Discussion Group Questions
August 14, 2016
New Kind of Community Matthew 7:1-34
and direct and to chip away at everything that doesn’t look like Jesus. The role of friendship is to encourage and to challenge and to lovingly speak the truth. WE need people who can evaluate our eyes and tell us when we have a speck in our eye.
7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
It is impossible for us to evaluate ourselves. We don’t 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your know our own voice, we don’t know our own faults. We brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your are terrible at evaluating ourselves. IF you know your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me own heart better than anyone and you don’t see your take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there sin as bigger than others, something is wrong. What is is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the in your eye should look huge to you- when you see it in plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly the right perspective then you are more likely to speak to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. the truth in love. 6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your 2. What is needed to have healthy relationships pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. WE need honest relationships. Do you have these kinds of relationships? 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone 6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under one who knocks, the door will be opened. their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. 9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
A piggish person looks at the pearl (gospel) and asks how can it serve me. A piggish person asks “what’s in it for me”. A piggish person’s god is his stomach and only cares about what will satisfy. But the discerning person looks at the pearl and treasures it and would sell anything to take it in.
To have strong relationships we have to give up our 1. The healthy relationships we need selfishness and our self-centeredness. In other words, our piggishness. Pigs don’t know what to do with pearls, WE all need relationships in which we are unconditionally they only want to satisfy their stomachs. loved and accepted. The role of the Holy Spirit is to judge 1 LISTEN AND WATCH
www.councilroad.org/watch
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Discussion Group Questions
August 14, 2016
What is the meaning of the riddle of the pearl? WE are all responsible for how we present the gospel. Not everyone is able to hear it because there heart is not ready. But the way we talk about our faith should have discernment and grace. 3. How to receive the life we need You have to ask for it And you have to treasure it. 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Discussion Questions: 1. What kinds of relationships do we need according to this passage? 2. What does it mean to be discerning as opposed to “judgemental”? 3. What is the meaning of the pearl in this parable? 4. What does it mean to treasure the gospel?
2 LISTEN AND WATCH
www.councilroad.org/watch
Follow Us 2900 N. Council Road • Bethany, OK 73008 www.councilroad.org
