Forgotten Virtues 04: Integrity (Follow Up)

Talking through the message during the week helps you turn what God is saying to you into action steps. These talking points, questions and scriptures are designed to help you take the next step. Don’t feel like you have to answer every question. Pick out the questions that will stir up conversation and action among your group.
•    How would you describe or define integrity?

Read Psalm 15:1-5.
Psalm 15 paints a picture of what a life of integrity looks like.
•    Integrity can be defined as your behavior matching your beliefs. Describe a specific time when your behavior matched your beliefs.
•    How have you experienced the benefits of integrity? Share some examples.
•    How have others benefited from your integrity?

Read Matthew 23:23-32.
The opposite of integrity is hypocrisy. In this passage we see Jesus strongly chastise the Pharisees for their hypocrisy. 

•    Why is it important to avoid being a hypocrite? 

•    How have you observed hypocrisy in others? How did that impact you? 

•    What are some consequences of hypocrisy?

Read Job 27:5-6 and Matthew 5:37.
These verses encourage us to maintain our integrity. 

•    Describe a time when you did not act with integrity. How would you act differently today? 

•    How much is your integrity worth to you? 

•    What can you do on a daily basis to develop the forgotten virtue of integrity?

next steps
Here are some specific things you can do this week to help you maintain integrity in your life and keep it from being a forgotten virtue:

Dig deeper into God’s Word this week to learn more about what the Bible says about integrity. Here are some suggested verses and passages for you to read on this forgotten virtue: 

1 Chronicles 29:17, 

Nehemiah 7:2, 

Psalm 25:21, 

1 Samuel 12:1-5, 

1 Kings 9:4-10, 

Proverbs 10:9, 

2 Corinthians 1:12.

Have you observed integrity in others? If so, take the time to let someone know how their integrity has impacted you. Talk with this person about how to better maintain integrity in your own life.

Talk It Over with God:
•    Give thanks for the people God has placed in your life who demonstrate the virtue of integrity.
•    Ask God to help you maintain a life of integrity. Seek His guidance and strength.
•    Confess the areas where you struggle to have integrity. Ask for God’s help in those areas.
•    Pray for the people in your life who have demonstrated great integrity. Ask God to bless them.

g-ram

*Secret To Blessing*

You aren't blessed for Knowing but for Doing!  So study up and learn what you can. Learn what you should do, learn how you should live, learn why these things can make a difference. Do it. It's a good idea. But it is a good idea if you then live it out. 

The learning is purely theoretical until it crosses into a lived out reality. Then the learning becomes mystical. So many of us stop with what we know. "I know what I should do, but I have no desire to live it out." 

If you want to see the world change then start doing what most people don't do. 

Start living out what you know.

Jesus: 

"Now that you know these things, you will be blessed IF you DO them!"

John 13:17

g-ram

Forgotten Virtues 03: Loyalty (Follow Up)

Talking through the message during the week helps you turn what God is saying to you into action steps. These talking points, questions and scriptures are designed to help you take the next step. Pick out those questions that will stir up conversation and action among your group.

•    What are some examples of disloyalty you have observed in today’s world?

Read Matthew 26:31-35 and 2 Samuel 15:19-21.
These passages show us that true loyalty has to be tested.
Peter claimed he was loyal, but ultimately betrayed Jesus, while Ittai the Gittite displayed loyalty to King David.

Why do you think loyalty has become such a forgotten virtue in today’s world?

True loyalty is proven, not proclaimed.  How have you experienced that statement in your life?  

How does your loyalty toward others stack up to Ittai the Gittite’s example?

Where do you need improvement?

Read Malachi 2:15-16, Proverbs 17:17 and Acts 2:42-46.
We are told in these verses to be loyal to our spouses, friends and Christ’s church.


Why is it important that we demonstrate loyalty in our most intimate relationships such as our spouses, children and immediate family?
How do you think “friending” someone with a click online has changed our value of loyalty in friendships? 
Who would you say are your most loyal friends?
How has their loyal friendship benefitted your life?
How would you describe your loyalty to Christ’s church?
What are some specific ways that you can improve your loyalty?

Read James 4:8-9.
This passage shows us that disloyalty is born out of a divided heart.

•    How divided is your heart? Share some things you have chosen over God.
•    How has God’s constant loyalty to you impacted your faith and life?

next steps
Try these specific things this week to help you develop stronger loyalty in your life and keep it from being a forgotten virtue:

One of the best examples of loyalty can be found in the Old Testament with the story of Jonathan and his loyalty to David. Take some time to read about Jonathan’s loyalty in 1 Samuel 19 and 20. You can also watch a video that demonstrates Jonathan’s loyalty in a relevant and unique way at this link: http://www.youtube.com/switchyouth#p/u/1/1GrCzjssyDs

Don’t let loyalty become a forgotten virtue for the next generation. Take some time this week to discuss the importance of loyalty with someone younger than you such as a child or a student. Share with them examples from your own life and from the Bible such as Jonathan or Ittai the Gittite.

Talk It Over with God:
•    Commit to God in prayer that you will strive to strengthen your loyalty to Him. Praise Him and tell God what He means to you.
•    Thank God in prayer for His loyalty to you and always being there for you in the good and in the bad times.
•    Confess those things to God in prayer that you have chosen over Him. Commit to placing your focus only on God.
•    Ask God to help you as you focus on being more loyal in all of your most important relationships.
•    Seek God’s guidance in prayer on where He is leading you to serve His church. Commit to stepping up to serve in these areas.

g-ram

Forgotten Virtues 02: Purity (Follow Up)

Talk It Over:
Talking through the message during the week helps you turn what God is saying to you into action steps. These talking points, questions and scriptures are designed to help you take the next step. Pick out the questions that will stir up conversation and action among your group members.

