To start off your small group, briefly share your response to the following question:

Transcription

1 4. Labels

2 Start with an Icebreaker Question To start off your small group, briefly share your response to the following question: Stick and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me. What are your personal thoughts on that phrase? Share with your group. Please Read What To Expect Let s get a big picture of what we ll be learning today As we come to the conclusion of our Ghosts of Christmas Past series, in Session 4, we are going to learn about and discuss the power of the tongue and how to overcome the labels that bind us! 30

3 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS At this time, please break into smaller groups of 2-4 for the discussion question section. Have a great discussion! 1.) Stick and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me is one of the most untruthful and misleading phrases to have ever existed. There is power in words and how we use them. On a positive note, words have the power to create, heal, shape, and motivate. On the other hand, words have the potential to hurt, wound, discourage, and destroy. Native Hawaiians have a saying, I ka ōlelo nō ke ola, i ka ōlelo nō ka make which means in words is the power of life, in words is the power of death. Read the scripture below: The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. (Proverbs 18:21) Share ONE experience where someone s words effected you negatively and ONE experience where it effected you positively. 2.) We often struggle in the present because of labels that we ve picked up in the past. For example, someone once said something about you that belittled you, and you began to connect your identity to that label. Think of some labels that other people have given you in the past that you began to believe. Share with your group. (i.e. You are lazy, You are worthless, You aren t smart enough, etc.) 3.) Have you ever put any labels on yourself or relationships in your life? Did you notice any effects these labels had on you or your relationship(s)? Share with your group. (i.e. I m undependable, My family is dysfunctional, My marriage is broken, etc.) I am not who I say I am. I am not who others say I am. I am who God says I am! Read the following scripture: Now you are no longer a slave but God s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir. (Galatians 4:7) 31

4 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS At this time, please break into smaller groups of 2-4 for the discussion question section. Have a great discussion! 4.) The labels of our past do not need to be true in our present, and what s true about us now doesn t have to be true about us later. We don t get to choose what comes in our life or what others will label us with, but we do get to choose how it will affect us. The devil will take something and mean it for harm, but God can take that same thing and use it for our good. Read the scripture below: And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (Romans 8:28) God is bigger than our past. When we keep our eyes focused on Him and His purpose for our lives, He will give us the power to take a negative label that s been spoken upon us and name it something different! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:17) What difficulty have you experienced that can become a strength for you? Share with your group. 5.) An effective way to maintain positive labels is by surrounding ourselves with people who use their words for encouragement and life. You must warn each other every day, while it is still today, so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. (Hebrews 3:13) Can you identify at least ONE person in your life who does well at using their words to encourage you? Share with your group. 32

5 WHAT WILL YOU DO? This week, think about the person you mentioned in question #5 and the types of words this person speaks that encourages you. Use the same kind of life-giving language to be an encourager to those around you. One of the most encouraging things you can do for someone, is invite them to church. As this series comes to a close and we prepare to celebrate Christmas, invite at least ONE person to our 2017 New Hope Windward Christmas Production! CLOSE IN PRAYER Take a few minutes to close your time together with prayer and to pray for each other s prayer requests. Below is a sample prayer to read if you choose to. You can also choose to write down each other s prayer requests to remember throughout the week. Sample Prayer: God, You gave up Your son, Jesus Christ, so we could be called something different. We were sinners, failures, and cheaters. Because of Jesus Christ, we are now Your sons and daughters. As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, we thank You for that gift. We love You and praise You. In Jesus name, Amen. Group Prayer Requests: Name Request 33

6 DAILY DEVOTIONS: DAY 1 S C R I P T U R E Read These Scriptures: Proverbs 18:21: The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. O B S E R V A T I O N A P P L I C A T I O N P R A Y E R DAILY DEVOTIONS: DAY 2 S C R I P T U R E Read These Scriptures: Romans 8:28: And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. O B S E R V A T I O N A P P L I C A T I O N P R A Y E R 34

7 DAILY DEVOTIONS: DAY 3 S C R I P T U R E Read These Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 5:17: This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! O B S E R V A T I O N A P P L I C A T I O N P R A Y E R DAILY DEVOTIONS: DAY 4 S C R I P T U R E Read These Scriptures: John 1:12: But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. O B S E R V A T I O N A P P L I C A T I O N P R A Y E R 35

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