10 Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health
WedWednesdayMarMarch11th2009
10. Do You Yearn For A Heaven And To Be With Jesus?
Click Here to Download a Printable PDF of this Discussion Sheet
Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health
Chapter 10: Do You Yearn For A Heaven And To Be With Jesus?
Opening thoughts
- What ideas jumped out at you or made an impact with you?
- Why do you think we spend so little time yearning for Heaven?
Growing Christians are Groaning Christians
- Read 2 Corinthians 5:1-8
- Describe the natural tension of a Christian described in these verses.
- What do we have to hold onto while we wait?
Growing Christians Groan for Holiness
- How is a Christian’s longing for an “end” different from other beliefs/faiths? (124)
- What are some of the reasons why all people long for this change?
- What makes ours different? (125)
- How is our salvation “incomplete” until we reach Heaven? (126)
Growing Christians Groan for Holiness in Heaven more than Anything
- How is the holiness of the Lord “irresistibly addictive?” (128)
- Read Matthew 6:21
- How will our day to day life change if our treasure and heart are “in” Heaven?
- How does this interact with other “longings” we may have in this life?
Groaning Christians are Growing Christians
- How important is it for us to devote time on a regular basis to reflect upon eternity? (130)
- How can longing to see Christ encourage us to purify ourselves? (131)
Memory Verse for the week:
1 John 3:3
Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
MonMondayFebFebruary23rd2009
9. Are You A Quicker Forgiver?
Click Here to download a PDF copy of the Discussion Sheet.
Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health
Chapter 9: Are You A Quicker Forgiver?
Opening thoughts
- What ideas jumped out at you or made an impact with you?
- After reading Chapter 8 on grief of sin...how do you think these two questions relate to each other?
- Read Matthew 18:21-35...What do you learn from this parable?
Real Christians Want To Forgive
- How is forgiveness, “the will of God, as well as the path back to freedom and joy?” (113)
- What is the common misconception in verses like Matthew 6:14-15, Luke 6:37?
- What is the real meaning? (114)
- What important perspective can we learn from the quote by Martyn Lloyd-Jones? (114-115)
Ready To Forgive Versus Extending Forgiveness
- In your own words, what is the difference between “being ready to forgive” and “actually extending forgiveness? (115)
- When is biblical forgiveness required? (115)
- Why is the one who is unwilling to forgive putting their salvation to the test? (116)
Forgive and Forget?
- What does it mean when God says that He will no longer remember our sins? (117)
- Even if one is ready to forgive, what are some dangers we need to be aware of concerning our own battles? (117)
- What is the difference between actually forgiving and just forgetting the offence? (118)
Probing the Heart
- Which of these inquiries hit you the strongest? Why? (118-120)
- How can each of these prepare us to be ready to forgive in the future? (118-120)
Memory Verse for the week:
Luke 6:36
Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
MonMondayFebFebruary9th2009
8. Do You Still Grieve Over Sin?
Click Here to download a PDF copy of the Discussion Sheet.
Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health
Chapter 8: Do You Still Grieve Over Sin?
Opening thoughts
- What ideas jumped out at you or made an impact with you?
- In your own words, Why should we grieve over sin?
- What are the differences and similarities of these words: Repentance, Forgiveness, Grief,
When To Grieve Is To Grow
- How do you reconcile Paul’s negative view of himself with the reality of his spiritual maturity? (102)
- If Paul felt that way about himself, how do you think we should feel?
- What does Whitney call a “mark of growth?” Why? (103)
Should I Continually Grieve Over Sin?
- What are the dangers of focusing excessively on our sin? (104)
- What are the dangers of focusing minimally on our sin? (104)
- How do repentance and faith relate to the life of the believer? (105)
The Right and Wrong Way to Grieve Over Sin
- What is the difference between Godly and worldly sorrow? (106)
- What are the attributes and results of Godly sorrow? (106-108)
What Should I Do If I Do Not Grieve Over Sin?
- Why is it critical that we grieve over sin...why should we do these things if we don’t?
- Why is every sin that a believer commits a double sin? (109)
- Discuss the 2 ways in which we can evaluate our spiritual life? (110)
Memory Verse for the week:
Psalm 51:12
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
MonMondayJanJanuary26th2009
7. Are the Spiritual Disciplines Increasingly Important To You?
Click here to download a PDF of the Discussion Sheet.
Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health
Chapter 7: Are the Spiritual Disciplines Increasingly Important To You?
Opening thoughts
- What ideas jumped out at you or made an impact with you?
- Have you ever struggled with the lack of “excitement” in the Christian life compared to your first Christian experiences?
- After reading this Chapter...describe what is probably the reality of this “feeling?”
What are the Spiritual Disciplines?
- In your own words, describe the idea of Spiritual Disciplines. (92-93)
- What does it mean when Whitney says that they are “biblical”…”sufficient” (93)
- What does it mean when Whitney says that they are “practices, not attitudes?” (94)
Why Should I Practice the Spiritual Disciplines?
