No Offense | Week 3

You’re Not as Right as You Think.  

Getting Started: 

• What’s something you enjoy being right about? 

• Why is it so difficult to be wrong?  

Digging Deeper 

Read Luke 18:9-14  

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”  

• What was the difference between these two men? 

• If we are honest, we share the characteristics of both men depending on our state of mind.  

• What personal outlook or attitudes causes us to waver between the two? Pride or Humility? 

• Why is it so easy to be judgmental verse compassionate? 

Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3.  

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.  

• As a believer, do you believe your role is to be the guardian of truth?  

• Is it possible to change someone’s heart by the strength of your argument or opinion?  

• According to the message, why did sinful people love to be around Jesus? 

Read John 13:35  

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another. 

• How do we love people that disagree with us? 

• When you live like you’re forgiven by God, you’ll feel more gratitude, become more accepting, and overflow with love.  

NextStep: 

• How can you share that abundant love with others this week? 

• Decide to respond from a forgiven posture now, so that when disagreements, debates, or controversies come up this week, you’ve already committed to respond from a place of love.