8/17 - 8/21 Life Group Questions
^ Click “Note” ^ Remember to write down some short notes for each of the questions below before heading to life group.
1.
Share 1 thing that stood out to you about Sunday's Message. (1 minute max please) Also press play button in image above to watch or listen to Sundays message if you missed it or just to refresh your memory. (Each Individual)
2. My Dream Life
How often do you dream and what types of dreams do you typically have? Do you have nightmares and if so, what types of nightmares do you typically have? (Each individual)
Share 1 “spiritual” dreams and/or visions you have had that you think is from God? For now let’s consider dreams the things God has shown us in our sleep and visions the things God has shown us when we are awake like pictures or day-dreams. Let’s try to be brief with our testimonies of dreams and visions and what we think they mean so that everyone has a chance to share. (Each individual)
3. Part Of My Christianity
Acts 2:16-17
16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17 And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;
On Sunday Pastor Vaughn said that Christians all over the world testify to encountering Jesus in dreams & visions or being shown things that they know are from Him. Also many unbelievers come to faith and testify of having the same types of dreams and visions. Pastor Vaughn said that these are a part of our faith and something that we should be praying for as Christians that belong to and serve “The God Of Dreams & Visions”.
Do you think dreams and visions are something every Christian should pray for? Do you personally want dreams and visions to be a part of your Christianity? What do genuine dreams and visions (encounters) with God generally do for the people having them? (Cause joy? Bring confusion? Just a cool moment? Spark the imagination?) (Group Discussion)
4. Interpreting & Acting Upon Dreams & Visions
Matthew 1:20 + 1:24
20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife
Jeremiah 23:32
32 Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, declares the Lord , and who tell them and lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them. So they do not profit this people at all, declares the Lord .
Zechariah 10:2
2 For the household gods utter nonsense, and the diviners see lies; they tell false dreams and give empty consolation. Therefore the people wander like sheep; they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd.
Job 33:13-18
13 Why do you contend against him, saying, ‘He will answer none of man’s words? 14 For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it. 15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds, 16 then he opens the ears of men and terrifies them with warnings, 17 that he may turn man aside from his deed and conceal pride from a man; 18 he keeps back his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword.
Matthew 27:17-19
17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. 19 Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.”
With so many ways to process dreams & visions it is important that we do so properly. There are directional dreams that change our lives like Joseph & Mary’s and warning dreams like Pilate’s wife had and dreams from liars and interpretations of dreams that aren’t accurate. Yet God still uses dreams and visions as ways for us to encounter Him so let’s be encouraged to grow as dreamers! We learn a lot from Jacob’s story in Genesis 28 about how dreams & visions come, why they come, what we learn from the details or images we see, and what a typical response might be for what we’ve seen. Refresh your memory by reading the 12 verses of Genesis 28:10-22 if you need too in order to answer the following questions.
What is the purpose of dreams & visions from God? How should we interpret dreams & visions? How do we know when an action should be taken from a dream or vision? In the area of dreams and visions, how do we keep from becoming “weird” Christians that act more like spiritualist instead of Spirit filled sane and mature believers that commune with the God of dreams & visions? (Group Discussion)
* Remember to pray for each other before heading home from life group and to stay in communication here in the app throughout the week on your life group messaging thread!