REALITY CHECK. The Bible Meets Life. What makes a house feel like a home to you?

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1 1 REALITY CHECK What makes a house feel like a home to you? The Bible Meets Life If you re like me, you could practically get home with your eyes closed. You know the trip by heart: the bumps in the road, the places to turn, and even the way the sun shines through the trees. So imagine one day you take this same road. You come to your house, but when you get inside everything is different. The pictures on the wall have been replaced. The furniture is arranged the wrong way. Even the smell is different. Many people feel the same way when they enter the church building. They ve heard Jesus is a friend of sinners and God loves the world. They ve been led to believe the people in church are friendly. And yet when they enter the building, they find something entirely inconsistent with those facts. We might think we are welcoming, and yet the reality can be entirely different. To ensure we re a welcoming church, let s go back to the beginning. We welcome others because of the gospel. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 7

2 GROUP TIME THE POINT: Our lives should serve as a into the church. Titus 3:3-8a 3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, 5 he saved us not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6 He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life. 8a This saying is trustworthy. Titus 3:8b 8b I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone. Titus 3: But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, because they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning. 11 For you know that such a person has gone astray and is sinning; he is self-condemned. Titus was on his own. He had traveled with Paul, seen the power of the gospel to change people s lives, and even carried a letter from Paul to the church at Corinth. He had been a trusted companion of the greatest missionary the world has ever known, but now he was by himself. Paul had left Titus on the island of Crete to organize and carry out the beginning of the church there. Surely with an assignment like that in a place that was foreign to both the gospel and Judaism Titus had many questions about his role. Paul addressed several issues in his letter to Titus. But along with answers to practical ministry questions, Paul also reminded Titus of something that was already very familiar to him: the gospel. 8 SESSION 1

3 Ministry is grounded in the of Christ. The gospel keeps us from looking down on others (v. 3). Paul reminded Titus that he and all believers was once just like the people Titus was seeking to welcome into the faith. Before Christ, we were lost, hopeless, and living for nothing else than to fulfill our next desire. The gospel reminds us what is possible (vv. 4-5). Paul reminded Titus that all of us, if we re Christians, have a moment of awakening to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul called this regeneration, and it s the moment when we become new creations in Christ. (See 2 Corinthians 5:17.) The gospel points us to the future (vv. 6-7). Thanks to the gospel, we all have a sure hope in the future. We re destined for eternal life with Jesus. Ministry is a to the gospel of Christ. True, faithful, joy-filled, and sustained ministry to others flows out of the gospel of Jesus. That s because what God has done in us through Jesus always works itself out in good works. Because of the gospel of Jesus, Titus could devote himself to ministering to others. Ministry has no room for or. Having spent time in Crete himself, Paul knew the specific issues that might distract Titus from his overall mission. Paul told Titus to avoid these issues, and he mentioned foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law (v. 9) in particular. All of the issues Paul mentioned were, at their core, issues of personal preference and self-centeredness. But these issues were not only limited to the island of Crete. We re all tempted to lose our focus and fixate on issues of personal preference. Please, Come In What would you like your words and actions to communicate to others about the gospel? BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 9

4 THE POINT Our lives should serve as a welcome mat into the church. LIVE IT OUT Our daily behavior and language should welcome others into the church. This posture comes naturally when we focus on the gospel. This week, conduct a reality check to see if you regularly extend a genuine welcome and seize opportunities to lie out a welcome mat. Evaluate. Is there a foolish debate, quarrel, or dispute you ve allowed to distract you from the gospel lately? Humbly confess this to God and ask His forgiveness. Take action. Identify a good work you can devote yourself to this week that would allow your life to serve as a welcome mat for your church. Extend an invitation. Make an effort to notice and speak to guests at church for the next three weeks. If a guest isn t meeting someone, invite him or her to sit with you. Ask God to deepen your awareness of newcomers as you strive to make this a weekly habit. TALK IT OUT Want to go a step further? Gather with two or three Christ-followers of the same gender. Read Titus 3:3-11, then use the following summary and questions for a deeper discussion. Almost all churches start out well; they re focused on leading people to Christ, serving them, and helping them grow in Christ. Unfortunately, if we re not careful, the church can gradually drift from being Christcentered to becoming inwardly focused. Doctrine may not have changed, but how to live out the gospel can. It s wise to periodically do a self-check as individuals and churches to ensure we remain a welcoming church focused on the gospel. What do you find challenging about welcoming others? How would you describe the relationship between good works and salvation? When you consider your small group, are there any issues causing disunity or a clear disruption? What steps can be taken to move past these issues? 10 SESSION 1

5 DAILY STUDY Day 1: The gospel is our starting point for life and ministry. Read Titus 3:3-7. Titus found himself in a new assignment. While he had previously traveled and ministered with Paul, he was now left to organize and launch the beginnings of the church on the island of Crete. In addition, Judaism and the gospel were unknown to the people there. If Titus wanted to create a sustained and empowered work for God on this island, he needed to remember the why before he started doing the what. The same is true for us. If any ministry we seek to do for God isn t grounded in the why of the gospel, it will eventually run out of steam. So, if we want to welcome others into the church, we must remember that at one point, we ourselves were on the outside looking in. And if God hadn t rolled out the welcome mat with the life of His own Son, Jesus, that s exactly where we would have stayed. How does your own story relate to the redemptive message found in verses 4-5? Pause in prayer to thank God for what He has done for you personally. "But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us according to his mercy." TITUS 3:4-5 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 11

6 THE POINT Our lives should serve as a welcome mat into the church. Day 2: The gospel sustains us for life and ministry. Read Titus 3:8. Paul frequently wrote that the Christian life is like running a race. (See 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Galatians 2:2; 5:7; Philippians 2:16; 3:12-14; 2 Timothy 4:7.) In keeping with Paul s metaphor, we often think of the message of the gospel Jesus lived a perfect life, died a substitutionary death, and rose victoriously from the grave as the way we place our feet against the blocks. We see the gospel as the means that enables us to enter the race. That certainly is true, but it doesn t go far enough. The issue is that, in a real race, once you start to run, you leave the starting blocks behind. But the gospel of Jesus Christ doesn t produce merely the starting blocks in our race; it s the whole track. We aren t meant to push off on the gospel and then move into the real business of living; rather, we continually find our feet falling on the truth of the gospel. We are meant to be driven in daily life by the cross and the resurrection. We don t move past the gospel; we continually dwell and live in the gospel so that it permeates everything we do. As a reminder of the grace Christ offers, place the text of Titus 3:4-5 on your phone s lock screen or another place you ll view often. Day 3: The gospel propels us to welcome others. Read Romans 5:6-11. The gospel fuels everything we do; including the way we welcome others. At times, we feel secure and safe in our own friendships and don t want to reach out to others. It may also feel uncomfortable relating to people who look, act, and believe differently than we do. And let s face it, sometimes we just don t feel like being friendly. It s in those times we have to remind ourselves of the truth of the gospel. We have to reconnect with the truth that God welcomed us. At some point, we too were strangers and we also needed the welcome mat rolled out. God has been faithful to welcome us. And at some point, other believers welcomed us. By remembering this experience and the truth behind it, we will find new energy to welcome others joyfully into the church and God s kingdom. Identify someone who has visited your Bible study group recently. Call, text, or message them an invitation to your next Bible study. 12 SESSION 1

7 Day 4: The gospel is our first priority. Read Titus 3:9-11. Division, arguments, and disunity can wreak havoc on a body of believers and her ministry. Paul addressed this important issue with trademark wisdom: any destructive issues based on personal preference should be identified and avoided. There is no place in ministry for things of this nature because ministry, at its core, is about self-sacrifice for the sake of someone else. This is particularly true when we re welcoming someone into the church, our group, and the family of God. When we allow issues of personal preference and selfcenteredness to creep into the way we minister to other people, it is destructive to our overall mission. While we do find many of our needs met in the church, the church is first and foremost the body of Christ. Our role in the church isn t simply to receive its benefits and blessings; our role is to give of ourselves so that the gospel might be spread to the ends of the earth. Do you have an unresolved disagreement with someone? Make a plan to connect with them this week to discuss how to resolve the issue. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 13

