NEW: Best Practices for Leading an Online Bible Study
NEW: Online Group Plan for Session 3
Date: May 10, 2020
Forgive
The Point: Relationships grow deeper with forgiveness.
Get Into the Study
Use the following information to introduce Question #1.
Citizens across the globe are acutely aware of how hard nurses, nurse practitioners, doctors, researchers, and other medical personnel are working to help persons sick with COVID-19. Many medical teammates live apart from their families to protect them from getting the virus. Appreciation parades and chalk messages abound to thank these workers. But following one of these parades someone chose to slash the tires of approximately 22 cars belonging to nurses and doctors at New York Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital.
Ask: How would these twenty-two, bone-weary, health professionals feel when finding slashed tires at the end of their shifts? What might their first responses have been? How would forgiveness fit into a scenario like this? How might we become part of God’s actions to right this wrong, to be the time and resources of God? Direct attention to Question #1 to discuss what it cost these health care workers to fix this in addition to money.
Information for this post was gleaned from:
Get Into the Study [Additional Option for Adult Leader Guide]
In advance, prepare the video for Matthew West’s “Forgiveness” for group members. Read “The Point.” After playing the video, ask for their response to the message of the song.
Study the Bible
Use the following information to supplement Question #3.
Following several high-profile church shootings, almost 2 in 3 pastors pastors say their congregations have taken precautions to protect worshipers from an active shooter. Fatal shootings have taken place at Christian churches and other religious sites such as an Amish school. “Churches are some of the most common gatherings in any community, and that makes them targets,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. Churches seek to prepare for what they hope will never happen. On December 29 three people died in church during a shooting in White Settlement, TX. The gunman was shot by a member of the church’s security team.
Ask a volunteer to read this quote from page 98 of the Personal Study Guide: “Forgiveness is the stuff of healthy marriages, healthy families, and healthy churches. Relationships grow when we let go of a hurt, a wound, or a critical remark.” How does preventing violence remove obstacles to forgiving others? What actions in this Baptist Press report might be the godly actions our church needs? How do we find a way to forgive if we can’t prevent something? Discuss Question 3.
Information for this post was gleaned from:
http://www.bpnews.net/54231/churchgoers-divided-over-armed-congregants
— Karen Dockrey wrote these Leader Extras. Karen is a managing editor, teacher, and author of 30 books. Karen is an active member of a local church near Huntsville, Alabama.
Additional Questions
Icebreaker
- Who has taught you the most about forgiveness?
- What comes to mind when you think of the word “forgiveness”?
- When have you seen an incredible act of forgiveness in person recently?
Matthew 18:21-22
- How would you summarize Jesus’ answer to Peter’s questions?
- Do you tend to be quick or slow to forgive others?
- When do you find it most difficult to forgive others?
Matthew 18:23-27
- How would you describe grace to someone new to Christianity?
- How are grace and mercy connected to forgiveness?
- What do you find most remarkable about the parable in these verses?
Matthew 18:28,32-33
- Since Jesus has forgiven us, what hinders us from forgiving others?
- What do you find most remarkable about the servant’s actions against the one who owed him money?
- How would you describe God’s grace toward you to someone new to Christianity?
Podcast
Click here for a 20-minute podcast for both the group member and the leader.
Member Extra
Send the following link to your group members as either a teaser before the group meets or as a follow-up thought:
Magazine Article
This article complements the study. Share this link with your group members.
- Mature Living — Let It Go
Tips for Leading Bible Study Groups
Podcast (adultsleadertraining): Play in new window | Download
The link above for the online group plan actually is linked to session 4 and not session 3. This is the link: https://s3.amazonaws.com/LWbranding/bsfl2019/2020/05/04-Session-4-Adult-Online-Plan-Dealing-with-Messy-Relationships.pdf
I wonder if this can be fixed to get the the session 3 helps for the online group plan.
The correct session is now available. Sorry for the error.
Just a follow up to last week’s question about whether the online instruction plan will be available for the coming weeks. I too thought that was an ideal tool and look forward to seeing it again.
The online files you want are at curriculum.lifeway.com. They will be available there for Spring and Summer.