A BETTER STORY | I PLAY A PART IN OTHER STORIES

KEY SCRIPTURES

Isaiah 61:4 They shall build up the ancient ruins;
    they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
    the devastations of many generations;
5 Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks;
    foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers;
6 but you shall be called the priests of the Lord;
    they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God;

Mark 12:28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Galations 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

2 Corinthians 5:16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

KEY POINTS

  • Let’s build an atmosphere of safety for others to be real. A “Real” Community.
  • God desires us to become ministers of reconciliation.
  • God’s love has changed my story and my love can help others to live a better story.
  • Unforgiveness, distancing, judgement, gossip and rudeness can keep people from living a better story, and make yours unattractive.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. Discuss the current atmosphere of safety and real community in your homegroup. What else can you do to help it grow? Discuss.
  2. Describe ways that inhibit relationship, and keep others from living a better story?
  3. Do you consider yourself a Priest/Minister as referenced in Isaiah 61:6?
  4. How about a messenger of reconciliation? As referenced in 2 Corinthians 5:19
  5. Explain how you can help others live a better story?