8 THE POINT Our lives should serve as a welcome mat into the church. Day 5: The gospel unifies God s people for ministry. Read Ephesians 4:1-6. God s desire is to redeem people of every tribe, tongue, and nation to worship Him for all eternity. One of the most convincing things about Christianity during the days of the early church was how the church was made up of different types of people. Jews and Gentiles, slaves and free, men and women all were represented in the body of Christ. The fact that different types of people were able to worship together despite their personal preferences shows the unifying power of the gospel. The church is much more than a building for people to sing songs, listen to preaching and teaching, and give money. The church is comprised of God s people and is the means God chose so that His multi-faceted wisdom may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens (Ephesians 3:10). When we gather together, it s as if God places the gathering of His people on display before all the powers in heaven as a showplace of His wisdom. God intends for His people to carry the gospel message near and far. We can begin right where we are, welcoming those who don t yet know the truth of Jesus. Pay attention to the homes and businesses you travel past often in your community. Pray for the neighbors you know and the ones you don t yet know. "God welcomed us. At some point, we too were strangers and we also needed the welcome mat rolled out." MICHAEL KELLEY 14 SESSION 1

9 2 OPEN ARMS When have you felt like the new kid? The Bible Meets Life Moving is hard. In addition to packing belongings and boxing up your memories, you also have to acclimate to new surroundings. A new grocery store. A new traffic pattern. Even a new local news team on TV. Everything is new and nothing is familiar. That won t last forever. Things will become comfortable as you adjust to your new normal. What is familiar is what is comfortable. That kind of familiarity and comfort can be good when we re adjusting to a new home, but it s dangerous in the life of a Christian. We naturally gravitate to the people we know best and who are like us. It s easier to interact with individuals with whom we share a common interest or background. But a problem arises when those friendships drive us to overlook or ignore others, or worse, to show preferential treatment. Jesus, on the other hand, loves all people the same and we re called to do likewise. We must learn to embrace others with open arms. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 15

10 GROUP TIME THE POINT: Welcoming others a friendly handshake. James 2:1-4 1 My brothers and sisters, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. 2 For if someone comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and a poor person dressed in filthy clothes also comes in, 3 if you look with favor on the one wearing the fine clothes and say, Sit here in a good place, and yet you say to the poor person, Stand over there, or Sit here on the floor by my footstool, 4 haven t you made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? James 2:5-7 5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Didn t God choose the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6 Yet you have dishonored the poor. Don t the rich oppress you and drag you into court? 7 Don t they blaspheme the good name that was invoked over you? James 2: Indeed, if you fulfill the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well. 9 If, however, you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all. The Book of James was written to Christians who were undergoing persecution. James wrote this letter not only to encourage them to remain strong during those difficult times, but also to remind them that faith and obedience is linked together. It s in this context that James addressed the issue of partiality. These Christians weren t treating people equally in their congregations. The particular example James pointed out involved individuals coming into the congregation who had the appearance of wealth. Apparently such a person with his nice clothing and polished appearance was given a place of prominence in the church, even if it meant pushing aside someone who was clearly not wealthy. According to James, this was an evil thing to do. 16 SESSION 2

11 Am I Showing Favoritism? Gender Race Marital Status Economic Status Education Political Affiliation Personal Appearance Type of Job Accent Size of Home Other: Treat all people with the same and. Partiality neglects the image of God in fellow humans. When we show favoritism to one person or group of people over another, we are whether we realize it or not subtly neglecting the truth that all human beings have been created in the image of God. Partiality sees others as objects to be used. In James illustration of the rich man and the poor man in the fellowship, the reason for the favoritism is simple: we can get something from the rich man. Partiality sets us up as judge. Favoritism is a big deal because it sets us up in the place of God. Partiality is inconsistent with. Turn to most any page in Scripture and you can find an adjective describing God. (See Psalm 75:1-7, 119:65-72, 145:17, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.) You would find words like holy, righteous, sovereign, compassionate, and kind. But when you begin to consider God s posture toward humanity, another word comes to mind: grace. Because of His great love for us, God has assumed a posture of grace toward human beings. is consistent with God s heart. We love others not because we force ourselves to do so, but because we re truly in touch with the measure of God s love for us. Since that s true, the opposite is also true: we fail to love others because we fail to believe or understand the fullness or completeness with which we have been loved by God. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 17

12 THE POINT Welcoming others goes beyond a friendly handshake. LIVE IT OUT Showing the kind of favoritism James mentions neglects the heart of God and fails to recognize the grace that has been shown to us. Thus, we must break out of the huddles of familiarity we have created for ourselves and reach out to anyone God brings our way. Pray for opportunities. Pray specifically that God would bring you in contact with someone who looks, talks, or thinks differently than you do. Change seats. When you gather this week to worship or in your group, intentionally sit somewhere different. Sit next to someone new and engage him or her in conversation. Go someplace new. This week, go to a different area in your community for some everyday task like buying groceries. While you re there, engage someone new in conversation. TALK IT OUT Want to go a step further? Gather with two or three Christ-followers of the same gender. Read James 2:1-10, then use the summary and questions for a deeper discussion on the topic of favoritism and how to avoid it. It s only natural that we gravitate to the people we know best and those who are like us. It s easier to interact with individuals with whom we share a common interest or background. The problem arises when those friendships drive us to overlook others, ignore them, or worse, show preferential treatment. Jesus, on the other hand, loves all people the same. Scripture calls us to see others as Jesus does. How do these verses reveal our character as human beings? What makes preferential treatment so dangerous in the life of a church? Why is love so important in the life of a church? What practical steps will you take this week to reject favoritism? 18 SESSION 2

13 DAILY STUDY Day 1: All people have been created in God s image. Read Genesis 1:26-27,2:7. We might be tempted to think partiality and favoritism really aren t that big a deal. But we only think that when we fail to see the heart behind such actions. James has already helped us see that evil isn t too strong a word to use when describing favoritism and partiality. Partiality neglects the image of God in fellow humans. When we show favoritism to one person or group of people over another, we are whether we realize it or not subtly neglecting the truth that all human beings have been created in the image of God. Because all of us have been created in God s image, every one of us is worthy of honor and dignity. When we remove some of that honor and dignity, even if it seems like a small thing, we re doing more than exercising our preference for one group or another. We re denying the image of God in the neglected party. We re determining someone s worthiness based on some preconceived notion based on the person s clothes, money, reputation, or whatever. But we aren t equipped to make this judgment. Indeed, only God can look at the heart. When we show partiality, therefore, we re putting ourselves in place of God. We re judging the worth of another. What does Genesis 1 reveal about God s view of each person we come into contact with? In the space below, record two to three words or phrases. "Indeed, if you fulfill the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well." JAMES 2:8 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 19

14 THE POINT Welcoming others goes beyond a friendly handshake. Day 2: God offers unmerited favor to us. Read Romans 3: Because of His great love for us, God has assumed a posture of grace toward human beings. So what is grace? Grace is unmerited favor. Because God has a heart of grace toward His creation, it means that, though we have rebelled against His rule and seek to go our own way, God doesn t immediately punish us with the death our sin warrants. Instead, God continues to provide for and sustain His creation. The rain still falls on the wicked; the crops still grow though the farmer doesn t thank God for them. In all these ways and so many more, God shows His common grace to humanity. But His heart of grace goes beyond that. For the Christian, not only does grace mean we don t receive what we deserve, it means we have received what Jesus deserves. God in His grace treats us based on the righteousness of Jesus. We re the sons and daughters of the King, and this status is most certainly unmerited. Spend some time today expressing your gratitude for God s grace. On your daily run or travel to work, listen to music that leads you to worship. 20 SESSION 2

15 Day 3: Grace enables us to be a part of God s family. Read James 2:1-7. God s grace isn t based on how much money we have, how educated we are, or how polished our appearance is. In fact, grace recognizes that all of these things mean very little in light of eternity. Take away the money, the prestige, and the earthly power and we re all the same sinners deserving punishment. When we show favoritism based on these external qualities, we re implying that someone is either closer to or further away from God s favor. Favoritism minimizes the power of grace. Someone s physical appearance or mannerisms can easily misdirect us; we fail to see what God sees and what His powerful gospel can do. When we make that kind of evaluation, we minimize the power of His grace. If we want to adopt the heart of God, then no place remains for partiality and favoritism. We must recognize that it is only by grace that we have been welcomed into His family and we re to extend that same grace to others. Observe the people in your community today. Pay attention to similarities and differences and thank God for welcoming all kinds of people into His family. Day 4: We re called to love God and people. Read James 2:8-10. By the time Jesus lived, the Old Testament law had been analyzed, broken down, and codified for centuries. The Jewish people walked around in fear of violating this commandment or that one, or at least one of the many additional rules the religious leaders of the day had tacked onto Scripture. Into this confusing and stifling culture stepped Jesus, who boiled down the entire law of God to two basic and all-encompassing commands. Both of them have love at their center: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands (Matthew 22:37-40). Love God. Love people. That s it. If we do this, then we re doing everything. James called love the royal law prescribed in Scripture (James 2:8). But as James also pointed out, the opposite is also true if we fail at love, then we fail at everything else. Genuine relationships are key. Make a point to meet and get to know someone new in your community this week. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 21

