Topic: Pride

Title: When I am Complacent
Text: Psalms 90

The Psalms are a collection of songs that address the full range of human experience. What can we learn from Psalm 90 not living in a complacent manner?

General Questions:

  1. Psalm 90 is written by Moses who saw how the Israelites’ complacency got them into trouble. Share an occasion in your own life when complacency led to trouble or regret. What did you learn from that incident?

Perspective Questions:

  1. Moses prayed that the God who protects His people (v1) would “establish the work of our hands.” How does knowing that our eternal God (v2) has a purpose for believers motivate us not to be complacent? What do you sense is God’s purpose for you in this current season?
  2. Psalm 90 highlights God’s power over all people (v3–6) and His steadfast love (v13–16). In response, we are called to “number our days” and “gain a heart of wisdom” (v12). Why is numbering our days important in overcoming complacency? How can remembering God’s power and love enable us not to live in complacency?

Application Questions:

  1. Are there relationships—especially with pre-believing family members or friends—that you may have grown complacent about? With Christmas about 40 days away, how can you partner with the Holy Spirit and your LG to reach out to them intentionally?
  2. “Complacency is a deadly foe of spiritual growth.” In what area of your spiritual life have you been complacent in? How can you immediately begin investing time and effort to grow in that area?

Series: Hearts On Fire Focus Series 1
Title: Danger: A Heart Set On The World
Text: 1 John 2:15-17

General Questions:

  1. “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.” (v15) Why do you think John says that love for God is incompatible with love for the world?

Perspective Questions:

  1. What are some examples of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life that believers may find themselves susceptible to? 

  2. Under what circumstances might we be tempted to succumb to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life? What do these tendencies reveal about our relationship with God?

  3. How does having an eternal perspective help us to desire for the things of God instead of the things of the world? 

Application Questions:

  1. How can we guard against worldly values or ideas that may subtly invade our hearts?

  2. How can we grow together as an LG to cultivate our love for God and our doing of the will of God (In the context of 1 John, loving God will lead us to love one another. This aspect of loving God is emphasised because of the differences between believers in John’s church.)? Discuss.