Archive for the 'Discussion Questions' category
Parents (and especially fathers of daughters):
 Want to make sure you see Tony Reinke’s post on the Sovereign Grace blog about worldliness. First, an announcement that CJ’s next book is coming soon. Worldliness is a collaboration with Dave Harvey, Bob Kauflin, Jeff Purswell, and Craig Cabaniss. Topics include worldliness, music, media, stuff, modesty, and more. I got to read an advance manuscript and Dads, this is going to be an outstanding discipleship tool, and even though it won’t hit shelves until September, you can pre-order it for 35% off. Go to the Crossway website, click preorder, and use coupon code ‘8SG1′.
Dads of daughters, here is the part for you. CJ recently posted 7 excerpts from the chapter on modesty. As the weather grows warmer, let me encourage you to have your wife use this material with your daughter to review the importance of modesty. Here’s an index of the posts:
There are also outstanding discussion questions listed, and available as a PDF download:
Modesty Discussion Questions
For Your Mind
1) Read 1 Timothy 2:3–10. What do these verses say about the motivation for modest dress?
2) How do we know that 1 Timothy 2:9 does not prohibit women from making themselves beautiful?
3) How do women who dress modestly serve men?
For Your Heart
4) Who are you trying to imitate or identify with through your appearance—godly women, or women of the world?
5) This chapter notes that your wardrobe is a public statement of your personal and private motivation. What does your clothing communicate about your motivations and priorities?
6) Think of a woman who is admired for her godly character and good works. What aspects of her godliness do you particularly want to emulate?
For Your Life
7) What about your wardrobe may need to change so that your appearance can better reflect the transforming power of the gospel?
8. What steps can you take on your next shopping trip to ensure that your clothing purchases reflect humility, modesty, and self-control? (Some ideas: Pray for God’s help and provision in finding modest clothing; check each article of clothing you try on for modesty as well as fit; ask your father, husband, or a trusted friend to evaluate items you’re not sure about.)
9) Mothers, what steps can you take to train your daughters to value godliness over fashion, to nurture humility and self-control, and to wear clothing that reflects these virtues? Fathers, what steps can you take to care for and lead your daughters in humility, self-control, and modesty?
Categories: Discussion Questions, Thursday Thoughts For Parents
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Parents and students, sorry we didn’t have these questions ready for you Saturday night. Here they are!
QUESTIONS FOR PARENTS TO ASK TEENS
- Let me share with you ways that I have been encouraged about your progress recently.
- Do you have any observations for me as a dad?
- Is there anything I have said or done that would cause you to struggle or you would want to bring to my attention?
- Do you feel that mom or I have treated you unfairly in any situation or circumstance that you would want to bring to my attention right now?
- Have you had any conversation with friends regarding issues or expressing thoughts, which you know I would be concerned about or want to know about? Have you engaged in any activities which you know your mother and I would not approve of since we last met or that you have not informed me about?
- Is there any thought on your mind that you know is wrong but you are having a hard time with?
- Are there any unresolved relational issues among you and this family or your friends?
- What things have been repeatedly on your mind during the past week or two? What have you been thinking about? What things specifically?
- What has been the main focus of your quiet times recently? What are you reading? What are you praying about? Are you benefiting from your devotional times or are you doing them primarily out of obligation?
- How do you feel about your relationship with God right now? Are you feeling passion for him and his kingdom? Is there anything competing for your affections right now that would hinder you from loving God with all your heart? Are you growing in your passion, love and affections for God? How are you seeking to grow in your knowledge of God and your passion for his kingdom?
- Are there any girls/boys that you are having a hard time not thinking about? What are you thinking about them? Do you have any questions about relationships with guys or girls?
- In your relationships with others, are you being a faithful friend according to Scripture? (Prov. 27:6, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.”)
- Would those friends you are choosing to hang out with presently be considered wise companions? (Prov. 13:20, “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”) What are your friends passionate about and why are you drawn to them?
- Have you viewed any inappropriate images, or read any inappropriate articles since we last met? (TV, movies, pictures, internet, etc) How much time are you spending on Internet, TV, movies, ESPN, other?
- How are you being diligent in managing your personal life? Devotional times, chores in the home, schoolwork, budget?
- I want to bring up with you (current weekly issues with spiritual life, relationship to mother, relationship to siblings, relationship to peers).
- What sins are you struggling with and how are you working on them? What have you done to work on your sin area? Do you have you any kind of plan?
