Wrapped in Love - God's Strange Love - Pastor Tony
Group Discussion Guide
Wrapped in Love
God's Strange Love by Pastor Tony
Choose the best question(s) for your group
December 17, 2017
Questions by Pastor Ric
Below are some discussion questions relating to a recent sermon. These are provided so that your Life Group can discuss what was shared. Previous Weeks’ Discussion Guides and Sermon Notes are available through the Sermons under the Resources menu. Click on the sermon series and then the sermon you are interested in. You will see a paper icon under the sermon title. Click the icon to open the sermon notes. To listen to the sermon click on the speaker icon.
TEXTS: Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:18-25; Matthew 2:1-18; Philippians 2:5-8
- Discuss in your group how parenting in the USA has evolved over the years, then read this quote: “Don’t make it your goal to raise godly kids, make it your goal to be a godly parent.” How does this quote stack up to God’s style of love? (Remember the difference between goals and desires.)
- Jesus’ birth in lowly surroundings is in stark contrast to today’s “birthing hospitals.” For parents, what personal and spiritual characteristics do you consider absolutely essential to the birth and growth of a healthy child?
- Jesus’ birth was anything but comfortable. Yet in our culture, comfort is something highly sought after. In his book, The Road Less Traveled, M. Scott Peck speaks of discomfort (which we love to avoid), discipline, and four parenting tools which he says define discipline. The tools are the following:
a. Delaying of gratification
b. Acceptance of responsibility
c. Dedication to truth
d. Balancing (giving up some things in my quest for perfection)
Discuss your views on the importance of these tools and how much they are used and avoided in parenting today. - God’s values get warped by culture. Love becomes selfish. Forgiveness and restoration become conditional. Service becomes self-centered and ego-driven. How can Life Groups help us teach these truths (love is unconditional, restoration through forgiveness is always possible, and service brings glory to God) to our kids through mission?