Colossians 3: 1 - 11

1.  (v. 5) What similarities do the sins share in verse 5?  How are they related?

2.  (v. 5) Paul goes out of the way to mention that greed (or covetousness) is also an idol.  If you have thought about it before, in what specific ways does greed serve as an idol?

3.  (v. 6,7) Paul’s first list (verse 5) is a charge to purge sin out of the Colossians (and our own) personal lives.  Why do you think Paul chooses these particular instructions first?  Particularly consider the need to reflect internally, before interacting with other people and groups around us.

4.  (v. 8) What similarities do the sins share  in verse 8?  How are they related?

5.   (v.5-8) Explain how sins of the “heart” effect the “tongue.”  In other words, how does our heart and mind influence our actions?

6.  (v.5-8) Explain how sins of the “tongue” effect the “heart.”  In other words, how do our actions influence our heart and mind?

7.  (v.5-8) Because our sins (against each other and God) have internal and external consequences, how do we correct our habitual sin that influence both?

8.  (v.5-8) Despite any shortcomings and baggage we bring, God chooses to use the Colossians and us as seeds of change to the world and its culture.  In light of this fact and our conversation, how does this make you feel?  Why would God allow this?

Questions for Colossians 3: 1 – 4

Text: Colossians 3:1 - 4 

1. (v. 1-2) Setting your heart “on things above” is not an overnight process.  What can we do to set our hearts on heavenly things? 

2. (v. 1-2) What forces set our hearts toward earthly things?  Be as specific as possible.

3. (v. 1-2) Can heavenly thoughts descend to us here?  Can earthly thoughts ascend to heaven?

4. (v. 1-2) Do you believe that if you lack heavenly understanding, then you are unable to understand our world?  Why or why not?

5. (v. 1-2) Why is Christ’s equality with God good news for us?  Why is this significant?

6. (v. 3) What does, “your life is now hidden with Christ,” mean?  What thoughts or images spring to mind?

7. (v. 4) What does “Christ, who is your life,” mean?

8. (app) Do you think following Christ is more difficult than what you would thought it would be?  Why?  Give reasons and examples. 

Questions about Self-Discipline

Text: Colossians 2:16 – 23

1. Although not a contextually accurate interpretation of verse 16, how often do we let ourselves be judged and influenced by other people’s opinions?  Is this a beneficial practice for us or not?

2.  Do you think we learn to sin naturally or is it something we learn through our surroundings and environment?

3.  Despite our best efforts or our position with God, we seem inclined to repeat our sins over and again.  Why do we continue to indulge in our sins?

4.  (v.20,21) Do you think self-discipline helps us limit our sins?  Is there a limit to self-discipline and, if so, where do we draw the line?

5.  (v.21-22)  Is strict self-discipline any different from religion?

6.  (v. 21-22) Other religions and spiritual practices outside Christianity place a large emphasis on being disciplined and living on a set of laws.  How is this different than Christianity?

7.  (v.23) What power does the Gospel have over self-discipline?

8.  (v. 23) Do you think surrendering to God is a better healer than self-discipline?  Do you think it's easier?