War Within – Week 5

1. How did the story of the successful businessman illustrate the destructive power of bitterness and unforgiveness in one’s life?

2. Reflecting on the biblical passages mentioned, what insights did you gain about the nature of forgiveness and its importance in our relationships with others and with God?

3. Discuss the practical steps outlined in the sermon for choosing to forgive. How do you think these steps can be applied in real-life situations?

4. What distinctions were made between bitterness and unforgiveness in the sermon? How can recognizing these differences help us address and overcome these issues in our own lives?

5. According to the sermon, why is confession and repentance essential in dealing with bitterness? How can we support one another in the process of healing and forgiveness?

War Within – Week 4

When Pastor Jayson began the message on Jealousy, he started by saying, “Jealousy is the one emotion we somehow universally convince ourselves that we left behind in Middle School.”

What was everyone’s initial thought to that statement during the service?

Read Mark 9:30-35 They…passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

Why do you think it’s more difficult for the apostles to tell Jesus what they were talking about? How does that play out with us?

***For Leaders – Anger or frustration are emotions we will more readily wear on our sleeve, whereas, jealousy can become more of a blind spot like it was for the apostles. Quick review of how this plays out below at the last supper again.

Read Luke 22:14-15, 24 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer…[After they broke bread and drank the cup] A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. ²⁵ Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. ²⁶ But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. ²⁷ For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 

How patient are you when you see jealousy arise in others? Especially, when you’ve already had a conversation about it?

What are our takeaways from Jesus response to the apostles?

***For Leaders – This conversation about who would be greatest keeps erupting after Jesus says that HE IS GOING TO SUFFER AND DIE. It’s one thing to have the patience to re-teach a lesson to people when they are bickering, however in Jesus’ case, it’s a another level of patience required when the people are talking themselves up about being great when you are about to do the greatest thing ever. Jealousy causes blind spots and it’s difficult to admit when you are in the midst of it.

What are some of your other biggest takeaways and challenges from today’s message?

War Within – Week 3

Each participant share “takeaways” from the sermon on Sunday before we begin the discussion guide:

• What was something you had never heard before on the topic of Grief & Depression?
• What tool did you hear in the sermon that will be most useful for yourself or someone else?

***For Leaders – You may not even get to the questions below and that would be OK! This is a great opportunity for people to share things that would otherwise bring shame or embarrassment.

I want to summarize a key point by Pastor Josh on Sunday about emotions in Scripture, “The Bible doesn’t sugar coat emotions and people don’t get condemned for having them.”

Read Habakkuk’s Complaint in Hab 1:2  How long, LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save?

How comfortable would you be to begin a “conversational prayer” to God with that approach?

***For Leaders – Answers will vary, but the overarching point is what was already said. As believers, we often don’t feel license to even acknowledge our state of sadness so we bury it and deal with it ourselves. Our emotions can be raw like Habakkuk’s, but it’s important to remember that we don’t get condemned for having them.

Let’s read Habakkuk’s Complaint with more verses in a paraphrased version of Scripture (NLT), “How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save. ³ Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight. ⁴ The law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted.

Take note of God’s response to Habakkuk’s grief while he is in the midst of it:

⁵ The Lord replied, “Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.”

What is our takeaway from God’s response?

***For Leaders – After everyone has shared their thoughts, bring up each of these points below for further discussion:

1) He listens and doesn’t correct or condemn Habakkuk for his emotions. 2) He speaks to his imagination. Habakkuk is only imagining doom & gloom ahead, but God just says to look at something else other than doom & gloom, he says “Look!”, something amazing is on the way. 3)This leaves things a bit of a mystery with a recalibrated imagination. Imagining God doing something so amazing that it’s hard to believe is God’s way of using grief as a launching pad instead of a landing pad. 4) What God is telling Habakkuk to do isn’t easy…but nothing worthwhile ever is.

More points from the message:

• Be honest with God. Scripture shows God’s servants being sad and truly angry and HONEST with God.
• Sit with a friend and just be present. (Prov 17:17)
• Replace hopelessness and heaviness with hope and rest. (Matt 11:28)
• Depression isn’t their “new normal”. It’s not a landing pad, but a launching pad for believers in Scripture.

Rev 12:4-7 ^– He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” ⁵ And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” ⁶ And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. ⁷ The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son [and daughter]. 

Week 2

The War Within 

Share a time that you either caught yourself in early in fear process and stopped it

OR

Share a time you were waaaay overreacting to fear and when the moment was over you said to yourself, “Why did I overreact like that? I made it a big deal when it was nothing!”

I liked how Paul Lazzaroni started the discussion guide last week so much that I put on here again in italics:

If we are yearning to experience the transformation in our lives that Jesus is offering, it can only happen by addressing what we believe in comparison to what Scripture says.   (IN THIS CASE, WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT FEAR?)

Our “why” is our motivator to experience the change we are after. 

What is your usual natural “first domino” when it comes to fear? What do you usually imagine?

Share how you will use Josh’s process below at your next opportunity.

Domino#1   God, where are you right now?

#1 He is with me

Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

 Jeremiah 1:8 “Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD.

#2 Have faith in his power

Isaiah 41:10 I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 

Jeremiah 1:8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you.

Domino #2  How can I trust Him knowing He is in control and is all powerful?

***For Leaders – Answers will vary. What you want to ask your Group specifically in the next question.

What would your life look like if you were not afraid anymore?