The Well Resources

Make Disciples. Plant Churches.

Objectives

  1. Discussing the integrity and the rights of kingdom people as defined by scripture.
  2. Identifying and repenting of specific manifestations of self-focus in your lives.
  3. Discussing the gospel truths that combat self-obsession and preservation and how these gospel truths free us up to love others.

Key Passage

Matthew 5:33-42

Summary

The introduction of Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount,” explained who the subjects of Jesus’ kingdom were and why they needed true righteousness.

Now, in the following section, Jesus continues to provide specific examples of what life in his Kingdom looks like. He does this by showing what the Kingdom looks like in relation to The Law. In these next passages, he talks about the Old Testament laws about making oaths and retaliation.

In Matthew 5:33-37, Jesus references the Old Testament law of following up on oaths made to God.The Pharisees would depend on the subject of their oath to define their level of commitment the words they claimed. However, Jesus challenges his disciples to have a character full of integrity to the extent that they won’t need to make an oath to get anyone to believe what they say.

In 5:38-42, Jesus was referring the Old Testament law of retaliation which was meant to limit the amount of compensation someone felt like the owed for a crime against them to no more than equal to the crime itself. However, Jesus challenges his disciples to not seek any or compensation at all when people wronged them, but to have a supernatural amount of mercy for that person. This mercy should even extend to the point where the disciples desire to put their enemies welfare above their own!

In all these things, Jesus is speaking to self-obsession and showing us a way out of it.

Sample Questions

  1. In what areas of your life do you see the most consistent pattern of self-preservation? How is self-preservation at the root of all sin?
  2. How do you use your words? Can people trust you to mean what you say?
  3. What “rights” do you hold onto most tightly to the extent that you respond in retaliation when someone threatens those rights.
  4. How does understanding who we are in Jesus change the way we respond to the offenses of others
  5. What does a biblical christian community look like according to Scripture? If you are being honest with yourself, are you living life with a biblical christian community?

Activities

Either in groups or as a whole, discuss some ways in which we can implement this in our lives.

  1. Spend some time attempting to identify specific manifestations of self-focus in your lives. Then pray together in a posture of repentance for those things.
  2. Pray asking that God would open our eyes to our identity in Christ. Practice running to Him for security.
  3. One of the best ways to resist self-obsession is by turning our thoughts to God, which will always lead to worship. This kind of God-focus is a community project, so take some time to worship Him together. Is someone in your group gifted in leading a time of worship? Have them lead your group in a few songs. OR spend some time in worshipful prayer, praising attributes of God that make him worthy of all worship!

Announcements

  1. College retreat: Hey we have a college retreat coming up February 23-24! Get connected with Santi and sign up on the app/ the form: https://thewellabilene.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/56/responses/new
  2. Lee Elementary Donations: GCs! We have another amazing opportunity to serve our friends at Lee Elementary! February 28th their campus will be hosting a Camp Lee Family Reading night. This is an opportunity where the school gets to reach out to the community and families at Lee and encourage reading. They will have several stations set up that night and are in need of a few items to be lent or donated for the event. It would be so helpful if you encouraged your GC to sign up through this link https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080f44abab29a2f85-camp
  3. Women’s retreat: Ladies we are having a women’s retreat April 12-13th in Eastland, Tx, all women are invited! It is going to be an awesome time that’s focused on friendship and discipleship. You can sign up on the app or through this form: https://thewellabilene.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/60/responses/new
  4. Holy Week Art Exhibit: Artists, Creatives, and even Non-Creatives, would you like to create something beautiful to enter in The Well’s first Holy Week Art Exhibition? This Exhibit will be a wonderful way to reflect on the beauty of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, by displaying a piece of artwork for both our church family and our Abilene community at large! If you are interested in signing up, fill out the form on the App or this form by March 29th:https://thewellabilene.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/55/responses/new  All ages are welcome to submit a piece!