Week 9: Chapter 8

Week 9: Chapter 8

Icebreaker:

Challenge Review:

Share with your group how God used your experience in trying to let go of your "silly things"  to sharpen your focus on the kingdom of God.

Prime the Pump:

Chapter 8 Video

Discussion/ Prayer:

Read Luke 6:32-36

"There has to be more to our faith than friendliness,  politeness,  and even kindness. "  

1. How often do you find yourself adopting an attitude of anger and revenge towards people that wrong you?

" True faith is loving a person after he has hurt you. True love makes you stand out."

A.   How do you pass up or ignore opportunities God gives you to love people unconditionally?  

Read Luke 14:12-14

B.  Who/What are some people/ways you can love people unconditionally?   What challenges do you face in demonstrating unconditional love?

"  People who are obsessed with Jesus give freely and openly,  without censure.   Obsessed people love those who hate the them and who can never love them back.  

C.   What will help us overcome the obstacles we face in loving others unconditionally?

2.  How has our need for security and comfort kept us from experiencing God's faithfulness and growing in our confidence with Him?  

A.  What cultural influences have caused us to live in fear and not take risks so that we can experience God's faithfulness?  

"People who are obsessed with Jesus aren't consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else.   Obsessed people care more about God's Kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress."

Read 1 John 2:3-11/Matthew 16:24-26

3.  How has our culture conditioned us to avoid relationships with the poor and to show contempt rather than compassion?

A. How has the pursuit of the "American Dream" (riches and financial security) hindered your relationship with God?  

"People who are obsessed with Jesus live lives that connect them with the poor in some way or another.   Obsessed people believe that Jesus talked about money and the poor so often because it was really important to Him. "

4.  Why is obedience to God that actually costs us something such a radical and foreign concept?  

" Obsessed people are more concerned with obeying God than doing what is expected or fulfilling the status quo. A person who is obsessed with Jesus will do things that don't always make sense in terms of success or wealth on this earth.  As Martin Luther put it,  ' There are two days on my calendar: this day and that day. "

" About three minutes into my prayer,  I stopped.   It hit me that the students were talking about me,  not God.  I was standing before a holy God and robbing Him of the glory that was rightfully His. "

Read Isaiah 42: 8

5.  How have we robbed God of His glory by not humbling ourselves before God?

" A person who is obsessed with Jesus knows that the sin of pride is always a battle.   Obsessed people know that you can never be 'humble enough'  and so they seek to make themselves less known and Christ more known. "

6. Do you find yourself complaining about serving God and find spending time with God a burden?  

A.   What would help change the way you view service to God?  

" People who are obsessed with Jesus don't consider service a burden.   Obsessed pool take joy in loving God by loving His people. "

Read Matthew 22:39

Read Matthew 5:16

7.  How can your treatment of others be used to point to Jesus?  

" People who are obsessed with God are known as givers,  not takers.   Obsessed people genuinely think that others matter as much as they do,  and they are particularly aware of those who are poor around the world."  

Read Philippians 3:18-21

8.   How does knowing that the children of God are foreigners to earth impact the way you live on earth?

A.  How does knowing that our time on earth is short and our permanent home is in heaven affect the way you spend your finances?

"A person who is obsessed thinks about heaven frequently.   Obsessed people orient their lives around eternity; they are not fixed only on what is here in front of them.   

Read Deuteronomy 6:4-9

9.  What does loving God with all your heart,  soul,  and mind look like in your life?

"A person who is obsessed is characterized by committed,  settled,  passionate love for God,  above and before every other thing and every other being."

"I find myself acting differently with God.   ,,  when I pray I will phrase my sentences in a way that makes me sound better.   I will try to soften my sins,  or touch up my true feelings before laying them before God. "  

10.  How does our prayer life reflect our lack of intimacy with God?  

" People who are obsessed are raw with God; they do not attempt to mask the I ugliness of their sins or their failures.   Obsessed people don't put it on for God; He is their safe place,  where they can be at peace."

"People who are obsessed with God have an intimate relationship with Him.   They are nourished by God's Word throughout the day because they know that forty minutes on Sunday is not enough to sustain them for a whole week,  especially when they will encounter so many distractions and alternative messages."  

"A person who is obsessed with Jesus is more concerned with his or her character than comfort.  Obsessed people know that true joy doesn't depend on circumstances or environment; it is a gift that must be chosen and cultivated a gift that ultimately comes from God. "

" A person who is obsessed with Jesus knows that the best thing he can do is be faithful to his Savior in every aspect of his life,  continually saying' Thank You! " to God.   An obsessed person known there can never be intimacy if he is always trying to pay God back or work hard enough to be worthy.   He revels in his role as child and friend of God."  

Challenge:

Commit to reading your bible and praying everyday.  Pray that God would reveal 1 person you can grow in loving this week.  Take active steps to love that person unconditionally.