​Christ reconciling power through his death and resurrection transforms our negative view of conflicts into redemptive opportunities. 

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​God has created light to be one of the most valuable parts of his creation and also a huge part of his character. We are the light because He is light,  embracing our call to love others as God loved us.

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Discussion Questions: 

1. People often think their prayer life is insufficient or inadequate. Have you ever wrestled with these thoughts? What's helped you grow most in your practice of prayer? 


2. Recall the four aspects of intimacy in a relationship. In your relationship with God, what aspect are you being called to grow in? 

• Familiar, affectionate, loving relationships
• Extreme emotional closeness
• Each person’s personal space can be entered by the other without causing discomfort
• Requires parties have a detailed knowledge & deep understanding of each other.

3. Several qualities were proposed as beneficial in our prayer posture toward God. Which ones are more natural for you? Which are harder? 

• Awareness – Practicing presence and awareness of God
• Trust – Prayerful surrender to God’s will
• Turning Toward – Redirecting attention from my “chatter” toward God
• Union – Asking the Spirit for God’s perspective
• Non-directed Listening – Silent listening without agenda  
• Enjoy grace - Am I striving for a receptive (not productive) spirit?

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​Even the deepest of griefs encountered from losing someone you love cannot stop the heart of God from ministering to you.

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Discussion Questions:

1. When have you experienced deep grief in your life or grief in others?  Describe what that experience has been like or was like for you. 

2. What is your understanding of deep grief? What are some misinterpretations or misunderstandings we can have about grief? 

3. How have you seen grief handled well? How have you witnessed grief handled wrongly? 

4. What are the implications of having a correct Biblical view towards death? 

5. The 4 parts of lament are address ("Oh God"), complaint ("This hurts so much"), request ("Please take the pain away"), and trust ("Not my will, but yours).  When it comes to grief and lament, how does one come to finally trust in God and His promises? 

6. How does the cross of Christ inform our pain and suffering? 

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Discussion Questions: 

1. What are some convictions about prayer that you've received from this series, The with-God Life? 
2. Ruach (spirit) describes the kind of life-force energy that animates and characterizes a person. Who are the people in your life whose spirits have shaped you in significant ways? 
3. Read 1 Corinthians 2:10-16. What does it mean to possess the mind of Christ? Have you personally experienced the mind of Jesus influencing your own mind to help you see things from his perspective or to even feel what he feels? 
4. Read Ephesians 1:17-19. What is Paul asking God to do for the saints? Why is this such an important prayer to pray for one another? 
5. Close your time by praying for one another--that together we may all experience more of the Spirit's influence on our own spirit.