Series: Finance
Title: The Heart of Tithing
Text: Various passages

Holiness should permeate to all aspects of our lives, including how we view and treat our finances through the practice of tithing. What does the Bible say about tithing? How does the spiritual habit of tithing aid us in our spiritual life? How can we practice biblical tithing given all our contemporary challenges and concerns?

General Questions:

  1. If a working adult cites personal financial commitment as why he does not buy insurance coverage, what would be your advice to him? Would you give the same advice to a believer who is not tithing regularly?

Perspective Questions:

  1. From Leviticus 27:32, we see that tithe is “holy to the Lord”. What message is a believer sending when he does not tithe?
  2. Isaac Newton said, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants”. Our church is built on others who had contributed to God’s Kingdom with their time and tithe. What do you think are the ways our tithe can resource God’s work both locally and globally?
  3. How has tithing faithfully increased your dependence on God? Think back on your past experiences and share how this has helped you in your spiritual journey.

Application Questions:

  1. For some of us, tithing might be such an ingrained practice over the years that we may think little of it. Take time to reconsider the reason you are tithing. As you do so, share what God has placed in your heart about your personal reason for tithing faithfully.
  2. Are there some good practices in tithing that some LG members can share? How can we build a safe space for us to be accountable to one another about our tithing?

Holiness should permeate to all aspects of our lives, including how we view and treat our finances through the practice of tithing. What does the Bible say about tithing?

Series: Focus 2024 – Disciplines for an Abiding Life
Title: Seeking God through Prayer and Fasting
Text: Joel 2:12-13, Ezra 8:21-23

In the Bible, the people of God fasted and prayed to indicate or express the inner conditions of their hearts. Today, we are not required to fast and pray. But we can still benefit from this spiritual discipline when we practise it from the heart. What is the value of sincere fasting and praying?

General Questions:

  1. Share about a previous experience with fasting. Why did you choose to fast? How did it go? How did you experience God through the period of prayer and fasting?

Perspective Questions:

  1. In our struggles with different sins, what might lead us to depend on our willpower and wisdom, instead of taking the fight spiritually? How does the way we deal with sin reflect our relationship with and understanding about God?
  2. What hinders you from fasting (apart from medical conditions)? What do these hindrances reveal about our understanding of the purpose and impact of fasting? How has the sermon addressed these hindrances, if any?
  3. Think of different ways in which you might fast. How does fasting set us in the posture to allow God to change our hearts?

Application Questions:

  1. What are some steps we can take to help us practice fasting (examples given below)? How can the LG support one another in fasting?

Series: Focus 2024 – Abide
Title: Quality Time with God
Text: Psalms 119:33-40

What are the right attitudes we should have when we spend alone time with God so that our Quiet Time is also Quality Time?

General Questions:

  1. Spending quality time with God helps us grow in intimacy with Him. What does intimacy with God mean? What does it look like? Describe a person who has a close and intimate relationship with God.
  2. On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being the most), how would you rate your desire for intimacy with God? Why?

Perspective Questions:

  1. Is intimacy with God free or does it come at a cost? What are the ‘costs’ we may need to pay in order to spend quality time with God? These may be challenges we face, or distractions we need to put aside.
  2. How often do we turn to God and His Word as our first solution, rather than as the last resort? Have we lost sight of our ‘smallness’ before God? To what extent do we trust that God’s Word and ways are far better than our own or that of the world’s?

Application Questions:

  1. What are some habits that you need to STOP? What are some habits that you need to START?
  2. How can you spend quality time with God today?
  3. How can we help each other grow in this spiritual discipline?

 

Series: Focus 2024 – Abide
Title: Spirit-Filled Gathering
Text: Ephesian 5:18-20

Gathering for fellowship is one of the key spiritual habits that enables us to abide in Christ. So how should a Spirit-filled community look like? What does a Spirit-filled gathering look like?

General Questions:

1) Personally, what are the reasons that you commit yourself to regular gatherings, such as life group (LG) meetings and church services? What are your personal values and convictions concerning gathering as a spiritual family? How have you been blessed and benefitted from these gatherings?

