May 2018 Wednesday Study Questions

May 2: Seeing the Faithful

1. What ordinary signs of new life have you noticed this week? What was your response to seeing these signs?
2. When have you felt overlooked or taken for granted? What was the situation? How did you handle it?
3. When have you failed to acknowledge or appreciate someone else’s efforts? What helped you to realize this? How can you be more attentive to this person’s efforts in the future?

4. What people or groups in your church or community are overlooked or underappreciated? How will you acknowledge their presence and efforts?
5. How does your faith in God shape the way you value other people? How does God call us to show gratitude to others?

May 9: Boring Faith?

1. When you were a child, what were your parents adamant about? How did you feel about this practice?
2. Did you talk about faith with your friends when you were younger? If so, who initiated the conversations? Were those conversations difficult or easy? What can you
remember about one or more of those conversations
that made you uncomfortable?
3. What daily practices help you grow in your faith? Are these practices ones you developed on your own or that were taught to you by a parent or mentor?
4. Who are the spiritual leaders in your church? How do they model faith for others, especially those in younger generations? For whom are you a spiritual leader?
5. Which character from the Bible is your role model for faithful living? Why do you relate to this person particularly?

May 16: Losses

1. Think of a time when you experienced loss. How did that loss affect you? Who was with you during that time? How did that person support you?
2. What changes or new beginnings happened as a result of this loss? At the time, did those changes feel like gifts or burdens? Do you feel the same way about them now?
3. Some losses are expected, while others come as a shock. In your experience, are expected losses easier to navigate? Why or why not? What helps you prepare for expected losses or changes?
4. How does your church support and care for those who are experiencing loss or new beginnings? How could your church do this work better? How can you help?
5. What is God growing in your life right now? What excites you about how God is working with you? What worries you?

May 23: Power of Forgiveness

1. Have you ever had a powerful experience at a Christian retreat or event like the one today’s writer describes? If so, describe your experience.

2. What verse or passage of scripture is most meaningful to you? Why that verse? How has it shaped your thinking and your actions?
3. When have you asked for forgiveness? From whom did you ask forgiveness? Was it difficult to ask? What happened?
4. How do the pastor and leaders in your church talk about forgiveness? How do they model repentance and asking for forgiveness? How can you model forgiveness for others in your life?
5. Whom do you want to forgive? Have you prayed about this relationship? What do you need in order to move toward forgiving this person?

May 30: A Way of Life

1. When have you felt the need to find your way back to God? What made you feel this way? How did you try to find God?
2. What practices help you to feel connected and close to God? What new practice would you like to try to help you strengthen your faith and your relationship with God?
3. When and where do you pray? How important is prayer to you? Is prayer part of your daily routine? How do you pray?
4. What are you most grateful for? How do you express your gratitude to God and to others?
5. Who among your friends and family most needs prayer today? What is your prayer for that person?