Small Group Questions | The Obedient Servant | Isaiah 50

This Spring Coastline Bible Church started preaching through the Old Testament book of Isaiah. The book of Isaiah is known as one of the three major prophets. The book starts with confrontation but ends with comfort. God is not impressed with Israel’s religious practices because their hearts are far from God. Israel has rebelled against God, forsaken Him, and turned their backs. Today we will see God confront their rebellion and invite them back into relationship with Him. Each week, we’ve created small group questions designed to help people reflect deeply, apply personally, and grow spiritually. I’m sharing those questions here so others can benefit; whether you’re leading a small group, studying on your own, or learning to pray these questions are for you. 

Small Group Questions | The Obedient Servant | Isaiah 50

Isaiah 50 gives us a powerful picture of the Servant of the Lord; one who listens to God, obeys Him fully, suffers faithfully, and trusts Him completely. As we read this passage through the lens of the New Testament, we clearly see Jesus as that Servant. Where Israel failed in disobedience, Jesus remained perfectly obedient, even to the point of death on the cross. This passage not only shows us who Jesus is, but also invites us to consider how we respond to Him. As you discuss these questions, be candid about where you are in your faith journey and open to what God might be showing you. The goal isn’t perfection, it’s growing in trust & obedience to the One who obeyed perfectly.

1) Neal opened the sermon with an illustration about The Sixth Sense and the plot twist in the movie. Share a moment where something suddenly “clicked” and changed how you understood everything (like a movie twist)? What was it?

2) Read Isaiah 50:4-6. Isaiah writes about the Obedient Servant, who we clearly see as Jesus, obeying God’s commands. Does obedience come natural to you or is that personal struggle? (see John 5:19, Philippians 2:5–8, and Hebrews 5:8)

3) Read Isaiah 50:1-3. Jesus was obedient to God the Father while Israel struggled with obedience to the Lord. Where do you struggle in obeying God? (see Romans 5:18–19, 1 Corinthians 15:22, and Deuteronomy 9:6–7)

4) Thinking more about obedience can you share a time in your life where you were obedient to God. How did that work out for you? On the other hand, is there a place you’re currently struggling with obeying God’s commands? 

5) Read Isaiah 50:7–9. Most people avoid suffering at all costs but Jesus choose to suffer so we could have life to the full in Him. What does this passage teach us about Jesus enduring suffering to secure our salvation? (see 1 Peter 2:21–23, Hebrews 12:2–3, and Psalm 16:8–11)

6) Read Isaiah 50:10. Some people are afraid of God and choose to keep their distance. What does it mean to fear the Lord and to have a healthy reverence for His holy name? (see Proverbs 1:7 and Psalm 34:8–9)

7) Read Isaiah 50:11. God’s people were disobedient to the Lord and tired to light their own path instead of walking in the light of God. What’s the difference between walking in God’s light and “lighting your own fire” (see Psalm 119:11 and John 8:12). 

Close your time in prayer asking God to show you how to live an obedient life. 

Life in Christ | John 20:30-31

The Gospel of John is a unique and powerful account of the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Written by John, one of Jesus' closest disciples, this gospel presents a deep and thoughtful perspective on the person and work of Jesus. Unlike the other three gospels, which are known as the Synoptic Gospels and focus on Jesus' actions and teachings, John's gospel emphasizes the spiritual and theological significance of Jesus' life and ministry. For this series I will write some of the small group questions that go along with each sermon. It seemed like a waste to leave them in a file on my computer and not share them with everyone.

Small Group Questions | Life in Christ | John 20:30-31

This week we finished our sermon series through the Gospel of John. Throughout this year of studying the Gospel we’ve seen the miracles and truth of Jesus. We’ve learned about the teaching of Jesus and what it means to follow Him. We’ve slowly walked through some tough passages that have shaped our faith in a new way this last year. During our journey through the Gospel we came to meet Jesus Christ in a powerful way. Today we’ll conclude with the purpose of John’s writing and we’ll look at the seven “I am” statements of Jesus. As we near the end of the John wants to be certain that the read understands his purpose for writing this account. 

1) Neal shared that we live in a culture that is obsessed with living longer and figuring out the science/data to make that happen. If you did live for a decade longer than you expected what would you do with that ten years?

2) Tucked near the very end of the Gospel we read the purpose: John 20:30-31. John wrote this account so that anyone who reads it would believe in Jesus. How has your faith in Jesus changed over the last year of being in this Gospel account? 

3) Jesus told the crowds that He is the bread of life and the light of the world (read John 6:35 and 8:12). Throughout Scripture we see God provide for His people and illuminate their path (1 Kings 19:3-8 and Psalm 119:105). Share a time when God provided for your needs or bright light to a dark place in your life. 

 

4) Jesus tells us that He is the gate and the Good Shepherd (read John 10:7-11). Jesus is our constant protector and provider (read Psalm 28:7 and Psalm 23). What has changed in your life since letting Jesus be your Good Shepherd? 

5) Jesus is the one who holds the security of our eternal life and points us to the truth in God (read John 11:25-26 and 14:6). We live in a world that is filled with fake news and half-truths. What is one truth of Jesus that you regularly cling to? 

6) Jesus teaches us that He is the true vine. When our lives are connected to Him is when we live in the purpose He has for us (read John 15:1-4). How have you learned to remain or abide in Jesus? How has that changed your life? 

7) John teaches us that the result of believing in Jesus is life in His name. Think about one way that your life has drastically changed since following Jesus. Share that with your group as a way to praise God for the life change He has done in you. 

Close your time in prayer. Pray for strength to invite a friend to meet Jesus. 

Deny Everything | John 18:1-27

The Gospel of John is a unique and powerful account of the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Written by John, one of Jesus' closest disciples, this gospel presents a deep and thoughtful perspective on the person and work of Jesus. Unlike the other three gospels, which are known as the Synoptic Gospels and focus on Jesus' actions and teachings, John's gospel emphasizes the spiritual and theological significance of Jesus' life and ministry. For this series I will write some of the small group questions that go along with each sermon. It seemed like a waste to leave them in a file on my computer and not share them with everyone.

Small Group Questions | Deny Everything | John 18:1-27

John 18 begins a new section in the Gospel of John. This section starts the path to the cross for Jesus, the resurrection, and the reinstatement of Peter. In our text today we will see that Peter denied Jesus three times on the night of His arrest. It must have been a frightening night for the disciples to witness the arrest of Jesus. In John 13 we read that Judas left the Passover meal to hand Jesus over to the Religious Leaders. During the arrest we see Jesus intentionally protect the disciples to keep them safe. While Jesus is in an unfair, unjust, midnight courtroom is when Peter denies Jesus. He leaves the situation broken and in tears. 

