Northgate FMC

Rahab

"We can choose how we respond to God despite the situations that we find ourselves in"

Gideon

Main Point: God doesn’t look at who you are right now, but at what you could be.
Takeaway: When the Lord is with you, his strength will overshadow your weakness.
-
Questions
1) Are you a natural risk-taker? What is one of the bigger risks that you’ve taken in life? How did it work out?
2) How would you answer someone who asks the question that Gideon does in Judges 6:13 — “But if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?”
3) In what ways do you identify with Gideon in Chapter 6?
4) How does the way that God patiently deals with Gideon’s doubts and insecurities make you feel about similar struggles that you have had or are currently having? 5) How have you see the Lord's strengths overshadow your weaknesses in your life?

Jonathan

Takeaway: We can overcome the impact of unhealthy people by being renewed in Christ

-

Discussion Questions

1. Do you think we are formed more by our genetics or our environment? Which do you think plays the bigger role in our development?

2. How have you been impacted, either positively or negatively, by significant people in your life? How much were you aware of their impact at the time it was happening? What have you learned since then?

3. Some people talk about the skills and abilities that people can develop as a result of living in a less than ideal home situation. What might those be?

4. Did you know the story of Jonathan before hearing this weekend’s message? What stuck with you regarding his story?

5. Choose one of the three “renewal steps” talked about (renewed identity, renewed way of thinking, renewing relationships) and talk about your experience with that, or your struggle with it.

Table Discussion Question — Because Jonathan was strengthened by God, he could encourage David to be strong in the Lord. What is one of your God-given qualities that you would like God to use to benefit others? (For example, your sense of humor, your empathy, your wisdom, etc.)

Mephibosheth

MAIN POINT: “Things we couldn’t control have happened to us, but that doesn’t make us unqualified
to be used by God for good purposes”

Your Questions

Main Point: One day all of our questions will be answered!
Takeaway: Trust in the God who has all the answers and who is good

-

QUESTIONS

1. Which of these questions have you wondered about? Did you receive a helpful answer? Why or why not?

2. Why do you think that God doesn’t answer all of our questions about the afterlife as completely or clearly as we would like?

3. How have you felt about this series on the afterlife? Has it helped you, or raised more questions for you? How will it make a difference to you in the days/months ahead?

Table Discussion Question: When you get to heaven, what is the first question you want to ask Jesus?

Heaven

Main Point: Heaven is a real and unimaginably spectacular place that is being prepared for us as we are being prepared for it. 
Takeaway: We don’t know what heaven is like now, but we can know now if we will spend eternity there.

-

Discussion Questions

1. What places on earth have you been that you would describe as “paradise”? What made them so incredible? 
2. When you imagine what heaven will be like, what aspect appeals to you the most? 
3. What age do you think we will be in heaven? Will it be the same age for everyone? 
4. When we get to heaven we will know each other as God knows us…completely, intimately, thoroughly, inside and out, with nothing hidden. How does being known to that degree make you feel? 

Table Discussion Question: It’s fun to speculate about what heaven will be like, but what is most important is knowing that we will spend eternity there. Do you know that? How would you explain the hope that you have to someone who doesn’t know where their eternal life will be spent? 

Hell

Main Point: Hell is not a necessary destination, but it is a necessary reality
Takeaway: Hell is not God’s preferred destination for anyone; heaven is
-
Discussion Questions

1. What objections have you had about the reality of hell, if any? How are you wrestling through those objections?

2. It is said that God’s justice and love require that there be a hell. Why is that true?

3. We tend to make jokes about things that make us nervous or which are hard to talk about. Do you think that our culture’s joking and dismissive way of talking about hell might be a result of underlying nervousness about it?

4. Who do you know that causes you to be thankful for God’s patience (2 Peter 3:9)? What is your next step on their behalf? Is it to pray for their salvation? To write them? To go and talk to them?

5. If hell is the absence of God’s presence and influence, that means that the fruit of the Spirit will not be characteristic of hell (Galatians 5:22-23). Imagine what a world without those Spirit-engendered qualities.

Table Discussion Question — Hell is a real place, but those who trust in Jesus will not be there; he has saved us from this. What do think about someone who saves you from something that would have been horrible to experience?

Judgment and Rewards

Main Point: The way we live now can change our experience for eternity
Takeaway: Go for the rewards!
Suggested Memory Verse: “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. - Revelation 22:12
-
Discussion Questions

1. As you think about going to heaven one day, and standing before Jesus, do you feel nervous, excited, curious, hopeful, or something else? Discuss that.

2. Have you ever participated in a courtroom issue, as a plaintiff, defendant, witness or juror? What was that like? How do you think standing in God’s courtroom will resemble that? How might it be different?

3. If you were to be judged by God only on the basis of your own works, do you think you’d feel confident to present your case for entering heaven? Consider all of the things you’ve done, the words you’ve spoken and the motives of your heart.

4. What kinds of rewards do you think Jesus might be handing out in heaven? What do you think about the idea that we should go for all the rewards we can?
How could that become a negative thing and how can we keep a proper perspective on it?

Table Discussion Question — What kinds of rewards do you appreciate most in this life? What are you most looking forward to in the next life?

Death Is Not The End

Main Point: Everyone is going to spend eternity somewhere. 
Takeaway: Live with the hope and the priorities of someone that knows that life doesn’t end with death. 

-

Discussion Questions: 

1. How often do you think about what happens to someone after they die? What kind of things do you think about?  
2. Do you live with the hope and priorities of someone that knows that life doesn’t end with death? How does that look differently than others “who have no hope”? 
3. What kind of questions do you have about death, eternal life, heaven, hell, judgment, and what comes after this life? (Discuss them, and also submit them on the Northgate app for the “Your Questions” message at the end of this series!)

Table Discussion Question — Where will you spend eternity after you die? How do you know?

Crucified & Risen

Main Point: Jesus’ destiny was to be crucified, but his story didn’t end on the cross. 
Takeaway: The greatest comeback ever changed the disciples lives and their destinies. Has it changed yours?
-
Questions: 

1. Share your favorite comeback story with the group. 
2. Try to put yourself in the disciples position after Jesus’ death, but before he rose again. What emotions do you think they experienced during those dark days? 
3. How does the undeniable transformation of the disciples impact your belief of the resurrection? 

Table Discussion Question — Does your life have a turning point? What happened? What factors led up to that?