In God We Trust

In God We Trust – Week Three DG

 

In God We Trust – Week 3

 

 

***The last week of a series is when Group Leaders are challenged with trying to draw out what your Group members have taken in. Lean into fostering discussion where there has been life change.

 

 

 

 

Share your two biggest takeaways from the series of “In God We Trust”.

 

***For Leaders – Answers will vary, Listen for the things that they have never heard before that was addressed in the series. It can range from a fresh identity that we are in God’s government to not being anxious because God is in charge. Here are some follow up questions as people share can be:

• Why was that point so impactful for you?
• Was there anything you heard that changed your perspective and the way you’ve lived since you heard it?
• In what areas of your life did you receive a new perspective that is going to be the most challenging for you and why? (Example: I know better God is in control, but it won’t be easy not to be anxious.)

 

 

Is disgust an emotion that you struggling with when discussing politics?

 

***For Leaders – Another follow up question on this subject:

• Does disgust give you the feeling that you are taking a stand against “what’s happening in the world” and how does that play out?

 

 

 

Read Rom 12:17-18 & Rom 13:5-7

Pastor Josh challenged us with “Honor whomever is in office.” What kind of emotions does that elicit from you?

 

***For Leaders – Lean into Pastor Josh’s statement, “Honor comes from who I am…not from who they are.” Because I am honorable, I can extend honor to other people.

 

 

 

Read Phil 3:20 & Dan 2:21 & 1 Sam 1:8

How should this Scripture affect our perspective of the political landscape going forward?

 

 

 

 

In God We Trust – Week Two DG

 

This week, the message revolved around the importance of unity and relationships. Gaining relationships for the sake of the gospel should be our greatest motivator, even if it appears we ourselves must lose something.  Our struggle often shows up with the need to be right or to make sure the truth is heard.  The question we’ve been challenged to wrestle with is could it be we are losing if we lose the relationship over being right or speaking only the truth?  Scripture indicates both are important, but God’s government has a different way of operating and people themselves, over everything else, seem to be his top priority.  Let’s seek ways to better operate through God’s governing authority and power.   

 

Leaders-Pastor Josh mentioned being disgusted with the political opinions of another person.  The Bible has much to say about the difference between discernment and judgement, but in this situation, disgust comes revulsion.  The compassionate heart and the disgusted heart seem to be opposite of each other.   

 

-Discuss an action step that we can take to move from being disgusted with the opinion of someone else towards being more compassionate and understanding of our brothers and sisters, even if we disagree. 

 

 

Leaders-Pastor Josh said our greatest win will be our greatest motivator, meaning whatever we believe our purpose is will drive what we do and why we do it, specifically how we interact will people that we may not see eye to eye with.   

 

-What is your greatest win?  (i.e. greatest motivator?) 

 

 

1 Corinthians 19-23 discusses Paul’s heart to help minister to the lost.  In the previous verses he discusses the actions steps he’s taken to gain relationships with people.  In verse 23, he gives his two “greatest wins”.  What are Paul’s greatest wins and how what do these two wins specifically mean to you? 

 

Similar to Josh’s example of losing arm wrestling matches, share a time of when you’ve intentionally lost in order to gain a win in a relationship. 

 

In God We Trust – Week One DG

 

Would you consider yourself as someone who’s strong political opinions puts you in political conversations? Being honest, how much influence have you had in those conversations? Have people ever told you that they voted differently because of conversations with you?

 

***For Leaders – answers will vary.

 

 

 

Have you found yourself looking at this coming election with the mindset, “We are going to be in an irreversible decline if my political party doesn’t get elected.” What were some things going on in your mind to give you that perspective?

 

***For Leaders – Answers will vary. Overall, when we get into the mindset of doom or gloom then we have to be honest with ourselves that we are trusting in man’s role in government more than the Lord. It’s humbling to realize that we don’t rely on God from a national perspective as much as we think. We can suddenly find ourselves banking on government more than God.

 

Follow up question: Being honest, have you had the “irreversible decline” mentality with an election in the past? If you could go back in time after hearing today’s sermon, what would you say to yourself?

 

***For Leaders – The reality is every election feels like a slippery slope, but it’s not in the end. God is still in control.

 

How should Proverbs 21:1 influence our perspective on elections in the future?

 

Take time to share your biggest takeaways from today’s message if they have not been discussed yet in the Group.