16 THE POINT Welcoming others goes beyond a friendly handshake. Day 5: God s love enables us to love others. Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-7. The love of God and the love of other people aren t isolated from each other; rather, they are inseparably linked. That s why love is the language of Christians. Many times we don t understand how strong our vertical relationship with God is related to our horizontal relationships with others. We know we re supposed to love each other, but a lot of the time doing so seems to be a sheer act of will. We get a funny mental picture of gritting our teeth and slamming our fist on the desk saying over and over again, So help me, I will love others if it s the last thing I do! Such an attitude entirely misses the connection between our relationship with God and our relationships with others. We re only able to love to the extent that we have embraced God s love for us. So maybe we continue to judge, criticize, and backbite largely because we still have trouble believing God fully loves us. God has spoken the language of love to us. If we re fluent in this language from Him, then we must speak the same language to those around us. There is no other way. Whom do you find hard to love? This week, make it your goal to demonstrate to this person the kind of love and grace you ve received from God. "The goal is Christ-likeness, not us-likeness." BETH MOORE 22 SESSION 2

17 3 GRACIOUS HOSPITALITY What s the most interesting place you ve stayed on a trip? The Bible Meets Life The world s largest hotel chain owns exactly zero square feet in hotel room space. Airbnb was launched in 2007 when two roommates couldn t afford to pay their rent in San Francisco. In order to make a little extra money to cover their expenses, they had the idea of putting an air mattress in their living room and charging people to stay there. For many, the idea was laughable. Who would pay to sleep in the home of a perfect stranger? But a decade or so later, Airbnb has three million lodging listings in 65,000 cities and 191 countries. Clearly, the thought of staying in a real home resonates with a lot of folks. Gracious hospitality is nothing new. Being hospitable is, in fact, a very spiritual characteristic. Hospitality is a command and one Christians must embrace if we want to live in a welcoming posture to those coming into the faith. Our graciousness and hospitality to those outside our circle of friends attracts people to the gospel we profess. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 23

18 GROUP TIME THE POINT: Ground your service and love in. 1 Peter 4:7 7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer. 1 Peter 4:8-9 8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 1 Peter 4: Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. Hospitality played a key role in the spread of the gospel in the days when the church was just beginning to flourish. When traveling to a new area, people were at the mercy of those who lived in that city. Therefore, Christians took hospitality seriously, and fellow believers who had been displaced were welcomed into the homes and lives of others. This graciousness helped the gospel to spread and take root in these communities. Prayer lays the for our love and hospitality. When we pray, we recognize that we re incapable of doing, providing, or manufacturing something on our own. In prayer, we express our reliance on God as our Provider. So what should we pray for in order to foster an attitude of hospitality? Pray that God would help us see ourselves as stewards. It s easy to see ourselves as owners. We own a house. We own our time. We own our food. We see these things are ours. But we re not owners; we re merely stewards. Everything we have has been given to us by God to use for the sake of His kingdom. Everything. 24 SESSION 3

19 Pray that God would help us confront our greed. Another obstacle to expressing hospitality is our struggle with greed. We hoard our resources for our own personal use and comfort, and our greed makes us reluctant to share them with anyone else. Hospitality is one of the ways God actually breaks us of this mindset. Pray that God would bring us opportunities. We should ask God to open our eyes to the needs around us those with no place to go, people to be with, or friends to confide in. Hospitality is a to be assumed. While certain acts, like making a casserole or opening your home, are indicative of hospitality, the characteristic itself has a deeper meaning and implication than these actions that demonstrate it. The word for hospitality used in this passage comes from the combination of two words: love and stranger. Literally, then, hospitality is the love of strangers. enables us to love and serve others. For our hospitality and other spiritual gifts to make a difference, we need the empowerment of God, but we have a responsibility as well. Rather than being passive bystanders to God s enabling power, we must act in faith to make the most of what God is providing. God Works Through Us When you think of hospitality, what comes to mind? Circle the image below that best represents your response. What other practical ways can our group offer hospitality to others? Record your ideas in the space below. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 25

20 THE POINT Ground your service and love in hospitality. LIVE IT OUT Peter began this whole passage with a sense of urgency, and because we don t know how much time God has given us, our hospitality moves beyond just being nice and offering cookies. So let s pray and welcome people into our lives. In so doing, we also welcome them into God s kingdom. Let go of a grudge. Remember that 1 Peter 4:9 says to do everything without complaining. If there is a poor attitude that is getting in the way of your practicing hospitality, confess it. Grab hold of a task. Identify the gifts you ve been given that can be used to serve others. Look for an opportunity to use those gifts in your church. Cultivate a lifestyle. Look around your church and community for ways to use your gifts on an ongoing basis. TALK IT OUT Want to go a step further? Gather with two or three Christ-followers of the same gender. Read 1 Peter 4:7-11, then use the summary and questions for a deeper discussion of how you can demonstrate hospitality in your day-to-day activities. We can know Scripture and engage in a number of spiritual disciplines, but it s how we live out those truths that make a difference to those around us. Jesus said, By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:35). Our graciousness and hospitality to those outside our circle of friends attracts people to the gospel we profess. What are some tips and techniques that help you remember to pray for others? What obstacles stand in your way of offering hospitality to others? What steps can you take to move past those and adopt a lifestyle like the one Peter discusses in these verses? How has God equipped our group to love and serve others? Be specific. 26 SESSION 3

21 DAILY STUDY Day 1: Hospitality begins with a proper view of possessions. Read 1 Peter 4:7. Hospitality. This was an important quality that characterized the New Testament church; the biblical writers knew it was of great importance. Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality (Romans 12:13). Don t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it (Hebrews 13:2). For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in (Matthew 25:35). But times have changed. Despite the fact that we live much of our lives in a public way online, most people value privacy more than they did in the past. Though we might put forth a version of ourselves through social media, we still really like our personal space and private time. The very nature of hospitality runs counter to this, since hospitality is sharing what we consider to be personal with each other in a sacrificial way. To live lives of hospitality, we must begin with prayer. In prayer, we acknowledge our selfishness and commitment to our own desires are what keep us from sacrificially serving and loving others in the most practical of ways. Take a moment to consider your definition of ownership. Ask God to help you view your resources and possessions as tools to be used for His purposes. "Above all, maintain constant love for one another. Be hospitable to one another without complaining." 1 PETER 4:8-9 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 27

22 THE POINT Ground your service and love in hospitality. Day 2: Hospitality is a clear expression of love. Read 1 Peter 4:8-9. Love isn t a feeling; it s a deeply held commitment for the good of another that is always worked out in tangible, practical ways. That s why hospitality is one of the most concrete signs of love. It s a physical, practical way we serve someone else which also costs us something personal. Make no mistake: hospitality isn t a suggestion for the Christian. It s a clear command: Be hospitable to one another without complaining (1 Peter 4:9). Among his practical exhortations of gospel-rooted living, Paul urged the believers in the Roman church to pursue hospitality (Romans 12:13). Later the apostle went on to say that hospitality is one of the characteristics a church leader must demonstrate. (See 1 Timothy 3:2.) Clearly, hospitality matters. What obstacles prevent you from serving others through hospitality? Ask God to remove these things that keep you from obeying this command. 28 SESSION 3

23 Day 3: Hospitality is an opportunity to live out the message of the gospel. Read Philippians 2:1-4. Hospitality is a powerful demonstration of the gospel. When we were strangers and aliens, God took us in. (See Ephesians 2:12-19.) When we were without a home and family, God brought us into His. When we were without hope and without God in the world (v. 12), God adopted us as His children. In the ultimate act of hospitality, God provided a way to welcome us through the death of Jesus Christ. Therefore, hospitality is a characteristic built into the spiritual DNA of all those who have experienced God s divine hospitality. Hospitality, then, compels us to put aside our own interests, to lay down our own desires, and to welcome the needs of others ahead of our own. Jesus did that for us, and we are to do likewise. How would you explain the gospel message in one sentence? Write that sentence in the space below. Day 4: Hospitality demonstrates our trust in God. Read 1 Peter 4: When God works through us using our spiritual gifts, many things happen. The most obvious one is that other people benefit. They might benefit from an encouraging word, an act of service, or from the gracious welcome of hospitality. But that s not all that happens. Our willingness to be used by God to serve other people implicitly communicates important things we believe to be true. When we practice hospitality, we are speaking about our own provision. Exercising hospitality will cost us in time, energy, resources, and even privacy. Any time a personal cost is involved, the temptation for us is to focus on what we re giving up to welcome someone else in. When we willingly allow God to use us to demonstrate hospitality, we re testifying that we believe God to be our great Provider. We may be giving something up, but we know God doesn t leave us wanting. He will take care of our needs. Offer to meet a need within your church. Volunteer one Sunday to serve in the children s area, the student ministry, or an outreach ministry and pay attention to what God teaches you about His provision. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 29

