Walk Wisely: I'm Offended! Now What?

Introduction:

Proverbs 19:11 - Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

What is NOT "overlooking"?

1. Getting Even
2. Holding a Grudge
3. Slander

How Do I Overlook an Offense? When You Are "Triggered", Ask Yourself:

1. Is there some Truth here? Then I'm just going to overlook the offense.

   Proverbs 27:6 - Faithful are the wounds of a friend...

   Luke 11:37 - While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table.

2. Is there a chance I Misunderstood what was said? Then I'm just going to overlook the offense.

   1 Corinthians 13:7 - Love... believes all things...

3. Am I making a big deal out of a Minor issue? Then I'm just going to overlook the offense.

   Philippians 4:5 - Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.

4. Is this a Lost person just acting like a Lost lost person? Then I'm just going to overlook the offense.

   Luke 23:34 - Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

5. Do I Love the offender? Then I'm just going to overlook the offense.

   Proverbs 10:12 - ...love covers all offenses.

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Discussion
Read Proverbs 19:11

1. What was your big “take-away” from this passage / message?

2. Why do you think people seem so anxious to be offended today?
   On a scale of 1-10, how easily offended are you? (1 = nothing offends me, 10 = everything offends me)

3. When is it okay to be offended? How do you know when it is appropriate to be offended?

4. How does being “slow to anger” help you overlook offenses?

5. How does the forgiveness of Christ motivate you to overlook offenses?

   Bonus: What was the craziest thing you’ve ever heard someone be offended over?

BREAKOUT
Pray for one another to grow in being slow to anger and quick to overlook offenses. What kind of a church would HBC be if we all lived by Proverbs 19:11?

Walk Wisely: Seduction Destruction.

Introduction:

How to Avoid Destruction by Seduction (Proverbs 6:20-35):

1. Let God's Word direct you, not your Feelings. (Prov 6:20-24a)
2. Watch out for Bait. (Prov 6:24b-25)
3. Consider what it Will Cost you. (Prov 6:26-35).

1. The consequences are Inevitable. (Prov 6:27-29)
2. The consequences will get you no Pity. (Prov 6:30-31)
3. The consequences are foolishly Self-Destructive. (Prov 6:32-35)

Proverbs 4:26 - Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.

Moral Fences:

1. I will not ride alone in a car with someone from the opposite sex other than my spouse or immediate family member.

2. I will not counsel the opposite sex alone– in a closed room or more than once.

3. I speak often and publicly about my affection for my spouse, when s/he is present and when s/he is not.

4. I will compliment the opposite sex on character, not appearance.

5. I will give my spouse total access to my cell phone / computer.

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Discussion
Read Proverbs 6:20-35

1. What was your big “take-away” from this passage / message?

2. List the consequences this passage lays out that people will face by getting involved in a wrong relationship.

3. If the danger is so obvious, and so devastating, why is this temptation so alluring?

4. What “moral fences” have you implemented to protect yourself?

BREAKOUT
Is there an inappropriate relationship that you have been flirting with? What do you need to do to repent?

Walk Wisely: Wisdom: Value It, Get It, Use it.

Introduction: (Proverbs 1-3)

Dremel Rotary Tool: This product not intended for use as a dental drill.

Vidal Sassoon Hair Dryer: Do not use while sleeping.

Rowenta Iron: Do not iron clothes on body. 

Baby Stroller: Remove child before folding.

Scrubbing Bubbles Fresh Brush: Do not use for personal hygiene.

How Do I Get Wisdom for My Walk?

1. You have to go after it Humbly (Prov 1:1-6).
2. You have to go after it Reverently (Prov 1:7).
3. You have to go after it Urgently (Prov 2:1-11).
4. You have to go after it Totally (Prov 3:5-6).

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Discussion
Read Proverbs 1:1-7, 2:1-11, 3:5-6

1. Define wisdom. How is wisdom different than knowledge?

2. What is “the fear of the Lord”? Why must “the fear of the Lord” be your motivation to seek wisdom?

3. How is wisdom a protection (Prov 2:7-11)? How are you “in danger” (unprotected) when you don’t walk in wisdom?

BREAKOUT
How much have YOU been seeking wisdom, Monday through Saturday?
In what areas of your life, right now, do you need wisdom? How are you going after it?

Recognition and Regret

Introduction:

To be free from your past... (Luke 7:36-50):

1. Recognize Jesus and respond with Humility . (Luke 7:36-39)
2. Recognize the debt You owed and Christ paid. (Luke 7:40-47)
3. Recognize that forgiveness is received by Faith . (Luke 7:48-50)

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Small Group Discussion

Read Luke 7:36-50

GROUP

1. What things can get in the way of humility before God?

2. How would you counsel someone feeling overwhelmed by their past (their “debt”)?

3. Why do you think some people struggle with internalizing forgiveness?

BREAKOUT

Pray for one another.

Where Are You

Introduction:

1. Grace Abounds.
2. Grace abounds in Early Death.
3. Grace abounds in Eternal Life.
4. Grace abounds in Everyday Righteousness.

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Discussion
Read Romans 5:20-6:14

1. What is “cheap grace?”

2. Why is it so difficult to die an early death, i.e., to die to self? How often do you “consider [yourself] dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus?” Romans 6:11; and see John 12:25, Luke 9:23-24.

   a. How do the illustrations of a seed “dying” help us to understand the benefits of dying to self now? See John 12:24-25, 1 Corinthians 15:36-37

   b. How does Galatians 5:22-24 relate to these verses?

3. Baptism is a picture of death and resurrection, but Paul indicates in Romans 6:3-6 that if our baptism is “into Christ Jesus,” it is evidence that we were in Christ at the time of His death and resurrection. Does this fact cause you to see deeper meaning or purpose in your baptism?

4. How soon after you professed faith in Jesus were your baptized? If you delayed, why did you do so? If you haven’t yet been baptized, why not?

5. Paul emphasizes we were “united with Christ” in His death and resurrection. How should union with Christ transform how we live – for example, Who, what, and how we worship, how we love God, neighbor, and enemy, how we forgive others, etc.? How does Galatians 2:20 add to our understanding of the transformation wrought in us by union with Christ?

6. A concrete anchor was used to illustrate the security we enjoy as a result of being united with Christ. How should the knowledge of the strength of that union transform our thinking about God’s love for us, about anxiety/worry, about the permanence of our salvation, and about our ability to live righteously? See Psalm 18:1-3, 31-32 and Psalm 62:1-8.

7. Because we are secure “in Christ” we are able to walk “in newness of life.” What does that look like on a daily basis?

BREAKOUT
Does the knowledge that you are united with Christ change your perspective on temptation and sin? In what ways? See Romans 6:2-3, 7, 12-14.

For further study, read Colossians 3:1-17