1) In the sermon it was said that Peter was taught to deny anything the Roman empire asked him about. What is something that your parents taught you, good or bad, that you still fall back on to this day? 

2) Read John 18:1-7. Judas knew exactly where Jesus would be and choose to intentionally betray Jesus. Think about a time in your life when you were betrayed. How it feel? What emotions did you experience? How did you get through it? 

3) During His arrest Jesus stood up to protect the disciples (had John 18:8-9). Using your voice to protect others can be bold and scary. Share a time when you spoke up to protect others or when you did not speak up but kept quiet. 

4) Peter acts rashly and almost kills a man (read John 18:10-12). What do you think made Peter act in this manner to try to behead one of the soldiers? How do you think you would act if you were in the garden that night? 

5) Read John 18:15-18). It’s late at night and Peter denies Jesus. In what situations are you tempted to hide your faith to protect yourself? Do you feel adequately prepared to share your faith when the right time presents itself? (see 1 Peter 3:15-16). 

6) Read John 18:19-24. While Jesus was being falsely accused He was slapped in the face for His reply to the High Priest. What does this slap say about our culture? Where in culture do you see people trying to push Jesus out of things? 

7) Peter ends up denying Jesus two more times (read John 18:27-27). Peter made a mistake but it seems to be out of self-preservation. What can learn about Peter’s situation and the words that come out of our mouth? 

8) Close your time in prayer. Pray for strength to invite a friend to meet Jesus. 

Luke 18 | Small Group Questions

For the month of November we’re going to talk about Absurd Generosity from the gospel of Luke. This isn’t the only place Jesus talked about money in the Bible. Jesus talked about money a lot in the Gospels. Of His thirty-eight parables, about half of them deal with money and possessions. Jesus frequently used money as a way to grab people’s attention for a deeper issue. In the Gospels, one in every ten verses deal with money. Why so much talk about money? Because our attitude to money reveals a lot about us. For this series I will write some of the small group questions that go along with each sermon. It seemed like a waste to leave them in a file on my computer and not share them with everyone.

Small Group Questions | The Rich Man’s Poor Choice | Luke 18

The closer we move towards Thanksgiving and Christmas the more we begin to think about what it means to be thankful and give good gifts. In Luke 18 Jesus has an interaction with a rich man who makes a poor choice. Jesus invites this man to follow Him but he walks away sad. He is one of the few people to leave the presence of Jesus with a deep disappointment. Jesus instructs us to think more about our investments in Heaven and not only in earth. Of His thirty-eight parables, about half of them deal with money and possessions. In the Gospels, one in every ten verses deal with money. Why so much talk about money? Because our attitude to money reveals a lot about us. 

1) Neal shared a personal story about taking a $20 bill from the offering plate as a child. When you heard this story what thoughts or emotions did it evoke in your life? Have you ever been in a place that you had to steal to eat food? 

2) We talked about three areas that we are humans are confused on money: We think money provides security, When I have _________ it will be enough, God/church just want my money. What one of these areas do you struggle with the most and why? 

3) Read Luke 18:18-21. This man comes to Jesus and asks about inheriting eternal life. Read Ephesians 2:8-10, John 1:12-13, 3:3, and Romans 8:14-17. What do these passages teach us about eternal life and becoming children of God? 

4) Read Luke 18:22-25. Jesus invites this rich young man to give everything away and there he will find eternal life. Read: 2 Corinthians 96-8, Malachi 3:10, Matthew 6:19-21. What do these passages teach us about using our finances?  

5) The way Jesus teaches us to view money is different: receive, tithe, save, spend/pay, give. Read Proverbs 11:25, 30:8-9, & Mark 12:13-17. The Bible teaches us to be generous & to not love money. How will these passages change the way you life?  

6) Read Matthew 6:19-21. Jesus taught us to invest our financial resources into the Kingdom of God. The result of that lifestyle is: humble, generous, secure, relaxed, fulfilled. How does your relationship with money leave you feeling? 

7) Jesus ends the passage with a focus on living for the Kingdom of God. Read Luke 18:26-30, Hebrews 10:24-25, Acts 2:42-47, and Colossians 2:203. How does your relationship with Jesus impact your relationship with those closest to you? 

Close your time in prayer.

James 5:13-20 | Small Group Questions

James was a leader of the first Christian community ever. He was in a leadership role for 20 years and during this time the church fell on hard times; famine, persecution, and poverty. James lived with wisdom and courage during this difficult time. The book of James is really a letter of wisdom. Instead of writing to one church community, like Paul did, James wrote to all of the Christians to encourage them to live out their faith. For this series I will write some of the small group questions that go along with each sermon. It seemed like a waste to leave them in a file on my computer and not share them with everyone.

Small Group Questions | Bold Prayers | James 5:13-20

After nine weeks we come to the conclusion of the letter that James wrote to the early church. The church was dispersed and spread out in various areas due to persecution. James was a caring leader in the early church. He loved the church and throughout the letter we’ve seen that expressed in how he addressed them. In the final verses of the letter we read about having a thriving prayer life. James could have written about anything but he knew that a thriving prayer life was an overflow of a thriving relationship with Jesus. James encourages the church to pray in all situations. One of the most powerful examples might be how James reminds us of the power of prayer from the Life of Elijah the prophet. 

1) With your group think about your personal prayer life. Think about a time when God didn’t answer your prayer. How did it feel? Now, think about a time when God answered your prayer but it was better than you could imagine. How did that feel? 

2) Read James 5:13-16. James asks several questions to the church about prayer. He exhorts us to pray in all situations (read Job 35:9-10, 2 Corinthians 12:6-10, and 1 Thessalonians 5:17) When you’re in trouble what is your first response? 

3) Looking at the life of Jesus we read that He healed many (read Matthew 8:5-13,  Mark 2:1-12, and Luke 9:37-43.  We are encouraged to seek prayer from the elders of the church during times of sickness. What hinders us from doing that? 

4) It seems that James includes an aspect of sin that can bring about sickness and/or hurt our relationship with others. Share about a time in your life where your sin brought about a sickness or broken relationship with someone in church. 

5) Read James 5:17-18. To fully understand the story of Elijah we have to look back to his life. Take some time in your group to read 1 Kings 17 and 18. After reading these stories of Elijah, what stands out to most about his life? 