24 THE POINT Ground your service and love in hospitality. Day 5: Hospitality is more than one action; it s a pattern for living. Read Ephesians 5:1-2. It s easy to think of hospitality as a single action one pursues occasionally, as if we re on some kind of quota system. We think if we perform some gracious act every once in a while, we have checked off the box for the month and are free to go back to our private lives until we feel some measure of guilt again. But for the Christian, hospitality isn t just an act to be performed; it s a lifestyle to be assumed. During His earthly life, Jesus epitomized hospitality even though He had no home and no physical resources; He had no oven, cookie sheet, or casserole dish. Jesus practiced the essence of hospitality, which is sacrificing something of your own to welcome others in. Hospitality isn t merely a set of actions; it s a posture of living that grows out of constant love for one another (1 Peter 4:8). Jesus life was a model: we re called to welcome and serve others. Place Ephesians 5:1-2 on your calendar or some place you ll see often as a reminder of this truth. "Hospitality is a powerful demonstration of the gospel. When we were without a home and family, God brought us into His." MICHAEL KELLEY 30 SESSION 3

25 4 INTENTIONAL LOVE When has someone gone out of his or her way to help you? The Bible Meets Life Alexander Fleming found mold that had formed accidentally in a petri dish killed all the bacteria around itself. We now have penicillin. 1 Percy Spencer walked in front of a magnetron and the peanut butter candy bar in his pocket melted. This led him to create the microwave oven. 2 On a hike, Georges de Mestral noticed burrs clinging to his pants. This gave him the idea for Velcro. 3 All of these discoveries were made by accident. These may have been happy accidents, but we can t approach the Christian life that way. Following Jesus doesn t mean stumbling around in the dark hoping for a good result; following Jesus is an intentional act of obedience. If we desire to be a welcoming people, we won t get there by accident. We will only get there through intentional acts of love. It s a standard of love that goes the extra mile. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 31

26 GROUP TIME THE POINT: Go out of your way to. Luke 10: Then an expert in the law stood up to test him, saying, Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? 26 What is written in the law? he asked him. How do you read it? 27 He answered, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. 28 You ve answered correctly, he told him. Do this and you will live. Luke 10: But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, And who is my neighbor? 30 Jesus took up the question and said: A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down that road. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 In the same way, a Levite, when he arrived at the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. Luke 10: But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion. 34 He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, Take care of him. When I come back I ll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend. 36 Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers? 37 The one who showed mercy to him, he said. Then Jesus told him, Go and do the same. Jesus used a powerful story to teach us what it looks like to intentionally love others. The story of the good Samaritan was prompted by a question from an expert in the law: Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? (v. 25). Our love for God is tied to for others. 32 SESSION 4

27 Our love for God comes first from the fact that He loved us (see 1 John 4:19), and that love drives and shapes our love for others. Additionally, we re to love others with the same manner of love that God has extended to us. Our love for others should have some distinct qualities: We love others unreservedly. Nationality, ethnicity, educational level, and social standing don t limit or regulate God s love. He has loved us unreservedly, and this is the manner in which we should love others. We love others sacrificially. God s love for us cost Him the life of His One and only Son. If we claim to love others with this same selfless love, then we should be willing to joyfully embrace the cost that comes with loving not only with words, but also with action. We love others proactively. God s love isn t an ivory tower kind of love. He doesn t stand in heaven and shout down at a broken and lost creation, I love you! I love you! Rather, He got down in the muck and mire of a sinful world in the person of Jesus Christ. He took the initiative to come to us. We to when we re indifferent to others. Every day we encounter people who are spiritually injured and bleeding on the proverbial roadside. We can always find an excuse for indifferently passing them by. It s none of my business. I wouldn t know what to say. Someone else is better equipped. At the bottom of any excuse we offer is a simple failure to love. We re commanded to love even when it s or inconvenient. In Luke 10:36, Jesus wrapped up the story by asking, Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers? So great was the lawyer s disdain, he was unable to even say the name Samaritan. The lawyer admitted it was the one who showed mercy, and Jesus told him to Go and do the same (v. 37). Who Is My Neighbor? Three people who qualify as your neighbor. What have you done recently to show love to these neighbors? BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 33

28 THE POINT Go out of your way to love others. LIVE IT OUT We might accidentally stumble upon a situation that requires our help, but none of us are going to accidentally love and serve someone else. We only do this with intention. Study the life of Jesus. Commit to read through the Book of Luke over the next three weeks. Pay special attention to Jesus interactions with those He encountered. Trim your schedule. How much margin is in your life? Evaluate your finances and schedule, and cut back so that you have room to meet the needs of others God brings your way. Meet a need. Identify a neighbor with a need and determine to help meet that need over the next few months. If necessary, call on others in your Bible study group to help you. TALK IT OUT Want to go a step further? Gather with two or three Christ-followers of the same gender. Read Luke 10:25-37, then use the summary and questions for a deeper discussion on today s study. Anyone can be nice, and the world applauds random acts of kindness. Random acts of kindness may make an impression, but intentional ministry makes an impact. When we go out of our way to help someone or build a relationship, we re living by the higher standard Jesus calls us to: a standard of love that goes the extra mile. What about Jesus parable most catches your attention? What are some ways you can show intentional love to church guests? How can we currently obey Jesus command as a Bible study group? 34 SESSION 4

29 DAILY STUDY Day 1: Our love for God is deeply connected to our love for others. Read Luke 10: Some questions are pure in their intent. A person typically desires to know a certain piece of information, but that s not the attitude that prompted this question. This expert of the law asked a critically important question Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? (v. 25) but his question was not born of a humble search, but out of a prideful examination. He had no desire to hear truth from Jesus; instead, he stood up to test him (v. 25). Jesus answered the question by asking a question of His own, and knowing the man was an expert in the law, He asked the question in terms of the law. This gave the man what he really wanted: an opportunity to showcase his own knowledge. In this man s mind, he already knew the answer to his own question. To inherit eternal life, he must love God with his entire being, and love his neighbor as himself. Indeed, this was the right answer, though the young expert failed to understand the true implications of those commands. One such implication is that these two great loves, which summarize all the commands of Scripture, are linked together. Our love for God is firmly and inseparably tied to our love of others. So closely are they linked together that John would later write: If anyone says, I love God, and yet hates his brother or sister, he is a liar (1 John 4:20). Luke 10:27 commands us to love God with our heart, soul, strength, and mind. Identify two ways you can demonstrate your love for God this week. "I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another." JOHN 13:34 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 35

30 THE POINT Go out of your way to love others. Day 2: Excuses can derail us from loving others. Read Luke 10: Jesus wove a shocking tale. In His story, a man was going on a trip a journey not unfamiliar to many in the crowd. The distance between Jerusalem and Jericho was about seventeen miles, a steep and sometimes treacherous descent through desolate and wild country. It would have been neither shocking nor surprising to most of the people hearing the story when Jesus told how this Israelite man was attacked and left half dead on the trip. The next part, however, would have been stunning. A priest approached the injured man. Because the man was so badly injured, the priest might not have known if he was dead or alive. If he were dead, then the priest would risk being ceremonially unclean by touching him. (See Numbers 19:11.) So rather than take the chance, the priest crossed on the other side. Better not to get too close. The same thing happened with a Levite who also passed by. He, too, thought it better not to get involved. Both men found excuses not to help, and it probably wasn t that difficult to do so. Indifference was the easier way. A lack of resources is often our excuse for not helping someone in need. Over the next month or two, set aside some money. Use this small savings the next time you have an opportunity to financially help someone else. Day 3: Love requires us to lay aside our prejudices. Read Luke 10: We can almost hear the gasp from the crowd as they begin to realize the Samaritan was the hero in Jesus story. He was the one the people were to learn from and emulate. This was shocking to the audience because they despised the Samaritans and treated them as secondclass citizens. Samaritans weren t pure Jews. When the Assyrians carried the Israelites into captivity in the eighth century BC, some of the Jews stayed behind and intermarried with Assyrians. The offspring produced within these marriages became the Samaritans. The Samaritans had their own temple, their own version of Scripture, and their own religious system. No self-respecting Jew would associate with them; yet here Jesus was, placing one of these half-breeds as the hero in His story! Jesus gave the Jews a hero they hated because of his race, and yet this Samaritan went above and beyond any reasonable expectation in order to help someone in need. Is there a person you would struggle to help in a moment of need? Ask God to help you view this person as He does. 36 SESSION 4

