The Bottom Line
Discussion Questions
Romans 11:36
January 7, 2020

Big Idea

What is the bottom line that can sustain you in the coming year and in life? “You can’t figure life out so walk with God and He will help you through it with joy.”
Rom 11:36

Ice Breaker

Share with the group a story from your life where you were pretty deeply rattled and you just couldn’t figure out what was happening and why.

Next Step

Read the book by Randy Alcorn, “Does God Want Us to be Happy?”

Additional Discussion Questions

  • Why does life have to be complicated? The answer is that life is a mix of good and evil. The fall is the worst thing that ever happened to us and we did it to ourselves. We, in effect said to God: “We want to be like god and we can handle this.” When life is hard do you have times that you doubt God? Share with the group what make you struggle with God in these times. Share with the group what helps you regain your footing. After the group has shared read the following: Two thoughts regarding the pain of life: never underestimate the pain of the sheep nor the power of God’s presence that gives joy in suffering. Heb 12:2 states, “…for the joy set before Him He(Christ) endured the cross.” Why did Jesus do it? Answer: joy. Christ’s joy is you. He’s thrilled to be a part of your life!!

  • When you face the hard times in life you will be tempted with the bad choice to make your greatest form of suffering the center of your life. This leads us to have a victim mentality and it leads us to accuse God. A good mindset to have in suffering is this goal: Use suffering to get to know God better. Share with the group a story of your suffering and how you were able to draw closer to Christ through the suffering.

  • If you are struggling right now to respond well to the suffering you are going through and if there is a level of trust in your small group please share honestly with the group about your struggle. Remember John the Baptist was in prison and he began to struggle in his suffering so much that he wondered whether Christ was the Messiah or not. Let the group love you, pray with you and be with you in it. Note to group leaders: consider talking to the group to remind them not to try to “fix” someone who is not in a good place. Rather, thank them for trusting you with the struggle–that’s a big step. Then ask them how the group can support them.

Notes and quotes

  • Ps 16:11 “In Your presence there is fullness of joy”.

  • He could snap his fingers and let your pain go away. Why doesn’t he? He doesn’t because His relationship with me and what it produces is greater than the absence of suffering.

  • All are fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind.

  • Mystery of God is that He uses the coexistence of good and evil to work out his plan of judgment and salvation. So, I accept my lot in life. But I NEED you to walk with me.

  • You don’t know God is all you need until He’s all you have.

  • “Joy is the serious business of heaven .” C S Lewis. If this is true of heaven it’s true of earth too.

  • “If you want to get warm you must stand by the fire. If you want joy you must get close to the person who has it.” C.S. Lewis.