6) James said that Elijah was a man just like us. Elijah prayed earnestly and God answered his prayers. How does Elijah’s prayer life encourage you? Are there times that you give up on praying and resign yourself to apathy in your prayers? 

7) The letter of James ends with a reminder to reach those who are living a life of sin (read James 5:19-20). Share about the person who told you about Jesus. Who is God inviting you to share your faith with? What will that take? 

Close your time in prayer.

Genesis 40 | Small Group Questions

The story of Joseph is a favorite among children’s tales. It’s a story of family dysfunction that leads to slavery. The pain of loneliness and abandonment that ultimate lead to Jospeh saving Israel. So often we don’t sit in the pain that Joseph experienced. We don’t think about what went through Joseph’s mind in the bottom of the pit. We forget that Joseph never went to his senior prom. We miss that he lost a vital relationship with his mother. For this series I volunteered to write the small group questions that go along with each sermon. It seemed like a waste to leave them in a file on my computer and not share them with everyone.

Small Group Questions | The Waiting is the Hardest Part | Genesis 40

We first met Joseph as a seventeen year old living in his fathers home (Genesis 37). His brothers wanted to kill him but ended up selling him into slavery. From there he was accused of actions he didn’t commit and thrown into jail (Genesis 39). During this entire time Jospeh was under the watchful eye of the Lord. Through his life we learn that God is always working in our darkest moments. As we’ve sat in these couple chapters of Joseph’s life we have to be intentional to not rush ahead and see what happens. Jospeh teaches us to look for the hand of God in our dark moments. Jospeh teaches us to be patient and allow God to shape our hearts for His glory. 

1) Thinking about the first three chapters of Jospeh’s life, that we’ve studied this far, what stands out to the you most? What part of Joseph’s life can your relate to and what part is extremely difficult for you to understand? 

2) Read  Genesis 49:1-4a. Joseph has learned to care for others in this waiting period. Read John 13:34-35, Romans 12:10, 2 Corinthians 13:11, and Ephesians 4:2. What does Scripture teach us about caring for others? 

3) Some people think that God had abandoned Jospeh but we read that God was close to Joseph during this entire time (read Genesis 39:2, 23). Also read Matthew 28:19-20 and talk about how Jesus is always with us. 

4) Read Genesis 40:4a-8. Instead of falling into a pagan culture, Jospeh spoke the truth of God in that dark prison. Where is God asking you to be the light of the world to those around you (Matthew 5:13-16)? What does that require? 

5) Thinking about the interpretations that Joseph gave to the men, we read that he told the truth in a difficult situation. The Bible calls us to be truth-tellers. Read and discuss these passages: Exodus 20:16, Proverbs 12:22, and 1 John 1:6-7

6) The time Joseph spent in prison was a time of character building. Briefly look at Acts 9. Make sure to focus on Acts 9:26-31. Paul’s life was changed but he eventually moved home to grow his character. Where is God shaping your character? 

7) When we look at the entirety of what happened to Jospeh’s life, can you think of any of his: mistreatment, abandonment, and disappointment that reminds you of your life? How did you respond? Where are you still growing? 

Close your time in prayer. Pray for strength grow your character in the dark moments. 

Genesis 37 | Small Group Questions

The story of Joseph is a favorite among children’s tales. It’s a story of family dysfunction that leads to slavery. The pain of loneliness and abandonment that ultimate lead to Jospeh saving Israel. So often we don’t sit in the pain that Joseph experienced. We don’t think about what went through Joseph’s mind in the bottom of the pit. We forget that Joseph never went to his senior prom. We miss that he lost a vital relationship with his mother. For this series I volunteered to write the small group questions that go along with each sermon. It seemed like a waste to leave them in a file on my computer and not share them with everyone. 

Small Group Questions | The Dysfunctional Family | Genesis 37

The story of Joseph is a favorite among children’s tales. It’s a story of family dysfunction that leads to slavery. The pain of loneliness and abandonment that ultimate lead to Jospeh saving Israel. So often we don’t sit in the pain that Joseph experienced. We don’t think about what went through Joseph’s mind in the bottom of the pit. We forget that Joseph never went to his senior prom. We miss that he lost a vital relationship with his mother. This week we start an eight-week journey through the life of Jospeh in Genesis. Most scholars affirm that Moses wrote Genesis from the oral tradition as a way to preserve Israels’ history.  

1) International Justice Mission exists to protect people in poverty from violence by rescuing victims, bringing criminals to justice, and restoring survivors to safety. Share what you know about modern day slavery with the group. 

2) Read  Genesis 37:1-4. Jospeh was raised in a dysfunctional family. Share about what you learned from your family or origin and how you would like to create a better home for your roommates, immediate family, or those you live with. 

3) Jospeh had to dreams from God that related to his family (read Genesis 37:5-11). Joseph knew how to interpret dreams but didn’t know how to care for people. Where do you want to excel in caring for people & what needs to change?

4) Read Genesis 37:14-18. Jospeh’s brothers plotted to kill him. Scripture has much to say on murder (read Exodus  20:13, 21:14, Matthew 5:21-26, and John 8:44).What do you think allows a group of people the ability to dehumanize others? 

5) We are called to love others & protect them (Gen. 4:9, Malachi 2:16, 1 Corinthians 13:7). Is there someone in your life that you need to do a better job at loving at protecting? What Could Jospeh’s brothers have done to protect their brother?

6) Read Genesis 37:26-28. Neal shared some statistics on modern day slavery. Pull our your phone and see what you can learn about modern day slavery. What bothers you most? What can you do to start helping free people from slavery? 

7) Joseph was sold into slavery and his brothers lie to their father about his whereabouts (read Genesis 37:29-36). Thinking of how many dreams seem to be broke here: where have, or do, you see God at work in your broken dreams? 

Close your time in prayer. Pray for strength to invite a friend to meet Jesus. 

22 Years of Sober

I never thought I would write those words: "22 years of sobriety"

On April 20, 2000 was the last time I took a drink of alcohol. I could tell you all the details surrounding but I'll tell you a better story. 

When I was five I wanted to be a fireman so I could help save people, but that’s not the path I ended up choosing for my life. See that first time I smoked pot led me down a very dark road. A road that was filled with violence, drugs, horrible behavior, drinking and the back of police cars. 