31 Day 4: Love requires our attention. Read Luke 10: It was a penetrating lesson in intentional love and service for the crowd that day and it still is for us. As we look at the intentional acts of love and mercy the Samaritan showed, we re to do the same. We re called to be people of awareness. We can t turn a blind eye to the needs around us. It s very comfortable for us to talk to the same people every day, drive on the same roads, and close our garage every night, never reaching out beyond ourselves to discover the true needs around us. For us, these needs remain out of sight and out of mind. We must not continue like this. We must make it our business to be people of awareness, and educate ourselves on the lives and issues facing the people we encounter each day. Until we do so, we will always simply be passing on the other side of the road. In the space below, write out a one-sentence summary of Jesus teaching in Luke 10: BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 37

32 THE POINT Go out of your way to love others. Day 5: Love requires our time. Read John 13: Simply being aware of someone s need isn t enough. If we re to go and do the same (Luke 10:37), we re to be people of compassion and margin. The Samaritan in the story wasn t motivated because a crowd was watching him. No one was going to compliment him on social media for his actions. No financial reward was forthcoming for doing the right thing. He didn t need any of these things because he was internally motivated by compassion. We should be asking God to fill us with the same love and compassion that motivated Jesus to be the friend of the friendless. The Samaritan s actions cost him time, effort, and a considerable amount of money as he paid for the care and recuperation of the injured man. The reason the Samaritan was able to give of his resources is because he had built in some margin. This is a good lesson for us because most of us have zero margins in our lives. We spend all we make; we schedule all of our time; we stretch ourselves at every point. We should assume God would bring needs into our path every day that will cost us and arrange our schedules, finances, and other resources to have room to meet those needs. Following Jesus is an intentional act of obedience. It may be costly and inconvenient, but if we desire to be a welcoming people, we will only get there through intentional acts of love. Memorize John 13:34. Be open to both small and large ways you can demonstrate intentional love for others. "I used to ask God to help me. Then I asked if I might help Him. I ended up by asking Him to do His work through me." HUDSON TAYLOR 38 SESSION 4

33 SESSION 1 Leader Guide REALITY CHECK Getting Started ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): To create a warm welcoming atmosphere, have snacks and drinks available for group members to enjoy as they arrive. Additionally, post the phrase Welcome so that it s visible to everyone entering your meeting space. Position yourself near the door and make a point to greet and speak to as many participants as you can once they arrive. DISCUSS: What makes a house feel like a home to you? (Have reluctant talkers? Invite group members to turn to someone and ask: What makes a house feel like home? Encourage them to ask at least two or three people. Then invite participants to share the responses they heard. Sharing someone else s response often helps hesitant talkers to do so more easily.) RECAP (PAGE 7): If you re like me, you could practically get home with your eyes closed. You ve made the trip so many times you know it by heart: the bumps in the road, the places to turn, and even the way the sun shines through the trees. So imagine one day you take this same road. You come to your house, but when you get inside everything is different. The pictures on the wall have been replaced. The furniture is arranged the wrong way. Even the smell is different. The address is right, the house is correct, and yet everything is off. Many people feel the same way when they enter the church building. They ve heard Jesus is a friend of sinners and God loves the world. They ve been led to believe the people in church are friendly. And yet when they enter the building, they find something entirely inconsistent with those facts. We might think we re welcoming, and yet the reality can be entirely different. To ensure we re a welcoming church, let s go back to the beginning. We welcome others because of the gospel. GUIDE: Direct attention to The Point (page 8). Invite group members to fill in the blanks. THE POINT: Our lives should serve as a WELCOME MAT into the church. LEADER PACK: Display Pack Item #1, Welcome Home, and give a brief overview of the six sessions in this study. Study the Bible GIVE BIBLICAL CONTEXT: After the apostle Paul was released from his first imprisonment in Rome (AD 60-62), he continued his missionary work, taking his Gentile co-worker, Titus, along with him. One of the areas they evangelized was the island of Crete. When the apostle moved on, he left Titus behind 112 SESSION 1

34 to appoint elders in every town. (See Titus 1:5.) Paul wrote his letter to Titus around AD 63. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Titus 3:3-8a. RECAP (PAGES 8-9): Titus was on his own. He had traveled with Paul, seen the power of the gospel to change people s lives, and even carried a letter from Paul to the church at Corinth. He had been a trusted companion of the greatest missionary the world has ever known, but now he was by himself. Paul had left Titus on the island of Crete to organize and carry out the beginning of the church there. Surely with an assignment like that in a place that was foreign to both the gospel and Judaism Titus would have had many questions about his role. Paul addressed several issues in his letter to Titus, but along with answers to practical ministry questions, Paul also reminded Titus of something that was already very familiar to him: the gospel. DISCUSS: What are the different elements of the gospel present in these verses? DIG DEEPER: Use the following commentary in your discussion of verses 3-8a. [VERSE 4]: Against this seemingly hopeless backdrop, the gospel of Christ shines as a brilliant light. God displayed His kindness (compassion, benevolence) and love for humanity by acting as our Savior (deliverer). God s kindness and love appeared when He broke into history through the incarnation, showing His goodness and love for humanity through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. [VERSE 5]: God saved us through Christ by satisfying His holy wrath against mankind s sin. In Christ, God accomplished for us what we could never do for ourselves. This was done not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy. Our salvation is based solely on what Jesus has done for us. It s God s gift and demonstrates His mercy. When a person repents and places his or her faith in Christ, he or she is redeemed through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This is an internal, spiritual work of the Holy Spirit. Washing of regeneration communicates the reality that when sinners repent and place their faith in Christ, their sins are cleansed and they re spiritually reborn. Paul described this rebirth as a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Renewal is the transforming of the believer s character into the image of Christ. [VERSES 6-7]: God has graciously poured out His Holy Spirit abundantly on those who place their faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ. When a person places his or her faith in Christ, that individual is justified. Justification is a legal term. It occurs at the moment of salvation, when the believer s sins are placed on Christ (see Colossians 2:13-14) and he or she receives the perfect righteousness of Christ. Through justification, the believer has peace with God and is permanently reconciled to God. (See Romans 5:6 11.) This is accomplished solely by the grace of God. (See Ephesians 2:4 9.) At the moment of salvation, believers are freed from their slavery to sin and Satan. They re adopted as children of God and become His heirs. (See Romans 8:14 17; Ephesians 1:5.) BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 113

35 GUIDE: Direct your group s attention to the following heading: Ministry is grounded in the GOSPEL of Christ. RECAP (PAGE 9): We don t have to wonder why Paul pointed Titus attention to the gospel. Jesus death and resurrection shape the foundation for Christian ministry. The gospel keeps us from looking down on others (v. 3). Paul reminded Titus that he and all believers was once just like the people Titus was seeking to welcome into the faith. We all were once lost, hopeless, and living for nothing else than to fulfill our next desire. The gospel reminds us what is possible (vv. 4-5). Paul reminded Titus that all of us, if we re Christians, had a moment of awakening to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul called this regeneration, and it s the moment when we become new creations in Christ. (See 2 Corinthians 5:17.) The gospel points us to the future (vv. 6-7). Thanks to the gospel, we all have a sure hope in the future. We re destined for eternal life with Jesus. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Titus 3:8b. GUIDE: Direct your group s attention to the heading: Ministry is a RESPONSE to the gospel of Christ. RECAP (PAGE 9): True, faithful, joy-filled, and sustained ministry to others flows out of the gospel of Jesus. That s because what God has done in us through Jesus always works itself out in good works. Because of the gospel of Jesus, Titus could devote himself to ministering to others. DIG DEEPER: Use the following commentary in your discussion of verse 8. [VERSE 8]: What God has done for us compels us to live differently from how we lived before we came to Christ. Whereas in the previous verses Paul had mainly been addressing justification, in the following verses he now turned his attention to the believer s sanctification. While justification is a one time event that occurs at the moment the believer places his or her faith in Christ, sanctification is the life-long process through which the believer is gradually transformed more and more into the image of Christ. These things refers to Paul s description of salvation in the previous verses. Paul had laid out in detail what God has done for humankind. Those who have believed God are those who have come to faith in Christ and become children of God. Because of what God has done for them in Christ, believers, in both gratitude and obedience, are to devote themselves to good works. In the previous verses, Paul had primarily detailed what God had done for believers through Jesus Christ. However, having a correct theological understanding of the process of salvation by itself isn t enough. As the apostle James warned in his letter, Faith without works is dead (James 2:26). A person is saved by grace through faith in Christ alone. However, the internal transformation that occurs in the believer by the work of the Holy Spirit will be accompanied/demonstrated by an 114 SESSION 1

