When we treat gossip as an “excusable sin,” we ignore the corrosive power it has in our lives and relationships. In this conversation, Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor talk about why we’re so drawn to gossip, how to avoid it, and how to repent of it when you fail. They discuss some telltale phrases that are red flags for gossip, how to turn the conversation to something else, and when and how it’s right to confess gossip. Listen in as Courtney and Melissa spill the tea on gossip. Related Content:How to Shut Down GossipLet’s Talk: Fighting SinTaming the Tongue: How the Gospel Transforms Our Talk Discussion Questions:1. How did the verses shared expand your understanding of what gossip is and how it’s harmful?2. How have you experienced the repercussions or damage of gossip?3. What recent opportunities have you had to use healing, life-giving words? When have there been opportunities for your words to be potentially damaging?4. In what situations are you most prone to engage in gossip? What motivations might be driving this desire?5. What redirection strategies would be helpful for you to have in mind as you try to guard your conversations against gossip?6. What things unite your current friendships? How do they affect the quality of those relationships?
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Making Decisions with Our Limits in Mind
Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor talk with Jen Wilkin about how to make decisions regarding good opportunities in light of our finiteness. They talk about why quitting is sometimes wise, how to think about decisions that will affect your family, and why it’s better to think of God's will as a field rather than a maze.Recommended ResourcesLeadership on the Line by Ronald A. Heifetz and Martin LinskyPrecious Remedies Against Satan's Devices by Thomas BrooksRelated ContentShould I Prioritize Family or Work? Neither.The Busy Christian Family 6 Lessons for Tending Your TimeDiscussion Questions What is your attitude toward change? Are you more prone to embrace or resist changes in your life?Who has God positioned in your life to help you process significant transitions or decisions?What could a regular practice of “taking the temperature” of your current commitments look like? How can you assess the way they’re affecting your relationships with the Lord and others?In what ways are your current commitments influencing the amount and quality of time you spend with the Lord?Describe a time when you’ve decided to commit to a “sacrificial yes,” “necessary no,” or “not right now.” How has God used that experience to teach you about stewarding time?What attributes of God do you need to be reminded of as you make decisions about commitments in this season of life?
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Waiting for God in the Gaps
Melissa and Courtney talk with Mark Vroegop about the gap moments of our lives when we have to wait. They discuss why waiting is so frustrating, what it means to wait on the Lord, what the Bible says about waiting, and how to recognize the sinful patterns we should avoid in times of waiting. No one likes to wait, but waiting is where we learn to walk by faith and where God does some of his best work in our lives!Discussion Questions: 1. How are you currently experiencing waiting?2. What expectations are you bringing to that situation, and how might those be shaping your thoughts and actions?3. How has God used past seasons of waiting as “fertilizer” to strengthen your faith?4. How does knowing that God both commends and commands waiting change your perspective as you wait?5. Of the 3 A’s mentioned (anger, anxiety, apathy), which are you most prone to feel in your “gap times”?6. Which attributes of God are most comforting or helpful for you to be reminded of in your “gap times”?7. Which biblical example of waiting was most meaningful to you? What other encouraging examples come to mind?Resources Mentioned:Waiting Isn’t a Waste by Mark VroegopRelated Resources:How God Uses Our WaitingHope for Waiting HeartsGod’s People Are a Waiting PeopleSeasons of Waiting: Walking by Faith When Dreams Are Delayed by Betsy Childs Howard
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Live: Bible Study in the Local Church Matters
Recommended ResourcesChosen Together (TGC25 keynote by John Piper on Ephesians 1:3–14)In View of God’s Mercies by Courtney Doctor (Bible study book)Related ContentHow to Organize and Orchestrate a Bible Study3 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Bible StudyFour Types of Questions NOT to Ask in Your Small Group Bible StudyNeed a Fall Women’s Bible Study? Try One of These.Rubric Questions for Choosing a Group Bible Study:Does this study require me to have my Bible open?Are the questions rooted in the text?Does this study account for various learning styles?Is it accessible to the women I'm leading?Does it speak to a current need in our church?Five Levels of Communication:1. Small Talk2. Facts3. Opinions and Ideas4. Feelings5. Deep EmotionDiscussion Questions1. Which book of the Bible could you study over and over without ever getting tired of it?2. What unique aspects of doing Bible study within the local church have you experienced?3. When have you been part of studies that were aligned with what was happening in other areas of the church? What benefits did you experience from that alignment? What opportunities exist for future alignment?4. What locations do you usually study in (home or church)? What benefits could come from hosting your group in different settings?5. How prone is your study group to using “Christianese”? How can you be more intentional about using language that would make unbelieving friends comfortable joining your discussion?6. How has prioritizing time in God’s Word and in prayer helped you love others better?
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Social Media: Wisdom and Warnings
Melissa Kruger talks with her friends Hunter Beless and Laura Wifler about the role social media has played in their lives, both positive and negative. They talk about temptations that can arise from social media—from neglecting other good pursuits to inspiring covetousness. They discuss why it can be helpful to take breaks and what red flags they look for in their own lives that show social media is doing them more harm than good.Recommended Resources:Journeywomen podcastTitus: Displaying the Gospel of GraceRelated Content:Social Sanity in an Insta WorldThe Danger of Self-Soothing Through Social MediaWhy I’m Staying on Social MediaThe Disaster and Delight of Social MediaDiscussion Questions:1. What one word would best describe your current relationship with social media?2. What benefits or positive experiences have you had from engaging with social media?3. In what ways does your social media consumption feed comparison or discontentment in your life?4. What would it look like to engage with social media in ways that glorify God and allow you to love others well? What would you start and stop doing?5. What practices or boundaries could you put in place to be a wise consumer of online content?6. Have you ever taken a break (or considered taking a break) from social media? What was the experience like?7. How can your discussion partners pray for you as you consider how to engage with social media in healthy, God-honoring ways?
The Deep Dish is a new podcast from TGC hosted by Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor that invites women into deep conversations about the deep truths of God. These discussions (which are always better served up with a slice of deep-dish pizza!) will equip women to engage in richer discipleship relationships in their local contexts. Tune in for warm conversations among friends—including special guests along the way—to dig deeper into God’s Word and explore how it applies to every area of our lives.
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