The world constantly bombards us with messages about how to meet our deepest needs. However, these methods often fail to work or create other problems. The good news is: there is a better way. In this series, we examine how the Bible provides a superior approach to make sense of our needs, as well as effective solutions that God has made freely available to us.
One of our greatest fears is not having enough, so the natural response to is to amass and accumulate. However, no amount of hoarding can stop us from worrying, because what we need is more than money. In today’s message, we look at a better way to experience true financial freedom.
1. Share honestly about your fears of not having enough, or your desire to keep accumulating more, and how you cope with it.
2. Describe in your own words how the Christian approach to dealing with financial insecurity is radically different, and superior, to the contemporary approach of our culture.
3. In practical terms, what is God asking you to do differently because he is your helper who will never leave or forsake you? How, for example, are you going to manage your finances, calibrate your lifestyle or give away your money so that you can become a hearer of this truth?
Beyond what we physically require for survival, our greatest need is probably to be loved. Nothing feels more wonderful than to be loved, but nothing has the potential to cause us more pain either. That’s why in today’s message, we look at how we can find a love that truly satisfies and lasts.
1. What are some interesting or foolish things you have done in the quest to be loved? How is the love you have experienced, however great, nevertheless imperfect?
2. Jesus sacrificially and voluntarily experienced the total loss of love on your behalf. How does that speak to you personally about his love for you and your need for love?
3. What increase have you seen in your own capacity to love others because of having been loved by Christ? What is God asking you to go and do to love some people whom you naturally find hard to love?
It’s common to hear people say that health is the most important thing in life. If that is true, we are in trouble, because we will increasingly experience health issues as we age, and most of us will die of ill health. Only the Christian faith provides a comprehensive and reassuring solution to our fears about loss of health. In this message, we learn how we can live confidently, whether in sickness or in health.
1. Are you one of those who do not intentionally take care of your body and physical health? What changes should you make so that you can be responsible for God’s gift to you?
2. Are you very concerned about preserving your physical health and appearance? How does the message speak to you?
3. When you stand before the judgment seat of Christ, what would be 3 things you want to say you have done with your God-given time on earth?
Our built-in sense of self-preservation causes us to shun danger and seek safety, and even appeal to some supernatural being to protect us. Does Christianity provide such protection? The answer is, “Certainly, but not in the way we expect.” In the final message of this series, we will look at how the Bible gives us the only reliable assurance of ultimate security.
1. How have you experienced God’s presence when you were in danger or in a crisis? What differenced did it make?
2. What is the ultimate good outcome that God desires for all of us? In what ways have you seen God working through bad things to achieve good outcomes?
3. What does God guarantee us protection from? How does having such assurance give us a different perspective of the risks you face in this life?