QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength".  Mark 12:30. Can you honestly say that you both feel that way and act that way?  What are the toughest parts?

2.  "You shall love your neighbour as yourself."  Mark 12:31 How much love do you have for your "neighbour"?  How much love do you have for yourself?  Does that love show itself in both words and deeds?

3.  "Where you go, I will go; ... your people shall be my people and your God my God."  Ruth 1:16 Is Ruth living out the 2 great commandments in doing this, even though it includes changing who her God is?

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION 

Mark 10:35-45

1. James and John wanted special recognition for their Christian service. Do you know people who expect that? In your deepest heart, do you expect that?

2. Jesus asked them if they were prepared to truly suffer for their faith. Are you prepared to do so?

3. Jesus said anyone who wished to be ‘great’ as a Christian must be more concerned to serve others than to be served. Is this genuinely true of you?

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

Let’s make this a real conversation!

Job 23.1-9,16-17;  Psalm 22.1-15

If you were not already depressed this morning, these passages may well have made you so!  Do you often feel as "down" as Job and the Psalmist?  When? 

Mark 10.17-31

This is one of Jesus' most challenging statements in spite of its more hopeful parts.  Are you comforted by Jesus' reply to "then who can be saved?", that "for God all things are possible"?

Hebrews 4.12-16

This passage is challenging, but also more clearly affirming.  We are told that Jesus "in every respect has been tested as we are", so that we can "approach the throne of grace with boldness, to find grace and mercy in time of need".  Does this promise lift your spirits and strengthen your faith?

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

Let’s make this a real conversation!

 1. Joel 2:21-27: How has God dealt wondrously with you?

2. 1 Timothy 2:1-7: What has God appointed you to be?

3. Matthew 6:25-33: How do you seek ‘God’s reign’ and ‘God’s justice’ in your life?

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

Let’s make this a real conversation!

11. James 5:13-20: James speaks of maintaining community relationships in gathering to confess to one another, pray together, experience healing and practice accountability to each other. What do you think of his advice?

2. Mark 9:38-50: In what ways do you add flavour (i.e. salt) to the world around you?

3. Mark 9:38-50: How do you live as a person of peace in the world?

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. Mark 9:30-37: Why do you think Jesus uses a child to illustrate his point about servant ministry?

2. James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a: How do you draw near to God and how do you know when God has drawn near to you?

3. James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a: What is your response to James' definition of wisdom? (v.17)

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. Mark 8:34-35: He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it." What is your reaction to his words?

2. Psalm 19:7-8: "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the LORD are sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eyes;" How does scripture, revive and enlighten you?

3. What does it mean for you to believe in Jesus?

 QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. James 2:1-10, 14-17: In what ways do you see the reign of God present in your day to day life or around the world?

2.  Isaiah 35:4-7a: How can our stereotypes of people make us 'blind' and 'deaf' to the presence of God around? How can we overcome them?

3. Mark 7:24-37: In what ways do the words and actions of Jesus provide freedom for those who have been healed by him?

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. James 1:17-27: Why is it important to learn how to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger?

2. James 1:17-27: Which do you think is easier to be a hearer or doer? Why? Why not?

3. Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23: Why does Jesus say it is whatever comes out of a person's mouth that makes them unclean? 

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. Proverbs 9:6: Wisdom invites people to come and dine at her table by saying " Leave your simple ways and you will live, walk in the way of understanding." What do you think that means?

2. Ephesians 5:15-20: What does the author refer to as wise living?

3. John 6:51-58: Why do you think some of Jesus’ listeners take his reference to being "true flesh and true blood" literally?

Questions for reflection:

1. Ephesians 4:25-5:2: What is your reaction to the author of the letter to the Ephesians' call to speak the 'truth' to your neighbour and be accountable as part of a community?

2. Psalm 34:1-8: What does it mean for you to 'bless' the Lord in your life?

3. John 6:35, 41-51: How does your relationship with Jesus quell your hunger and slake your thirst?

Questions for Reflection

1. John 6:24-35: In Jesus' temptation in the wilderness in Matthew's gospel, he tells the tempter that humans don't live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. How does John's account of Jesus' feeding of the crowd and subsequent words about being the bread of life echo the notion that Jesus' words will fulfill our hunger and thirst?

2. Ephesians 4:1-16: In Ephesians the author speaks of using the gifts that Jesus passed on to his         disciples? Do you know what talents/gifts you have been given and how you use them everyday?

3. Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15: The Israelites in Exodus complain of hunger and rue the fact that they left slavery for freedom. In what ways to can you relate to being in a time of transition when you wanted to go back to the 'good ole days' because life was hard?

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. Mark 4:35-41: Do you remember an a tumultuous occasion in your life where you felt the peace of God
bring calm to you? Do you remember this experience every time you feel afraid? Is your trust in God
strengthened as a result?

2. 2 Corinthians. 6:1-13: Paul speaks of his experience as an apostle and of the hardships he and others have endured in service to God. He implores the Corinthian community to accept the grace and wholeness
God has to offer. What does it mean for you to receive God's offer of grace and wholeness in your life right now?


3. How do you let fear get the best of you? How does your trust in God help you overcome your
fear?

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
1.2 Corinthians 5:7: What does it mean for you to walk by "faith", not by sight at this point in time?

2. 2 Corinthians 5:17: What do you think about Paul's assertion that in Christ anyone is a new creation, the old has passed away and everything is new? Do you feel that way? Why? Why not?

3. Mark 4:26-34: Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a mustard seed, which looks insignificant
but grows beyond its capability. What is your reaction to this image?

Questions for Reflection

1. 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 In making a decision how can you tell the difference between a temporal and eternal solution to the issue you are facing?

2. Genesis 3:8-15: How is the story about Adam and Eve an example of temporal thinking?

3. Mark 3:20-35: What does the word 'demon' means to us in this day and age?

Questions for Reflection

1. Isaiah 6: 1-8: Have you ever had an 'experience' of the holy like Isaiah did in the temple? What do you remember about it? What was the outcome?

2. John 3: 1-17: What do you think Jesus meant when he told Nicodemus that he had to be born from above?

3. Romans 8: 12-17: Paul speaks of being an heir of God and a joint heir with Christ if we suffer with him.    What is your reaction to being called a joint heir with Christ?

Questions for Reflection

1. How has the gift of God’s Holy Spirit made a difference in your life?

2. What wisdom or revelation are you asking God to grant you at the present time?

3. What do you praise God for in your life?

Questions for Reflection

1. John 15:9-17: What things do you have to 'lay down' in your heart and mind in order to love others more fully?

2. John 15:9-17: Jesus refers to his disciples no longer as "servants but friends" which indicates a shift in their relationship from inferiors to equals. What does it mean for you to be a friend of Jesus?

3. John 15:9-17: What is your reaction to Jesus' statement that we did not choose him but he chose us to go bear lasting fruit in our lives?

Questions for Reflection

1. 1 John 3:17:  How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?

2. Psalm 23: The psalmist describes being 'anointed' with oil and possessing a cup that flows over. Do these images resonate with your relationship with God?

3. 1 John 3:16: Do you agree with the author who says that because Jesus laid down his life for us, we should lay down our lives for another? Why? Why not?

Questions for Reflection

1. Acts 4:32-35: What is your reaction to this description of the early Christian community? Are you enthusiastic, sceptical or not sure?

2. Acts 4:32-35: What is your concept of living in a Christian community?

3. John 20:19-31: What element of this passage stands out for you in this passage? Was it Jesus’ entrance into the locked room or Thomas’ doubting of the risen Christ? Neither?