Book Club: Abba's Child Chapter 1

Intro Thread

(Just to recap: I'll be following the study guide in the back of my copy of the book - but please, feel free to contribute anything you want to these discussions).

Chapter One - Come Out of Hiding

Begin with five minutes of silent prayer, bcoming aware in faith of the Indwelling Presence and humbly asking the Spirit to speak to your heart through Scripture, personal reflection, and the insights of others.

Let one of the group read aloud Romans 7:14-25. Then focus on the following questions for personal reflection and group interaction:

1. After an experience of personal failure, have I beaten myself up with words like "jerk, stupid, hypocrite, loser, I'm so ashamed I'd like to crawl in a hole" and projected my own feelings on to God, assuming the He feels the same way about me? What role have low self esteem and self-rejection played in my relationship with Jesus? Illustrate with examples.

2. Faith is the courage to accept acceptance. Have I had the courage to come out of hiding, to share with raw honesty where I am and trust that Jesus accepts me in my brokenness?

Chapter 2 for next week.