YDHWIT 02: You Can't Please Everyone Follow Up

You Can’t Please Everyone - Week 2 

Objective: To live for God by choosing to find our validation and acceptance in Him rather than people.

• Name the people in your life you often feel pressured to please.

Read:

Our purpose is to please God, not people. He is the one who examines the motives of our hearts.

1 Thessalonians 2:4 (NLT)

• What motives do you have for trying to please people?


• What do you fear would happen if you failed to please them?




Read: 

He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.

Matthew 6:33 (NLT)

• What needs you are expecting others to meet that can only be met by God?

• What choices or changes do you need to make in order to have those needs met only by God?

Read:

He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.

Matthew 6:33 (NLT)

Pray together: God, help us to believe you will give us all we need from day to day. Help us choose to live only for you and make your Kingdom our primary concern. 

For Further Study

Matthew 7: 1-5 

Open

What kinds of things do people criticize you for the most?

How do you tend to respond when someone criticizes you?

What would your friends say is your biggest fault?

Explore

What happens to those who are judgmental or critical? (7:1)

In what way will we be judged? (7:2)

By what measure will we be judged? (7:2)

What kind of faults do we notice in others? (7:3)

How did Jesus illustrate the foolishness of the way we find fault with others? (7:3)
What figure of speech did Jesus use to illustrate how blind we are to the shortcomings in our own lives? (7:4)
That did Jesus call those who ignore their own imperfections and focus on the flaws of others? Why? (7:5)
When is it good to confront others with their faults? (7:5)
Why is it necessary to deal with one's own sins first? (7:5)

Reflect

When, if ever, should we criticize or judge someone else?

Why is it that the traits of others that irritate us most are often the very faults that are present in our own lives?

What happened the last time you criticized someone else or judged another's actions?

What are some of the things that cause us to become critical, judgmental people?

How can we become more merciful and nonjudgmental?

Apply

How will focusing on your relationship with Christ make you less likely to criticize others?

What issue in your life is God drawing your attention to? How can you give Him control in this area of your life? 

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Confession

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. (Romans 10:9-10)

What is our hope from this verse?

Is there something that stops you from sharing it with others?


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Don't Get Mad, Get...

Feeling jealous? Here's James with some advice.

James 3:16-18

16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

Instead of getting mad about it, you know what you should do.


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The Gift

More follow up from Sunday.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

What is the promise in this verse?


How can you help others see this promise?


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The Standard

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty of our sins. (Romans 3:23-24)

What is God’s “glorious standard"?


How does remembering God's "undeserved kindness" help you relate to others?




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YDHWIT 01: You Aren't Good Enough Follow Up

You Aren’t Good Enough - Week 1 


Objective: To reveal the areas in our lives where we feel unworthy and to find confidence in God’s unconditional love.

Read:

When I tried to keep the law, I realized I could never earn God's

approval. So I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ.

Galatians 2:19 (NLT)

Why do we sometimes feel like we need to earn God’s approval?


What are some things you’ve seen people do in order to try and earn God’s approval?


Read:

Through the Spirit, Christ offered himself as an unblemished sacrifice, freeing us from all those dead-end efforts to make ourselves respectable, so that we can live all out for God.

Hebrews 9:15 (The Message)

Are there areas in your life where you have been trying to make yourself feel more acceptable to God? What are they? 


In the previous passage of scripture we are told we have been set free from having to earn God’s love. How does this give you confidence for your daily life?

Does this confidence come from trusting yourself or from trusting God? Why?

Read:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"

Galatians 2:21 (NLT)

As a group pray and ask God to help you accept His unconditional love in every area of your lives.

In your personal time this week read Galatians 2:17-21 and ask God to give you confidence through His unconditional love.

For Further Study - Week 1 
Philippians 3:7-11

Open

If you were to update your resume today, what recent accomplishment would you want to include?

What do you feel are your most valuable skills and gifts?



Explore
In what sense was Paul not boasting, even though he was calling attention to his accomplishments? (3:7-9)

Why did Paul view his former accomplishments as "rubbish"? (3:8)

What was Paul's status in Christ? (3:9)

What longings did Paul admit to the Philippians? (3:10-11)

Reflect

Why do we tend to base our worth as Christians on our performance?

Why should our identity and confidence be in Christ?

Apply
What do you need to start counting as “rubbish” for the sake of Christ?

Ephesians 2:4-9 

Open

What is the best gift you've ever received?

Explore
Why did God make those who were dead alive with Christ? (2:4-5)
What describes God's action in making us alive? (2:5)
What position has God given Christians in Christ by His divine power? (2:6)
How do we receive salvation? (2:8)
Where does salvation come from? (2:8)
Why can no one boast in his own salvation? (2:8-9)

Reflect
How would you describe God's grace to you?
Why doesn’t anyone deserved God's grace, mercy, or riches?

Apply

Who can you share the news of God's mercy with today? How? 


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High Respect

"Greet Andronicus and Junia...they are highly respected among the apostles."

Romans 16:7

What do other believers say of you?

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