ST NICOLAS, NEWBURY

HOME GROUP QUESTIONS

BASIC CHRISTIANITY - 11 - BEING A CHRISTIAN

For home groups that would like them, here are some questions based on Sunday morning's teaching material. There's no need to answer them all - just tackle the ones you have time for. You don't need to stick to the areas mentioned here - feel free to discuss any other issues that arise for you.

1. If someone asked you to pin down how to live as a Christian, what would you say?

2. Read John 1:10-12. How does this passage help when it comes to working out who is and who is not a 'child of God'?

3. Now have a look at 1 John 1:1-3. In what ways do you relate to what John is saying here?

4. When it comes to being sure about all this, why is it unwise to rely on how we feel? What should we rely on instead?

5. Read 1 John 5:9-12. What does this passage tell us about what happens when we open our lives to Jesus?

6. Now turn to Romans 8:15-17. What does this tell us about the role of the Holy Spirit in how we relate to God?

7. Read Galatians 5:22-23. What changes can we expect if the Holy Spirit is active within us? How does this help when it comes to being certain about our relationship with God?

8. 'When I sin, don't I run the risk of losing my place in God's family and ceasing to be his child?' How would you answer someone who said this?

9. John Stott writes this: "Our great privilege as children of God is relationship; our great responsibility is growth." What do you make of this statement? In what ways do you think God intends us to grow? What does a mature Christian look like?

10. Exactly how are we to grow as Christians? What provision has God made for our spiritual growth?

11. Are you growing as a Christian? What practical steps could you take to grow more?

12. Why is active membership of the local church vital for our growth as Christians? How does this work out in practice for you?

13. Read Matthew 5:13-16. What are our responsibilities as Christians to the world around us? How do you think this relates to spiritual growth?

FOR PRAYER

* Pray for those around the world who, in one way or another, are benefitting from having read and studied John Stott's book 'Basic Christianity'.
* Pray for the plans being made for the Men's Breakfast on March 14th and for Peter Walker as he comes to speak.
* The Marriage Course ends this week. Give thanks for those who have been leading it and pray for the couples who have been participating.
* Continue to pray for Paul Reisbach, our new youth minister, and for Murray Woolnough, our new curate, as they prepare to join us later this year.

David Stone
9 March 2009