What if We Learned to Forgive? - Further Study Questions.

This past Sunday's lesson was titled "What if we learned to forgive?". Take some time to continue studying, considering and applying the lesson through the following questions and Scripture passages.

What are some of the reasons why I struggle to forgive others? 

How does an unwillingness to forgive others impact my life?

It is important that I understand God’s forgiveness toward me. Read Romans 5:8. Consider what this verse tells me about God’s love and forgiveness. What other verses help me to understand God’s forgiveness?

In Matthew 18:15-35, what is Peter’s concern when he comes to Jesus and asks his question? How does Jesus answer Peter? What does seventy times seven mean?

In Matthew 18:15-35, to illustrate His teaching on forgiveness, Jesus tells a story about a king’s servant who becomes an object of the king’s mercy. What is Jesus’ point in the parable?

Meditate on and consider how I have seen and tasted Christ’s forgiveness and mercy in my life. What does my willingness to forgive or not forgive others say about me?

According to Matthew 5:25, how quickly must I forgive?

How do I forgive even when I don’t feel like forgiving?

REACH – An acronym on forgiveness.

            R – Remember how much I’ve been forgiven. Read Ephesians 4:32.

 

E – Empathize with the person who hurt you. Try to understand why. Avoid judging. Read Luke 6:37.

A – Give an altruistic gift of forgiveness. Try to recall a time when I harmed someone who later forgave me. Read John 21.

C- Commit publicly to forgive. I can truly forgive in your heart but sometimes a public act helps to remind me that I have forgiven them. Restore the other. Read Luke 15 and Galatians 6:1.

H – Hold onto forgiveness. I never truly forget and forgiveness takes time to do its work. Read Matthew 18:21-22.

What do the following verses tell me about forgiveness?

            Luke 23:34

           

            Colossians 3:13

           

            Matthew 6:14-15

           

            1 John 1:9

            Romans 12:19

Is there someone to whom I need to extend forgiveness and mercy?

What if We Served Others? - Further Study Questions.

This past Sunday's lesson was titled "What if we served others?". Take some time to continue studying, considering and applying the lesson through the following questions and Scripture passages.

Do I serve others or expect others to serve me?

Who are those individuals that I find it easy to serve? Who are those individuals I find it hard to serve?

What are some reasons why I might struggle at serving others?

What are some of my unspoken rules when it comes to serving others?

Review Luke 10:25-37. What are some observations I make regarding the topic of loving and serving others?

How do I respond to the following statement?

            A Christian who isn’t serving others is a contradiction.

Scripture passages for further study:

Philippians 1:1-17

Matthew 23:11

Mark 9:35

1 Peter 4:10

Ephesians 6:5-8

Luke 22:25-27

Matthew 20:28

1 John 3:17-18

John 13:1-17

Matthew 20:20-28

Is there ever any danger when I focus on serving others? Read Revelation 2:2-4. Is it possible that my love of serving others could take the place of loving God?

There in Revelation 2:4, the church of Ephesus had become so involved in their good deeds that they had forsaken their first love. The word forsaken in this passage gives us the idea of moving away from.  It is not the first love that has moved but instead the self-proclaimed lover has moved away from the beloved little, by little, by little, by little.

Have I ever found myself so busy serving and attempting to meet the needs of others that I’ve forgotten my first love?

How can I be certain that my desire to serve others does not take the place of my desire to serve God?

This week, how will I go and be the neighbor? Get specific and list out some of the various ways I’ll be a neighbor this week and serve others.

In conclusion, D.L. Moody reminded us…

The beginning of greatness is to be little, the increase of greatness is to be less, and the perfection of greatness is to be nothing.

What if We Lived Generously? - Further Study Questions.

This past Sunday's lesson was titled "What if we lived generously?". Take some time to continue studying, considering and applying the lesson through the following questions and Scripture passages.

Would I like to be known as a generous person?

Am I generous person?

How do I respond to the IMPACT STATEMENT from the lesson?

            Generosity is not about your money; it’s about your heart.

Which of the 5 Heart Issues hold me back from being generous? How are some of these heart issues seen in my everyday life?

Discontentment – 1 Timothy 6:3-10

Debt – Proverbs 22:7 and Proverbs 15:16-18

Greed – Luke 12:13-31

Misunderstanding of Generosity’s Source – 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

Lack of Faith – 2 Corinthians 9:8-11

Consider this quote by John Calvin…

Where riches hold the dominion of the heart, God has lost His authority.

Consider this quote by George Mueller…

God judges what we give by what we keep.

How does a proper understanding of the generosity of God impact my generosity toward others? Below are just a few Bible verses that speak of the generosity of God…

Romans 5:5

Philippians 4:19

Ephesians 3:20

Romans 8:31-32

Hebrews 12:2

Scripture passages on finances to study:

Proverbs 3:9

Proverbs 28:20,22

Proverbs 18:10-11

Mark 12:41-44

Luke 16:1-15

Matthew 6:19-24

Acts 4:32-5:11

What changes in my life will I make so that I can become a more generous person?

Spend time in prayer. Read Proverbs 30:8-9 and make it the theme of your prayer to God!

What if We Didn't Worry? - Further Study Questions.

This past Sunday's lesson was titled "What if we didn't worry?". Take some time to continue studying, considering, and applying the lesson through the following questions and Scripture passages.

1) Why do I worry?

2) What do I worry about?

 

3) What are the effects of worry on my life?

4) In Matthew 6, the first reason Jesus identifies why we worry is because we don’t recognize how valuable we are to God. What are some Bible verses that remind me of my value to God? (This may require some searching through the Bible.)

 

5) The second reason Jesus identifies in Matthew 6 why we worry is because we lack faith. What causes me to have a small faith? What is it about God that I struggle to truly believe? How can I work at strengthening my faith? What is a faith building plan of action I can put together and make a part of my daily life?

 

6) The third reason Jesus identifies in Matthew 6 why we worry is because we are pursuing to build our own kingdom. What does it mean to seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness? How would seeking God’s Kingdom and His righteousness cause me not to worry?

 

7) Consider and respond to the following quote by A.W. Tozer…

Faith is a redirecting of our sight, a getting out of the focus of our vision and getting God into focus. Sin has twisted our vision inward and made it self-regarding. Unbelief [worry] has put self where God should be…Faith looks out instead of in and the whole life falls into line.

 

8) Read through and study the following verses that discuss worry. How do these verses apply to my life?

Matthew 6:25-27

Matthew 6:34

Matthew 11:28-30

Luke 12:25

John 14:27

Colossians 3:15

2 Thessalonians 3:16

Psalm 55:22

Proverbs 12:25

Philippians 4:6-7

1 Peter 5:7

Psalm 23:4

Isaiah 43:1-3

Hebrews 13:6

Psalm 46:10

Psalm 56:3

Psalm 121:1-2

Proverbs 3:5-6

1 Corinthians 10:13

Romans 8:31

9) Take time to write out a prayer, sharing with God the areas where you worry, and asking Him to help you with your unbelief.