Download discussion questions:  Psalm 102

This week’s Calvary Institute discussion on Psalms of Lament was led by Dereje, a church-planting intern at Calvary Restoration Church.  We read Psalm 102 aloud, each person reading a verse from his/her own translation.

Translations

The first question that came up related to the differences in translations.  For example, at the end the psalmist says, “The children of your servants shall dwell secure” (v. 28, ESV).  However, other translations say “will live in your presence” (NIV), or “will continue” (NASB), or even “will have a good place to live” (MSG).  (The BibleGateway web site can display dozens of translations for comparison.) Continue reading →

Download discussion questions:  Psalm 73

This week’s Calvary Institute discussion on Psalms of Lament was led by Brian, a member of the staff at Calvary Restoration Church.  After the group spent some time looking at Psalm 73, Brian suggested we think about the perspective of the psalm.  Specifically, how and where does the psalmist’s perspective change?  Continue reading →

Download discussion questions:  Psalm 42-43

Since we were starting a new Calvary Institute study in Psalms, we began with an overview of poetry and more specifically Hebrew poetry.

Introduction to Psalms

Poetry – What and Why?

When asked to define poetry, the group responded with “rhyme” and “rhythm.”  One person mentioned that music is often an expression of poetry with those characteristics.  Another comment brought up “modern” poetry that often has neither rhyme nor rhythm. Continue reading →

Download discussion questions:  1 John 3:23-5:1

After our usual beginning time of looking over the passage and discussion questions individually, one attentive member of the group made the observation:  “This is the same passage as last week.”  The text of 1 John 3:23 to 5:1 had much to say related to the second section of the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe in Jesus Christ….”  Likewise, the same passage has several statements relating to this week’s topic:  “I believe in the Holy Spirit….”  This is a good example of the richness of Scripture.  Spending an hour discussing or several hours studying a passage never exhausts the depth of God’s message in that text. Continue reading →

Download discussion questions:  1 John 3:23-5:1

John’s letter continued to warn against deceivers and those who would misrepresent who Jesus is.  Since one of the functions of the Creed is to provide a framework for understanding the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 1 John provides a good starting point for this study. Continue reading →

Download discussion questions:  1 John 3:1-24

After last week’s introduction to the Apostles’ Creed, the next three weeks will be spent on each section of the Creed:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Continue reading →

Download discussion questions:  1 John 2:18-3:3
Download a copy of the Apostles’ Creed

A four-week study of the Apostles’ Creed will of necessity be a cursory overview.[1]  Cursory does not mean superficial.  The goal is to use Scripture as our foundation and starting point.  We want to examine each section of the Creed (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) in light of Biblical teaching:  Does the Bible really say that?  Does the Creed provide an accurate (if not exhaustive) description of our faith?  Are there topics not in the Creed that are essential to saving faith?  Are there parts of the Creed that are not necessary? Continue reading →

Download discussion questions:  1 John 2:9-17

After spending ten minutes or so looking at the passage individually, our discussion started with, “What questions come to mind as you read this passage?”  The numerous responses were mostly about the central section (verses 12-14).  “Those verses don’t seem to fit with what John was saying.  Who is he writing to?  Does he mean literal children and fathers and young men?  Is he describing stages of spiritual life?  Why doesn’t he mention women?”  Continue reading →

Download discussion questions:  1 John 2:1-11

In the passage last week, John had a lot to say about spiritual maturity and how our claims can be measured by our conduct (1 John 1:5-2:2).  This week we picked up with the beginning of chapter 2.  John’s desire for writing, “so that you may not sin,” applies to both what he wrote before in chapter 1 and what we looked at in chapter 2. Continue reading →

Download discussion questions:  1 John 1:3-2:2
Download outline format:  1 John1:3-2:2

Last week we saw John’s emphatic introduction about first-hand “sensory experiences” (1 John 1:1-5).  Now he immediately moves into a practical (if uncomfortable) topic of how sin affects the fellowship and joy (1 John 1:3) he desired for his readers (and for us). Continue reading →