QUESTIONS FOR TEENS TO ASK PARENTS
- Where do you see me growing in my relationship with the Lord?
- Based on my conversations and enthusiasm, what would you say I most passionate about? Do you think my priorities reflect Matthew 6:33 that I am seeking first the kingdom of God in my life? In what specific ways would you encourage me to make my relationship with God the highest priority in my life? How would you recommend I pursue growth in my relationship with God?
- Where do you see God at work in my life?
- Have you observed any patterns of sin in my relationships with friends, my relationship with you, or my pursuit of the world that you have been trying to bring to my attention? How well do I respond to you, when you try to bring these questions/concerns to me?
- As you observe my life, is there one particular area that you would say I need to grow in? Can you please share with me examples of where you have noticed this and also help me with a plan to change?
- On a scale of 0-10 (10 = humble and diligent, 0 = independent and defensive), how diligently and humbly do I pursue your correction and counsel? What kind of questions should I be asking and what situations would you like to see me pursuing you regarding any area in my life?
- Do you think that I value your wisdom more than my friend’s opinions? Can you share with me examples of how I am valuing my friend’s opinions too highly? Can you share with me examples of where I am appropriately valuing your wisdom more than my friends?
- Do you have any concerns for me in regards to my choice of companions? Where do you see me being influenced and where would you see me being an influencer?
- How would you describe my attitude toward your authority? In what ways have I grown in showing you and mom my respect? In what ways would you like to see growth in the area of honoring and respecting my parents, and/or other authorities in my life?
- Have I sinned against you in any way and not sought forgiveness?
- How can I grow in serving the family? Is there one person in the family (dad/mom/sibling) that I need to be more intentional with in regards to serving?
Categories: Discussion Questions, five15 blog
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Parents, here are the Rocket Discussion questions, in case you lost your booklet:
MESSAGE 1 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What is a Christian?
- How does a person become a Christian?
- Do you think you are a Christian?
- If yes, why? When did you become a Christian? How confident are you that you will go to heaven when you die?
- If no, what do you think it means to become a Christian? What is keeping you from becoming a Christian?
- What are you living for?
- What do you get most excited about?
- What do you think about in your free time?
- If you had an entire day that was yours to spend however you wanted, what would you do?
- Talk about your obituary.
MESSAGE 2 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What does our world tell us that parents are for?
- What does the Bible tell us that parents are for?
- How am I doing as a dad/mom?
- If you knew for sure that I wouldn’t get angry, is there anything you’d want to tell me about my parenting?
- What are Dad and Mom most passionate about?
- Do I act the same at church as I do when I’m at home? Can you give me some examples?
- Are you aware of my love for you?
- Is there any way I’ve sinned against you that I’ve not repented of?
- Do you have any observations for me?
- Does my relationship with Dad/Mom make you excited to be married?
MESSAGE 3 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What do you get most excited about?
- What do you think I get most excited about?
- What does God get most excited about?
- Describe your level of passion for the church.
- How is God calling you to grow in passion for the church?
- Where is God calling you to serve in the church?
MORE DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR LATER ON
- What did you enjoy most about Rocket?
- How did God meet you at Rocket?
- What did you learn?
- Who did you get to know that you didn’t know before?
- What is one way you’ve been encouraged?
- Based on what you heard at Rocket, what is one change you think God is leading you to make in your life?
- What is one step you can take to make that change?
- How can I help you make that change?
- Who can you encourage at church tomorrow for how you saw God’s grace in their life today?
Categories: Discussion Questions, Rocket—08, Thursday Thoughts For Parents
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 Parents, if your teens started Mark’s 2008 Bible Reading Plan, they may be starting to wonder what they got themselves into. Before long, they may wonder if a plate of pancakes in 2009 is worth reading two chapters of the Bible every day in 2008. If that’s the case, the following questions are designed to help you talk to them about the spiritual disciplines.
I’ve adapted these from Karl Graustein’s book, Growing Up Christian, p. 212:
- What are the spiritual disciplines? What is the purpose of practicing them?
- What hinders your from regularly practicing the spiritual disciplines. What can you do to overcome these hindrances?
- What is our role in our spiritual growth? What is the Holy Spirit’s role?
- What results do you see in your life for your faithful practice of the spiritual disciplines? And for your lack of practice of them?
- How often should a Christian teenager have a quiet time?
- What should a person do during a quiet time?
