Gateway South & Gateway Central

2/28 GRAY MATTERS

What’s most important to live a life with purpose and intentionality? Inspired by the book of Colossians, THIS MATTERS intends to help you realize that you matter way more than you think! Next Steps are designed to help you maximize the impact of the message GRAY MATTERS this week. Work through the following questions, and get together with your Life Group, running partner, &/or friends to discuss what you’ve learned!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Have you ever had a nickname? If so, what was it and how did you get it?
2. In high school, were you a part of a group that was judged or labeled by others? If so, what happened?
3. At Gateway, John Burke has used the analogy of the mud and the masterpiece. Too often, we judge people by their mud, or we even judge ourselves by our mud, rather than seeing the masterpiece God can help us become. How have you seen people overcome the mud in their lives? How have you experienced freedom in your own life?
4. Read Colossians 3:1-3. What helps you set your heart and mind on things above rather than getting bogged down on earthly things?
5. Some assume the Bible is just a giant “Don’t Do List.” Instead, it shows us how we can replace the destructive ways of this world with the life-giving ways of Jesus. According to Colossians 3:5-15, how can we replace our vices with virtues?
6. Read Colossians 3:16-17. How can we live the kind of life God desires for us? Have you experienced the difference gratitude, singing to God, and reading the Bible can make in your life? Which of the areas of the old nature seem to be the most common temptations in you life?
7. What is your antidote to replace those old ways with the ways of Jesus? In other words, what does God want you to do this week to overcome these struggles?

KEY SCRIPTURES

Colossians 3:1-4 — Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Colossians 3:5-15 — Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Colossians 3:16-17 — Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

DIGGING DEEPER

Did you know you can now track your progress working through the outcomes we include in Next Steps right on Gateway’s website?! Go to SPIRITUAL GROWTH PATH and create an account. You’ll get access to Spiritual Fitness Checks and training with the spiritual outcomes.

Spiritual Outcomes – Freedom, Spiritual Disciplines, & Worship God

• Learn more about how you can experience ever-increasing freedom from the mud in your life by working through the FREEDOM outcome.
• Learn more about how how you can replace the destructive ways of this world with the life-giving ways of Jesus by working through the SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES outcome.
• Learn more about the value of expressing gratitude and singing to God by working through the WORSHIP GOD outcome.

BIBLE APP by YOU VERSION

If you’ve yet to do so, we encourage you to download the Bible App by YouVersion on your smart phone. Create a free YouVersion account under Settings. Tap Plans > Discover > Search: Outreach New Testament > Start Plan. Then you can read along each day with us!