Topic: Gospel

Title: Peace In A Divided World
Text: Ephesians 2:14-18

While Christmas fills the air with a sense of peace, Ephesians 2:14–18 reminds us that true and lasting peace is not a feeling but a Person—Jesus Christ. He reconciled us to God through the cross, tore down dividing walls between people, and calls us not only to receive His peace but to live as peacemakers who make room for others as the river of God’s peace flows through obedient, reconciled hearts.”

General Question:

  1. Paul says “For he himself is our peace” (Eph 2:14). In one or two sentences, how did the sermon explain (a) how we receive that peace, and (b) what2. 3. we are to do with it? Which image or line from the message stayed with you most,and why?

Perspective Question:

  1. We can mistake protective boundaries for dividing walls that exclude those different from us. Where in your life or group might you be tempted to build a wall rather than a healthy boundary? What makes you hold that wall up?

Application Question:

  1. There are two practical calls: stay in the wonder of the gospel, and become a peacemaker who makes room. Which one will you prioritise and what is the first specific action you will take this season?

Series: Focus 2025 Series 3
Title: Proclaiming to Others
Text: Colossians 4:2-6

The letter to Colossae was written by Paul while he was in prison to remind the church the sufficiency of Christ for salvation. If Christ is sufficient for our salvation, the greatest gift we could ever receive, we should proclaim what He has done with excitement.

General Questions:

  1. The Gospel is something that we should be excited to share to the world. What are some things that hinder you from sharing about God and His love?

Perspective Questions:

  1. In the sermon, we are called to pray as part of how we proclaim the gospel. Why is prayer important in the proclamation of the gospel? Is this congruent with your own prayer life?
  2. We proclaim the gospel by living out our faith and we are meant to be living testimonies of the salvation that we have received. What are some things that taints our testimony? Are there beliefs or worries that stop us from living out our faith in the world?
  3. What should we consider to ensure that our conversations are full of grace and the power of God? What might make it challenging to do so in the world? What can we hold on to so that we will not falter?

Application Questions:

  1. Ps Jeff shared about how he prays for people through journalling and messaging them. For you, what can you do to inculcate this habit of praying for the lost into your lifestyle? What might be some obstacles and how can you overcome them?
  2. How can the lifegroup support and encourage each other to live out our faith in the world? What kind of support do you want or need the most?

Title: Caring for One Another
Text: Philemon 22-25

True fellowship in the Gospel entails caring for one another by practising hospitality and rendering support to one another.

General Questions:

  1. What is hospitality to you? Do you have any personal experiences as a giver or receiver of great hospitality? How did those experiences make you feel or impact you?
  2. Other than showing hospitality, we care for one another by supporting one another in the mission that God has entrusted to us. Why do you think Paul always make special mention of people who partnered with him in his letters? What do you think fulfilling God’s missions will be like if we do it on our own?

Perspective Questions:

  1. Early Christians showed hospitality by opening their homes and giving traveling missionaries food, shelter and even funds for the next leg of their journey. What does “unreasonable hospitality” look like to you in your context, such as LG, family and workplace? What is the motivation behind Christian hospitality?
  2. True fellowship in the gospel is not just about sharing lives and memories with one another but also sharing in God’s mission. Do you think this element of fellowship is evident in your Christian fellowship groups? What do you think will happen if this aspect is neglected?

Application Questions:

  1. What do you think a hospitable LG looks like? What roles can you play to raise the level of hospitality in your LG?
  2. Who are the people you can support to fulfil the Great Commission? How do you think you can use your time, talent and treasures to support them, and in particular our pastors and leaders?

The letter to Philemon is short but has something important to say about how our relationship with Jesus changes the way we relate with one another. Our faith is personal but not private and our love has to be active, not passive.

We all long for meaningful relationships within the church. But what does that truly look like in Christ? Join us for a 4-part book study series on Philemon, where we learn what true fellowship in the Gospel means.

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.

Series: Galatians – Freedom in the Gospel
Title: Children of the Promise
Text: Galatians 4:21-31

In Christ, we are children born through God’s promise and born by the power of the Spirit. How does understanding who we are in Christ affect our resolve to resist the way of law and persist in the way of grace? 

Perspective Questions:

  1. In verse 21, Paul accuses the Galatians of wanting to be under the law. What are some reasons why believers would want to put themselves under some kind of law? What are the pitfalls of doing so?

  2. Many people see the Christian faith as a set of rules and regulations.  We know this is not true, why then do we give that impression? What then is the true heart of Christianity and how is it practised in our lives?

Application Questions:

  1. Over the whole series, we have been tracing Paul’s argument that we can be right with God only by faith in Christ. Paul uses several approaches to make his case – he appealed to the Galatians’ experiences with God (Gal 3:1-6), scriptural arguments (Gal 3:7-14), relatable illustrations from daily life (Gal 3:15-4:7), his pastoral heart for them (Gal 4:8-20), and creative analogies from Scripture (Gal 4:21-31). 

    Which of these approaches are you most familiar with? How can you use some of these approaches to help believers in your community live more by faith?

  2. How can we resolve to live as children of the promise i.e. to resist the way of law and persist in the way of grace? 

Series: Galatians – Freedom in the Gospel
Title: Struggle of Love
Text: Galatians 4:8-20

Often, love is a struggle because it is a challenge to love when things go wrong, especially in ministry. What can we learn about the struggle of love from Paul’s passionate appeal to the Galatians in their spiritual crisis?

Perspective Questions:

  1. Paul was deeply troubled when he saw the Galatians becoming law-centred instead of Christ-centred. He tried hard to correct their doctrinal error so that they would hold onto their freedom in Christ. 

    How concerned are we that we and other believers have the right understanding of the Gospel?  

Application Questions:

  1. Paul argued that following Jewish customs to make ourselves right before God is akin to worshipping false gods – we are depending on “weak and miserable forces” (v9) besides Christ for salvation. This does not mean that all religious practices are bad or evil. In fact, some can benefit our spiritual life. How then, can we ensure that when we participate in religious practices, we are not becoming legalistic?

  2. Paul is willing to engage in tough conversations out of love and concern.  How can the LG be a safe space to correct and strengthen one another?  How can we positively influence others through our speech and actions?

  3. Having zeal in itself is not enough – it is important to have zeal for the right purposes (v18).  How can we discern which purposes are right or wrong? How can we guard against selfish motives that cause us to pursue our own interests instead of God’s?

  4. Sometimes, love is a struggle. We need to invite the Holy Spirit to partner with us to expand our hearts and help one another to enter His Kingdom. Will you ask the Spirit to reveal a couple of names whom He wants you to love, even when it is difficult?

Series: Galatians – Freedom in the Gospel
Title: New Realities
Text: Galatians 3:26-4:7

Paul’s opponents saw the importance of the sacrifice of Christ in providing atonement, but they did not believe the Cross was important enough to discontinue the Law. On the contrary, Paul saw the Cross as changing everything. What is the new reality that believers have in Christ?

Perspective Questions:

  1. In Christ, we have a new status as children of God (3:26-27). What was our previous status (Read Eph 2:1-3; Rom 5:10)? What does this drastic change in status show about God’s character and attitude towards us? 

  2. In Christ, we have a new liberty (4:1-7). Yet some may still think that subjecting themselves to policies or rules can make them better Christians. Can you think of such examples? What do you think is the consequence of living by rules instead of living by grace? 

Application Questions:

  1. How can we maintain the unity that we have in Christ? 

  2. How can our LG be more welcoming to people who are different from us?