Fruits of the Spirit:  Gentleness
1 Timothy 6:11-16
Sunday June 13^th, 2010

Small Group Questions 

1. Tell of a time when something (an event, a vacation, a movie, a date) was not what you expected. What happened?
   
    
2. What words or pictures come to mind when you hear the word gentleness or how would you define gentleness?
    
3. What were the three definitions of the word gentleness from the Greek that Pastor Derek described in the sermon? (If you were not in church the three meanings of the Greek word for gentleness are: being submissive to God; being teachable and not too proud to learn; being considerate, courteous, humble and meek) How do the three definitions of the Greek word for gentleness compare or contrast with your definitions of gentleness?
   
   
4. When do you find it difficult to submit your will to God’s will? Why is it difficult to submit our will to God’s will? What are we afraid that we will lose or give up? What are the benefits to submitting our will to God’s will? When is it easiest to submit our will to God’s will? Have you discovered anything that helps you to be more obedient and submissive to God’s will?
   
    
5. The second definition of gentleness is to have a teachable spirit and not being too proud to learn from others or from God. Would you characterize yourself as having a teachable spirit? Why or why not? When do you find it the most difficult to have a teachable spirit and why? How would you personally benefit from being more open to learning from others?
   
    
6. Share a time when you wish you would have learned from others and paid attention to what someone told you.
   
   
7. When we submit our will to God’s will and are willing to have God and others teach us we will begin to cultivate the fruit of gentleness in our life and we will find it easier to be considerate, courteous, humble and mild in dealing with others. In what area of your life do you need to develop the fruit of gentleness? At work? In a relationship? In your family?
   
    
8. William Barkley describes the third meaning of gentleness by saying it is a gentleness in which, “we treat all men (people) with perfect courtesy, that we can rebuke without rancor, that we can argue without intolerance, that we can face the truth without resentment, that we can be angry and sin not, that we can be gentle and yet not weak.” In which area of this description of gentleness are you doing well? In which area of the description do you need the most improvement?

Fruits of the Spirit: Faithfulness
3 John 1:1-8
Sunday June 6^th, 2010

Small Group Questions    

1. In the beginning of the sermon Pastor Derek recounted the story of Raffaelo Follieri, a young Italian businessman who was able to convince people to invest millions of dollars in his investment group. Raffaelo Follieri was able to convince the investors that he was trustworthy and reliable and would be faithful with their money. However, Follieri was not trustworthy or reliable and did not do what he promised with their money but spent the money on himself and his girlfriend. Raffaelo fooled, lied and took advantage of many people. Have you ever been taken advantage of by someone you thought you could trust? If so, what happened? How did you discover that the person was not reliable? Describe your feelings and emotions during that time.
   
   
2. In the scripture the Greek word for “faithfulness” in English in pronounced, “pistis.” But the Greek word also may be translated as trustworthy or reliable. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest how would you rate yourself in your faithfulness or reliability? When are you most trustworthy? When have you not been trustworthy and what can you do to become more reliable?
   
   
3. Being faithful means to follow through on what we have promised to do and to do what we say. Why, as Christians, is it important to be faithful to what we say we will do? 
   
   
4. Sometimes people do not follow through on a commitment because they get a “better deal,” or a better offer. In his sermon Pastor Derek called this, “getting better dealed.” Have you even not followed through in a promise because someone offered you a better deal? Has someone ever “better dealed,” you? In your opinion is it ever appropriate to “better deal,” people?
   
   
5. There are times when following through on a promise or commitment is impossible due to events out of our control and at other times we don’t follow through for other reasons. Tell of a time when you did not follow through on a promise. What were the circumstances regarding the event. Did you apologize for not following through? Do you think we should apologize when we do not follow through?
   
   
6. Because being faithful is not an exclusive Christian virtue there must be an aspect or component of faithfulness that applies specifically to Christians. This aspect is to be faithful to God in what/how we believe, how we live and how we give.  In the sermon Pastor Derek mentioned three essentials of the Christian faith that are being challenged today. Can you name any of the essentials that Pastor Derek mentioned? What in your opinion are other essential beliefs of the Christian faith? What essentials do you struggle with regarding your faith?
   
   
7. Besides believing the essential teachings of the faith, Christians are also called to be faithful in how we live. Are you faithful in living out your beliefs? Are you the same person at church or church events as you are when you are away from church? If not in which place are you pretending?
   
   
8. As followers of Jesus we also need to be people who give back to the church and the community because of the love and grace God has given to us. When is it easy to give back? When is it more difficult to give back? We can give back by giving financially, by giving our time and most importantly by giving all of ourselves to God. Which type of giving back (financial, time or your life) do you struggle with the most, why?
   
   
9. In what area of your life do you need to be more faithful? How do you want your small group to keep you accountable in this?

