MISSION COMMUNITY QUESTIONS 

QUICK REVIEW

Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching on Romans 12:1-2, was there anything that particularly caught your attention, challenged or confused you?

DIGGING DEEPER

1. Why is it crucial for followers of Jesus to do everything by (or in view) the gospel?

2. How did we define what it meant to be a gospel centered church? Can you remember any Old Testament examples where non-gospel issues effected the Israelites? What can we learn from their mistakes/distractions? What are the dangers of loosing focus on being centered on the gospel?

3. Why does a gospel centered church hinge on having gospel centered members? Can you have one without the other?

4. What is meant when we say, "God wants the best of you?" What does this not mean?

5. It what ways can our private lives effect our church family?

6. When Paul states, "present your bodies a living sacrifice" what is petitioning us to do?

7. Romans 12:2, commands us to not be conformed to this world (age). This is really difficult. What are ways you are tempted to conform to this world? What are areas we can pray for you in regards to these issues. (This is a great moment to be vulnerable with your group. Confessing to your church family gives us an opportunity to illustrate what it means to be gospel centered.)

8. In Romans 12:1, we see this phrase, ...your spiritual worship. In the original language the word spiritual is really the word for "logic or logical." Why do you believe Paul writes that offering our bodies is our "logical" act of worship?

9. For us to be a gospel centered church member, we must sacrifice or renew our mind. Why is important for the gospel to transform the way we think and see the world? How is this countercultural?

10. Read Romans 1:18-31, Ephesians 4:17-24, and Colossians 3:1-11. How do we see the our minds and actions connected? Is your private life marked more like those who have a renewed mind or the lost?

11. What do you need to sacrifice? (Remember not to be saved...but in view of God's mercy) What in your "will" needs to be put to death so that you can clearly see the will of God? 12. So what?

"Be careful to preach the dos and don’ts of Scripture in the shadow of the cross’s ‘Done!"

-Matt Chandler

MORE RESOURCES FOR GROWTH

(The following is a list of books to encourage your growth in being gospel centered) 

Christian Living

The Gospel-Centered Life by Bob Thune & Will Walker
Gospel-Centred Life by Steve Timmis & Tim Chester
Everyday Prayers: 365 Days to a Gospel-Centered Faith by Scotty Smith
Gospel Centered Productivity by Ryan Pelton
In Christ Alone: Living the Gospel Centered Life by Sinclair Ferguson
The Gospel-Driven Life by Michael Horton
Gospel-Powered Humility by William Farley

Church & Ministry

Gospel-Centered Ministry by Tim Keller
Center Church: Doing Gospel-Centered Ministry In Your City by Tim Keller
Christ-Centered Worship: Letting the Gospel Shape Our Practice by Bryan Chapell
Conduct Gospel-Centered Funerals by Brian Croft
Gospel-Centered Church by Steve Timmis
The Gospel as Center by The Gospel Coalition
Gospel-Centred Leadership by Steve Timmis
Kingdom Come: A Gospel-Centered Guide to Discipleship by Shawn Kennedy & Bill Mangham
Gospel-Centered Teaching by Trevin Wax (coming)
Gospel-Centered Discipleship by Jonathan Dodson
As You Go: Creating a Missional Culture of Gospel-Centered Students by Alvin Reid
Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics by Graeme Goldsworthy

Family

The Gospel Centered Woman by Wendy Alsup
Gospel-Centered Marriage by Tim Chester
Gospel-Centered Parenting by Rick Thomas
Orphanology: Awakening to Gospel-Centered Adoption and Orphan Care by Tony Merida & Rick Morton
Gospel-Powered Parenting: How the Gospel Shapes and Transforms Parenting by William Farley

Then there are quite a few books that may not have gospel-centered in the title, but still mean to be obviously gospel-centric.

Creature of the Word: The Jesus-Centered Church by Matt Chandler, Eric Geiger & Josh Patterson
Living the Cross Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney
The Gospel for Real Life by Jerry Bridges
The Transforming Power of the Gospel by Jerry Bridges
The Gospel’s Power and Message: Recovering the Gospel by Paul Washer
Gospel in Life by Tim Keller
Gospel by J.D. Greear
The Gospel Story Bible by Marty Machowski
Gospel Treason by Brad Bigney
Gospel Wakefulness by Jared Wilson
Gospel Deeps by Jared Wilson
Cruciform: Living the Cross-Shaped Life by Jimmy Davis
Everyday Church: Gospel Communities on Mission by Tim Chester
Faithmapping: A Gospel Atlas for Your Spiritual Journey by Daniel Montgomery & Mike Cosper
Christ Formed in You: the Power of the Gospel for Personal Change by Brian Hedges
Glimpses of Grace: Treasuring the Gospel in Your Home by Gloria Furman (coming)
Christ in the Chaos: How the Gospel Changes Motherhood by Kimm Crandall
The Gospel Is For Christians by Mitchell Chase
The Gospel for Real Life booklet series
Believers Need the Gospel by Peter Jeffery
Gospel Love: Grace, Relationships, and Everything that Gets in the Way by World Harvest Mission
Gospel Coach: Shepherding Leaders to Glorify God by Scott Thomas and Tom Wood
Housewife Theologian: How the Gospel Interrupts the Ordinary by Aimee Byrd (coming)
ESV Gospel Application Bible