Days 1-5
GOD Wasn't Their Ultimate Thing. . .
Why has this week's lesson been the most difficult for me to get through? Perhaps because it hits a little too close to home for my own comfort? But, I am working through it and hope you have been patient with me.
The Discussion questions for this week are not my own – I've pulled them out of the back of the book in the Leader's Guide because I didn't want my personal struggles with this week to interfere with posing the driving questions that needed to be asked and discussed. So, here they are. . . choose the ones that impact you the most when sharing.
• Have you ever created scenarios in your head that allowed you to believe lies about yourself? If so, what lies do you believe because of this inclination?
• Why do you think GOD often tells us what to do and then shows us why? Where do you see examples of this in the Bible? in your life?
• Did you answer yes or no to the following question from page 81 – "...are the cravings that often cause us pain or get us into trouble necessarily desires for wrong or evil things? Share examples to explain your answer.
• After reviewing the question and last two paragraphs on page 83, how do you feel about James' use of the word "adulteress" in this passage?
• If you feel comfortable, share responses to the writing prompt on the bottom of page 84 that challenges, "write about an area of your life where you have been double-minded."
• In regards to the names of Leah's children, what do you think of the meaning of Judah's name? Keep in mind that Jesus is from the line of Judah. Based on what you know of the rest of the story, do you think Leah was truly healed and rid of her idol when she had Judah?
• As you are willing, discuss your response to the prompt from page 87 that reads, "Write about a time where you were willing to give yourself to someone for merely crumbs in return."
• Share your response to the question posed on page 89: "Describe a time when you finally got the very thing/person you had longed for and it didn't make you as happy as you thought it would."
• On page 93 your read, "People will do far crazier things when something threatens their ultimate thing." Can you think of examples from the Bible or from current news?
• From day five, discuss what you found insightful from each reading of Colossians 3:1-17. Discuss what stands out to you from each translation and what new insights God has given you.
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I found week 4 to be very "thought provoking" and timely for my life. I have shared with my husband several parts and we have had some great discussions: I cannot quit thinking about all the examples of jealousy and manipulation that occurred between Rachel and Leah and how God ultimately blessed each one of them; Leah with the line of Christ and Rachel with children, yet they both bought into more lies and quickly forgot what God had done for them (that has been very hard for me to think about ). How many times have I done something similar...sadly, too many to count!
For the discussion, I have bought into many lies about myself and other people especially the ones closest to me, when I have worried about their approval. I have created possible outcomes to many difficult conversations with my hubby, my mom, my pastor, my friends and "pre-determined" my words/thoughts without actually hearing what they have to say. Then from my experiences, it is usually different than what I had expected. I have worried and kept myself from a good nights sleep because I believed that the other person had some terrible thing to say to me, yet when we have talked more often than not, I have been wrong. Satan wins each time I do this! Rachel became desperate and urgency took over so that her flesh bought Satan's lie and she gave her maidservant to her husband to have a child. She chose to "take the reins" and pushed God aside. I am so thankful that He still blessed her and yet saw how quickly she allowed her flesh to be satisfied again and turned to other idols. It is even amazing how she hid them from Him. I can relate very well because when I have desperately prayed for something and felt God hasn't answered I eventually work to make it happen. I get busy and active "doing" and stir things up to bring an outcome. Yet, I often create a crisis by getting other people involved and seeking others opinions, instead of waiting and seeking God. I have also been shamed by this and wanted to hide because it doesn't work-out the way I thought it would. I have wanted something so bad that I have praised God over and over when it has happened and then I have allowed myself to become self-assured and forgotten God the next time I really needed His help. It is just what Rachel did! It is the sin of PRIDE...
I have also found HUGE value in recognizing what I have thought I desperately wanted in life (husband, kids, house, jobs, serving, money, etc), and how often I have been dissatisfied and felt empty once I have gotten it. I have learned that being content with my life and the circumstances I am in is what I am to live, not desiring things to be different. I am learning that life will forever change and my job is to seek God first, and His Will for my life and to ask for guidance in ALL things. I am learning to walk "one day at a time" and to be thankful for where I am at each moment. It is a big shift for me and requires my head and heart to listen for God and to be patient. It is extremely tempting to buy the lies and give my flesh what it wants, yet I now recognize it better, and ask for help to make the choice God wants for me. I continue to fail in certain things over and over again, yet I BELIEVE in time, I will win in these areas, and God will continue to show me what I am to learn. I am learning so much through this study and thank God for its purpose at this time in my life!
My prayers are with each of you today! May God continue to reveal in each of us what He wants us to understand and know about ourselves. He is our Creator and Beloved Father and He is the answer to all our fears, worries, and self-doubt and He will always "unconditionally" love us no matter what we do or what LIES we have believed in the past. I am so thankful He loves You and Me!!!
Have a Blessed Tuesday!
Kelly H.
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