LEADERS GUIDE
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER Pastor Joel Thomas July 23 & 24, 2016
“IN THIS HOUSE WE WILL CATCH AND CARRY”
LEADERS GUIDE 1. Why do you think tabloids and celebrity shows that catch people making a mess of their lives are so popular? Why do you think we like to catch people behaving badly?
Lots of possible answers to this ice-breaker. One reason might be that when we see someone failing it makes us look better. Here’s a quote to share and discuss with regard to this: “It is not enough to succeed; others must fail.” (Gore Vidal)
2. Why is there often a general perception that the church is a place of condemnation rather than restoration? How did that perception come about?
There are also probably plenty of answers for this question, too. Some logical answers are that the church, though saved and sanctified by Christ, is still full of sinful people. Every churchgoing person still make mistakes. Another reason? The church possesses the ultimate truth: Christ died to save sinners, which means sin is real and it’s bad enough that Christ had to die. We have this truth and we know others must come to terms with it. So we declare the truth but often in ways that don’t bring about change and restoration, only condemnation. Others reasons for this skewed perception? Ghandi is quoted as saying: ‘I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. ... Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Talk about what he meant and why.
Can you relate personally?
If someone wants to share a personal story, or needs to, here is a good place for that. 1
3. What did Pastor Joel say is the difference between condemnation and restoration?
Consider the pictures Pastor Joel shared of the two houses. If your group has ever watched Fixer Upper on HGTV, this concept will be familiar. A condemned house and a restored house start out the same way – in desperate need. But one is torn down and demolished to address its problems and the other is back-breakingly rebuilt. Why is one easy and the other difficult?
Condemnation is easy because it requires nothing other than a few words and a few moments and you don’t even have to be in the same room. Restoration is personal and time-consuming and perhaps expensive and exhausting. Share about a restoration project you’ve undertaken. What was it like?
4. Take a look at Galatians 6:1-2.
6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. What did Pastor Joel say are the two ways to be “caught?”
He said you can get caught in a net or by a net. One way is a snare and the other is a rescue. Talk about the difference. How does our understanding of these two ways change how we relate to people?
To catch someone who is falling is to reach out for them with a net to rescue them. Again, talk about the difference.
5. What does it mean to you to “restore gently?” What would be the opposite of that?
The word for gently here in the Greek is the same word for meekness and humility. You could also say this verse says to “humbly restore” the falling person. That means you consider yourself just as much a sinner as that person you are helping. This isn’t about The Good Person rescuing The Bad Person. The opposite of that would be to restore without humility or meekness. Meaning you sadly think you are better than they are. Not a pretty picture. 2
Have you ever been restored with gentleness? What did it look like? Any personal stories?
6. Now read Matthew 7:12.
12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Why does this directive sum up everything we know about Old Testament law?
Looking at the Ten Commandments as the foremost example of Old Testament law, we see that the first four are about our vertical relationship with the God we are to love with all our being, and the next six are about loving other people as we love ourselves. (Exodus 20:1-17). Life is truly all about loving God and loving other people. Why do you think Jesus had to say this?
Because from the beginning we humans have let our pride and love of self get in the way of everything good God would have us do. It’s at the core of our sinful nature, this desire to elevate ourselves above others. 7. Consider this quote: “When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.” – Wayne Dyer. What does this statement mean to you?
This quote should hopefully bring about some good closing discussion. What are you saying about yourself when you condemn other people rather than seeking to restore?
MEMORIZE: “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” – 1 John 4:11 MEDITATE: This week, consider if there is someone in your life or sphere of influence who is falling and is in great need of being caught. What is one thing you can do this week to that would feel like a touch of gentle restoration to them? And remember, complete restoration takes time.
3
“IN THIS HOUSE WE WILL CATCH AND CARRY”
LEADERS GUIDE 1. Why do you think tabloids and celebrity shows that catch people making a mess of their lives are so popular? Why do you think we like to catch people behaving badly?
Lots of possible answers to this ice-breaker. One reason might be that when we see someone failing it makes us look better. Here’s a quote to share and discuss with regard to this: “It is not enough to succeed; others must fail.” (Gore Vidal)
2. Why is there often a general perception that the church is a place of condemnation rather than restoration? How did that perception come about?
There are also probably plenty of answers for this question, too. Some logical answers are that the church, though saved and sanctified by Christ, is still full of sinful people. Every churchgoing person still make mistakes. Another reason? The church possesses the ultimate truth: Christ died to save sinners, which means sin is real and it’s bad enough that Christ had to die. We have this truth and we know others must come to terms with it. So we declare the truth but often in ways that don’t bring about change and restoration, only condemnation. Others reasons for this skewed perception? Ghandi is quoted as saying: ‘I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. ... Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Talk about what he meant and why.
Can you relate personally?
If someone wants to share a personal story, or needs to, here is a good place for that. 1
3. What did Pastor Joel say is the difference between condemnation and restoration?
Consider the pictures Pastor Joel shared of the two houses. If your group has ever watched Fixer Upper on HGTV, this concept will be familiar. A condemned house and a restored house start out the same way – in desperate need. But one is torn down and demolished to address its problems and the other is back-breakingly rebuilt. Why is one easy and the other difficult?
Condemnation is easy because it requires nothing other than a few words and a few moments and you don’t even have to be in the same room. Restoration is personal and time-consuming and perhaps expensive and exhausting. Share about a restoration project you’ve undertaken. What was it like?
4. Take a look at Galatians 6:1-2.
6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. What did Pastor Joel say are the two ways to be “caught?”
He said you can get caught in a net or by a net. One way is a snare and the other is a rescue. Talk about the difference. How does our understanding of these two ways change how we relate to people?
To catch someone who is falling is to reach out for them with a net to rescue them. Again, talk about the difference.
5. What does it mean to you to “restore gently?” What would be the opposite of that?
The word for gently here in the Greek is the same word for meekness and humility. You could also say this verse says to “humbly restore” the falling person. That means you consider yourself just as much a sinner as that person you are helping. This isn’t about The Good Person rescuing The Bad Person. The opposite of that would be to restore without humility or meekness. Meaning you sadly think you are better than they are. Not a pretty picture. 2
Have you ever been restored with gentleness? What did it look like? Any personal stories?
6. Now read Matthew 7:12.
12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Why does this directive sum up everything we know about Old Testament law?
Looking at the Ten Commandments as the foremost example of Old Testament law, we see that the first four are about our vertical relationship with the God we are to love with all our being, and the next six are about loving other people as we love ourselves. (Exodus 20:1-17). Life is truly all about loving God and loving other people. Why do you think Jesus had to say this?
Because from the beginning we humans have let our pride and love of self get in the way of everything good God would have us do. It’s at the core of our sinful nature, this desire to elevate ourselves above others. 7. Consider this quote: “When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.” – Wayne Dyer. What does this statement mean to you?
This quote should hopefully bring about some good closing discussion. What are you saying about yourself when you condemn other people rather than seeking to restore?
MEMORIZE: “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” – 1 John 4:11 MEDITATE: This week, consider if there is someone in your life or sphere of influence who is falling and is in great need of being caught. What is one thing you can do this week to that would feel like a touch of gentle restoration to them? And remember, complete restoration takes time.
3