My deep doubt in God and lack of trust for people in my teens took me places I never thought I’d end up going. When I was nineteen I got arrested for the third time in my life. I had way too much to drink, crashed my truck into the side of the mountain, totaled it, almost killed one of my friends and fled the scene. I was pulled out of a bush about a quarter mile down the road at gun point, taken to the hospital and then transported to jail. 

It was one of those, go straight to jail, don’t collect $200 and you can’t say goodbye to your friends. I was charged with two felonies and looking at doing 3-5 years in jail. Now check this out, my mom and her friends started praying and I got out with no felonies and serving a week in jail, a week in jail!

You would think I would have learned my lesson at this point right, that I’d start trusting God? Well four months later I was a drunk sitting in another jail cell. As I sat there I thought, “This isn’t the life I had imagined for myself.” 

On  February 14, 2000 I was looking at doing a year for violating my probation and the reality of who I had become sunk in. As I sat in jail I had a silent conversation with God in the dark of night. I don’t remember exactly how it went but I said something like: “God, if you’re real get me out and I’ll do whatever you want” It was my last ditch effort. Fourteen hours later I was released from Vista jail in San Diego County. I had no clue what I was going to do next but I left the jail that morning knowing God is real and He really cares about me. The focus of my life changed in an instant! 

I wish I could say that it's been an easy 22 years but it hasn't. There have been many moments that I wanted to use again. I wanted to use to forget the pain that I didn't know how to handle. I wanted to use to enjoy a time with my friends. 

But as I sit here, looking back, I'm so grateful for the grace of God in my life. I couldn't have done this without the help of God. 

Hebrews 12:4-13 | Small Group Questions

In August of 2021 Coastline Bible Church started a brand new sermon series called: "Greater." For approximately five months we are going to study the book of Hebrews together. The book of Hebrews was written to a Jewish audience living in the first century. They are likely experiencing persecution and thinking about abandoning their faith. The author teaches us how Jesus is greater than: the prophets, angels, Moses, Abraham, the Law, the old covenant, and the high priest. We learn that Jesus is greater than anything that has preceded Him. For this series I volunteered to write the small group questions that go along with each sermon. It seemed like a waste to leave them in a file on my computer and not share them with everyone. 

Small Group Questions | Useful Discipline | Hebrews 12:4-13

As we near the end of the letter we see the author encouraging the Hebrew people to continue following Jesus and not give up. The author takes the time to encourage them, using God’s word, to endure the disciple they are going through. He knows that when they endure this season of their life they will mature in their faith. The problem is they have slowly drifted from the Lord and become dull to God’s word. They are in desperate need of a revitalization of their faith. In Hebrews 12:4-13, the author provides three reasons for them to stand strong in their faith. First, they have God’s word. Second, they can endure the discipline of the Lord. Finally, they will preserve during their season of discipline. Study these questions to learn more about useful discipline. 

1) Neal shared a story about wanting to quit playing football his sophomore year of high school but his mom wouldn’t let him. Share about a time that you wanted to quit something and the lesson you learned through that discipline.  

2) Read Hebrews 12:4-6. The author teaches us that God disciplines those He loves (read Deuteronomy 8:5, Job 5:17, and Psalm 94:12). How does God’s word provide the discipline in your life that you need to grow spiritually? 

3) Some of the early church had become dull to the word of God (read Proverbs 3:11-12 and Hebrews 5:11-12). Have you had a time in your life that you became dull to the word of God? Where are you currently reading in your Bible? 

4) Read Hebrews 12:7-9. We are encouraged to endure God’s discipline because He disciplines those He loves (see Proverbs 12:1, Jeremiah 10:24, & Revelation 3:19). What are some reasons we don’t endure the discipline from God? 

5) Read Hebrews 12:10-11. Most of us would prefer to bypass the discipline of our earthly father and Heavenly Father. What happens to people who grow up with no discipline? Why do you think God disciplines us so we can share in His holiness? 

6) The author teaches us that the outcome of enduring discipline is that we find a “harvest of righteousness and peace.” What one area of your life are you lacking peace and you need to allow God to discipline you? 

7) Read Hebrews 12:12-13. These final verses sound like the encouragement of a coach. Where do you need this group to encourage you to embrace the Lord’s discipline in your life? Where are you feeling weak and tired? 

Close your time in prayer. Pray for strength to invite a friend to meet Jesus. 

Hebrews 4:14-5:10 | Small Group Questions

Coastline Bible Church just started a brand new sermon series called: "Greater." For the next several months we are going to look through the book of Hebrews together. The book of Hebrews was written to a Jewish audience living in the first century. They are likely experiencing persecution and thinking about abandoning their faith. The author teaches us how Jesus is greater than: the prophets, angels, Moses, Abraham, the Law, the old covenant, and the high priest. We learn that Jesus is greater than anything that has preceded Him. For this series I volunteered to write the small group questions that go along with each sermon. It seemed like a waste to leave them in a file on my computer and not share them with everyone.

Small Group Questions | Our Great High Priest | Hebrews 4:14-5:10

As move into Hebrews 4 and 5 we are introduced to a new title for Jesus: our great high priest. No other priest has ever held this role in the past. The role of the high priest is an Old Testament role originating with Aaron in the book of Exodus. The role a familial role first held by Aaron and then by his sons. In the Old Testament the high priest had to be from the tribe of Levi. It’s helpful to know that was not a man-appointed role but a God-appointed role. In our text this week we learn about how Jesus is our great high priest and what He accomplished to receive this title. It’s important for the author to teach this lesson to the early church because it would encourage them to continue in spiritual maturity and discourage returning to the old covenant. 

1) Neal shared a story with us about traveling to Germany as a young boy. Think about a time when you traveled to a foreign country or different area. What stood out to you about the language, mannerisms, and culture of that area? 

2) Read Hebrews 4:14-16. Focus on verse 15. So often people stick with us when things are going well, but this text teaches us that Jesus is near us in our weaknesses. Share a time that Jesus drew near in your weakness’.

3) In Matthew 4:1-11 we read about the temptation of Jesus. Jesus was tempted in every way we’ve ever been tempted. Read Matthew 6:13, 1 Corinthians 10:13, and 1 Timothy 6:9. Where are you most susceptible to falling into temptation? 

4) Sometimes it’s difficult to accept the mercy of Jesus and live in the grace of God. Read John 1:14-17, Romans 3:23-24, Ephesians 2:8-10, and James 5:11. How does these passages help you understand grace and mercy more?

