Discussion Questions, 7/8/12

Tomorrow's sermon comes from Luke 7:1-10.  For several years we have sent out discussion questions to the Life Group leaders, so that they can facilitate discussion about the sermon in their groups.  With the launch of our new website, I plan to post the questions here weekly, so that not only the Life Group leaders, but anyone else interested, can make use of the application questions.

One hope would be that parents would have a convenient tool to help them sit with their children and discuss the texts of Scripture each week.  While younger kids might need help in just getting the basic facts of the text, as they grow older you'll be able to probe a bit deeper into their hearts.  Hopefully these questions are useful to that end.

So here are a few questions based on the sermon and the passage of Scripture we'll be looking at tomorrow from Luke 7:

1. In this passage and many others in Luke, we see that faith is very important to Jesus.  Why do you think that is?  Why does faith glorify Jesus?

2. Read Psalm 9:10 and Romans 10:17.  What do these verses tell us about where faith comes from?  What should we do if we feel that we lack faith?  

3. How did the centurion hear about Jesus?  What does this tell us about the significance of relationships in our "fight of faith"?  Are you in a web of relationships where you're experiencing encouragement for your faith "every day?  How can your group (or family) grow in "exhorting one another every day" (Hebrews 3:12-13)?

4. Larry said, "If you want to see what a person really believes about God, watch how they live."  What did he mean by that?  Can you think of a time you sinned in the past week (parents, help your kid(s) think this through)?  What were you not believing about God in the moment of temptation?

5. How did the Jewish elder believe that Jesus' blessing came to others?  How did that differ from what the centurion himself believed?  What would be some fruits in your life if you truly believed that you weren't worthy of God's presence and blessing in your life?  

6. Can you think of a step/work of faith that God has been putting on your heart which you have been resisting?  What truth(s) about God can you remind yourself of to stimulate fresh faith to obey Him in this area?