Welcome to Sunday Fuel! This series of questions is designed to assist your personal reflection and fellowship with others about the sermon from this past Sunday.
1. Dr. Gifford describes Christ-centered, gospel-saturated, long-term relationships as one of God’s most beautiful gifts to us. Think about your own circle of relationships at home, work, church, etc. Thank God for bringing them into your life.
2. Review the passages highlighted in today’s message (Eph. 3:1-10; 4:11-16; 1 Peter 1:10-12; James 3:13-18).
- Explain in your own words why our relationships are so important to God’s redemptive purposes.
- How do these passages guide us in expressing wisdom and foolishness in terms of our relationships? How has selfishness kept you from loving others well? Confess this to the Lord.
3. Do any of the “beauty crushers” he mentioned (your phone, fear of man, worship of control, worship of productivity) affect your relationships? Ask God to show you specific and practical ways you can “put off” these. Ask others to pray for you and help you address these struggles more directly, if needed.
4. Spend time reflecting on the characteristics in James 3:13-18 and Colossians 4:6. Prayerfully ask God to pinpoint ways you can cultivate beauty in your relationships. Is there one particular characteristic to commit to growing in this upcoming year?
5. Even if you may feel connected at church, loneliness may be a problem for others. Ask God to help increase your sensitivity to those you can befriend. How can you serve others and exalt the Lord in this way?