5) Read Hebrews 5:1-4. The point is that Jesus deals gently with all sinners who come to Him irrespective of their particular offense. Where do you need to learn to be gentle with those who are ignorant and going astray? 

6) Picture Jesus praying to the Father as in Hebrews 5:7 describes. How was His prayer life like yours? How was it different? After reading this passage what do you want to change/adjust in your prayer life? 

7) Read Hebrews 5:7-10. Now, Jesus couldn’t be disobedient to God that would be contrary to His nature but Jesus learned what is involved in obedience. How are you growing in obedience to the word of God? 

Close your time in prayer. Pray for strength to invite a friend to meet Jesus. 

Hebrews 2:10-18 | Small Group Questions

Coastline Bible Church just started a brand new sermon series called: "Greater." For the next several months we are going to look through the book of Hebrews together. The book of Hebrews was written to a Jewish audience living in the first century. They are likely experiencing persecution and thinking about abandoning their faith. The author teaches us how Jesus is greater than: the prophets, angels, Moses, Abraham, the Law, the old covenant, and the high priest. We learn that Jesus is greater than anything that has preceded Him. For this series I volunteered to write the small group questions that go along with each sermon. It seemed like a waste to leave them in a file on my computer and not share them with everyone.

Small Group Questions | Our Humble Hero | Hebrews 2:10-18

As we look at the second half of Hebrews 2 we see the author continue to teach us about the greatness of Jesus. He goes to great lengths to teach how Jesus is greater than the angels. This might have created a point of confusion for the original audience because Jesus held his divinity and took on our humanity. We learn a great point about belonging to the family of God. For us to belong to the family of God we need a pioneer who would invite us into that family. That is Jesus Christ, our humble hero. As we study Hebrews 2:10-18 keep your mind open to the many ways that Jesus shared in our humanity. Because Jesus shared in our humanity He is able to empathize with us in the suffering we endure while we wait for the completion of our salvation. 

1) Doug opened his sermon and talked about the benefit of doing life with others. He shared about how the men in our church gathered together and there was great joy. Share about who you’re doing community with in life and how that impacts you. 

2) Read Hebrews 2:10-13. Jesus humanity enabled Him to bring many sons and daughters to glory. The author teaches us that Jesus is the pioneer of our salvation through what He suffered. Read Luke 23:26-43 and talk about how Jesus suffered. 

3) Scripture teaches us that we are adopted as the children of God. Read the following passages and talk about what changes when we view ourselves as children of God. (read Acts 13:26, Romans 8:14-17, Galatians 3:26, and Ephesians 5:8). 

4) In Hebrews 2:14-16. Jesus humanity enabled Him to deliver us from death. Read  Matthew 2:1, Mark 4:38, Luke 2:52, and John 4:6-8. Talk about how these verses teach us that Jesus shared in our humanity. 

5) Jesus had to take on human flesh in order to defeat Satan. Jesus didn’t die to save the fallen angels (see 2 Peter 2:4). Presently Jesus is helping the descendants of Abraham (that is you). Share how you saw Jesus help you this month. 

6) Jesus humanity enables Him to be a sympathetic High Priest to His people (Read Hebrews 2:17-18). Now look at 1 Samuel 2:27-36. We read that Eli was not a merciful and faithful High Priest. Talk about the difference between the two men. 

7) During His time on earth Jesus faced suffering. Some of this took place immediately after His baptism (Read Matthew 4:1-11). Because Jesus suffered He can empathize with our suffering. Share about a time when Jesus met you in your suffering. 

Close your time in prayer. Pray for strength to invite a friend to meet Jesus. 

Being a Truth Teller

In 2016 I was sitting on the edge of my seat watching the summer Olympics. As the games progressed a frightening story was developing. American swimmer Ryan Lochte had been robbed at gun point. The story came out that Ryan and three other men had been robbed at gunpoint during a taxi ride. The kicker was that the men who robbed them flashed badges. Then it came out that Ryan had a gun placed on his forehead during the robbery. Olympic athletes feared for their safety. It looked like Brazil would receive a black eye for the Olympics but the truth came out. The whole story was a lie! It was fabricated after a night of partying. 

It seems like lying is all around us! Remember when Tiger Woods told the world that he was a faithful husband? The truth came out that he was having extra-marital affairs with over a dozen women. 

Remember the man who won seven consecutive Tour de France titles? Years later Armstrong confessed to taking performance enhancing drugs. 

We all know about Bill Clinton and his famous words: “I did not have sexual relations with that woman.” Lie! 

Maybe the most heart-breaking for me was when Milli Vanilli were accused of lip syncing their song: “Girl you know it’s true.” It was a massive hit but the pop stars confessed to lip syncing. It seems that we are surrounded by lies in almost all areas of life. 

We all know this, but lying hurts all parties involved. The lies we just talked about hurt millions of people. Think about the last time you were lied to and how you felt. Think about the impact it had on your life, relationships, and integrity you thought someone had. When was the last time you told a lie? Maybe it was this week at work or to your children. It could have been a big lie or a white lie to just keep things quiet. No matter what, lying hurts. 

Being a Truth Teller 

Many of recall the ninth commandment in the most simplest terms of “do not lie” and that’s a good start. But the commandment is longer than that:

“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor." Exodus 20:16 

Let’s talk about lying. There are all kinds of lies that people tell: white lies, whoppers, fibs, gossip, half-truths, exaggerations, misleading silence, lying on paper, lying at work, lying at home. 

Sometimes we lie to make ourselves look better. An example of this might be: “The check is in the mail” when really you never sent the check. Sometimes we lie to make others look worse. At work a colleague might lie about an employee’s perform.

We’re all familiar with Pinocchio. Every time he lied his nose grew just a little bit. Sometimes it feels like life would be easier if that happened to everyone who told a lie. Instead of wondering who is, or isn’t, lying to us we could see that they are lying to us. 

The hard part about the day and age we live in is that we have to constantly decipher who is lying to us. We feel lied to by our boss at work when she tells us she tried to get us the raise we asked for. We feel liked to by the politicians we elected who promised to solve a certain problem. We feel lied to by our neighbor who swears his dog didn’t poop in our front yard. 

The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Colossae and instructed them to give up lying:

Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Colossians 3:9-10

We read this and think that the early church must have been full of liars. Maybe it was, or maybe there just a few. Paul wrote this because saw lying was an issue that was hurting the early church. Some people grew up lying. They learned that sin from their parents. I’ve seen first-hand how lying hurts the local church. A half-truth is shared as if it were the entire truth. Gossip learns to walk, is passed on as truth, shared on Facebook, and next thing we know another church split takes place. 

