Topic: forgiveness

“Does this kid come with a return policy?”

“I don’t know what I’m doing.”

“Am I good enough for my kid?”

Ever had these thoughts? You’re not alone. This Parents’ Day, we celebrate all there is to be a parent. Hear stories from people who have or are imperfect parents, and find out if the perfect parent really exists!

Title: No Offence, but…: Dealing With Offences
Text: Luke 17:1-4

It is inevitable that people around us will offend us. How should we respond to them in a Christian manner?

General Questions:

1. What are some things that people do that will offend you or make you feel irritated?

2. How do you usually deal with annoyances and offences?

Perspective Questions:

1. The preacher shared three root issues that might lead to people being easily offended; pride, insecurities, and victim-mentality. What does the Bible tell us about each of these issues? How can that help us deal with offences in a Christ-like manner?

2. Read 1 Peter 3:8-18. In the world, it is normal that you should retaliate when offended. Yet, the values of the Kingdom of God tell us to do likewise. Based on the text, why should we repay evil with good? What can we hold on to when we encounter injustice and grievances?

3. To forgive is to let go of offences. Read Matthew 6:12-15 and Matthew 18:21-35. What does it say about the reason we forgive? 

Application Questions:

1. How can we take steps to forgive someone who offends us? What truths can we hold onto that will encourage us to forgive even when it hurts? Let’s pray for each other to look to the Cross where we find our reason to extend grace to others. 

The way we handle offence influences the end results of the offence. How then can we navigate this offence-filled life? Join us and find out how you can handle the offences in your life.

Series: Ways Of A Disciple
Title: Beyond Being Peace-Loving
Text: Mt 5:21-26

Whether it is road rage, fiery exchanges on social media or passive aggressiveness in our relationships, we know how easy it can be to get angry. We may try to suppress our anger by being peace-loving – we avoid conflict or ignore our problems. But disciples of Christ are called to a higher way of living.

General Questions:

1) Think about the people you interact with often. In general, how do they deal with conflicts?

2) Based on the passage in Matthew 5:21-26, what is Jesus saying about reconciliation? What are some possible consequences of not choosing to reconcile?

Perspective Questions:

1) Beyond condemning the act of murder, Jesus also condemns the harbouring of internal malicious anger towards others. What are some possible reasons why this matters to God? What does this mean for how we experience and deal with our internal anger towards others?

2) Jesus is teaching that we need to get our relationship with people right even as we desire to have a right relationship with God. What are some factors that often hinder believers from getting right their relationships with others?

3) Reflect on our life experiences so far. Do we know people who seem to be at peace on the surface but actually harbour anger in their hearts? Share some stories. On the other hand, think about and share instances where reconciliation led to blessings, either for us or for the people we know.

Application Questions:

1) The practice of asking the Holy Spirit to surface our offence towards others and humbling ourselves to seek forgiveness can lead to real reconciliation in our relationships (e.g. in marriages, life groups, families). How can we incorporate this practice into our daily routines? What are some possible adjustments we need to make?

2) Are there any unresolved conflict in our lives? Take the time to bring these to God and allow them to be brought to light. Share with the life group, your leaders, or someone trusted. Seek God’s grace and choose to forgive. What can you do to reconcile with the people you offended?

Series: Love Like Jesus

Title: Repentance: More Than Feeling Sorry
Series: Victorious Living
Text: Joel 2:12-17

Guilt, shame and sadness come to mind when we think of the word “repentance”. What does true repentance look like, and how can we be more than just merely sorry?

1) I Repent From The Heart

In Joel 2:12, God told Israel to return to Him “even now”, while there is still time. The call to repentance is a call for immediate action. In reality, people are able to practise this to varying levels of success. What are some factors that affect a person’s readiness to repent immediately before God? As a believer, how can I keep my heart ready to repent and respond to God when I sin?

Repentance is an inward change of heart that that leads to outward action. Reflect on the last time you came to God in repentance. What was the inner change that God convicted you to decide to make? What was the outward action that you took as your response to Him? Share with your LG your experience and highlight some of the positive outcomes that came about as you keep with repentance.

2) I Repent Based On God’s Character

What are some common misconceptions about repentance? Some of these can come about as a result of wrong or incomplete understanding about God and His character. How has knowing more of God’s character through the years affected my understanding and attitude towards repentance? Have these changed as we mature in Christ?

The true extent of God’s grace and compassion for us goes beyond what we can often imagine or comprehend for ourselves. To gain a fuller picture, we can look to the cross. Think about what the cross means to us today. How does the cross remind us of God’s character, and encourage us to come before Him more readily in repentance?

3) I Repent In Community

We also play a part in looking out for believers around us because we love them, and thus we hope that they can be right before God as well. What are some ways we can support one another in our spiritual health? What could prevent or hinder believers from looking out from one another?

One important attitude to have is humility – the humility to recognise our own imperfections while restoring others to God gently, and the humility to come clean with our sins and be restored.

How might a lack of humility in these aspects affect relationships in the community? Reflect on our own lives: how are we growing in humility in both of these aspects? How can the Life Group encourage one another to grow in humility? How can the Life Group work together to create a safe environment where we can account to one another and seek help when needed?

Brian is an up-and-rising e-gamer. He seems to have it all figured out until an unexpected event from his past catches up with him and makes him wonder, is love at all worth it? Love is almost never a safe choice. But are we still game for love?

Zaccheus was the chief tax collector of one of the wealthiest and most influential cities. He had a lot of money, yet when he heard news of a famous teacher in town, he beat the crowds to catch a glimpse of this man… by climbing a tree.

Why on earth would a rich man scale such heights? What exactly did he seek? Did he find what he was looking for? Discover what intrigued Zaccheus, and how a casual passing-by led to an encounter beyond expectations!