Aug 22 – Aug 28

Weekly Reading for Aug 22 – Aug 28

Preparing for Next Week’s Message

Sermon Series: The Forgotten Art
Sermon Title: The Forgotten Art of Blessing

This reading plan will get your heart and mind set for the next message on August 29, 2021:


Reflecting on the Most Recent Sermon

Sermon Series: The Forgotten Art
Sermon Title: The Forgotten Art of Acceptance
Delivered On: August 22, 2021

VIEW SERMON NOTES

Memorize and Reflect

John 4:10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”


Prayer Direction

Ask God to help you see other people through His eyes and not your own limited vision. Pray for a heart that can accept people right where they are (while still not always agreeing with or affirming things that are wrong).


“Live It!” Challenge

Learning Someone’s Story – One of the ways we learn to accept others is hearing their story and learning more about them than just surface things. Make time in the coming week to ask someone one of these “Going Deeper” questions.
1) What is one of your biggest joys and deepest sorrows?
2) As you were growing up, who was one person that really helped shape who you are today and what did they do that impacted your life?


Small Group Discussion

  1. Tell about a person in your life who modeled accepting you (and others) just as you are. How has this person impacted?

  2. Tell about an experience when you were not accepted for a reason you could not control. How did this make you feel and how did it impact you?

  3. Read: John 3:1-16 How do you see Jesus extending acceptance and care for Nicodemus? What do you learn from the example of the Savior?

  4. Read: John 4:1-42 How do you see Jesus extending acceptance and care for the woman in this account? What do you learn from the example of the Savior?

  5. What are some of the differences between the man in John 3 and the woman in John 4? How did Jesus show care, respect and speak truth to both of them in different but equal ways?

  6. If you know how Nicodemus’ story ends (John 19:38-42) and how the woman’s story ends (John 4:39-42), what transformational impact did their encounter with Jesus have on their life?

  7. What are some of the barriers and roadblocks that get in the way of people accepting each other today?

  8. What can we do to get past these barriers and extend acceptance as Jesus did?

  9. Respond to this statement: Jesus did not agree with or affirm the way Nicodemus or the woman were living or how they saw the world, but he did accept and love both of them! How should Christians respond when someone tells us we have to affirm and agree with what a person believes (or how they life) to truly love and accept them?

  10. What is the next step you can take as you seek to learn to accept people the way Jesus does?