1. Together read Luke 17:11-19.

Consider the emotions involved…

…of the men before their healing

…of the men after their healing

…of Jesus upon the return of just one of the ten.

We don’t often think about Jesus dealing with disappointment.  How would you have felt in his situation? Why?

2. Tuesday’s meditation says, “There is a crazy irony that takes place as we prosper financially. It seems that the more we have, the less grateful we are for what we have.”

Do you agree with that statement?

Can you give an example in your life that supports that statement or one that contradicts it?

3. What perspectives do you try to keep in order to prevent yourself from becoming an ungrateful person?

Is there something you always try to keep in mind?

Are there reminders that you place in your life to help you stay focused on what is most important and to keep you thankful?

4. What advice would you give a person who never seems to be content with what he/she has or with his/her situation in life?

5. Consider Philippians 4:8…

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

What does that verse mean to you?

How is that practiced in daily living?

How would this impact our peace, contentment and gratitude?

6. Discuss strategies that we could employ to make the next few weeks—the Advent Season—a valuable time of spiritual growth.

What can you do?

What should you avoid?

You may want to discuss what the group could do to help one another grow during this season and experience Christ in new and refreshing ways.

Check out http://www.adventconspiracy.org/. We’ll be discussing some of their ideas in our Wednesday evening services during December.

1. Based on the scripture readings for this week, we discover that the cross is not only a description of what Christ did for us. The cross is also our job description.

What does that statement mean to you?

What is most difficult for you about that concept?

When you hear people refer to the cross of Jesus Christ, what comes to your mind?

Consider the culture outside of the church. What do you think the cross means to them?

2. The Bible uses great concepts—new creation, new birth, the mind of Christ—to talk about our Christian faith. It says that our minds must be transformed. (See devotionals for these and other scriptural references.)

Over time those big concepts can become common terms in the church and can then lose their impact.

How can we re-capture the enormity of what it means to put off the old, tired way of thinking and put on the mind of Christ?

What needs to be transformed in our thinking?

What sacred cows need to be challenged?

For example, most Americans assume that all American values are the values of Jesus Christ? Are they? All of them?         

3. Read the devotional thoughts for Monday, the 16^th, and consider these words from Tuesday…

“It takes a new mind to comprehend this because Jesus’ way of changing the world is so counterintuitive to us. We are convinced that you must fight fire with fire. But Jesus teaches just the opposite. As Paul explains the Jesus way…

‘Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.’ (Romans 12:21)

That takes a whole new way of thinking.”

In a kind, respectful manner (Monday contains a couple of issues on which people may disagree), discuss your reactions to those statements.

(Leaders will need to be sensitive as the dynamics of the group. If you think this may be a counterproductive conversation for what you want to accomplish in your group, then by all means skip this line of discussion. The same is true of the last question under #2 on American values.)

4. Read this passage…

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” (5:18-19)

Consider the “ministry of reconciliation” and the “message of reconciliation.”

What do those terms mean to you?

What do they mean for the church as a whole?

What do they mean for your local church?

What do they mean for individual Christians?

What do they mean for Christians in the midst of the toxic political environment of our nation at this time?

5. It’s almost Thanksgiving which is followed by the celebration of Advent—the coming of Jesus Christ and the new kingdom He brought.

Share some ideas on how a person can prepare spiritually for the season.

You may want to first discuss what it means to prepare ourselves spiritually. Ask for opinions.

Are there things we should add in order to enhance our spiritual journey?

Are there things we should subtract in order to enhance our spiritual journey?

1. Read together John 15:1-17.

What do you think Jesus means when He says, “apart from me you can do nothing” (15:5)? Obviously we do many things apart from Him. What do you think He is saying?

Jesus said, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (15:15).

Which comes more naturally to you—to think of yourself as Jesus’ servant or to think of yourself as Jesus’ friend?

In your thinking is there any significant difference between these two concepts? If so, what?

The next words from Jesus are “You did not choose me, but I chose you…” (15:16).

How does verse 15 impact your feelings about verse 16?

2. Read the devotional passage for Thursday, November 12.

Consider the word, “Abba”—or in our language, something along the lines of “daddy.”

Is that comfortable for you—to address God in that kind of informal, intimate manner? Why or why not?

What concepts of God from your past make it easy or difficult to think of God in this way?

What could a person do to increase his/her consciousness of God as Abba?

3. What comes to your mind when you hear the words, “God’s chosen people”?

Do you think of the nation of Israel?

Do you think of the church?

Do you think of individuals?

Read the devotional passage for Friday, November 13.

If you were to think of yourself as one of God’s chosen people, how might that impact your life?

4. Galatians 4:5 says that we have the “full rights of sons” and Romans 8:17 says that we are “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” A co-heir is a brother.

(You could read together the devotional entry for Saturday the 14^th if that would help.)

What does it mean to you to be considered God’s child and Jesus’ brother?

Is that difficult to comprehend? Why or why not?

How would you explain that so someone else?

Discussion Questions covering the daily devotionals for October 26-31 and the November 1 sermon entitled, “How Will I Handle Adversity and Failure?”

1. Think about something difficult that you’ve gone through that has formed you. You would not have chosen to go through it and you certainly wouldn’t want to go through it again. But you are thankful for what you learned and how that event changed you.

If you feel comfortable to do so, share that with the group.

Or, share what you learned and how it has benefited you.

2. Think of a time when you had to watch your child go through suffering of some sort.

What were your overriding emotions?

What did you hope would come from this experience for your child?

Does that give you any insight about how you should pray for your child(ren)?

What does that tell you about the heart of God when He watches us suffer?

3. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

That’s a pretty large statement. What does “I have overcome the world” mean to you?

4. Paul said, “…we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4)

What is a good definition of “character?”

Can you give an example of someone you know whose character was formed by perseverance in suffering? Share that story.

Who inspires you by his/her character? What is it about his/her character that inspires you?

5. Paul said…

“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)

Consider what those highlighted words mean to you.

6. Consider the statement that precedes that last passage…

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect… Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.” (Philippians 3:12-13)

Why is it so important?