Small Groups

FBCL small groups meet twice a month on Sunday evenings to discuss sermons, fellowship together, and care for one another.

If you would like to be involved with small groups, please contact us.

Application questions will be posted here on Sunday mornings.

Discussion Questions

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Review Genesis 2:8-10 and Ecclesiastes 2:1-11. What is Solomon doing when he builds the temple or plants and cultivates a garden?
Solomon understands who he is in God’s program, that he is to continue in Adam’s task–to fill the world with God’s glory. How are you an imitator of God? How can you use your gifts–creative and otherwise–to bring God’s glory into the world?
During the sermon we explored the meaning of pleasure: what it is for, what it is doing in us, and what is good for the sons of Adam to do on their short time on earth. How would you define pleasure? How would you define good? Does this sermon challenge you to redefine these words in light of the passage?
How do we have hearts that cultivate righteous pleasure? How do you find pleasure in all your toil?
“Virtue is its own reward.” Though our work/toil will not last forever, it is still worth doing. In what areas of your life are you tempted to consider your work to be done in vain?
What does Solomon conclude–and what do we learn by extension–from meditating on the fact that even good things are vapor? If even good things end (are vapor), why do them?
What’s something you are currently working towards in your life? Talk with your group about the tendency to be more concerned about results than about doing what’s right, in the right way, for the right reason.

Romans 8:12-13

How does weeding the garden illustrate Romans 8:13? What are the points of comparison between addressing remaining sin in your life as a believer and uprooting weeds?
What does Paul mean by “the flesh” in Romans 8:12-13? How does the flesh relate to “the deeds of the body”? How would you explain the flesh to a child?
What are some challenges to constant or daily weeding (that is, uprooting remaining sin)?
What are some motivations to constant weeding in these verses?
Pastor Ross answered the question, “How do we uproot remaining sin by the Spirit day to day?” with 4 parts. Which do you need to apply in your life? Be specific.
- First, the Spirit through the Word of God helps us see our sin accurately.
- Second, consider the inconsistency of your sin as a believer.
- Third, consider the power and the provision that is yours in Christ.
- Fourth, as part of your repentance, put sin to death.

Romans 8:14-17

What are the three characteristics of children of God which Pastor Ross noted from Romans 8:14-17?
What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “Spirit led” or “led by the Spirit”?
How does the New Testament describe what it looks like for a Christian to be “Spirit led”? Consider Romans 8:14 in light of 8:13 and Galatians 5:18 in light of 5:16-24 as you answer.
How should confidence and closeness—marks of our adoption as God’s children (Romans 8:15-16)—shape our prayer lives?
We are fellow heirs with Christ. Pastor Ross ended with an illustration (from J.D. Crowley) about two men, one sick/poor and one rich/health, and an angel telling their future. He closed with this quote: “There is really no such thing as a poor Christian, only a rich Christian waiting for his inheritance.” Discuss that quote. Is it true? How it helpful?
How does the whole of Romans 8:17 (heirs with him, glorified with him) help you suffer with Christ well?