If you have placed your trust in Jesus, this passage is for you. It’s more than giving up lying, it’s surrendering your life to Christ and being transformed. There is progression that Paul teaches us about being sanctified as we keep following Jesus.

If you have yet to place your trust in Jesus, this transforming life is available to you today. Listen to what George Orwell once wrote: "In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” Lying has become more accepted and we need more truth-tellers in this world.

Philippians | Week 6 | Small Group Questions

Coastline Bible Church is doing an eight-week sermon series called: "Defined by Joy." The Apostle Paul helped plant the church in Philippi (see Acts 16) but never forget about them. They played a key role in supporting him as God called him to plant other churches. From this series we want to learn how to have our lives defined by joy and not circumstances. Paul modeled this well to the early church. For this series I volunteered to write the small group questions that go along with each sermon. It seemed like a waste to leave them in a file on my computer and not share them with everyone.

Small Group Questions | New Citizenship | Philippians 3:15-21

As we read the book of Philippians we see that Paul hasn’t attained the highest spiritual position possible but continues to follow hard after Jesus. He reminds us that the Christian life requires the exertion of continually running hard after godliness. Paul continues to exhort believers to keep their focus heavenward. He understood that there were topics of confusion and encouraged the believers to seek the Lord for clarification in their spiritual walk. Paul was constantly pointing people to Jesus. More importantly, he knew how to live a  godly life on earth while focus on his citizenship in heaven. He encourages us to allow God to renew our thinking here on earth. 

1) We live in a time when citizenship is a topic of discussion. The Apostle Paul is a man who understood citizenship. He was born a Jew but held Roman citizenship. Talk about how to balance simultaneously being a citizen of earth and heaven. 

2) Read Philippians 3:13-14. Paul exhorts his friends to continue to press on to Jesus. Some scholars think that the church in Philippi might have become lax in their walk with Jesus. How do you maintain spiritual vigor? Have you become lax? 

3) Paul longs for the believers to hold a mature view on spiritual growth (read Philippians 3:15-16). How do you intentionally grow in your faith while not being legalistic? (see: Matthew 7:21-23, Mark 2:24, 3:2, and Colossians 2:20-23)

4) The life of a Christian involves learning from others. Jesus instructed us to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). Paul also told us to learn from others (Philippians 3:17). Who are you currently learning from and what are you learning? 

5) Paul wrote to, his son in the faith, Timothy about discipling others (read 2 Timothy 2:2). Are you at at place to start investing your life into someone else? If you are, what does that look like? If you’re not, how do you need to prepare? 

6) Read Philippians 3:20-21. Paul reminds us that our citizenship is in heaven. What happens when we begin to get too comfortable on earth and forget to focus on our eternal citizenship? 

7) Paul teaches us that when we enter heaven we will have glorified bodies. Read Luke 24:31, John 20:19, and Acts 1:9-11. What does these passages teach us about what our heavenly bodies will be like? 

Close your time in prayer by praying for: Camp Pondo. 

Philippians | Week 2 | Small Group Questions

Coastline Bible Church is doing an eight-week sermon series called: "Defined by Joy." The Apostle Paul helped plant the church in Philippi (see Acts 16) but never forget about them. They played a key role in supporting him as God called him to plant other churches. From this series we want to learn how to have our lives defined by joy and not circumstances. Paul modeled this well to the early church. For this series I volunteered to write the small group questions that go along with each sermon. It seemed like a waste to leave them in a file on my computer and not share them with everyone.

Small Group Questions | Joy in hardship | Philippians 1:12-30

As we study the book of Philippians we must remember that Paul is writing this letter from a Roman jail cell. Paul was wrongly arrested in the Temple in Jerusalem. Some Jews thought that Paul had brought a Gentile into the Temple Court and this caused  a commotion. Paul was arrested and beaten. He was kept in chains because the Jews were looking for a way to kill him. Paul was ultimately taken to Rome where he wrote this letter to the church in Philippi. All day long He was chained to a Roman guard. Paul learned that his suffering gave him an opportunity to glorify God. Through all of this, Paul found joy in his hardship. 

1) Neal shared a story about David McIntyre and his time on a show called Alone. On the show David spoke about how suffering shapes us in to the people we are today. Share a time when you suffered and how it shaped your life. 

2) Read Philippians 1:12-14. Paul found a boldness to share his faith while being locked up in Rome. What motivates you to share your faith? On the other side, what keeps you from sharing your faith? (see 2 Timothy 4:5 about sharing your faith). 

3) Paul was jailed in a private house while being chained to a Roman guard all day long. His chains gave him a boldness to proclaim the Gospel message. What do you feel chained to right now and how can you find boldness to share the gospel? 

4) Paul encourages the church to keep Christ first and to keep proclaiming the Gospel  no matter the situation (read Philippians 1:15-18). Why is Satan happy when he sees conflict arise in the church? 

5) Paul had sufficient courage to face the task at hand (read Philippians 1:18b-21). Courage is a quality we see in many of our heroes of the faith. Read Daniel 1 and talk about how both these men had courage in their unique setting. 

6) Read Philippians 1:22-26. Paul longed to be with the church and to be with the Lord. He knew it was better for him to stay. Who has God placed in your circle of influence that you can encourage with the love of God this week? 

7) At the end of chapter one we learn about conducting ourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel (read Philippians 1:27-30). Share one area that you think you excel in conducting yourself in a worthy manner and one area you’d like help to grow in. 

Close your time in prayer by praying for: Family to Family ministry.

Flawed but Faithful | Week 2 | Small Group Questions

Coastline Bible Church is doing a five-week sermon series called: "Flawed but Faithful." This is going to be a unique sermon series because typically when we read the Bible we are looking for the text to be God-centric; meaning we put God at the center of our focus. But for five weeks we’re going to focus on the life of Peter. We’re going to see that Peter is a human just like us. We’re going to learn that Peter followed Jesus, stepped out in faith, tried to justify himself, and had wild ideas. We’re going to see that Peter is a flawed man who was faithful to God. Peter played a key role in building the local church and because of his faithfulness to Jesus we have the local church. For this series I volunteered to write the small group questions that go along with each sermon. It seemed like a waste to leave them in a file on my computer and not share them with everyone.