•    Describe someone you know who is a good example of the virtue of purity. What have you learned about purity from this person?

Read 2 Corinthians 7:1.
In this verse, Paul encourages us to cleanse our bodies and minds of all impurity.
•    What impurities do you continue to allow in your life? How can you be cleansed of those impurities?
•    What safeguards do you have in place to help keep impurity out of your life?
 
Read Ephesians 1:3-14, John 3:29 and 1 Peter 1:13-25.
These verses show us who we truly are in Christ and remind us that we are called to live a life of purity and holiness.
•    What does holiness mean to you? How have you experienced it in your life?
•    How can you renew your mind? How can this help maintain purity in your life?
•    How does your view of yourself compare to God’s view of you? Is there anything about what God says about you that is hard for you to believe?
 
Read 1 Peter 3:1-6 and 1 Timothy 2:9-10.
These verses encourage us to strive to be pure on the inside and on the outside in the way we behave and in how we dress.
•    Why is it important for both men and women to dress appropriately and behave in a way that brings honour to God? 
•    What behaviours do you need to change that are inviting impurity into your life or into the life of someone else?
 
next steps
Here are some specific things you can do this week to help you fight for God’s virtue of purity:
Take a few minutes to read the modesty survey at www.therebelution.com/modestysurvey. After reading the survey, reflect on what you learned and the changes you may need to make.
 
In today’s world, we are bombarded with images and media that bring impurity in our lives. Take time to examine the things that are attempting to steal your purity. Consider putting safeguards in place to guard your purity. These changes may include altering or disconnecting your cable TV subscription, or installing a filter or accountability software on your computer. You might consider covenanteyes.com or safeeyes.com for your internet filtering and accountability needs.

Talk It Over with God:
•    Confess the impurities in your life to God, asking Him to cleanse you and help rid your life of these impurities.
•    Ask God for the courage and resolve you need to place safeguards in your life as you protect your mind against impurity.
•    Commit to fight for the virtue of purity in your life. Ask God for His strength.
•    Ask God to renew your mind and cleanse any impure thoughts.
•    Commit to honour God in how you behave, in how you dress, and in all that you do.

g-ram

When Being Right Is Just Plain Wrong

Have you ever been in this place?

I can either be in the right, or I can be in a relationship .

When he was practicing law, Abraham Lincoln was hired to sue someone over a $2.50 debt. He didn't want to do it, but his client insisted that it was a matter of principle, even though the person being sued was a friend.

So Lincoln asked for a fee of $10, to be paid in advance. He gave half to the defendant, who promptly paid his debt.

And what about Christians as a group? Does the church lack credibility with the culture because Christians would rather be right than be in relationship with one another? We'd rather be right about our positions, right about our condemnations, right about having the "right" interpretation of scripture. We'd rather score points than secure relationships with others who share the Christian faith.

The church has deep convictions, but do the convictions crowd our friendships? Jesus was familiar with the religious rules regarding what could not be done on the Sabbath. He ignored the rules and healed a sufferer.

God didn't put us here to serve the rules, Jesus explained. It's just the opposite. The rules exist for our benefit.

Sometimes being right can just be SO wrong...dead wrong.

Life drained/removed

exsanguinated.

g-ram

Forgotten Virtues 01: Honour (Follow Up)

Talking through the message during the week helps you turn what God is saying to you into action steps. These talking points, questions and scriptures are designed to help you take the next step. If you are leading a group through this guide, don’t feel like you have to answer every question. Pick out the questions that will stir up conversation and action among your group.

What does honour mean to you?

With your Bible read Mark 6:1-4:
When Jesus returned to his hometown to teach and perform miracles, the people treated Him with dishonour. Their dishonour was a result of their lack of faith.
Who have you honoured? 
Why have you honoured this person? 
How have you seen honour build someone up? 
Describe a time when you were honoured by someone else. 
How has receiving honour changed you? 
What is the difference between respect and honour? 
How have you seen this difference firsthand?
 
Read Exodus 20:12, Romans 13:7, 1 Timothy 5:17 and Romans 12:10:
According to these verses, we should honor our parents, those in authority, pastors and other church leaders.
How have you shown honour to your parents? 
When has it been difficult to honour your parents? 
Why is important to honour people in authority even when we do not completely agree with them? How is God asking you to honour your pastors and church leaders?
 
Read Psalm 22:23:
This verse emphasizes the importance of honouring God.
•    How do you honour God? How can you honour Him more?
•    Who do you need to honor more in your thoughts, attitude, words and actions? How will you show honour to them this week?
 
Next Steps:
Try taking these next steps this week to give the virtue of honour a place of honour in your life:
Once you have identified someone who you need to honour more, take action! Do something specific to show honour to that person. Take time to express to them why you honour them. Feel free to be creative!
 
God should be the first and most important recipient of our honour. No matter how much we honour God, we can always honour Him more! This week, do something to show honour to God. This might include spending more time in prayer and in His Word, giving to someone in need, volunteering at our church, or telling someone about who God is and what He’s done for you!

Talk It Over with God:
Take time to honour God in prayer. Praise Him and tell Him how much He means to you.
Pray for your parents or other family members. Ask God to bless them and to meet their needs.
Pray for leaders and those in authority. Ask God to give them wisdom and discernment as they lead.
Pray for your church leaders and pastor. Ask God to give them strength as they lead others to become fully devoted followers of Christ.
Ask God to increase your desire and ability to show honour to others and build them up instead of tearing them down.

g-ram