Life Group Questions for 12/14 and 12/21

ADVENT GUIDE for Sandhurst - resources for devos, families, grief, media and more...

Review and apply: Last Sunday, December 14, 2025 (Message here)

Advent 2: Peace of God - THANKFUL PRAYER (Will Rutt)

Context: For Advent this year, we are studying Peace - what it is & isn't & how to get it...

Text: Read Philippians 4:4-9. Don’t rush. What stands out to you?

1. Open: Think of something God in His Word commands us not to do, and yet is not a sin. How can this be true? and What are some examples?

   1. True: bc raw emotions are not a sin, but what we do with them / how we respond to them is righteous or sinful

   2. Examples: "Do not fear" and yet... (also anger, jealousy, and worry/anxiety)

   3. SO - the main thing is NOT how things hit us, but WHERE we go from there

2. Note the graphic below and read V6-7: Is it possible to live at peace in all circumstances? What are the layers or nuances of this struggle?

   

3. V6-7: What path to the peace of God do Paul & Peter outline?

   1. Path: Casting, Asking, Thanking

   2. Casting: "Do not be anxious for anything..." "Cast your cares on God (I Pet 5:7)

   3. Asking: "...but in everything by prayer and petition make your requests known to God"

   4. Thanking "...with thanksgiving"

      
      

      

4. V6: What do you think Paul means by "with thanksgiving?" What can we thank God for in difficult or even tragic circumstances?

5. What are some gospel blessings we have in all circumstances that we can thank God for? How does gathered singing help fuel our hearts and gratitude?

6. V6: Read 1 Thess 5:16-18 - what is so powerful about the combination of joy, prayer, and thanksgiving?

7. V7: What is the promise in V7, and what does it mean and NOT mean?

8. Illustration: Remember Will pouring the water (God's fullness) filling the jar - how did this impact the figure when the jar is shaken?

   1. The "shake" doesn't go away - but it impacts you differently - the unexplainable yet undeniably present comfort of God.

9. Growth: What is a key application you take from this passage / message? review the process of what do to (Q3) when you are tempted to go down the worry hole...

10. Prayer: Practice thankful praying: Casting, Asking, Thanking for a difficult thing that's causing or pushing you toward worry...

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Consider ahead: Next Sunday, December 21, 2025

Advent 3: Peace of God from right thinking (Adam Richardson)

ADVENT GUIDE for Sandhurst - resources for devos, families, grief, media and more...

Context: For Advent this year, we are studying Peace - what it is & isn't & how to get it...

Text: Read Philippians 4:1-9. Don’t rush. What stands out to you?

1. V1: Paul says "that is how you should stand firm in The Lord" - so what does "that" refer to? why does it matter?

   1. "That": the truth / reality of 3:20-1 - that we are all citizens of heaven and will be glorified together in His presence.

   2. Matter: Our identity in Christ defines our lives and relationships

2. Is growing in peace like being filled with food or nourished by food? What is the difference between these and which is more like growing in peace?

3. V8: If God is responsible for our peace, why the command in V8? What purpose do these disciplines serve?

4. V8: Is this easy or hard? How can we do these things better? What hinders our doing these and how can we remove those hindrances?

5. What is the danger of removing V8 from its relational context with God (V5-6) and others (V9)?

6. Growth: What is a key application you take from this passage / message?

7. Prayer: Practice thankful praying: Casting, Asking, Thanking for a difficult thing that's causing or pushing you toward worry...

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