Small Group Questions ::: Walking on Water ::: Matthew 14

Last we studied the calling of Peter and today we will look at one of his greatest acts of trusting Jesus. Hours before this story took place the disciples watched Jesus feed thousands of people with five loaves of bread and two fish. After the miraculous feeding, Jesus instructed the disciples to meet Him on the side of the lake. They acted in obedience and it brought them into a treacherous storm. It was in the middle of the Sea of Galilee that Jesus came to them, walking on water. It seems that Jesus is breaking the laws of nature to care for His disciples. In fact, we learn that Jesus is the Lord of creation. But since we’re studying Peter we see his bravery in following Jesus by walking on water with Jesus! 

1) Neal shared about the catastrophic destruction that hurricane Katrina caused in the golf coast back in 2005. Share about a time in your when you were in a literal or figurative storm that caused you to trust God. 

2) Read Matthew 14:22-24. The disciples obeyed when Jesus asked them to get in the boat and head to the other side. Read John 8:51, 14:23, Acts 5:29, and Romans 2:13. Why is it easy to obey Jesus sometimes but other times it seems so difficult?  

3) In the middle of the storms of life, what keeps you committed to obeying the truth of God? Do you find it hard to remember the truth that Jesus has spoken to you in the dark times? Psalm 119:11 teaches us to hide God’s word in our hearts.  

4) We need to know what voice to listen to in the storm  (read Matthew 14:25-27). In the middle of the lake Jesus encouraged the disciples not to be afraid. What are you afraid of right now? Read Isaiah 41:10,  Genesis 15:1, and Psalm 118:6. 

5) Jesus said: “It is I” to the disciples. This would have made them think about what God spoke to Moses in Exodus 3:1-15. Discuss the significance of Jesus declaring His deity to the disciples during that storm.  

6) Read Matthew 14:28-31. Peter is the one disciple who was courageous enough to get out of the boat. Two questions: What is holding you back from getting out of the boat and what is pushing you to step out of the boat this week? 

7) The first thing the disciples did was worship Jesus when He got in the boat. Read Acts 14:8-18. In the boat, Jesus permitted the disciples to worship Him. What does this teach us about Jesus being fully God and fully man? 

Close your time in prayer. Talk about who you will invite to Coastline Online? 

3 random thoughts on TV

A couple nights ago I was laying in bed trying fall asleep. I starting thinking about TV and what we watch. Growing up I loved Adam Sandler movies. I also watched Days of our Lives with my grandma. When I stayed home sick from school I enjoyed watching the Price is Right (confession: I still enjoy it). Charity and I have watched Survivor, The Amazing Race, and more together. 

Having seen the progress of the television I can share of my thoughts on this. I remember when you had to walk up to the TV to change the channel. I remember being a teenager sitting in front of the TV watching the Watts riots take place. I remember when TiVo came out (I know it's not called that anymore). I remember getting our first DVR. I remember switching to Hulu and cutting the cord. The way we interact with television content has changed in the last twenty years of my life. 

All of this didn’t go through my mind but it might provide some back story to where I’m going here. As I laid in bed I thought these three thoughts: 

1) Who decides what makes it on the news? 

I’m not sure when the news originated. I’m guessing it was once just word of mouth, then went to print, and now we have it on television. I wonder who sits in the News room and decides what makes it on the news. I’m guessing it’s the producer/director. I’m also guessing they are looking for stories that will get ratings. 

2) Reality TV stars make it because their life is so wild. They are less than 1% of the population.

I have three young kids. I remember when the first season of The Real World was aired on MTV. I thought to myself: this isn’t the real world. The goal was to find something so provocative and so compelling that people would want to watch. They created drama and it took off. The show, in my opinion, went downhill. It turned to: drinking, fighting, sex, and drama. But if the goal is to make money and attract views, they have succeeded. 

3) Most reality TV doesn't reflect reality. 

What is reality TV isn’t is reality. What if we are teaching the next generation that reality TV is what life is really like. I enjoy watching shows like: Alaska the Last Frontier and Homestead Rescue. I don’t enjoy the Real Housewives of any city or the Bachelor. I think the latter shows focus on drama. I think the prior shows are trying to show a different version of life. I don't know how to make the change but I'm aware of this as a father. 

So there you have it, my random, late night thoughts on TV. 

Pursue- Week 3 Small Group Questions

Coastline Bible Church is doing a four-week sermon series called: "Pursue." During this series we are going to study the Scriptures about loving God, loving others, living a holy life, and having a healthy marriage or preparing for marriage. This is a sermon series for everyone who is looking to have a little more love in their life. It seems there has been so much division in our Nation over the last several years. Marriages are growing cold. Dating relationships are falling apart under the stress of the pandemic. For this sermon we had Doug Meye write the small group questions that go along with this sermon. It seemed like a waste to leave them in a file on my computer and not share them with everyone.

Small Group Questions ::: Love for a Lifetime ::: 1 Corinthians 13

Pretty much everyone agrees that “love” is one of the most important concepts in relationships and life.  Yet, love is used in so many different ways, to describe so many different things, that it’s difficult to know what love really means. As followers of Jesus, we can begin here: God is the definition of love. Furthermore, God’s love for us shows us how to love others. The deepest and most intense expression of this kind of love is found in the marriage relationship. In this study we will dig into the kind of love that’s needed to make a marriage last a lifetime, and why those who love for a lifetime come to understand God’s love in a richer way. But this study goes way beyond marriage: it’s for all of us who want our everyday relationships to better express and experience a different kind of love.

1) As a group think of as many different phrases/sayings as you can that have the word love in them. (For example – It’s love that makes the world go round.) 

Read I Corinthians 13

2) Based on I Corinthians 13, do your best to define love in a single sentence? 

3) Many people have noted that you could easily replace the word “love” in I Corinthians with “Jesus.”  Try it with some of the phrases.  In what substantial ways does Jesus’ love differ from the love you described in question 1? 

4) The divorce rate in our culture is very high. What is the reason Jesus tell his listeners Moses grant a certificate of divorce in the OT law (Matthew 19:8)? What different kinds of things can make it so challenging for two people to stay married for the rest of their lives? How does Matthew 19:8 factor into these challenges?

5) In the sermon on Sunday, the following 4 exhortations were given to help marriages last a lifetime: Stay Married, Choose Love, Apply Grace, Invest Generously.  What is meant by each of these? Which one spoke the most loudly to you personally? How can you apply it? What would you add to these?

6) Author Gary Thomas has written a (wonderful) book on marriage, called Sacred Marriage. The subtitle of the book is: What if God Designed Marriage More to Make Us Holy than to Make us Happy? How do you respond to this subtitle? Why is the marriage relationship such a powerful instrument in God’s hand for us to become more like Jesus?  

