How People Change, Chapter 7

Chapter 7 – Heat 1: God in the Real World
1. How do our life experiences and emotional reactions to these experiences change our theology? (p. 95-96).
2. Read Psalm 88. What is the Psalm writer experiencing? Have you felt this way?
3. What are the lessons from this Psalm? (p. 98).
4. Do you edit your prayer requests? What would it take to be more honest?
5. How does Psalm 88 encourage you?
6. Read James 1:1-15. What is the historical context?
7. What is the truth about trials from James 1, Philippians 1:29, and I Peter 4:12 & 13?
8. How can trials come from blessings? (p. 101).
9. What makes the difference between trials producing thorns or fruit? (p. 102).
10. Read and answer the questions about James 1 on page 103.
11. This series of questions come from page 104 and 105:
– What pressures do you regularly face?
– What are your God-given opportunities?
– What are your everyday responsibilities?
– Where are you facing difficult circumstances?
– What temptations are you facing?
– Who are the difficult people in your life?
– What unexpected blessings have you received?
– In what situations do you feel alone or misunderstood?
– What challenges does the value system of modern culture present?
– In what areas do you feel overwhelmed by the things “assigned” to you (blessing or difficulty)?
– What are the places you are tempted to hide from or avoid?
– What situations tempt you to say you are okay when you are not?
– What is the hardest experience of your past?
– What is your greatest fear about the future?
12. What was the key point for you in this chapter?
13. Action Point: