Gospel Prism

1. What are some trials you have faced in your life that you have found to be difficult? (please feel free to share trials you find to be either small or great) Do you think Terry Stauffer and Duane Willis are ‘super-Christians’ or ‘regular people’ who are no different than yourself? Why does the answer to this question even matter to your understanding of faith?

2. What does a false disciple look like? How do you think someone can listen to God’s Word, can sound like a disciple, but can still end up as a false disciple?

3. How ‘good’ do you see yourself to be? How can this be a problem in light of Mark 10:17-20? How does self-examination keep us from thinking of ourselves as “morally good” and protect us against false discipleship? Is there one thing that you are holding back from the Lord that is keeping you from trusting in Jesus with your whole life? Please share and ask for prayer regarding that ‘one thing’.

4. Why do you think there are trials and suffering in our lives? Do you trust God in the midst of them, why or why not?

5. True disciples obey God and do what He says. Sam mentioned five different ways we move from merely hearing to doing God’s words. Do you see these 5 things being lived out in your life right now? If no, what do you think is keeping you from this? How can you grow to actually do the Word of God? How can your Homegroup and the greater Body of Christ (the church) help you to trust in God so that you will obey Him?

6. What is the most beneficial experience you have ever had in reading God’s Word? Why is regularity in reading God’s Word so difficult for you? Please explain and pray for one another in your hunger for His Word.

7. Why is a good foundation in theology, as Terry Stauffer noted, so important in facing trials? What do you think this good foundation look like? How does the full-orbed understanding of the Gospel help us to have this good foundation?

8. John 6:66 tells us that ‘disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.’ Do you know any disciples who have turned back and no longer walked with him? What led them to no longer follow Jesus? How does our study in Luke 6:46-49 protect us from turning away and no longer walking?

9. Tim Keller says: “And here is the source of true kindness. The salvation of Jesus humbles us profoundly – we are so lost that he had to die for us. But it exalts and assures us mightily — we are so valued that he was glad to die for us. Because we are sinners totally accepted by grace, we have both the humility and the boldness necessary to serve others for their sake, not ours.” How does our understanding in His gladness to die for us sustain us during trials and keep us obeying Him? How does this reality help us to follow Him far more than any healing we might receive or miracle we might see (remember the disciples who turned from Jesus probably saw many miracles and yet they still turned away)?

10. Are you looking for miracles from Jesus, or are you looking to worship Him as the God who has saved you? How does knowing this answer keep you following Him?