If you want to study this topic further with your teen, check out any of the following:
- Chapter 11 of Growing Up Christian, by Karl Graustein
- Living the Cross-Centered Life, by C.J. Mahaney
- Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, by Donald Whitney
- Disciplines of Grace, by Jerry Bridges
Categories: Discussion Questions, Thursday Thoughts For Parents
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Parents, more discussion questions for ya! This time, with a New Year’s flavor. I love Donald Whitney for stuff like this: it’s an article entitled “Questions to Ask for the New Year or on Your Birthday.” Obviously, not all of them apply to your teenager, but tell your teen how you would answer the questions for a valuable teaching and relational opportunity.
- What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
- What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?
- What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?
- In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?
- What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?
- What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?
- For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?
- What’s the most important way you will, by God’s grace, try to make this year different from last year?
- What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
- What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?In addition to these ten questions, here are twenty-one more to help you “Consider your ways.” Think on the entire list at one sitting, or answer one question each day for a month.
- What’s the most important decision you need to make this year?
- What area of your life most needs simplifying, and what’s one way you could simplify in that area?
- What’s the most important need you feel burdened to meet this year?
- What habit would you most like to establish this year?
- Who do you most want to encourage this year?
- What is your most important financial goal this year, and what is the most important step you can take toward achieving it?
- What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your work life this year?
- What’s one new way you could be a blessing to your pastor (or to another who ministers to you) this year?
- What’s one thing you could do this year to enrich the spiritual legacy you will leave to your children and grandchildren?
- What book, in addition to the Bible, do you most want to read this year?
- What one thing do you most regret about last year, and what will you do about it this year?
- What single blessing from God do you want to seek most earnestly this year?
- In what area of your life do you most need growth, and what will you do about it this?
- What’s the most important trip you want to take this year?
- What skill do you most want to learn or improve this year?
- To what need or ministry will you try to give an unprecedented amount this year?
- What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your commute this year?
- What one biblical doctrine do you most want to understand better this year, and what will you do about it?
- If those who know you best gave you one piece of advice, what would they say? Would they be right? What will you do about it?
- What’s the most important new item you want to buy this year?
- In what area of your life do you most need change, and what will you do about it this year?
Categories: Discussion Questions, Thursday Thoughts For Parents
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December 20, 2007 12:37 pm
Parents, I want to continue to provide you with some good questions for discussion, today with a Christmas flavor. Again, I’m doing this because we often hear parents say that they want to spend time having meaningful conversations with their kids, but don’t always know what to ask. Here are some questions to ask as you wrap presents together or search in vain for a parking place at the mall:
- What is Christmas about? (Yes, it’s about Jesus, but why is that important?)
- Why did God become man?
- What is the most meaningful part of the Christmas story to you?
- What is your fondest Christmas memory?
- What is your favorite Christmas tradition?
- What gift are you most hoping to get this year?
- What gift are you most excited about giving this year?
- Why do we give Christmas gifts, anyway?
- Name one person you know who doesn’t understand the true meaning of Christmas. How can you preach the gospel to that person this season?
Categories: Discussion Questions, Thursday Thoughts For Parents
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December 13, 2007 9:55 am
Parents, I want to continue with the discussion questions that I began posting a couple Thursdays ago. Mark’s message on Sunday about David and Absalom and the lessons we learn and can apply in parenting are a good starting point for a list of questions today.
These questions are adapted from a seminar by Steve Shank entitled “Fathers and Sons” from the 2005 Sovereign Grace Ministries Leaders Conference. You can download it for free if you like.
- Do you have a divine perspective of your own salvation?
- Do you have a divine perspective of your children?
- Are you more aware of the prior activity of God in your children’s lives than the present deficiencies?
- When you correct, are the kids first aware of your love and affection for them? Ask your children about this!
- Do you ever lost track of what God has done in your children – the amount of growth that has taken place?
- What are areas that you have seen real change? When was the last time you communicated it to your child?
- Have there been any big changes you have not acknowledged thanks to God for His grace or appreciation for your child’s response to the grace of God? Ask your children about these questions and see if they have any other perspective.
- Are you going after the sin in your own heart and allowing your children to see that you are on the same road? What was the last sin you confessed to your children? Are you consistent in confession and asking forgiveness from your children when you offend them? Are there any unresolved issues or sins?
- Have you ever seen a change take place and then begin to focus solely on the next thing that needs to change or an area of growth? How would you respond to similar treatment by a spouse or friend?
