Killin’ It | Week 2
Week 2 - Heaven Rules
INTRODUCTION
Maybe you're a "Three P" person—you have power, prestige, and possessions. You have influence. You are envied. People take you seriously because of what you've accomplished, what you look like, or who you're married to. There's nothing wrong with being a "Three P" person. But when it comes to pride,
"Three P" people face a unique challenge.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
In what ways do you see power, prestige, and possessions abused in our culture? In what ways does that shape our cultural priorities?
Talk about a time when you've seen someone treat his or her personal influence as a temporary stewardship from God.
How was that person unique?
How did other people react to him or her?
Read Daniel 5:26.
For context, these are the words that appeared on the wall at King Belshazzar's great banquet, where he mocked God by bringing out the God and silver goblet stolen from the Temple when he conquered Jerusalem.
"Here is what these words mean:
Mene (numbered): God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.
Tekel [Weighed]: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.
Peres [Divided]: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."
What does it mean to you that God has numbered the days of your power, prestige, and possessions?
To what extent does that principle currently influence the daily decisions you make?
What is one area in which you're regularly tempted to look down on others—education, possessions, physical appearance, influence, experience, intelligence?
What is the cost of giving in to your pride?
Think about the areas of your life where you have the most influence, power, and prestige.
What would it look like for you to treat those areas like temporary stewardship from God for which you are accountable?
What is one thing you can do this week to remind your pride that you are just a steward of God's blessings?
How can this group help you follow through?
MOVING FORWARD
When you see someone with less—less sophistication, intelligence, education, money, or influence— you're tempted to think more highly of yourself. Pause for a moment and tell your pride, "The Most High is sovereign over all the kingdoms." Remind your pride that everything God has given you is a stewardship. It's temporary. You are accountable for how you use it.
CHANGING YOUR MIND
"'The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.'"
Daniel 4:17