- Why is the ongoing pursuit of holiness a characteristic of ALL Christians? (94)
- Why do those who have believed in Christ “crave to be like Him?” (95)
- Will the Spiritual Disciplines always feel like a chore? (96)
What are the Dangers of the Disciplines?
- In your own words, why does the mere practice of the Spiritual Disciplines not automatically indicate Christ-likeness? (96)
- What is the only way the Spiritual Disciplines can transform the one who practices them? (97)
- Have you ever struggled through the mere practice of the Disciplines?
- What was the result?In your own words, what is the danger of the imbalance of Spiritual Disciplines? (97-98)
What Should I Do?
- How do you strive to enjoy the disciplines rather than to the completion of them? (99)
- Why is fast spiritual growth and maturity not an option? (99)
Memory Verse for the week:
1 Timothy 4:7
Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.
MonMondayJanJanuary19th2009
6. Do You Delight in the Bride of Christ?
Click here to download a PDF of the discussion sheet.
Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health
Chapter 6: Do You Delight in the Bride of Christ?
Opening thoughts
- What ideas jumped out at you or made an impact with you?
- In your own words: What does it mean to “delight in the Bride of Christ?”
- Why does Whitney say that this is one of the best tests of whether we belong to Christ? (82)
Do You Delight in Her Willingly?
- Why is something “amiss” when a person participates in the life of a church out of obligation? (85)
- Have you ever felt this way about the Church?Why is the church “not a taste to be acquired?” (85)
Do You Delight in Her Company?
- Why do growing Christians so readily delight in being with other Christians? (86)
- Does every encounter with other Christians result in a joyful or happy experience? (86)
- Is this an issue of personality or sin...or both? And what are some ideas to overcome this?
Do You Delight in Her Activity?
- Read 2 Timothy 2:10, Why are we still here? (87)
- So as Christians, we are to have the same desire as our Heavenly Father, how do we actively participate?
- How do we stay motivated in keeping God’s desire in every day life?
Expressing Your Delight
- List some of your own personal ideas concerning these 2 suggestions: (89)
- Grow to see the bride of Christ and her work more as Jesus does.
- Demonstrate your delight in the bride of Christ in ways that will make a real difference.
Memory Verse for the week:
Ephesians 2:22
In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
TueTuesdayDecDecember2nd2008
5. Do you have a growing concern for the spiritual and temporal needs of others?
Click here to download a PDF of the discussion sheet.
Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health
Chapter 5: Do You Have A Growing Concern
For The Spiritual And Temporal Needs of Others?
Read 1 John 3:16-24
- How are we called to test our faith in this passage?
- How does the idea expressed in verse 17 make you feel?
- How does this passage comfort us if we fail from time to time?
Opening thoughts
- What ideas jumped out at you or made an impact with you?
- In your own words: What does it mean to be “concerned for Spiritual and Temporal needs?”
- What are the birthmarks of the born again in Christ? Why?
The Biblical Near-Balance
- What do you think about the danger of a lack of “Dual Concern?”
- What is described as a “physical contradiction to the spiritual message?” (71)
- In which area are you more comfortable in: sharing the gospel or feeding the hungry? Why?
Jesus the Need-Meeter
- In your own words, Briefly describe the balance of Jesus in meeting needs. (72-73)
- What is your reaction/response to the last sentence on page 73?
Growing From Here
- How does constantly revisiting the Great Ophthalmologist help us in our growth? (76-77)
- Spend a few days looking for the hurt in others.
- What difference does it make when you actively look?
- What does this new “vision” call us to do?
- How do we find joy in meeting the needs of others? (79)
- What is the danger of always waiting until you “feel led” to meet the needs of others? (79)
Memory Verse for the week:
1 John 3:17
But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him,
how does God's love abide in him?
TueTuesdayNovNovember18th2008
4. Are you more sensitive to God's presence?
Click here to download a PDF of the discussion sheet.
Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health
Chapter 4: Are You More Sensitive to God’s Presence?
Read Psalm 42
- Describe the ways in which our awareness or desire for God’s presence is expressed.
- How does the writer honestly express his feelings of a lack of God’s presence yet affirm it at the same time?
Opening thoughts
- What ideas jumped out at you or made an impact with you?
- In your own words: What does it mean to be “more sensitive to God’s presence?”
- Describe a time in your life when you did not “feel/sense” God.
- What did you learn?What is the danger of relying to heavily on “feeling” God?
Surely The Lord Is In This Place, And I Did Not Know It
- Describe the dangers of a Christian’s dullness to God’s Company. (57-58)
How Do We Discern God’s Presence?