- Can you receive correction humbly from your children? Do they know your faults and sin?
- Do your children feel your gratitude to God for them? Ask them to evaluate you. How do you do at expressing thanksgiving (it is different than simply feeling grateful).
- Do they think you are “on their side” – you are trying to help them and can relate to the struggle with sin they experience as a fellow sinner? Are you more aware of evidences of grace or areas needing growth?
- Have you imposed a timetable for growth and change? Do any areas come to mind? Can you see change when it happens? Are you looking for it?
Categories: Discussion Questions, Thursday Thoughts For Parents
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December 6, 2007 11:41 am
Parents, in light of our Push Back series of messages, and especially in view of Saturday’s message on Media, I thought it would be helpful to provide some discussion questions for you on the topic of culture, movies, music, and TV.
This is a substantial list, so choose wisely and go slow. Let me know if there have been other questions that have been useful to you in this regard.
- What difference should the gospel make for your media choices? What difference does the gospel make for your media choices?
- In what ways are your media choices conformed to the world?
- What does it mean to be transformed?
- Do you have a process for evaluating movies, TV, and music? What is it?
- Think about the last couple movies you watched. Did those movies promote an evil message? Did they use an evil method?
- What changes is God calling you to make with your media choices?
(The following questions are adapted from Karl Graustein, Growing Up Christian, pp. 69, 75.)
- What are your favorite TV shows, movies, and bands?
- What values do they promote?
- How do their values compare to the Word of God?
- Do you critically evaluate TV shows or music CDs? How?
- Is there anything you refuse to watch or listen to? Why?
- Do you think your entertainment habits please God?
- What is wrong with loving the world?
- Why is hiding your love for the world from your parents a dangerous sign?
- What are the key ways you are influenced by the world? How do music, TV, movies, and friendship influence you?
- How effectively do you evaluate television, movies, music, the Internet, and friendships?
- What is one way you can love the world less in the next month?
- What is one way you can love God more in the next month?
- How can your parents, pastor, and friends help you in loving the world less and loving God more?
Categories: Discussion Questions, Push Back, Thursday Thoughts For Parents
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November 29, 2007 3:32 pm
Students, this post is for your parents. If they don’t read the blog very often, make sure they at least see this.
Parents, Vince and I recently taught a few Sunday School classes called True Conversion. Through the class we heard from some parents who are all for meeting with their kids regularly but just aren’t sure what questions to ask.
So here’s good news: Vince and I have both collected lists of questions that parents can ask their teens. I think most parents would be overwhelmed if I just dumped the entire master list on them. So over the next few weeks (or months), I’m going to post a series of Thursday Thoughts for Parents from this list of questions. Keep the ones that are helpful. Toss the ones that aren’t.
Parents, as you check these out over the next few weeks, I would be grateful if you would 1) let me know about which questions are more helpful and which ones are less so and 2) send me any lists of questions you have.
Here we go:
QUESTIONS TO ASK OFTEN
John Piper (who credits Rick Gamache)
From Justin Taylor’s Blog
- How are your devotions?
- What is God teaching you?
- In your own words, what is the gospel?
- Is there a specific sin you’re aware of that you need my help defeating?
- Are you more aware of my encouragement or my criticism?
- What’s dad/mom most passionate about?
- Do I act the same at church as I do when I’m at home?
- Are you aware of my love for you?
- Is there any way I’ve sinned against you that I’ve not repented of?
- Do you have any observations for me?
- How am I doing as a dad/mom?
- How have Sunday’s sermons affected you?
- Does my relationship with mom make you excited to be married?
- (On top of these things, with my older kids, I’m always inquiring about their relationship with their friends and making sure God and his gospel are the center of those relationship. And I look for every opportunity to praise their mother and increase their appreciation and love for her.)
Categories: Discussion Questions, Thursday Thoughts For Parents
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Want to make sure you see Tony Reinke’s post on the Sovereign Grace blog about worldliness. First, an announcement that CJ’s next book is coming soon. Worldliness is a collaboration with Dave Harvey, Bob Kauflin, Jeff Purswell, and Craig Cabaniss. Topics include worldliness, music, media, stuff, modesty, and more. I got to read an advance manuscript and Dads, this is going to be an outstanding discipleship tool, and even though it won’t hit shelves until September, you can pre-order it for 35% off. Go to the Crossway website, click preorder, and use coupon code ‘8SG1′.
