Christian Living – Page 2

As we step into 2025, let’s start this year with the main thing – God. Join us on this two-part series on how we can focus on Jesus who is the pioneer and perfector of our faith.

Title: Focus 2025 – When He Speaks
Text: Ezekiel 47:1-12

The Holy Spirit longs to speak to us and direct us. What can we do in order to position ourselves to listen to the Holy Spirit when He speaks?

General Questions:

How often do you hear the Holy Spirit speaking to you? Why do you think this is the case in your life?

Perspective Questions:

As we host the Holy Spirit, we need to grow in our surrender to the Spirit’s leading in our lives. How have we been surrendering to the Holy Spirit (e.g. ankle-deep, waist-deep)? What hinders us from surrendering to the Holy Spirit? In which areas do we need to grow in our surrender to Him?
We do the ministry of the Spirit without the fruit of the Spirit. How true is this of us? What contributes to this experience? What does this reflect about the health of our relationship with the Holy Spirit?

Application Questions:

As an LG, how can we support one another to be more conscious of the Holy Spirit?
It is not so much about us having more of the Spirit than it is about allowing the Spirit to have more of us. What are some ways we can be more aware of what the Holy Spirit is doing and participate in His work?

The Holy Spirit longs to speak to us and direct us. What can we do in order to position ourselves to listen to the Holy Spirit when He speaks?

Series: True Spirituality in Christ: A Book Study on Malachi
Title: Awaiting God’s Promises
Text: Malachi 3:13-4:6

At times, our efforts to be faithful to God and serve Him may not reap the results we desire to see. Sometimes, we even wonder if it is worth it especially when those who do not follow God seem to lead better lives. What perspectives can we hold on to in order to remain faithful as we await God’s promises?

General Questions

At times, our unmet expectations cause us to feel discouraged and wonder if it is worth it to be faithful to God. Share about a time where you had such an experience and what helped you through it.

Perspective Questions

We can sometimes erroneously conclude that God is unjust when we try to make sense of God’s apparent failure to perform according to our expectations. What are some ways we can avoid reaching such ‘wrong’ conclusions about who God is when we experience a mismatch between reality and our expectations?
What are some helpful perspectives to hold on to when we do not seem to reapthe results of our faithfulness to God inthe here and now?

Application Questions

What is one practical step you can take to remember your hope in God’s promises as you journey with Him?
Our Christian journey is a marathon, not a sprint. What are some ways we can help ourselves to last the marathon as we await God’s promises?

Series: True Spirituality in Christ: A Book Study on Malachi
Title: Giving God His Due
Text: Malachi 3:6-12

True spirituality requires whole-hearted obedience, especially in the area of tithes and offering. How can we truly give God what He is due?

General Questions

What are some heart attitudes that may hinder us from tithing or being generous with our resources?
Was there a particular season when you experienced God’s provision and faithfulness? Share this with your lifegroup.

Perspective questions

Why should believers continue to tithe regularly even though we are not under the old covenant?
What are the benefits of living a generous life?

Application questions

What is the Holy Spirit speaking to you in the area of tithing and giving in this season of your life?
What is one way you can become more generous with your finances and other resources?

Title: Embracing His Refining
Series: True Spirituality In Christ
Text: Malachi 2:17-3:5

How should we respond when God is seemingly inconsistent with His character that’s revealed in the Scripture and when we are supposed to live by faith and not by sight? True spirituality is reflected by trusting God in His refining work and His timing even when it does not appear reasonable in our human mind to do so.

General Questions:

The fourth dispute God has against the Israelites is their complaint towards God’s seemingly inaction towards evil and injustice. What are some of the What are some instances of injustice and/or suffering we have encountered in our lives?

Perspective Questions:

How do we usually respond to the times of refining around us? How can knowing that God is refining us and that evil would ultimately be judged shape our perspectives and responses to these circumstances?

Application Questions:

How can we respond to God when we are experiencing God’s refining and discipline? How can we help each other to see this discipline as a treasure from God rather than something undesirable in our lives?
As a LG, how can we support one another in responding to God when our members (ourselves included) are undergoing suffering or experiencing injustice in their lives?

