November 2019 Wednesday Study Questions

November 6: Spiritual Myopia

1. Describe a time when you had “spiritual myopia.” At what point did you begin to see things more clearly? What helped you to do this?
2. Name a person in scripture who experienced “spiritual myopia.” What can we learn from this person? What would you have done differently had you been in their shoes?
3. Whom do you find it difficult to treat with love and respect? Is it one person or a certain group of people? Why is it difficult for you? How can you begin to look on this person or group of people with the love and compassion of Jesus?
4. The writer of today’s meditation says, “We are called to witness to all people . . . regardless of their condition.” When has someone’s “condition” kept you from witnessing to them? Talk about this experience and what you learned from it.
5. How can you show more love and mercy to those in your community? Name three specific ways that you will show love and mercy to those around you this week.

November 13: Letting Go

1. Would you describe yourself as an anxious person? If so, how do you cope with your anxiety? If not, what prevents you from becoming anxious in situations that other people might find worrisome?
2. What objects or practices remind you to give your worries to God? What spiritual disciplines do you practice in times of worry, frustration, or doubt?
3. When have you fretted over the outcome of a situation? What happened? Did your worst fears come to pass? What were your prayers like during this time?
4. Do you find that it is easy or difficult to let go and give your worries to God? If your answer is “easy,” how so? If you responded with “difficult,” why is it hard?
5. What are you having trouble letting go of today? What would it look like for you to find peace in the situation? What outcome are you praying for? How can your church community support you through this?

November 20: Out the Back Window

1. Name someone from scripture who missed one of God’s blessings that was right in front of them. What caused them to overlook the blessing? What do you think this story teaches us about God’s blessings?
2. Have you ever discovered that you overlooked a blessing at some point in your life? How did it make you feel when you realized that you had missed it? Did it change the way that you look for God’s blessings around you? If so, how?
3. In what ways can someone’s past prevent them from moving forward? Why is it sometimes so hard not to dwell on the past? What helps you focus on the present and future?
4. What do you hope God has in store for your future?  What do you hope God has in store for your community, your country, and the world?
5. In the week ahead, try to be deliberate about noticing God’s blessings around you. At the end of the week, reflect on which of these blessings you might have missed had you not been actively looking for them.

November 27: God’s Care

1. Describe a time when God has cared either for you or for someone you know in a miraculous way. What did this experience teach you about God’s care and protection?
2. The “Thought for the Day” says, “Today I will look for signs of God’s love and care.” Where have you already noticed signs of God’s love and care today?
3. When have you prayed about a situation that did not turn out as you had hoped? Did this change the way you think and feel about prayer? If so, how? If not, why not?
4. What spiritual practices do you engage in with family and/or friends? How have these practices shaped your spiritual journey? What advantages are there to praying and studying the Bible within a community?
5. Make a list of people in your church community who are going through a difficult time. In the coming week, commit to saying a prayer for each of these persons every day. For what in the week ahead would you like the prayers of your church community?