- What is the power of and? Contrast this with the binary language of either in or out. Why do we most often want to default to the either in or out language and how can it be harmful? When can all or nothing language be helpful?
- How does the power of and apply to the tenants of Christian liberty and responsibility? Grace and truth?
- Why is it so hard to forgive when we are wronged? Speak to what forgiveness is and what forgiveness isn’t.
- In Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book, The Cost of Discipleship, he speaks of the difference between cheap and costly grace. Speak to your personal experience of the blessings and rewards of costly grace and to the pitfalls and consequences of cheap grace.
“Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline. Communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate. Costly grace confronts us as a gracious call to follow Jesus, it comes as a word of forgiveness to the broken spirit and the contrite heart. It is costly because it compels a man to submit to the yoke of Christ and follow him; it is grace because Jesus says, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light."
- Read 2 Corinthians 4:7. Why is this Scripture so important when one considers the teaching of any kind or source?
- Pastor Roger spoke of four weapons that Christians are called to yield in difficult times: God’s design, the Word, grace, and the Holy Spirit. How can these tools be used to diffuse difficult situations?
- Read Ephesians 6:10-20. Think of a specific situation where you used one of these powerful spiritual weapons. Share your experience with a spiritual battle and how one of these weapons led the way to victory.
Reading plan for this week:
Monday, March 9 2 Corinthians 11:1-6
Tuesday, March 10 Hosea 2:16-20
Wednesday, March 11 2 Corinthians 11:7-11
Thursday, March 12 1 Corinthians 9:3-14
Friday, March 13 2 Corinthians 11:12-15
Saturday, March 14 Zechariah 13:1-9
Sunday, March 15 2 Corinthians 11:1-15