36 outward change in the person s behavior (what Paul here calls good works), which is also the work of the same Holy Spirit. DISCUSS: What are some examples of good works you ve seen or experienced? READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Titus 3:9-11. GUIDE: Direct your group s attention to the heading: Ministry has no room for PERSONAL PREFERENCES or SELF-CENTEREDNESS. RECAP (PAGE 9): Having spent time in Crete, Paul knew the specific issues that might distract Titus from his mission. Paul told Titus to avoid these issues, and he mentioned foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law (v. 9) in particular. All of the issues Paul mentioned were, at their core, issues of personal preference and self-centeredness. But these issues weren t only limited to the island of Crete. We re all tempted to lose our focus and fixate on issues of personal preference. DIG DEEPER: Use the following commentary to continue your discussion of verses [VERSE 9]: One of the things Paul emphasized to Titus was that in the ministry of the church, there is no place for personal preferences or self-centeredness. In contrast to the good works, Paul listed behaviors which are inappropriate and to be avoided by believers. Foolish debates were the rituals of the Greek philosophers as they spent their time on unsolvable problems. Paul used the same language when he warned Timothy to avoid foolish disputes because they cause needless arguments. (See 2 Timothy 2:23.) Genealogies were the pastime of Jewish rabbis as they speculated about genealogies from Old Testament characters. Elsewhere, Paul cautioned Timothy to avoid myths and endless genealogies (1 Timothy 1:4). Quarrels can take the form of disputes, altercations, or disagreements that are marked by a temporary or permanent break in friendship. Disputes about the law were the practice of the Jewish scribes as they debated what one could and couldn t do and what was clean or unclean. The law is a reference to the Mosaic Law. Why are such issues to be avoided? They are unprofitable and worthless. Often, endless discussions are an evasion of Christian practice. These unprofitable activities stand in contrast to good works, which are profitable. (See Titus 3:8.) True Christian fellowship is grounded in unity and love for one another. These activities yield only arguments and division, which hinder the spread of the gospel. DISCUSS: How can we appropriately respond to debates, quarrels, and disputes that can cause discord in the church? SAY: In today s passage, Paul encouraged Titus to remain focused on the gospel and allow ministry to flow from it. That wisdom still applies to us today. When we encounter those who are new to the truth of God and His church, we can sincerely communicate You re welcome. We re glad you re here. LEADER PACK: Display Pack Item #2, Welcome Mat. After group members complete the Please, Come In activity, invite them to record their responses on the poster. Afterwards, discuss the BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 115

37 responses and choose one message you d like your Bible study group to communicate to guests. DO: Divide group members into subgroups of three or four people each. Invite subgroups to complete the activity, Please, Come In, on page 9, together. If time allows, invite volunteers to share their responses aloud. Please, Come In: Our lives should be a welcome mat into the church. What would you like your words and actions to communicate to others about the gospel? Write or draw your response in the space provided. DISCUSS: What can we learn from Titus 3:3-11 about becoming a more welcoming group? Live It Out SAY: Our daily behavior and language should welcome others into the church. This posture comes naturally when we focus on the gospel. This week, conduct a reality check to see if you regularly extend a genuine welcome and seize opportunities to lay out a welcome mat. GUIDE: Direct group members to review the three bulleted statements under Live It Out (page 10). Call on volunteers to share (1) which is these statements is something they want to pursue further, or (2) ways this study will transform their prayer life this week. Evaluate. Is there a foolish debate, quarrel, or dispute you ve allowed to distract you from the gospel lately? Humbly confess this to God and ask His forgiveness. Take action. Identify a good work you can devote yourself to this week that would allow your life to serve as a welcome mat for your church. Extend an invitation. Make an effort to notice and speak to guests at church for the next three weeks. If a guest isn t meeting someone, invite him or her to sit with you. Ask God to deepen your awareness of newcomers as you strive to make this a weekly habit. GUIDE: Invite each person to gather with two or three Christ-followers of the same gender this week for a deeper discussion, using Talk It Out (page 10) to guide their discussion. Encourage group members to spend time each day in God s Word with the devotions found in the Daily Study section (pages 11-14). PRAY: Close with a prayer of gratitude for the grace God has offered to His people. Ask God to make visible opportunities we have to welcome others into the church. 116 SESSION 1 Free additional ideas for your group are available at BibleStudiesforLife.com/AdultExtra

38 SESSION 2 Leader Guide OPEN ARMS Getting Started DISCUSS: When have you felt like the new kid? RECAP (PAGE 15): Moving is hard. In addition to packing belongings and boxing up your memories, you also have to acclimate to new surroundings. A new grocery store. A new traffic pattern. Even a new local news team on TV. Everything is new and nothing is familiar. That won t last forever. Things will become comfortable as you adjust to your new normal. What is familiar is what is comfortable. That kind of familiarity and comfort can be good when we re adjusting to a new home, but it s dangerous in the life of a Christian. We naturally gravitate to the people we know best and who are like us. It s easier to interact with individuals with whom we share a common interest or background. But a problem arises when those friendships drive us to overlook or ignore others, or worse, to show preferential treatment. Jesus, on the other hand, loves all people the same and we re called to do likewise. We must learn to embrace others with open arms. ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): To illustrate The Point for this session, ask volunteers to demonstrate what they consider to be the ideal handshake. Encourage them to shake hands with you as part of the demonstration, and to describe how firm to squeeze the other person s hand, how many pumps are required, and how long the handshake should last. Explain that a handshake often happens when we meet someone for the first time. For our church to extend a genuine welcome, though, we have to be willing to go beyond that initial step to get to know guests. GUIDE: Direct attention to The Point (page 16). Invite group members to fill in the blanks. THE POINT: Welcoming others GOES BEYOND a friendly handshake. Study the Bible GIVE BIBLICAL CONTEXT: The Letter of James was written by James, the brother of the Lord Jesus, probably some time between AD 50 and AD 60. Very little is known about the audience to which James wrote, but his teachings offer clear, practical guidance for living the Christian life. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud James 2:1-4. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 117

39 RECAP (PAGE 16): The Book of James was written to Christians who were undergoing persecution. James wrote this letter not only to encourage them to remain strong during those difficult times, but also to remind them that faith and obedience is linked together. It s in this context that James addressed the issue of partiality. These Christians weren t treating people equally in their congregations. The particular example James pointed out involved individuals coming into the congregation who had the appearance of wealth. Apparently such a person with his nice clothing and polished appearance was given a place of prominence in the church, even if it meant pushing aside someone who was clearly not wealthy. According to James, this was an evil thing to do. DIG DEEPER: Use the following commentary in your discussion of verses 2-4. [VERSE 2]: In regard to this church, James specifically highlighted the problem of showing favoritism based on wealth and poverty. He gave an example of two men coming into a meeting and being received quite differently. The meeting could have been for worship or discussion of the gospel with inquirers or for another purpose. The first man entered. His gold ring and fine clothes literally, shining, made it obvious the man was wealthy. Then, in came another man. He wore filthy clothes. He had no ring. He might have been destitute, or he may have come in from a hard, sweaty day s work in the fields. He had little, if any, money, and his appearance announced that fact. [VERSE 3]: Unfortunately, the church s favor fell squarely on the rich man and not on the poor man. Believers encouraged the rich man to sit in a good place. The good place, surely convenient and comfortable, would have been a place of status and honor. In contrast, they told the poor man to stand out of the way, inconspicuously, in a place that fit his seeming insignificance. If he really had to sit, he was to sit on the floor by the speaker s footstool. [VERSE 4]: James rhetorically inquired: Haven t you made distinctions among yourselves? The expected answer was Yes. The believers had wrongly created divisions among the people in this gathering. In so doing, they had become judges with evil thoughts. Their evil thoughts and wrong motives drove their judgments. They were judging according to the ways of the world, which are opposed to God, rather than thinking and acting according to who they were in Christ. (See 1 John 2:15 17.) DISCUSS: What are some ways we might be tempted to show favoritism today? DO: Instruct group members to complete the activity, Am I Showing Favoritism?, on page 17, on their own. If time allows, invite volunteers to share their responses aloud. Am I Showing Favoritism? In the box, put a star next to any ways you ve judged someone based on outward appearances. Underline any ways you feel someone has judged you based on outward appearances. Circle any you feel have had a negative impact. 118 SESSION 2

