40 Days 2023 - Discussion Questions - Week 4
Every religion has a simple message — work hard to earn whatever you want God to give you. Obedience to rules is what is essential. The more you obey, the more God will accept you, bless you, make life better, and allow you into heaven. It’s constantly negotiating with God, “God, if you will, I will!” You follow rules to achieve something from God because you must earn it. This week we will discuss how Jesus turned that upside down and redefined the rules, giving us a new motivation for obeying God.
This week’s memory verse: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 ESV
1. Last week’s memory verses were Galatians 2:20 & Luke 9:23; who can recite them?
2. What stood out to you in Pastor James’ message this week?
3. As you read through the 40 Days devotional this week, what encouraged or challenged you?
Why do you follow Jesus Christ?
4. Can you share a time when you built something (like Ikea furniture) only to discover partway through that you did something wrong and had to take it apart and start over?
5. What do you suppose the consequences are for following Jesus the wrong way or with the wrong motives?
Is faith about achieving or receiving
6. Pastor James told us the difference between achieving and receiving. What is the difference between the two when it comes to our relationship with God?
7. Read Matthew 26:6-13. Who was upset with what Mary had done? Why were they upset?
8. What was Jesus’ response to the reaction of the disciples? Why do you think Jesus responded that way?
Achieving is based on good advice, and receiving is based on good news.
9. If the Good news is: “Christ Jesus is the one who earned everything we need to be forgiven, loved, and accepted by God.” What’s our motivation for loving Jesus?
Achieving is faith in what you have to earn, receiving is faith in what Jesus has earned for you.
11. Judas based his faith on what he had to earn. Mary based her faith on what Jesus earned for her. Why is faith based on works destined to fail?
12. If you have EVER said, "God could not forgive me for that," you were playing the part of Judas. You were trying to achieve. Can you share a time when you thought you had done something so bad that God would not forgive you?
You can’t receive from God what you are trying to achieve on your own.
13. Read Romans 5:8. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Accoring to this verse, what was your spiritual state when Jesus died for you? Is it hard to believe that God loved you, even when you were at your worst?
14. Every other religion in the world is about what you have “to do”. Christianity is about what Jesus has already “done.” Why do we sometimes feel like we still have “to do” something to make God love us?
15. What are you still trying to earn that Jesus has already earned for you?