Read these four passages the week of November 8th:

In last week’s Old Testament reading (Amos 5), God had strong words for the unjust. In this week’s Old Testament reading (Zephaniah 1), God has a strong warning for the complacent. What, according to this reading, is the danger of complacency? Are there any areas in your life where you sense God calling you out of complacency?
What does this week’s Psalm teach us about God? Is there anything in the reading that has especially stuck with you this week? Anything that you really needed to hear? Anything you think you really need to remember? Consider memorizing that verse between now and next week, and ask the group to help keep you accountable to memorizing. Recite it to them next week :)
This week’s New Testament reading 1 Thessalonians 5:1–10) is very similar to last week’s gospel reading (Matthew 25:1–13). Where are you tempted to “sleep” spiritually, and where might God be inviting you to “wake up?” Why is it important to stay alert and “sober?”
Jesus tells a classic parable in Matthew 25:14–30. Imagine you are watching the master’s response to the three servants. How do you think the master may have responded if one of his servants had invested their resources wisely, but lost money on the investment instead of making money? Does anything the master says in the parable lead you to this conclusion? How does God expect us to steward those resources he has entrusted to us?

God: What does this teach about God?
Us: What does this teach about ourselves/ humanity?
Meaning: Why does God include this in his word?
Values: What values are important to God, and what values does he want us to hold? (note: these are often at odds with our culture’s values)
Attitude: How should I think and respond to things that happen around me or to me?
Behavior: What is God calling me to obey?
Share: What is God calling me to share?
Surprise: Does anything in this reading surprise me? Confuse me?