Spring 2009, Week 3 – Small Group Questions

The sermon for this week from the series “Strong: Putting on the Full Armor of God” is titled “Perfect Credit“.

START IT – Connecting with each other

• When you were growing up, what chores were you expected to do around the house? Did your parents pay you?

STUDY IT – Genesis 15:1-6, Romans 4:1-5, 18-25

• Read Genesis 15:1-6 out loud. What stands out for you in this passage? What questions do you have?
• Based on this passage, what do you think Abram fears most?
• How is “faith” related to “righteousness” (v. 6)? Which comes first? Which comes from God? Which is indispensable to a right relationship with God?
• Read Romans 4:1-5 and 18-25. What stands out for you in this passage? What questions do you have?
• What is the difference between a wage and a gift? What makes a gift special? Is righteousness from God a wage or a gift?
• How would you sum up the Gospel (the message about Jesus) from verses 23-25?

LIVE IT – Applying the truth of Scripture to life

• What does it matter to you—practically or emotionally—whether a right relationship with God is a gift to be received or a prize to be earned?
• In what area of your life do you need to take a lesson from Abraham and focus not on “working” but on “believing”?
• How is the message that God credits us with righteousness impacting your life? How might it impact your life?

PRAY IT

• Application: Thank God that we don’t have to earn our way to eternal life. Thank God for the gift of eternal life, which we receive when we place our faith in Him.
• Joys and Challenges: What joys and challenges are you facing this week?
• Here at Northminster: Pray for Northminster Preschool. Ask God to be with the kids, the parents, and the teachers, and that God would demonstrate his love for them in each of their lives. Pray that we in the church would be a blessing to the kids, parents, and teachers.
• Beyond Northminster: Pray for Nate Landis’ organization, Urban Youth Collaborative (UYC). Pray for the Christian lunch clubs at high schools and middle schools all over San Diego. Pray specifically for the 3 lunch clubs that Northminster works with: Madison High School, University City High School, CPMA Middle School.