Series: True Spirituality in Christ: A Book Study on Malachi
Title: Bearing His Tough Love
Text: Malachi 2:1-9

God disciplines us out of love yet when we experience God’s rebuke, we feel not love but rejection from Him. How can we accept God’s discipline without giving into despair so that we remain in His plan?

General Questions:

Recount a time where you were disciplined or punished (in school, at home, or at work). What made this incident different from abuse or bullying?
What is the role of the priests in the Old Testament? What does that mean for us as believers of Jesus today?

Perspective Questions:

In the sermon, Larry mentions that our identity as a royal priesthood calls us to have:
a. A reverential fear of God (Upwardly)
b. A life of integrity in speech and action (Inwardly)
c. Godly influence over people around us (Outwardly)
Which of these areas do you think is healthiest in your life? What are some attitudes or habits that help you in this particular area? Conversely, which do you struggle with the most? What are some obstacles you face that hinder you from growing in this area?
God allows us to reap what we sow to reveal what we are sowing. What are some ways that can help us discern God’s discipline when we sow on the wrong things?

Application Questions:

Experiencing God’s discipline can be painful and cause us significant distress. What are some biblical truths and perspectives we can hold on when we go through God’s discipline so that we do not give into despair?
It is difficult to point out to others the sin that they are carrying in their lives. Why should we as a community of God still choose to do so biblically in a loving manner?

Series: True Spirituality in Christ (Book Study on Malachi)
Title: Bringing Our Best to Him
Text: Malachi 1:6-14

It is human nature to do our maximum for those we love. Parents strive to give their children the best life they could afford; workers who love their jobs put in long hours of hard work without complaint. Yet Christians often struggle to bring their best to God. Why is this a problem? Why do we urgently need to examine our heart behind our hesitance to give our utmost to Him?

General Questions:

Name the most honourable person you have encountered. What traits or actions of the person make him or her honourable? How was the person being honoured by you or others?

Perspective Questions:

God is looking for the honour owed to Him. How does the perspective of God as our Father and Master help us to treat Him with honour? Which do we need to be reminded of today?
In Malachi 1:6-11, the people showed contempt to God by offering defiled sacrifices. What are some ways believers today also offer less than our best to God? How does this reflect the value we place on what Christ had done for us on the cross?
Ps Daniel also shared that our best comes i) at a cost (see 2 Samuel 2:24) and ii) from the heart (see Mark 12:41-44). What are some obstacles you face that hinder you from giving your best to God?

Application Questions:

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal one or two areas that you have dishonoured God in. Repent and seek God’s forgiveness. Share with your LG to seek prayer and support.
Write down one or two areas that you would start to honour God by bringing your best to Him.

Series: True Spirituality in Christ (Book Study on Malachi)
Title: Trusting in God’s Love
Text: Malachi 1:1-5

Difficult times in life may cause us to doubt God’s love for us. Eventually, we can become increasingly apathetic or ungrateful towards God. What are some perspectives that can help us navigate difficult times and difficult emotions so we can remain faithful to God?

General Questions:

Take time to reflect on what the Lord has done for you that enabled you to experience His love. What happened and how did your appreciation for God’s love change from that experience?

Perspective Questions:

Ps. Timothy shared 3 reasons why Israel questioned God’s love for them:
1. Disappointment from unmet expectations
2. Economic difficulties
3. Jealousy of neighbours
Which of these do you find more relatable in your recent struggles? How does the perspective of God’s love help us in such circumstances?
How can we be honest with God about our trials, doubts and fears, and also exercise trust in Him?

Application Questions:

What are some habits you can start to become better at remembering Gpd’s love and being grateful to Him?
What are some habits you can stop (e.g. complaining, comparing) that takes the focus away from God and encourages a tendency to fear, doubt or get discouraged?
Is there a recent incident in your life that is causing you to question or doubt God’s love? Share with your lifegroup and ask them to pray along with you to trust God’s love.

We need a firm foundation for our spiritual life to live out our identity as God’s people. Join us for a 7-part book study series on the book of Malachi, where we will learn what true spirituality in Christ means.