The Hidden Confessor Luke 23:39-43 1. Jesus doesn't
April 9, 2017
The Hidden Confessor Luke 23:39-43
1. Jesus doesn’t base our ________ on our circumstances.
2. Jesus offers an open invitation to anyone who wants a ______________ with Him.
3. Jesus’ sacrifice offers the ________ we need to let go of regret.
Community Group Study Guide For the week of April 9, 2017
QUICK REVIEW What did you hear in the sermon that was new, or a different slant, or was a good reminder? Do you have any Pray for One stories from this week that you could share with your group? (Consider sharing them through [email protected] as well)
MY STORY 1. When you think about public figures in regrettable situations, who do you think of?
2. What’s the best response you’ve gotten from someone when you expressed regret or apologized?
DIGGING DEEPER On Sunday Larry spoke about the thief on the cross and the regrets he had. The good news was that he was able to find peace from those through trusting Jesus. Today’s study looks at another individual who follows Jesus without regrets. In the passage you’ll read about a man named Levi (also known as Matthew), who leaves what most scholars think is a pretty lucrative job as a tax collector to follow Jesus.
Read Luke 5:27-32. 1. How do most people deal with regret?
2. When people talk about overcoming regret there are several different strategies that get talked about. Often these strategies are rooted in pop psychology rather than Scripture. The biggest difference between these strategies and Scripture is that none of the popular strategies tend to mention the divine grace that’s offered through Jesus. How does Jesus’ sacrifice change the way we handle regret?
3. On Sunday Larry mentioned that our worth is not based on our circumstances. Why do you think it’s sometimes easier to find our identity in our circumstances (good or bad) rather than how Jesus sees us?
4. Levi doesn’t just drop everything and immediately follow Jesus. Before he moves on, Levi throws a party to help connect people to Jesus. Levi gathers his friends, who are probably struggling with regrets similar to his, in order to introduce them to Jesus. As we find our identity in Jesus, we have the same opportunity to share what He’s done for us with our friends. As you pray for one, how might you share your experience of overcoming regret with someone who God brings into your life?
5. A key part of overcoming regret is the ability to encourage and help one another in the midst of our struggles. What kinds of regrets are most likely to plague the members of your group? How can you specifically help each other to overcome these regrets?
TAKING IT HOME Finding our identity in Christ is a huge help in our battle with regret. When we focus on what He’s done for us and how He’s brought us into His family, we stand the best chance of letting go of our past and looking forward to how He’s working in our lives. Take some time to list some of your regrets in the blanks below and then pray through each sentence.
Grace covers __________________________________________ because Jesus’ death on the cross takes away any mistakes or sins.
My identity isn’t based on ___________________________________ because God sees me as His child.
__________________________________________ can’t chain me to my past, because Jesus has made a place for me with Him in Heaven.
PRAYER REQUESTS
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The Hidden Confessor Luke 23:39-43
1. Jesus doesn’t base our ________ on our circumstances.
2. Jesus offers an open invitation to anyone who wants a ______________ with Him.
3. Jesus’ sacrifice offers the ________ we need to let go of regret.
Community Group Study Guide For the week of April 9, 2017
QUICK REVIEW What did you hear in the sermon that was new, or a different slant, or was a good reminder? Do you have any Pray for One stories from this week that you could share with your group? (Consider sharing them through [email protected] as well)
MY STORY 1. When you think about public figures in regrettable situations, who do you think of?
2. What’s the best response you’ve gotten from someone when you expressed regret or apologized?
DIGGING DEEPER On Sunday Larry spoke about the thief on the cross and the regrets he had. The good news was that he was able to find peace from those through trusting Jesus. Today’s study looks at another individual who follows Jesus without regrets. In the passage you’ll read about a man named Levi (also known as Matthew), who leaves what most scholars think is a pretty lucrative job as a tax collector to follow Jesus.
Read Luke 5:27-32. 1. How do most people deal with regret?
2. When people talk about overcoming regret there are several different strategies that get talked about. Often these strategies are rooted in pop psychology rather than Scripture. The biggest difference between these strategies and Scripture is that none of the popular strategies tend to mention the divine grace that’s offered through Jesus. How does Jesus’ sacrifice change the way we handle regret?
3. On Sunday Larry mentioned that our worth is not based on our circumstances. Why do you think it’s sometimes easier to find our identity in our circumstances (good or bad) rather than how Jesus sees us?
4. Levi doesn’t just drop everything and immediately follow Jesus. Before he moves on, Levi throws a party to help connect people to Jesus. Levi gathers his friends, who are probably struggling with regrets similar to his, in order to introduce them to Jesus. As we find our identity in Jesus, we have the same opportunity to share what He’s done for us with our friends. As you pray for one, how might you share your experience of overcoming regret with someone who God brings into your life?
5. A key part of overcoming regret is the ability to encourage and help one another in the midst of our struggles. What kinds of regrets are most likely to plague the members of your group? How can you specifically help each other to overcome these regrets?
TAKING IT HOME Finding our identity in Christ is a huge help in our battle with regret. When we focus on what He’s done for us and how He’s brought us into His family, we stand the best chance of letting go of our past and looking forward to how He’s working in our lives. Take some time to list some of your regrets in the blanks below and then pray through each sentence.
Grace covers __________________________________________ because Jesus’ death on the cross takes away any mistakes or sins.
My identity isn’t based on ___________________________________ because God sees me as His child.
__________________________________________ can’t chain me to my past, because Jesus has made a place for me with Him in Heaven.
PRAYER REQUESTS
*
*
*
*
*
