BAD BLOOD | WEEK 2
Holding On
INTRODUCTION
What do you do when you have bad blood with someone who owes you something? Bad blood is
costly and complicated. It costs you peace and complicates your other relationships. If you don’t find
peace in that “bad blood” relationship, your other relationships will suffer. The good news is that you
can have peace about the relationship even without peace in the relationship.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
When someone wrongs you, do you tend to try to brush it off or to get even?
How do you think that tendency affects your relationships?
Has your relationship with someone ever been affected by their bad blood with someone else?
If so, what happened?
During the message, Clay said, “When you choose not to take revenge, you’re inviting God into the relationship.”
Is that difficult for you to believe? Why or why not?
Read Romans 12:17–19.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[a] says the Lord.
What obstacles stand in the way of you “leaving room for God’s wrath” in the “bad blood” relationships in your life?
What do you worry that trusting God will cost you?
Is there someone you need to forgive . . . even if that person isn’t seeking your forgiveness?
How might forgiving that person have a positive effect on your other relationships?
If there’s someone you need to forgive, what is one thing you can do this week to take a step toward forgiveness?
How can this group support you?
MOVING FORWARD
Who do you need to forgive? Who do you need to set free from his or her debt to you? Who are you
asking to pay a ransom for what someone else took from you? You can let go or you can let it hold
you. Let God hold what’s holding you. Stop trying to make others pay what they owe you. Work to
forgive.
CHANGING YOUR MIND
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to
avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
Romans 12:19