SOAR Discussion Questions  |  20 October 2019

One simple tool that we can use to help us work with the Holy Spirit in our everyday moments to produce this fruit in our lives is the attached, discipleship tool. The Holy Spirit brings awareness/conviction of our shortcomings through everyday moments and we humbly respond to the Spirit by taking ownership or responsibility for that area of our lives. We recognise that something or someone else other than Jesus might be on the throne of our heart. So by faith and trust in Jesus, we then lay it down and allow Jesus to take his rightful place on the throne.

Discuss one or more of the following questions. 

1. As believers, one of the most amazing gifts we receive when we choose to follow Jesus is His Holy Spirit that comes to live inside of us. He speaks to us, guides us, works in and through us, and often brings our attention to things that we weren’t aware of. How would you describe your relationship with the Holy Spirit? 
2. Tim Keller defines goodness as integrity; being the same person in every situation. The opposite is being phony or a hypocrite, and a counterfeit is always being truthful, but not always loving; getting things off your chest just to make yourself feel or look better. How does your understanding of goodness compare with this definition?  
3. Goodness, that comes from the Spirit working in us is not just being a good person. It’s not a passive, self-serving quality that makes us look good or give us reason to be loved or blessed by God and others. Instead, it is an ability that the Spirit gives us to deliberately choose and follow what’s right and morally good, even when it’s hard. It is a firm and persistent stand against evil, disunity and brokenness in every situation for the sake of Christ and others, even behind the scenes, even in the deepest, darkest corners of our hearts. Goodness that comes from the Spirit is not just a transformation in us, but it should and will have a ripple effect on others. When we choose to do not just the right thing, but the God thing, relationships are restored, people are set free, and Jesus will get the glory instead of us. As you reflect on this, is your goodness more of an outward behaviour, or a fruit of the Spirit? What would goodness look like in your life if it came from the Spirit’s enabling? 
4. Faithfulness is loyalty, courage; to be utterly reliable and true to your word. The opposite is to be an opportunist, a friend only in good times. A counterfeit is to be loving but not truthful, so that you are never willing to confront or challenge. How does your understanding of faithfulness compare with this definition?
5. In the parable of the bags of gold in Matthew 25:14-30, the master says to the ones who took risks to multiply his assets with what they’ve been given, ‘well done, my good and faithful servant’. But to the one who played it safe and secure, he says, ‘you wicked and lazy servant’. A faithfulness that comes from the Spirit is more than being trustworthy and a safe-keeper of the things and responsibilities we’ve been given. It implies both an unswerving and constant allegiance to God and the purposes of God as his servants. There is an element of both faith and action. Does faithfulness in your life look more like loyalty or courage, safe-keeping or risk-taking, expansion or the securing of God’s kingdom? What needs to change?
6. When we put Christ on the throne of different areas of our lives and allow the Spirit to work in us and through us, it always has a ripple effect on other people. When our hearts are aligned with God, and our skills and transformation is used to love and serve others, our lives become missional. What is a situation or area of your life where Jesus isn’t sitting on the throne? What changes do you need to make so that your life becomes missional to bring God’s goodness and faithfulness to others?

• Is there a truth that God wants you to obey?
• What will you do to obey this? I will…
• Is there someone you can share this message with?