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?
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Why Can We Trust the Bible?
Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor talk with Vanessa Hawkins about the Bible’s trustworthiness. They discuss why things like apparent inconsistencies and many different authors can actually point to the truth of the Christian Scriptures.They recommend resources to help listeners become familiar with biblical genre and the overarching narrative of the Bible to better understand how Scripture fits together.Recommended Resources:How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon Fee and Douglas StuartSurviving Religion 101 by Michael KrugerCanon FodderThe Whole Story of the Bible in 16 Verses by Chris BrunoFrom Garden to Glory by Courtney DoctorFrom Beginning to Forever by Elizabeth WoodsonNancy GuthrieRelated Content:The Biblical CanonWhy You Can Trust Your BibleHow to Face Apparent Contradictions in the BibleGen Z’s Questions About Christianity: The Bible’s AuthorityDiscussion Questions:What questions or doubts about the Bible’s reliability have you encountered from others or wrestled with yourself? What has been challenging about addressing those questions or concerns?How is the nature of eyewitness testimony helpful in increasing our confidence in the Bible’s accuracy?What consistencies within the Bible amaze you and grow your trust in God and his Word? Where do you see the beauty, harmony, and power of his Word displayed?How does being familiar with the Bible’s overarching narrative help us read and understand it better? What steps can you take to increase your understanding of this narrative or to help others become more familiar with it?What other details in this episode were surprising or served as helpful reminders of why we can trust God’s Word?
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Summer Reading with Melissa and Collin (from TGC's Gospelbound Podcast)
We’re sharing this episode of our Gospelbound podcast as a bonus episode for Deep Dish listeners because we know you love to read! In it, Melissa Kruger and Collin Hansen talk about what’s on their own summer reading list and share recommendations of other books they believe our listeners will enjoy. We hope this conversation will lead you to books that are edifying and enjoyable. Happy reading!Collin's Summer Reading ListGodric by Frederick BuechnerThe Fate of the Day by Rick AtkinsonThe Space Trilogy by C. S. Lewis Melissa's Summer Reading ListHomecoming by Kate MortonThe Lord's Work in the Lord's Way and No Little People by Francis A. Schaeffer The Expulsive Power of a New Affection by Thomas ChalmersFor the full list of book recommendations mentioned in this episode, visit our website.
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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