March 2018 Wednesday Study Questions

March 7: Not-So-Quiet Time with God

1. Is being quiet something that comes naturally for you? Why or why not?

2. Would you describe yourself as an introvert or an extrovert? How does this shape your relationship with God? What does spending time with God look like for you?

3. The writer of today’s meditation says, “When I pray, I have found it easier to speak aloud to God as though speaking to a human friend. My quiet time can also include singing.” Do you agree that “quiet time” can include speaking aloud and singing? Explain.

4. Have you experienced a time in your life during which it was difficult to pray? What was the situation? Why was it difficult to pray? How did you get through it?

5. Were you to commit to spending quiet time with God each day this week, what would your quiet time include?

March 14: Lighten the Load

1. Today’s quoted verse (1 Peter 5:7) says, “Cast all your anxiety on [God], because he cares for you.” What does it mean for us to cast all our anxiety on God? Do you think it is easier for some people to give their worries to God than it is for others? Does it get any easier with practice? Is it possible to live completely free from worry? Why or why not?

2. Can you relate to the statement, “The weight of our struggles piles on so gradually that we often don’t realize how it is affecting us”? Talk about a time in your life when this has been true for you. What did you learn from this experience?

3. How do you usually observe Lent? Do you give something up or take something on? Can you recall a Lent that was particularly meaningful for you? Why was it meaningful?

4. How are you observing this Lenten season? What do you hope to accomplish or learn?

5. Name some of the burdens that you are carrying with you today for which you would like the prayers of your church community.

March 21: Foggy Faith

1. Have you ever doubted God’s presence during a difficult situation? Why was it hard to trust that God was there? What will you do differently the next time you are in a similar situation?

2. The “Thought for the Day” says, “Though I cannot see God with my eyes, I know that God is always near.” Describe a time when you were confident God was near even though you could not see God with your eyes.

3. Is it ever okay to doubt God’s presence in our lives? Why or why not? Give examples from scripture to support your
answer.

4. When have you felt most distant from God? In what ways did this time in your life challenge you? What opportunities for growth did it provide?

5. When do you feel closest to God? During a church service? While participating in community outreach? In a small-group Bible study? At some other event or location?

March

28: Jesus Never Fails

1. When has someone ministered to you in a powerful way? What was going on in your life at the time? How did this person minister to you?

2. Whom do you turn to or depend on when you have a bad day or go through a life-challenge? What does this person do that helps you?

3. Have you ever prayed for God to intervene in a difficult situation? What was the outcome of the situation? Did God intervene? What did you learn from the experience? How did this experience affect your relationship with God?

4. Do you agree with the writer of today’s meditation when she says that “God is concerned with every small detail of our lives”? Why or why not? Give an example from your life to support your answer.

5. Who in your church community needs ministering to today? What will you do to help this person? How will you show this person that he or she is loved?