In John 17, Jesus prayed that His Church would be "one". In this study, we'll talk about one of the practical areas of church life that has to be addressed if a congregation is going to walk in unity - conflict resolution.

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS:

- Was there an aspect of this study you felt specifically challenged by?

- How do you normally decide whether you respond to an offense or overlook it?

- How can we reconcile the biblical call to judge those within the church (1 Corinthians 5:12-13) with Jesus' command not to judge (Matthew 7:1)?

- How might our approach to conflict resolution change if we consistently asked, 'What is best for the other person?' rather than focusing on our own feelings?

- When we’re offended or sinned against, how can we be led by the Holy Spirit rather than our emotions?

This sermon explores the power of the small word “but” in Scripture. As we look at 1 Timothy 4:1–5, we’ll examine what it means to fall away from the faith, the enemy’s tactics to lead believers astray, and the importance of a clear conscience and gratitude. Ultimately, this message calls us to align with God’s Word, listen to the Spirit, and stay devoted to Him on the path of godliness.

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS:

- The first word of this passage sets us up for a contrast. What contrast is Paul making?

- What is the significance of the definite article in the phrase “the faith”? What is “the faith”?

- How could someone fall away from “the faith”? How is that different than falling away from “their faith”?

- List (from the sermon summarizing of them) the five factors of falling away. Which have you seen or experienced?

- Have you had interaction, either personally or with someone you are connected to, with a cult? Care to share?

- What attitude does Paul reveal as an antidote to falling away (verses 4-5)? How can you personally cultivate that attitude? Take some time as a group and express some specifics.

In this sermon, we dive into 1 Timothy to uncover what godliness really means and how it’s centered on Jesus. We’ll look at how the church can stand up for the truth and shine a light for others. Plus, we’ll explore the unseen forces that guide us toward living a godly life and how our everyday actions can reflect God's character.SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS:- If expository preaching is "making the main idea of the passage the main idea of the sermon" what might be the main idea of one of the following passages? (Pick one:Matt. 7:24-27; Eph. 6:10-20; Luke 9:23-26; ll Cor. 5:1-10;Romans 3:9-18)- As the Bible uses it, what is a "mystery"? Can you, as a group, name some?- What is "godliness"? (Give a definition or two.)- What metaphor does this text employ as a description of the church? What other metaphors can you recall? What is the Lord's expectation of each of those?- It godliness requires learning, what are some of the teachings Paul has identified so far in I Timothy? What are some other things you know need to be learned for someone to become godly?- How does godliness in the church fulfill the Lord's purposes and influence the world?- What mystery is the opposite of the mystery of godliness?What is the source of that? What is the source of godliness (as shown in our passage)?