Godly Ambition in a Distracted World

Notes:(MULTILINE)

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS

If tonight is your first discussion, have everyone introduce themselves, share something about themselves, and then go over the small group guidelines. 

What do you think? 

From Sunday’s service, what stood out to you, raised a question for you, or got you to think?(MULTILINE)

The story of your life.

When thinking about the story of your life so far, what chapter do you feel like you’re currently in? A season of growth or rebuilding? A time of waiting, uncertainty, or clarity? A chapter defined by success, struggle, or transition? Something else?(MULTILINE)

Digging deeper in God’s word.

1. On Sunday, we heard from Ruslan KD who talked about “Godly Ambition.” 1 Kings 1 offers a great example of ambition gone awry and ambition done in a God-honoring way. Read the entire text together out loud (break it up a bit between readers) and respond to the following prompts and questions.
   1. Have a few members of the group recap the story using their own words.(MULTILINE)
   2. Compare and contrast the ambition of Adonijah to Bathsheba’s and to Solomon’s.(MULTILINE)
   3. What does this tell us about God? Ambition? People? Ourselves?(MULTILINE)
   4. To complete the story, Adonijah would again attempt to betray Solomon and be put to death in chapter 2. Even so, Solomon initially gave him another chance.(MULTILINE)
2. The competitive nature of humans to be “the greatest” or even just do great things has existed from the dawn of time. Even Jesus’ original disciples were not immune to the unhealthy aspects of this desire. Read Mark 10:32-45 and respond to the following prompts and questions.
   1. Have a few members of the group recap the story using their own words.(MULTILINE)
   2. What exactly does Jesus rebuke? And what implications does this have for Godly ambition vs. unhealthy ambition?(MULTILINE)
   3. What does this tell us about God? People? Ourselves?(MULTILINE)
3. Jesus offered a counterintuitive path to Godly ambition in Luke 14:7-14. Read it together and respond to the following prompts and questions.
   1. Have a few members of the group recap the story using their own words.(MULTILINE)
   2. What does this text tell us about God? Godly ambition? People? Ourselves?(MULTILINE)
4. What does Philippians 2:3-11 tell us about the path of Godly ambition?(MULTILINE)

Personal Reflection and Application.

1. Have everyone share one thing someone else said in this discussion that struck a chord with you.(MULTILINE)
2. Break up into smaller groups and pray for one another (preferably men with men and women with women).(MULTILINE)