Weekly Growth Group Questions

As Pastor Clyde leads us through the book of Revelations, he will be putting out weekly questions for Growth Groups to discuss.

  • 1. V.12, In what ways could an angel help a church?


    2.  Does Hebrews 4:12 relate to the imagery in Revelation? How does this work in the church and in our lives?


    3. V.13, Is there anything that makes it hard to live as a Christian where we live?

    • Are we free to do more than the two things mentioned here?
    • Examples?

    4. Why would someone accept the teaching of Balaam?


    5. V.15, What kind of things does a Christian bully do? 3 John 9-10


    6. V.16, Brainstorm ways that Jesus might use His sword against people in the church?


    7. V. 17, How does the reward relate to the trouble of this church?


  • 1. V.8: Check out these verses and write who the First and Last is in each. Isaiah 41:4; 44:6; 48:12; Revelation 1:8; 1:17; 2:8; 22:12-13. What does this tell us about Jesus?


    2. What happens to us at death? 2 Corinthians 5:1-8


    3. V.9: What is something you have that money can't buy?


    4. What are things we are slandered for in 2025? How do we know it is a pack of lies?


    5. V.10: Name one way you have suffered.


    6. Say you are trapped in a tedious and meaningless job, how does your freedom in Christ make a difference?


    7. Make observations on the ten days.


    8. V.11: What are ways that hell creeps into the life of the unbelieving?

  • 1.  Verse 1: Why is knowing this about Jesus important to you and to the church?


    2. Verse 2: What is hard work in the church? How does love make it easier?


    3. Verses 2-3: What kinds of things do we have to endure in the church? How can we guard against burn-out?


    4. Is there another way to deal with false teaching other than proving people liars?


    5. Verse 4: What is the process of abandoning love?


    6. What are some acts of love?


    7. Verse 5: How does change in a church help to reestablish love?

  • Read Judges 14-15 noting the evidence of these two things:

    1. Samson’s relationship with God.


    2. Evidence that the Israelites were content with the Philistines are overlords.


    Then, ponder if there is any way that we as a church are content in the same way with the World around us.


  • 1. Talk about how we are partners with John in the tribulation, kingdom and patient endurance. What are some examples? Be specific from your own life.


    2. Compare, looking for similarities and contrasts, Daniel 10:2-10 with our passage. Read to the end of the Daniel chapter and determine who this man was.


    3. Do the same with Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14.


    4. Do the same with Ezekiel 1:22, 25-2:2.

  • Read Matthew 28:1-10, Luke 24:1-12, John 20: 1-18

    1. Make note of all the differences in these accounts with Mark and with each other.


    2. Discuss why you think the accounts differ in this way.


    3. Make an attempt to reconcile the accounts. Factor this in: The ancients were not as concerned as we are about order and timing.


  • V. 1: Pick one thing in this list and describe how you, as a Christian, might justify hanging on to it.


    How does one put these things away?


    V. 2: What is the command?


    Are you doing it?


    If not, why not?


    What does it mean to grow up into salvation?


    V. 3: How do you taste that the Lord is good?


    V. 4: Why do you think God used the illustration of a stone to signify Jesus?


    Why was there this opposite response between God and men?


    Why is the Stone chosen and precious to God?


    V. 5: Make observations on the verse through 'spiritual house'.


    What are spiritual sacrifices?


    VS. 6-8: Contrast the results for the 2 groups of people.

  • 1. What are the characteristics of agape love?


    2. Do you know that you are loved this way? How?


    3. What are evidences that our congregation loves this way?


    4. What is the difference between being freed from our sin and being forgiven of our sin? How does this tie in with being saved?


    5. What is an element of the Kingdom of God?


    6. How is being a priest working out in your life?


    7. If Jesus is God, how is God his God?


    8. What is significant about being the Alpha and the Omega?

  • 52:13. How has this been fulfilled in Jesus?


    52:14. What does this mean?


    52:15. How does this happen?


    53:2. What does this tell us about Jesus?


    53:3. Any thoughts on what would be behind this experience?


    53:4-6. Pick out all the elements that speak of what happened to Jesus and how they benefited us.


    53:7-9. Talk about how these things worked in the life of Jesus.


    53:10. What is the will of the LORD here?


    53:11. What is the event hidden in the first phrase?


           The second half is an expression of justification. What is it?


    53:12. This is a powerful description of our redemption. What stands out to you?


  • 1. (V.1) What's one thing that stands out in your thinking about Christ revealed in this book?


    2. What does it look like to be a slave of Christ?


    3. (1-2) How does the humility of God affect you?


    4. (3) What is one way we are blessed by doing the 3 things stated here?


    5. (4) Why does peace always follow grace? How does this flow to us from each member of the Trinity?


    6. How does the eternity of God affect you?


    7. What is the purpose of the Holy Spirit in your life?


    8. (5) What is one thing that God could not do without being human?


james: Faith Tested

  • James calls on his Jewish Christian brethren who are experiencing hardship throughout the world in following Christ to hold strong and rely on God. He talks of trials, endurance and faith.


    Read James 1:1-12

    1. When did you last find joy in a trial?


    2. Where does our endurance come from?


    3. Compare people living in doubt with those who live in faith. What are some key differences?


    4. What should a Christian’s perception of success be compared to the world’s?


    5. What is rewarded for our endurance?


    6. What else is key for us to be rewarded?


    Prayer - Are there struggles that your group can pray for? Are faithful to accept God’s answer to your prayer with joy no matter the result?


    Assignment - Find joy in the trials. Do not allow yourself to become bitter when things don’t go your way. Think about what a successful life for yourself is.

  • James encourages Jewish Christ followers to take accountability and search within themselves. He calls for honesty and for action.


    Read James 1:13-27

    1. Why do we blame our weakness on God?


    2. What attributes of God are mentioned? How does meditating on these attributes affect your faith?


    3. What is our way out of death?


    4. With the current state of the world are you faithful in following verse 19-21?


    5. Do we care more about our reflections than our actual selves?


    6. What is the perfect law? Define liberty. How does this affect your faith?


    7. How is the Christian Church or even your own life measuring up to the pure and undefiled religion in the sight of God?


    Prayer - As you ask for prayer this week, focus on following through. Don’t just hear God’s word but put it into action.


    Assignment - Acknowledge when things make you angry. Be honest with yourself using this text if it’s worth something to be angry about. If you feel comfortable, share with the group your strategies when you meet those moments of anger.

  • James implores fellow Jewish Christians not to look down on others. The Jewish people had become arrogant and self righteous. Here he explores the thought process of treating others in a new way.


    Read James 2:1-13

    1. What should our attitude in faith be? How should we treat those in the church?


    2. Think about success in week 1. What is our spiritual class in the kingdom of God?


    3. We are made in God’s image. How should we reflect this image in how we treat others?


    4. What is the royal law? How would you connect this to the perfect law?


    5. Is there a hierarchy to sin? Do you rank sins and judge others more harshly on that?


    6. What place does mercy have in the Christian life compared to judgement?


    Prayer - This week as you pray, ask yourself if you’re praying with a selfish heart or a merciful heart.


    Assignment - See if you recognize if you ever place someone in higher regard because of their status in life. Challenge yourself to show mercy when you feel compelled to react in judgement.

  • James has heard a lot of speaking & hearing without action. He makes a bold statement on faith and calls out those who are spiritually dead.


    Read James 2:14-26

    1. How do we manifest our faith? Compare this to what James says in 1:22.


    2. How often do we speak empty words?


    3. Believing God is real doesn’t save us. What components make our faith real?


    4. Read Ephesians 2:8-10. Are the works performed in faith our own?


    5. Faith & works are a packaged deal. What are some of the dangers that come from separating the two?


    6. What qualifications does a person need for God to use them for His works?


    7. Read Revelations 3:15-22. Are there similarities between the church of Laodicea and what James is warning about?


    Prayer - As you pray this week, pray for a humble spirit as you do good works.


    Assignment - Ask yourself if the good works you do are for yourself or are from God. Give glory to God in the things you do. Be active in your faith, don’t put God on the back burner.

  • James explores the responsibility that church leaders have. He emphasizes the power of the spoken word.


    Read James 3:1-12

    1. Should we strive to be teachers? What are some of the pitfalls?


    2. What are the implied hardships of those leading in the church? How have you seen this be taken advantage of?


    3. How have you seen words ruin a person’s life? How have you seen them ruin churches?


    4. Do we often take small words for granted? What negative outcomes have you seen because of this?


    5. How often do we acknowledge the power of the human spirit? All humanity is made in God’s likeness not just believers, why do we curse God’s creation so often?


    6. Do you find yourself falling into a two-faced nature? What can you do to keep yourself from blessing God & then flipping around cursing another person.


    Prayer - This week as you pray, be encouraged to pray for the leaders in the church.


    Assignment - Think about the words you say. Is there a motive behind them? Is that motive for the glory of God?

  • James explores the importance of wisdom.


    Read James 3:13-18

    1. Is wisdom only spoken?


    2. Do you feel people in the church are honest with themselves and each other about jealousy?


    3. Compare earthly wisdom to wisdom from above.


    4. What qualifies as heavenly wisdom?


    5. Compare this to James 1:5.


    Prayer - This week in your prayers, seek wisdom from above.


    Assignment - Don’t act with selfish ambition. Act with qualities of heavenly wisdom.

  • James warns his Christian brethren about the dangers of the world and arrogance.


    Read James 4:1-10

    1. Do you think there are people who instigate drama in the church just for enjoyment?


    2. What does James say is the root cause of this behavior?


    3. Describe being a friend of the world. How is this different from loving people in the world? Refer to 1 John 2:7-11; 15-17.


    4. What causes God’s jealousy? How does rendering ourselves humble play into this?


    5. Should we be afraid of the devil?


    6. What James’ thoughts on feeling emotion?


    Prayer - This week as you ask for prayer, be honest with yourself about the true motives behind the prayer.


    Assignment - Be encouraged to explore your emotions. Don’t bury them deep, but feel free to express what you’re feeling. Don’t mask what’s inside.

  • James warns his Christian brethren about the dangers of trying to control things and act on God’s behalf.


    Read James 4:11-17

    1. What is our place in other people’s actions?


    2. Does this apply when disciplining within the church? Refer to Matthew 18:15-17.


    3. Should our confidence be in our own actions?


    4. How does giving situations & their outcomes to God make you feel?


    5. God opposes the proud. So where does arrogance leave you in God’s sight?


    6. Have you not done the right thing cause it might be uncomfortable?


    Prayer - This week pray that in all situations that you accept God’s will.


    Assignment - Try to act in the right way in all circumstances. Even ones that might make you feel uncomfortable.

  • James feels strongly about men who are using their riches for ill gain. Encourages Christians to support each other.


    Read James 5

    1. Describe James’ feelings on the selfish and rich.


    2. Does God listen to the cries of the oppressed?


    3. What is James’ encouragement to the downtrodden?


    4. How much did the prophets endure? Use them as your models of endurance.


    5. Do you often find yourself making empty promises? In what context?


    6. Does the western church take prayer and anointing seriously?


    7. How important is accountability?


    Prayer - As you pray this week, have faith in your endurance. Have faith in the power of prayer.


    Assignment - Be accountable for each other. Don’t judge each other but do keep each other from error. Do so with mercy & grace.