Topic: Christian Living

We are called to be the salt and light of the Earth. How do we shine God’s light wherever we are placed? 

Series: Unchanging
Title: The Power Of The Holy Spirit
Text: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

*No discussion guide for this week due to decentralised sermon preaching.

A 2-part series on the topic of Holy Spirit as our power source.

Series: Galatians – Freedom in the Gospel Part 3
Title: The True Meaning of Being a Christian
Text: Galatians 6:11-18

Paul ends the letter to the Galatians with his concluding summary unlike any other letters he wrote to emphasise the importance of believers’ faith in Christ alone and not appearances.

General Questions:

1. When looking at people outside the church, what are some markers/characteristics you look out for to differentiate believers and non/believers?

Perspective Questions:

1. The Judaizers were using circumcision – works of the flesh – as a marker for receiving salvation. What are some things modern believers might depend on to be secure in their faith? What then does true dependence on the spirit looks like?
2. The gospel is good news because of God’s grace to forgive us all even when we are unworthy. It is different from other religions where you are earning your salvation. How does knowing God’s grace for us drive our desire for holiness? How can knowing God’s grace for us make us complacent? What can we do to protect ourselves from such complacency?
3. Living a life of holiness is difficult. Although we cannot attain holiness through the flesh, we need to believe that holiness is possible for all of us. Why can we be sure that holiness can be attained?

Application Questions:

1. How can we encourage each other to live by the spirit? What are some practices we can incorporate into our lives to walk more in step with the spirit? What are some challenges to implementing them into your lives?
2. A Christian is to live by the Spirit and to keep in step with the Spirit. The Spirit is meant to be our source and our direction. What can you do to become more sensitive to the Spirit’s direction? What can you do to rely more on the Spirit’s power in your live?

In this third instalment of our Galatians book study, learn how we can live as follower of Christ.

Title: Faith That Moves Mountains
Series: Therefore, Go

A sermon by guest speaker Pastor Joseph Sachariah.

Series: Therefore, Go
Title: The Good News for All People
Text: Acts 11:19-21

The Antioch Church had humble beginnings but eventually became a key missionary base to the surrounding regions. What can we learn from the Early Church from the beginnings of the Antioch

General Questions:

1. What caused the news about Christ to take hold among many who heard it? What does this passage show us about the early church’s understanding of God’s role in evangelism? How does this influence our understanding of evangelism today?

Perspective Questions:

1. Having certain preconceived notions or even stereotypes of people from different cultures can contribute to our hesitance in bringing the gospel to them. How does know that God is a global God help in addressing our reservations?
2. The early church demonstrated that it was possible to live for Christ and His purpose in all circumstances. What are some personal circumstances (e.g. poor health, stretched finances) we are currently facing that can hinder us from living for Christ (including preaching the gospel to others)? What is God encouraging us to surrender to Him today? What would living for Christ amid these circumstances look like?

Application Questions:

1. The hands and the heart are connected. What is one practical step you can take to develop our heart for missions? What is one step the LG can consider embarking on together?
2. Think about the different relationships and interactions we have in our lives. Which of these are cross-cultural? How can we build bridges with these people that God has placed in our paths?

Why is church planting key in God’s redemptive plan for mankind? Learn from the Early Church on how they spread the Gospel and how we are called to go into the nations too.

1. If an electronic device is broken, do you prefer to repair or buy a new one? In an affluent society, we are used to discarding rather than fixing stuff. How does this mindset influence our view of relationships and marriages?
2. In today’s society, people do not like the idea of commitment. What do you think are the reasons why people may shy away from commitment in marriage? What does it reflect about what these people value?

1. Why do you think God values marital faithfulness so much? What does it reflect about Him and His desires for us?
2. Why is accountability in our marriage important? Are there specific boundaries we may need to set to safeguard our marriage? Are there pastoral leaders whom we can choose to be accountable to?

1. For married couples, it is difficult for us to die to self and love our spouse sacrificially without God’s empowerment. What is one challenge in your marriage that you need to ask the Holy Spirit to empower you in? Think of a specific example and commit to allowing God to change you.
2. For couples, what is one practical step you need to take together to strengthen your marriage? Some possible ideas include:
   – Taking up a love challenge (e.g. 40 Day Fire Proof Love Challenge)
   – Setting aside a “date night” weekly
   – Praying for one another regularly
3. For courting couples and singles, drawing close to God before marriage will prepare us to weather storms in our future marriages. What are some practical action steps we can take to draw close to God?

Series: Truly, Madly, Deeply
Title: Mad but Staying
Text: Song 5:2-6:3

It is normal for a relationship to experience conflicts and difficulties. How then can we navigate through these conflicts and stay in the relationship biblically despite conflicts and difficulties?

General Questions:

1. Conflicts are bound to arise in any relationship, and especially so in a marriage, where two people come together and share their lives closely and intimately with one another. For married and courting couples, what are some things or issues that trigger conflict in your relationship? How do you usually deal with these conflicts? What can you learn from the practical ways to handle conflict from the sermon?
2. For singles, we will encounter conflict in other relationships with our family and friends. How do you usually respond when you encounter conflict in these relationships? What can you learn from the practical ways to handle conflict from the sermon?

Perspective Questions:

1. Do you agree that community is important to support us in our relationship? Do you have such a support system? If not, what are ways that you can build the support system? Conversely, how do you think you can be open and guided by the Holy Spirit to speak into the lives of others, as part of God’s community?
2. Divorce rates are on the rise, and irreconcilable differences arising from inability to resolve conflicts and differences are often cited as reasons for divorce. What do you think are some reasons that couples find it hard to stay in a marriage? How do you think we can practically apply biblical values such as love, forgiveness, and thankfulness and in our relationship? What are the values that you hold on to that help you tide through challenging times in your marriage?

Application Questions:

1. For married couples, how is the level of intimacy (physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual) in your relationship? Have past unresolved conflicts driven a wedge in your marriage? From this teaching, what do you think you can do to restore the intimacy in your marriage?
2. For courting couples and singles, what are the practical tips and values from this teaching that you can apply in your relationships and consider if you are ready for the commitment of marriage?