Week of August 23: How to Fight Like a Christian

Matthew 18:15-20

Getting Started
-What funny thing did you and a sibling or close friend argue about?

Digging Deeper
-How does this passage reconcile with Matthew 7:3-5?
       3 Why do you see the splinter that’s in your brother’s or sister’s eye, but don’t notice the log in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother or sister, ‘Let me take the splinter out of your eye,’ when there’s a log in your eye? 5 You deceive yourself! First take the log out of your eye, and then you’ll see clearly to take the splinter out of your brother’s or sister’s eye.

-What are the four stages of reconciliation in this passage?
​-Why wait to go public about a person’s sin?
-What authority is given to the followers of Jesus?​

Living it out
-What does this passage say about the importance of counsel through others?
     -Of accountability to a trusted few?
-Have you ever been part of a process like this?
     -If you are willing to share, tell how the process did or did not work and how those involved responded.
​-Does the church do a good job of following this process?
     -When do you see it happen? With small offenses? With bullies?
-Is there someone with whom you need to have a difficult conversation?
​     -Take a moment to pray about that relationship and the next steps needed  

Week of August 30: The Math of Forgiveness

Matthew 18:21-35

Getting Started
-What was one of the worst things one of your brothers or sisters ever did to you?
                                                  OR
-What would you do to celebrate if all of your debts were suddenly canceled?

Digging Deeper
-Do you tend to be quick or slow to forgive?
-Offenders in the time of Jesus were forgiven up to three times; a fourth offense need not be forgiven. What does Jesus’s answer (v. 22) say about forgiveness in the kingdom?
-In refusing to be merciful to others, what do we deny ourselves (vv. 31-34)?
-Compare the two servants.  What is the difference in their debts (vv. 24, 28), their please (vv. 26, 29) and the decision about their cases (vv. 27, 30)?
-If you were the master, how would you have felt when the servant refused to forgive a fellow servant’s debt-right after you had forgiven his huge debt?
-Which character in this parable can you most relate to and why?

Living it out
-What have you found helpful in forgiving those who have wronged you?
-How has God’s forgiveness affected your life and your willingness to forgive?
-What is the connection between forgiveness, health and wholeness?
-Who is someone from whom you need to ether offer or receive forgiveness?

Week of September 6: A Fair Wage

Matthew 20:1-16

Getting Started
-Who do you believe works harder and longer and why?
     +Stay-at-home parent of preschoolers
     +Attorneys
     +Salesperson
     +Preacher

Digging Deeper
-If you were one of the first workers hired, how would you have reacted to the landowner?
-To what is the kingdom of heaven compared?
-From an employer’s viewpoint, how would you react to the landowner’s wage practices?
-What have you found the working conditions to be like in God’s vineyard?
-How would you describe your attitude toward your job and/or ministry right now?
-What does this parable say to you about God and God’s kingdom?

Living it out
-How do you feel about recent converts getting the same benefits as you in the kingdom?
-Would you recommend that people wait until just before they die to come to Christ, so that they won’t have to work so hard or give up so much? Why?
​-Do you ever envy God’s blessings on others? Why?