40 Gender Race Marital Status Economic Status Education Political Affiliation Personal Appearance Type of Job Accent Size of Home Other: GUIDE: Direct your group s attention to the following heading: Treat all people with the same LOVE and INTEREST. Partiality neglects the image of God in fellow humans. When we show favoritism to one person or group of people over another, we are whether we realize it or not subtly neglecting the truth that all human beings have been created in the image of God. Partiality sees others as objects to be used. In James illustration of the rich man and the poor man in the fellowship, the reason for the favoritism is simple: there was something to be gained from the rich man. Partiality sets us up as judge. Favoritism is a big deal because it sets us up in the place of God. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud James 2:5-7. GUIDE: Direct your group s attention to the heading: Partiality is inconsistent with GOD S HEART. RECAP (PAGE 17): Turn to most any page in Scripture and you can find an adjective describing God. (See Psalm 75:1-7, 119:65-72, 145:17, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.) You would find words like holy, righteous, sovereign, compassionate, and kind. But when you begin to consider God s posture toward humanity, another word comes to mind: grace. Because of His great love for us, God has assumed a posture of grace toward human beings. DIG DEEPER: Use the following commentary in your discussion of verses 5-7. [VERSE 5]: WhiIe identifying himself with his readers as believers in Christ, James asked another rhetorical question, to which the expected answer was Yes! God has a special concern for the poor (see Exodus 22:21-24; Psalm 68:5; Isaiah 1:17; James 1:27), and He expects His people to share that same concern. He demonstrated His love for the poor by including them in the new birth that comes by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. (See James 1:9,12.) This doesn t mean all poor people are or will be saved, but God has drawn multitudes from among the world s poor to receive salvation. God s standards aren t the world s standards. (See 1 Corinthians 1:26 29.) God chooses the poor to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom (James 2:5). The poorest believer is exorbitantly rich as a joint heir with Jesus. (See Romans 8:17; Ephesians 1:5-8.) That is God s choice! [VERSES 6-7]: James went on to say the rich oppress God s people and blaspheme Jesus BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 119

41 name. James didn t mean that all rich people were oppressors, but wealthy people of power and influence often did take advantage of the poor in the socially polarized first century. Of course, this was nothing new and echoes of the Old Testament prophets are in James s words. (See Ezekiel 22:29; Amos 4:1.) James also charged that the rich blaspheme the noble name of Jesus Christ. Again, not all rich people were blasphemers. Joseph of Arimathea was rich and a disciple of Jesus (see Matthew 27:57), but many rich and powerful people in the first century did despise and insult Jesus. To them, Jesus crucifixion wasn t a loving sacrifice for others it signified His rejection, shame, and revolting weakness. To James s readers, the name of Jesus was noble and precious. It was the name pronounced over them and by which they were known. (Compare Isaiah 63:19; 65:1; Amos 9:12.) As people who belonged to Christ, they had received and were living under His name. DISCUSS: What do these verses reveal about God s character? READ: Ask a group member to read aloud James 2:8-10. GUIDE: Direct your group s attention to the heading: LOVE is consistent with God s heart. RECAP (PAGE 17): We love others not because we force ourselves to do so, but because we re truly in touch with the measure of God s love for us. Since that s true, the opposite is also true: we fail to love others because we fail to believe or understand the fullness or completeness with which we have been loved by God. DIG DEEPER: Use the following commentary to continue your discussion of verses [VERSE 8]: James did grant the possibility that the believers could have honored both the rich man and the poor man. In such a case, this congregation would have been doing well in obedience to God s standards and His commands. However, if they failed to do this, they would have been violating the royal law. The royal law is the law of God that Jesus fulfilled. (See Matthew 5:17.) It s the law that Jesus exemplified and extended to His kingdom citizens that they should live it out as well. The royal law is God s full will and intent for His people in Christ Jesus. [VERSE 9]: The actions of this church were an example of favoritism and a very definite sin against the royal law. Sin is a violation against God s commands in thought and/or action, whether an act of commission or omission, and can be associated either with a single individual or, as in this case, with a group. Having judged with evil thoughts in choosing the rich man over the poor man (see James 2:4), those who showed favoritism were convicted by the law as transgressors. The judges were judged as transgressors! [VERSE 10]: At this point, the question of significance may arise: if we transgress by showing partiality, are we guilty of a small or a big sin? James declared that if a believer fails in just one point to keep the royal law, he or she is guilty of breaking it all. The royal law is a whole. We don t 120 SESSION 2

42 pick and choose what commands to obey. To fail at one point is to challenge and reject our Lord s all-encompassing authority. DISCUSS: What is the connection between our relationship with God and our relationship with others? DISCUSS: What can we learn from James 2:1-10 about becoming a more welcoming group? Live It Out SAY: Showing the kind of favoritism James mentions neglects the heart of God and fails to recognize the grace that has been shown to us. Thus, we must break out of the huddles of familiarity we have created for ourselves and reach out to anyone God brings our way. GUIDE: Direct group members to review the three bulleted statements under Live It Out (page 18). Call on volunteers to share (1) which is these statements is something they want to pursue further, or (2) ways this study will transform their prayer life this week. Pray for opportunities. Pray specifically that God would bring you in contact with someone who looks, talks, or thinks differently than you do. Change seats. When you gather this week to worship or in your group, intentionally sit somewhere different. Sit next to someone new and engage him or her in conversation. Go someplace new. Don t just wait for someone different to come your way; get proactive and go out of your way to meet someone new. Go to a different area in your community for some everyday task like buying groceries. While you re there, engage someone new in conversation. GUIDE: Invite each person to gather with two or three Christ-followers of the same gender this week for a deeper discussion, using Talk It Out (page 18) to guide their discussion. Encourage group members to spend time each day in God s Word with the devotions found in the Daily Study section (pages 19-22). PRAY: Close with a time of prayer. Ask God to give you eyes like His so you can view others the same way He does. Get expert insights on weekly studies through the Ministry Grid. MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesForLife BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 121

43 SESSION 3 Leader Guide GRACIOUS HOSPITALITY Getting Started DISCUSS: What s the most interesting place you ve stayed on a trip? RECAP (PAGE 23): The world s largest hotel chain owns exactly zero square feet in hotel room space. Airbnb was launched in 2007 when two roommates couldn t afford to pay their rent in San Francisco. In order to make a little extra money to cover their expenses, they had the idea of putting an air mattress in their living room and charging people to stay there. For many, the idea was laughable. Who would pay to sleep in the home of a perfect stranger? But a decade or so later, Airbnb has three million lodging listings in 65,000 cities and 191 countries. Clearly, the thought of staying in a real home resonates with a lot of folks. Gracious hospitality is nothing new. Being hospitable is, in fact, a very spiritual characteristic. Hospitality is a command and one Christians must embrace if we want to live in a welcoming posture to those coming into the faith. Our graciousness and hospitality to those outside our circle of friends attracts people to the gospel we profess. GUIDE: Direct attention to The Point (page 24). Invite group members to fill in the blanks. THE POINT: Ground your service and love in HOSPITALITY. ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): Display a pillow and a casserole pan to your group. Explain that for many, these two items represent the primary ways we offer hospitality: by providing a meal and a warm bed. While those are valuable and needed, we shouldn t limit our hospitality to just those two actions. In 1 Peter 4, we ll find out more about this command to love and serve others for the glory of God. Study the Bible GIVE BIBLICAL CONTEXT: Peter was one of Jesus twelve apostles. (See Mark 3:16.) He became a leader in the early church and eventually was martyred under the Roman emperor Nero around AD 64. Peter wrote the letter we call 1 Peter to a group of churches in Asia Minor (modern Turkey). Peter encouraged the believers to stand strong and to realize the hope they had in Jesus Christ, even as they faced persecution and suffering. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud 1 Peter 4: SESSION 3

