Philippians 2:12-18
His Good Purpose: A Concert of Prayer This week we’re learning about thanksgiving. We’re learning about giving thanks for God’s goodness and how the practice of giving thanks helps us find God even in the midst of trials.
Share Your Story Begin by praying together. This should be a brief, simple prayer in which you invite God to give you insight as you study. You can pray for specific requests at the end of your time together or stop momentarily to pray if a particular situation comes up during your discussion. Then begin your time together by discussing the following questions. • What are you thankful for?
• How can you and your group create an environment where you look for the good works God is doing so you can “be glad and rejoice” together (Philippians 2:18)? Give each person an opportunity to share prayer requests.
Find Your Story in God’s Story
If you feel God is nudging you to go deeper, take some time between now and our next discussion to dig into His Word. Explore the Bible passages related to this session’s theme on your own, jotting your reflections in a journal or in this study guide. Want to go deeper? Select a few verses and try paraphrasing them: writing them in your own words. If you like, share them with the group the next time you meet.
• What is something good God has put in your life?
• How does this passage tell us we should respond to God? What are other places in Scripture that call us to respond to God, and what responses are we called to?
Afterward have someone read the discussion questions in the “Hear God’s Story” section and start the conversation.
Hear God’s Story and Create a New Story READ LUKE 17:11-19 (NIV) Read the passages together, and then discuss the following questions. • What future would the lepers have expected to have? How did Jesus change that future? • Who from the 10 lepers returned to thank Jesus and praise God? What’s significant about the cultural background of the one leper who did return? • What are some of the reasons the other nine lepers may not have returned to thank Jesus and praise God? • What are ways God’s goodness touched your life that you have yet to thank Him for? • How can your community help you cultivate a life of thankfulness? • Philippians 2:14 calls us to do things without grumbling or arguing. What could the lepers have complained about, even after Jesus healed them? What are situations in your life where the bad things going on distract you from the good things God’s put before you?
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A Journey with the Philippians
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• What attributes do we learn about God from this psalm? • Psalm 100 is a psalm of praise and thanksgiving. Write a psalm of your own, thanking God and praising Him for His goodness in your life. READ 1 CHRONICLES 16:23-36 (NIV) •W hat is God delivering you from today? How is He using your group or community to help deliver that freedom? How are you thanking God for that deliverance, and how are you thanking your community members for their role? •W hereas Psalm 100 focused on more personal thanks and praise, this passage also includes thanks and praise for the heavens, the sea, the forests and other broader works of God’s creation. What are broader creative works of God that you are specifically thankful for? •O ften we sing verse 34 in worship, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” How can worship prepare us for giving thanks? Are there other spiritual habits that can also prepare us to live thankful lives?
Looking for more questions and reflections so you can keep digging deeper? There’s even more to this week’s study available on Northland’s apps or at NorthlandChurch.net/Studies.
Welcome Let’s worship God together!
READ PSALM 100 (NIV) • What are reasons the psalmist praises and thanks God in this passage?
NorthlandChurch.net/Studies
The Giant Secret of Joy
What perspective do we need so that in all circumstances we can see God’s goodness and give thanks?
• Is there any circumstance in your life that can trump God’s goodness?
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NOVEMBER 25-27, 2017
DIGGING DEEPER
WEEK
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