- What is the difference between God’s General Revelation and Special Revelation? (59)
- What are the 3 ways in which we are to seek God’s presence? (60)
- What is the danger of trying to experience God unmediated? (61-62)
Growing Through God’s Desertions
- What is the warning that Whitney gives in regards to the cause of not sensing God’s presence? (63-64)
- How can we test ourselves to recognize if it is our “content or unconditioned” life? (64)
Opening Your Spiritual Eyes To His Presence
- List one practical way in which we can implement each of these ideas.
- Do you find yourself in situations or places that seem totally void of God?
- How do you think this chapter will help in those times?
Memory Verse for the week:
Psalm 27:4
One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.
TueTuesdayNovNovember11th2008
3. Are you more loving?
Click here to download a PDF of the discussion sheet.
Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health
Chapter 3: Are You More Loving?
Read 1 Corinthians 13
- What are some of the attributes of love in this passage?
- What strikes you as most interesting about how love is described in this passage?
Opening thoughts
- What ideas jumped out at you or made an impact with you?
- In your own words: What does it mean to be “more Loving?”
- Describe a time in your life when you experienced God’s love...expressed God’s love:
The Decline of Love
- What happens when our love grows cold? (43)
- Why is direction more important than speed in regards to progress in love? (44)
What kind of Love?
- Describe and come up with an example you have seen of the 4 “Counterfeit” loves.
- Natural Affection (45)
- Self Love (45-46)
- Reciprocal Love (46)
- Unbalanced Love (46-47)
Love in Real Life
- What are the 3 areas given that will demonstrate growth in love? (48-49)
- Describe a time when you experienced growth in one of these areas.
- In your own words, What is the difference between Christians & the unsaved in regards to love? (50)
Cultivating Love
- In what ways did these 6 steps challenge you personally?
- Take each step and describe the consequences of skipping it:
Memory Verse for the week:
John 13:35
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
TueTuesdayOctOctober28th2008
2. Are you governed increasingly by God's Word?
Click here to download a PDF of the discussion sheet.
Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health
Chapter 2: Are You Governed Increasingly By God’s Word?
Read 2 Peter 1:3-10
- Through what does God give us His divine power to live a Godly life?
- What does Peter urge his readers to do as a result of this?
Opening Thoughts
- What ideas jumped out at you or made an impact with you?
- In your own words: What does it mean to be “governed increasingly by God’s Word?”
- Describe a time in your life when God’s Word changed the way you thought/acted.
Like the Imprint of Words upon the Air
- According to Winslow, what indicates the tone of a believer’s spirituality? (32)
- Scan through Psalm 119 and list some words/ideas that you see concerning God’s Word.
Biblical Examples of Biblical Importance
- Why do you think using Scripture to resist temptation is effective?
- Of what importance does Isaiah 8:20 have for us today? (34)
- According to Whitney, How do you know that God’s Word is growing in its influence? (35)
- What is the importance of asking what the Bible supports rather than forbids? (36)
- How can the Bible “be the measure and evaluator of all things in the life of every believer?” (37)
Developing Your Dependence on God’s Word
- As an exercise for this week, let us return to 2 Peter 1:3-10. We will do a 5 day trial.
- Read over the passage again and select something to meditate on each day.
- Find at least one thing God would have you do in response to your section each day.
- Find an area of your life from each section (pg. 39) that you can apply to this passage.
- Find one example this week when you actively ask “How does the Bible speak to this?”
Memory Verse for the week:
2 Peter 1:3
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.
TueTuesdayOctOctober21st2008
1. Do you thirst for God?
Click here for a PDF download of the Discussion Sheet
Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health
Chapter 1: Do You Thirst For God?
Read Philippians 3:7-14.
Do you think Paul was thirsty for God? Was he satisfied in his current knowledge of God?
Opening thoughts
- What ideas jumped out at you or made an impact with you?
- Describe a time in your life when you felt your thirst for God…when you did not feel your thirst.
Thirst of the Empty Soul
- What is the empty soul blinded to? (17)
- What is the irony of the empty soul? (18)
Thirst of the Dry Soul
- What is the difference between the Empty Soul and the Dry Soul? (18)
- What were some of the ways a soul can be dry? (19-21)
Thirst of the Satisfied Soul
- Describe a time in your life when you experienced one of these situations.
- What did you learn through these experiences?
- What are some things with which we try and quench our thirst?
- What encouragement is there when we cannot sense God? (20)
- Why is knowing Christ so spiritually thirst quenching? (22)
The Blessing of Spiritual Thirst
- In A.W. Tozer’s prayer, of what is he “painfully conscious?” (23)
- In your own words, describe why being spiritually thirsty is a blessing?
Practical Steps
- What is the difference between reading scripture and meditating on scripture?
- What are the benefits to meditating on scripture?
- In your own words, describe the importance of praying through scripture.
- What are some good books you have read that have made you thirsty?
This weeks memory verse:
Psalm 63:1
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
|
|