7) As a church, Coastline wants to be a community which strengthens marriages, comes alongside those who have experience brokenness, and helps all experience the transforming power of Jesus in their lives and relationships. Having gone through this study, what do you most need from others in your groups.

Pursue- Week 1 Small Group Questions

Coastline Bible Church is doing a four-week sermon series called: "Pursue." During this series we are going to study the Scriptures about loving God, loving others, living a holy life, and having a healthy marriage or preparing for marriage. This is a sermon series for everyone who is looking to have a little more love in their life. It seems there has been so much division in our Nation over the last several years. Marriages are growing cold. Dating relationships are falling apart under the stress of the pandemic. For this series I volunteered to write the small group questions that go along with each sermon. It seemed like a waste to leave them in a file on my computer and not share them with everyone.

Small Group Questions ::: Love God, Love Others ::: Matthew 22

This week we kick off a brand new sermon series called: Pursue. For the month of February we’re going to focus on the love of God and how that impacts our lives. In Matthew 22 we read that the religious leaders tried to trap Jesus with a question. Jesus does a great job at summarizing the 600+ Jewish Laws into one statement. Jesus knew it was all about love. He encouraged us to focus on loving God, loving others, and loving ourselves. The words that so easily rolled off Jesus’ lips can be a tough teaching for us to implement in our lives. We have past hang-ups, negative interactions, and a poor ability to put boundaries in our lives. Before studying these questions, ask God to help you to understand love in a new way this week; a way that He loves. 

1) Neal started the sermon by sharing a story of a time when he had a difficult time loving someone he worked with. Think about a time in your life that you’ve had a hard time loving someone, how did you respond to that person? Did it work?  

2) Read Matthew 22:34-38. Jesus tells us to love God with all our heart. Read Psalm 73:25, 1 John 4:19, & 2 Corinthians 3:16. What does it look like to love God with our entire heart? What holds us back from loving God with all our heart? 

3) Jesus also invited us to love God with all our mind. There are some churches that want you to ‘check your mind at the door’ and simply trust. But Jesus invites us to love God with our mind. How can we love God with our mind this week? 

4) Next, Jesus invited us to love God with all our soul (Matthew 22:37). Read: Matthew 11:29, Mark 8:36-37, Luke 1:46 & 1 Peter 2:11. How do these passages provide instruction on what it looks like to love God with all our soul? 

5) Jesus added to the question and told us to love our neighbor as ourself (read Matthew 22:39). How come we don’t love others? Read 1 John 4:11, 1 Peter 4:8, Romans 12:9, & Ephesians 4:32. How can we love our neighbor this week? 

6) Neal said that one of the reasons we don’t know how to love our neighbors is that we don’t love ourselves. Read Micah 6:8, 1 John 3:1, and John 3:16-17. What holds you back from loving yourself? How can you grow in loving yourself this week? 

7) Jesus was able to answer the question with Scripture (read Deuteronomy 6:4). Do you feel confident in knowing God’s word so that you can answer questions based on Scripture? If not, how can you know God’s better? (see Psalm 119:11) 

Close your time in prayer. Talk about who you will invite to Coastline Online? 

16 thoughts on 16 years of marriage

Last week Charity and I celebrated 16 years of marriage. It was a pretty surreal experience. We were able to get a hotel room in the same place we celebrated our honeymoon in San Diego. We stayed at the Hotel del Coronado. Coronado Island has many great memories for us. It’s the first place we celebrated a Valentine’s Day. We would visit the beach there. We loved to walk downtown there.

On the drive to San Diego we talked about some of the highlights and hard times in our marriage. We talked about supporting each other during school, having kids, vacationing, making marriage a priority, and much more. 

When we returned home it prompted me to write this post. I’m not going to expand on each point but if you’d like to talk about them let me know: 

1. Our marriage is stronger because we’ve chosen to seek God first

2. Listen to your spouse 

3. Over-communicate on anything and everything 

4. Make dating your spouse a priority 

5. We’ve chosen to make vacations/adventures a priority 

6. Lots of couples fight over money and it’s not worth fighting over 

7. Life is well spent eating sushi together 

8. If you’re spouse is interested in it, find a way to be interested 

9. Don’t neglect your sex life, make that a high priority 

10. Look for ways to bless your spouse (don’t be selfish) 

11. Find creative ways to surprise your spouse with things he/she will love

12. Take lots of pictures, you will want to look back on them later 

13. Focus on a healthy marriage, not a perfect marriage

14. There are times to listen and times to offer advice 

15. Pray for each other and together; you can never have enough prayer

16. Make sure to tell your wife that she is beautiful every time you think it; she can’t read your mind 

Judges 14 Small Group Questions

Our church is doing a twelve-week sermon series through the book of Judges called: "Flawed Heroes." We are studying the Old Testament book for a couple reasons. One is that Judges is a book of flawed heroes and none of us are perfect. The book reminds us that God is the divine hero of the story. Judges is a period of transition for Israel, a transition from God as their leader to a monarchy. For this sermon my good friend Hylke Hylkema wrote the small group questions that go along with this sermon. It seemed like a waste to leave them in a file on my computer and not share them with everyone. 

Small Group Questions ::: Samson ::: Judges 14

1. Do you remember a secret as a child or as an adult you tried to hide but it became known? Share the story.

2. Samson was a man of many secrets. He tried to hide his failings repeatedly. This is not unlike many of us. What is it in us that turns to secrecy and even lies to cover our sin?

3. Samson was ruled by his untamed desires. Read James 1:13-15 and 4:1 and 1 John 2:16. How do these passages shed light on your own inner struggles?

4. How should followers of Jesus respond to sinful desires? Is failure inevitable? Do we just need to try harder at following Jesus or is there a better option?

a. Psalm 32:5

b. Galatians 5:16-25

c. Matthew 26:41

d. 1 Corinthians 10:13

e. Galatians 2:20

f. Colossians 3:1-4

g. Colossians 3:5-11

5. As you look at Judges 14 and consider the entire story, how significant is verse 4? Explain

6. How does verse 4 encourage you? Is there a challenge in your life you need to trust Him with?

7. Verse 6 and 19 talk about the Spirit empowering Samson, giving him incredible strength. He used his Spirit empowered ability poorly; he did not steward his gift well. Can followers of Jesus misuse spirit-enabled gifts? Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3.