Fruits of the Spirit: Goodness
Ephesians 5:8-14
Sunday, May 30, 2010

Small Group Questions

1. How would you define the word good or goodness? From the sermon what is the Biblical definition of goodness? How does your definition of what is good compare or contrast with the Biblical understanding of goodness?
   
   
2. Using the Biblical definition of goodness; when and why do you find it the most difficult to be good? In what areas of your life could you improve at being “good?” If you feel like sharing please share in what areas of your life you are not good.
   
   
3. Pastor Derek stated that we need to strive to be “good” in what we say and not use our words to hurt people, gossip or swear. How else are we not “good’ in what we say? Tell of a time when you have hurt someone with your words. Share a time that you have been hurt. What steps can you take in your life to be more careful in the words you use?
   
   
4. We are also called to be good in what we do and in all aspects of life; in our relationships, in our work or in school. Why are there times when we do not practice the fruit of “goodness,” in relationships? In what relationships do you struggle to practice the fruit of “goodness?” Sometimes we slack off at school or work instead of doing our best at those activities; what causes you to slack off the most? What motivates you to do your best? In what area(s) of your life could you do better at practicing this fruit of “goodness?”
   
   
5. In the sermon Pastor Derek shared the story of a softball game where the opposing team carried a woman around the bases who hit a homerun but then tore her ACL even though in so doing they hurt their chances to make the playoffs. Why did they do that? Have you ever done anything similar? What thoughts or feelings do you have regarding that story?
   
   
6. We are also called to be good in our thought life because we can often sin or think bad thoughts about people or things. When do you find it the most difficult to control your thoughts? Are there any parts of your thought life that you need help controlling; if so how can your small group help? In the supportive and confidential nature of your small group is there anything you need to share about your thought life which sounds scary but would be freeing.
   
   
7. The Greek word in Galatians 5: 22 – 23 and Ephesians 5: 8 – 14 for “goodness,” (Agathosune) conveys the understanding that part of practicing “goodness,” is when appropriate to stand up for the right thing and to stand against bad or unjust activities. Have you ever been in the position of standing up for the right thing? What were the circumstances involved and what happened?
   
   
8. What are some of the dangers of confronting a situation that appears to be unjust or wrong? What do you need to make sure that you do before approaching someone and speaking the “truth to them in love?”
   
   
9. How can your small group pray for you regarding the fruit of goodness?

Fruit of the Spirit:  Kindness
2 Peter 1:3-11
Sunday May 23^rd, 2010

Small Group Questions 

1. At the beginning of the sermon a Liberty Mutual Insurance Company commercial was projected on the screen. The commercial displayed people helping or being kind to one another while other people took notice. Describe a time that you noticed someone being kind or helping someone else out. How was the person helping the other person and how did you feel as you witnessed the scene unfold?
   
   
2. There are several reasons why we are not kind to one another or why we do not help others. Some of those reasons are that we are too busy, or it is inconvenient or that we are apathetic. Why do you believe that we are not more kind to one another? What personally prevents you from helping or being kind to others? How to do overcome that?
   
   
3. According to the Bible the word “kindness,” implies physical and tangible acts of grace toward other people.  “Other people,” may include co-workers, friends, neighbors or even strangers. However, “other people,” also includes family members, siblings, parents and children. Do you find it easier to be kind to friends or even strangers rather than family members? If so why do we have such a hard time showing kindness to those closest to us? In your opinion is it possible to develop the fruit of kindness without being kind to our families? Why or why not?
   
   
4. In the sermon Pastor Derek mentioned four temptations that may accompany our acts of kindness; can you name any of the four? Are there other temptations that we face when trying to serve or be kind to other people if so what are they?
   
   
5. The four temptations that Pastor Derek mentioned regarding acts of kindness are: the temptation to feel superior to the people we are helping; the temptation to want to be recognized or tell other people about our acts of kindness; the temptation to expect something in return for our kindness and the temptation to not be willing to accept acts of kindness that people would do for us. Which of those temptation do you struggle with the most and why? How can your small group hold you accountable and help you with that temptation?
   
   
6. Do you remember a time when you could have helped or been kind to someone and you let the opportunity pass? If so share that time with the group. How did you feel then and how do you feel today about letting that opportunity pass?
   
   
7. At the end of the sermon Pastor Derek challenged all of us to perform three acts of kindness to three different people during the next week. Have you extended kindness to anyone so far this week? If so what were the circumstances? Do you plan on accepting Pastor Derek’s challenge, if not why not? If so what are your plans for being kind to three people? Do you have specific people in mind?
   
   
8. In the sermon Pastor Derek also asserted that kindness is contagious. Do you believe that kindness is contagious or is that just a nice little myth? Have you ever witnessed kindness being contagious? How can you be contagious for Jesus this week?