2) What do you think are the differences between Christian fellowship gatherings and other social groups? Are there similarities? Do you think LG should be different from other social groups? Why?

Perspective Questions:

1) Do you think your LG meetings are Spirit-filled? What are the areas that you think your LG has gone well? Which areas
(mutual edification, gratitude filled, being other-centred) do you think your LG can grow in?

2) The LG is made up of imperfect people who are growing in their faith. What should our attitude be when the LG is going through challenging circumstances (e.g. conflicts within the group, lack of commitment from members)? How do you think by coming with the right attitudes of wanting to edify one another, with gratitude and with a desire to prioritise needs of other above ours, help and give us a new perspective when there are challenges in the LG? Personally, what differences do you think you can make if you come to LG gathering with these attitudes?

Application Questions:

1) The verses in Hebrews 10:24-25 were intended to encourage believers in Hebrews who were going through persecution to persevere in gathering so that they may encourage one another. What can we learn from Hebrews 10:24-25 when we face challenges in coming to LG or when we see other LG members struggling to gather?

Hebrews 10:24-25 “24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good
deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

2) What are the practical things that you can apply as a LG to build the LG to be a spirit-filled gathering? Which of the following practical pointers do you think your LG can do more in your gatherings?

Practical points:

· Build culture of affirmation in our gatherings.
· Activate prophetic ministry in our gatherings.
· Allocate time for people to share testimonies.

Series: Focus 2024 – Abide
Title: When Sin Came In
Text: Acts 5:1-8

The church is an imperfect community that is set apart for God. Yet our call to be holy is often threatened by the presence of sin within the community. How should we as a church respond to sin so that collectively, we remain holy before God?

General Questions:

  1. Describe fear as an emotion. How can this be reconciled with the idea of the fear of God?

Perspective Questions:

  1. Read Acts 1 – 4 (or 2:42-47 and 4:32-37). What are some characteristics of the early church? How is what Ananias and Sapphira did potentially damaging to the spiritual health and credibility of the community?
  2. “My sin affects you even if you are not aware of it.” Do you think this is true? Why? How does the personal sin of someone in the community affect the community at large? Give some examples.
  3. How can we reconcile removing sin from the community and welcoming sinners into it?  How should our expectations of believers and non-believers differ?

Application Questions:

  1. Often, we can only help one another to be holy when we know what one another is struggling with. What hinders you from being open with your struggles to the faith community? How can you help one another to be vulnerable?
  2. Sin should be dealt with swiftly before it spreads to affect others in the community. How can we approach the sins of others without compromising on either grace or holiness?

Title: When God comes in
Passage: Exodus 19:10-25

There is a right kind of fear that we should have, which is essential to fulfilling God’s call to holiness. The God who came down to dwell among us is awesomely and perfectly holy. Therefore, approaching God is a very serious matter that must take place on God’s terms.

General Questions:

  1. What has been your views on holiness? From the sermon, what does it mean to be holy for God?
  2. God is a personal God, but He is also a holy God. How have Jesus bridged these two aspects of God?
  3. What is the relationship between abiding in Christ and having the right kind of fear for God?

Perspective Questions:

  1. Consider the concept of holiness and reverence shared in this sermon. How do they challenge your perspective on living as a Christ follower in the world today?
  2. How would approaching God’s presence with reverence in your daily lives impact your relationship with God?

Application Questions:

  1. What are the practical ways in which we can maintain a distinct Christian identity while actively engaging with those around us? How can this impact our witness to non-believers?
  2. What are the specific actions or changes you can make this coming week to be careful and serious in areas such as worship, devotions, tithing etc? How can your lifegroup journey with you and keep you accountable in these areas?

It’s easy to look for the next big thing in this fast-paced and fast-changing world. Yet amid the wars, economic uncertainty, and constant pressures of life, we can find our stay. Come and hear what God has in store for our church and personal lives as we move forward in 2024.