Week 8: WISDOM AND AMBITION (pt 2)

 

If you would like to print this study, or have trouble viewing it on your screen, you can download the Microsoft Word document below.

 

On Sunday at church Kieran preached on 1 Timothy 6:6-12 and taught us that the perfect partner to ambition is godliness with contentment. Please make sure you have watched Sunday’s sermon before Community Group.

 
 

Read this overview

Before you start, take some time reflecting on the teaching. What did you learn? What was helpful? What did you struggle with?

Last week as part of our wisdom series we looked at Wisdom and Ambition. Today we’re going to look at the one quality we must partner up with our ambition to keep it on track. Contentment!

At first glance Ambition and contentment look like natural enemies. But when partnered up make the perfect combination of skills to help us to thrive as active apprentices to Jesus.

Begin with silence and prayer 

[5 minutes]

Sit down, get comfortable and ask someone to pray aloud for the study.

Then spend a few minutes in silence. Ask God to help us remove distractions from our minds, listen to what He is saying to and through each of us and change our lives accordingly.

 

DEBRIEF

Reflect on last week’s study application (smaller groups)

[10 minutes]

You were encouraged to ask the following questions of your ambition. How did feel? What did you learn? What did you change?

  1. What is my motivation? Is it for me or for God/others?

  2. How is my ambition affecting others? How is it effecting my friends, family, the environment, my colleagues and even people I may not know?

  3. Is it getting in the way of my discipleship? Is it stopping me from seeking God, having fellowship, serving, giving, growing in godliness? 

 

DEEP DIVE

Open to the Bible together (whole group)

[15 minutes]

Have somebody read the following texts: 

  • 1 Timothy 6:6-8

  • Proverbs 30:7-9

  • Philippians 4:10-13

Talk about the following questions: 

  1. What are some common themes in these verses?

  2. What are some benefits of contentment listed in these verses?

  3. What is the link between simple living and contentmet?

  4. What is the secret to contentment?

  5. What do you think that means?

As Christians, our contentment comes from knowing who we are and what we have in Christ. Read Ephesians 1:3-14 and list each of the “every spiritual blessing” that Paul mentions.

 

DISCIPLESHIP

Application for the coming week: 

[5 minutes]

One of the greatest ways to build contentment is to be thankful. This week’s application is to cultivate habits of thankfulness in your life. Gratitude/thankfulness have been brought back into the public sphere via pop-psychology and have been a great benefit for many people. We must remember that these are not just good psychology, but spiritual disciplines that we should apply to our lives. Below are some ways you can incorporate thankfulness into your life.

  • Psalm 118:24 in the ESV says: “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Write this out, print it out or put is as a lock screen on your phone so that you see it first things every day.

  • Start your day taking 1 minute to thank God. List specific things you are thankful for.

  • Before you go to sleep, take 1 minute to list and thank God for the blessings of the day.

  • Make more time for thanks in your daily prayer time.

  • Start a gratitude journal. This can be paper or a note on your phone. Turn to it when you need are feeling discontent or are tempted to compare your life with others’.

  • Each day write something you’re thankful for on a piece of paper and put it in a jar. At the end of the month take one out and reflect on God’s goodness. This works great with a family.

  • Express your gratitidute to someone in your life. Thank them for the way they bless you. Tell them that they are blessing from God.

Work through these discussion questions: 

[10 minutes]

  1. How do you currently practice gratitude/thankfulness in your daily life?

  2. When do you find it most difficult to be thankful?

  3. Which of the above ideas will you incorporate into your life this week?

  4. How will you do this?

  5. Think of 3 things your thankful for. Share them with the group now.

 

Close in prayer 

[15 minutes]