44 RECAP (PAGE 24): Hospitality played a key role in the spread of the gospel in the days when the church was just beginning to flourish. When traveling to a new area, people were at the mercy of those who lived in that city. Therefore, Christians took hospitality seriously, and fellow believers who had been displaced were welcomed into the homes and lives of others. This graciousness helped the gospel to spread and take root in these communities. DIG DEEPER: Use the following commentary in your discussion of verse 7. [VERSE 7]: In the immediately preceding verses, Peter had encouraged his readers to align themselves with Christ s mission and purpose (see 1 Peter 4:1), doing God s will rather than pursuing evil deeds as they did before they became Jesus followers. (See vv. 2 3.) They were to identify with their new life in Christ rather than with their former lives, for all would one day give account to God. (See vv. 4-5.) In verses 7 11, Peter provided practical application to his words. Peter s declaration, the end of all things is near, may sound strange to modern readers, since Peter wrote this letter almost 2,000 years ago. Two ideas require mention. First, in his next letter, Peter would remind his readers the Lord s timetable differed from theirs. As he said, With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day (2 Peter 3:8). When we understand that God reigns from eternity to eternity (see Psalm 90:2), we better understand Peter s mindset. Second, the New Testament writers saw the resurrection and ascension of Christ as the beginning of the last days. On the day of Pentecost, Peter so informed his listeners. (See Acts 2:17.) Other New Testament writers used similar words to express this concept. (See 1 Corinthians 10:11; 1 John 2:18). The Lord Jesus was coming soon, and every day was one day closer! In light of the coming end of the age, Peter encouraged his readers to be alert. Indeed, life was serious business, because eternity was coming! People s relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, or lack thereof, meant the difference between an eternity with God and an eternity without God. The stakes were too high to waste their lives. Rather, they needed to use them for God s purpose. Peter also challenged his readers to be sober-minded. The words contain the notion of intentionality. We can t accomplish God s purpose for our lives by accident or merely by living one day at a time. Rather, we must consider how we will invest our lives in light of eternity. Peter was not saying life had no room for spontaneity or fun, but he was challenging his hearers to live their lives with eternity in view. GUIDE: Direct your group s attention to the following heading: Prayer lays the GROUNDWORK for our love and hospitality. RECAP (PAGES 24-25): When we pray, we recognize that we re incapable of doing, providing, or manufacturing something on our own. In prayer, we express our reliance on God as our Provider. So, what should we pray for in order to foster an attitude of hospitality? Pray that God would help us see ourselves as stewards. It s easy to see ourselves as BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 123

45 owners. We own a house. We own our time. We own our food. We see these things are ours. But we aren t owners; we re merely stewards. Everything we have has been given to us by God to use for the sake of His kingdom. Everything. Pray that God would help us confront our greed. Another obstacle to expressing hospitality is our struggle with greed. We hoard our resources for our own personal use and comfort, and our greed makes us reluctant to share them with anyone else. Hospitality is one of the ways God actually breaks us of this mindset. Pray that God would bring us opportunities. We should ask God to open our eyes to the needs around us those with no place to go, people to be with, or friends to confide in. DISCUSS: When has your perspective on a situation been changed because of prayer? READ: Ask a group member to read aloud 1 Peter 4:8-9. GUIDE: Direct your group s attention to the heading: Hospitality is a LIFESTYLE to be assumed. RECAP (PAGE 25): While certain acts, like making a casserole or opening your home, are indicative of hospitality, the characteristic itself has a deeper meaning and implication than these actions that demonstrate it. The word for hospitality used in this passage comes from the combination of two words: love and stranger. Literally, then, hospitality is the love of strangers. DIG DEEPER: Use the following commentary in your discussion of verses 8-9. [VERSE 8]: Peter commanded his readers to maintain constant love for one another. The word translated love designates a decision of the will rather than emotion. Biblical love is characterized by self-denying commitment. Constant further stressed the depth of love Peter sought from his readers. Such an attitude was important because love covers a multitude of sins. Most interpreters believe Peter was alluding to Proverbs 10:12. James used similar language when he encouraged believers to restore sinners from their errant ways. (See James 5:20.) He stressed the power of love to bring peace to people s lives. [VERSE 9]: In the ancient world, cities and towns didn t typically have quality hotels for travelers to use. People counted on the gracious hospitality of local residents to take them in and provide their basic needs. The Greek term for hospitable comes from two words that together mean to show love toward a foreigner. Hospitality didn t merely extend to foreigners, of course. Hospitality definitely required a significant commitment on the part of the host family. They needed to see to the needs of their guests and to accommodate them with food, drink, and shelter. They also took on a certain level of responsibility for their protection. (See Genesis 19:6 8.) A host might grumble because of the time and effort he needed to expend to care for others needs. Peter s perspective, however, was that showing hospitality to strangers was a wonderful way to demonstrate Christ s love! As they put aside their own needs and agendas to show kindness to strangers, they demonstrated the kind of self-denying commitment Jesus displayed and 124 SESSION 3

46 encouraged them to display. (See John 13:34 35.) LEADER PACK: In advance, make copies of Pack Item #3, the Hospitality handout, and distribute them to your group members. Use this handout to discuss some of the customary ways hospitality was demonstrated in the Bible. DISCUSS: How can our hospitality demonstrate the gospel for others? READ: Ask a group member to read aloud 1 Peter 4: GUIDE: Direct your group s attention to the heading: GOD enables us to love and serve others. RECAP (PAGE 25): For our hospitality and other spiritual gifts to make a difference, we need the empowerment of God, but we have a responsibility as well. Rather than being passive bystanders to God s enabling power, we must act in faith to make the most of what God is providing. SAY: We can think of this divine/human partnership like a sailboat. The only way a sailboat is going to be propelled through the water is by the force of the wind. But the diligent sailor doesn t simply wait for the wind to blow. Rather, the sailor positions the boat so that it can make the most of the wind when it actually does start to blow. The sailor s responsibility is to raise the sails, tie the knots, and move the vessel into the appropriate position all the while recognizing that his efforts mean nothing without the wind. So it is with us and the enabling power of God. DIG DEEPER: Use the following commentary to continue your discussion of verses [VERSE 10]: Peter wanted his readers to be good stewards of the spiritual gift or gifts they had each received. A steward (or manager) manages the concerns of another. In this case, Peter focused on the spiritual gifts that were operative in the body of Christ. The believers had nothing to offer God that they hadn t received from Him as a gift. (See 1 Corinthians 4:7). They were managers or stewards, not owners, and God expected them to use what He had given them to serve others for His glory. [VERSE 11]: Peter gave two specific examples of ministry for the sake of the church. He gave instructions on the manner in which someone in the church should speak. Peter designated the person s speech as God s words. Those who spoke were to recognize they were presenting God s words, and should never have presented their own opinions instead. Those who received the words were to recognize them as from the Lord. Peter said that the service people offered should be from the strength God provides. Believers were to recognize that only what they did in the power of Jesus name and by the Holy Spirit s enabling would make an eternal difference. We can t accomplish God s purpose from human strength, but only from His. DISCUSS: How do you see God s provision and our responsibility at work in these verses? BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 125

47 DO: Divide group members into subgroups of three or four people each. Invite subgroups to complete the activity, God Works Through Us, on page 25, together. If time allows, invite volunteers to share their responses aloud. God Works Through Us: When you think of hospitality, what comes to mind? Circle the image below that best represents your response. What other practical ways can our group offer hospitality to others? Record your ideas in the space below. (Note: Page 25 has the following images: a meal, a handshake, and a group of friends playing a board game.) DISCUSS: What can we learn from 1 Peter 4:7-11 about becoming a more welcoming group? Live It Out SAY: Peter began this whole passage with a sense of urgency, and because we don t know how much time God has given us, our hospitality moves beyond just being nice and offering cookies. Let s pray and welcome people into our lives. In so doing, we also welcome them into God s kingdom. GUIDE: Direct group members to review the three bulleted statements under Live It Out (page 26). Call on volunteers to share (1) which is these statements is something they want to pursue further, or (2) ways this study will transform their prayer life this week. Let go of a grudge. Remember that 1 Peter 4:9 says to do everything without complaining. If there is a poor attitude that is getting in the way of your practicing hospitality, confess it. Grab hold of a task. Identify the gifts you ve been given that can be used to serve others. Look for an opportunity to use those gifts in your church. Cultivate a lifestyle. Cultivate a lifestyle of hospitality. Consider how you can use your gifts on an ongoing basis in your church and community. GUIDE: Invite each person to gather with two or three Christ-followers of the same gender this week for a deeper discussion, using Talk It Out (page 26) to guide their discussion. Encourage group members to spend time each day in God s Word with the devotions found in the Daily Study section (pages 27-30). PRAY: Close with a prayer. Thank God for providing all we need to serve others with hospitality. 126 SESSION 3 Grow with other group leaders at the Groups Ministry blog. LifeWay.com/GroupMinistry