Date: June 1-2, 2013
Series: Christian?
Message: I Quit
Passage: Titus 3:1-10
INTRODUCTION – 10 MINUTES
What is something you have quit in your life, maybe a job or a habit? How did it feel and why did you do it?
Leader note: This should be a fun and easy question because we can readily call to mind things we have tried and quit because we realized they were not good for us or we just needed to change things up in our life. This helps us to see that we can change and do things differently.
Leader note: This is our last week in the series “Christian?”. We want to capture what it means to be a Christ follower and love like Jesus so that the world can know we are His disciples by our love.
OBSERVATION – 15 MINUTES
Read Titus 3:1-10
What are things we are to quit and what are things we are not to quit?
Commentary: (some of the answers your group should find)
To quit: quarrelling, speaking evil of others, malice, envy, hatred, foolish controversies, dissensions, quarreling, creating division
Not to quit: Obedience to the laws that govern us, submission/obedience to authorities, readiness to help others and do good works, gentle, hospitable, courtesy toward all people, devotion to good works
UNDERSTANDING – 20 MINUTES
Where have you seen Christians either quit the wrong things or ignore quitting the things God tells us to abstain from. What is the result?
Leader note: The purpose of this question is to look at things in the lives of Christians that need to be let go of so that we can live and love like Christ. Going back to the passage in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” There are things in our lifes that we need to quit so that we can fully embrace loving one another. Sometimes we have to learn to love ourselves by quitting some of these habits.
Commentary: (some of the answers your group should find)
- People who say they are Christian but are always gossiping.
- People who are angry, envious, or jealous of others find it difficult to love others and want good for them.
- People who claim to be Christian but argue about everything with everyone – no wants to be around them or hear about Jesus.
- People who don’t make any life style changes when they become a Christian (i.e., they still hang out in bars and get drunk; they don’t change their moral behavior, etc.); people don’t see them as any different with Christ as before and conclude as a result that they don’t think they need Christ.
- Christians quit associating with anyone who is not a believer and then cannot share the love of Jesus with others.
APPLICATION – 20 MINUTES
Leader note: The focus of the questions now shifts to us – what do we need to quit in order to live so the world would see us as different in a positive way.
What are one or two things you need to quit?
Commentary: You will likely get a variety of answers to this question.
Help each person focus on something they can tangibly quit and how it will make a difference in their life and how others see Christ in them. You may want to revisit week 5 of your Rooted Book and talk about how strongholds impact our ability to quit some things in our lives.
Have the group pray for each person and what they want to quit; you may want to have accountability partners available for the week to pray and support and to check in with each other to see how it is going.
As we move towards quitting these things, we begin changing and we need to remember it is the power of the Holy Spirit living within us which gives us the power to quit and to love others and to pursue the good works God has set out before us to do.
Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
This passage helps us to remember why we are able to do good works. We do not want our lives to be driven by works alone, but rather to prayerfully consider how we are to live and what we are to do: to be able to love one another and those around us in a tangible way such that they see Jesus.
As you wrap up this week and the series “Christian,” what are the things in your life which inhibit your ability to love like Jesus?
Commentary: You may get any of these responses:
- Busyness/overcommitted.
- Not wanting to overstep — etiquette – formality.
- Lack of real relationship – for whatever reason.
- Doing things out of obligation, not from the heart.
- A judging heart.
- Not quitting things that need to be quit.
- Legalism
- Thinking it won’t matter or it is not my job.
- Pride.
- Fear of being hurt or rejected.
There may be some confusion about loving like Jesus did. Some people may get stuck on serving each other rather than the bigger picture. The bigger picture is a relationship that brings glory to Jesus – makes Him known, if you will. The way we live our lives makes Jesus visible to those around us.
Where is it easy and where is it more challenging?
LIVE IT OUT
What if we Quit and loved like Jesus…what would the world around us see?
Leader tip: This last question is designed to help you have a three or four minute discussion around the overall message this week, leaving the group with a challenge and things to think about from your discussion.
How will you live differently because of the series: Christian?
Leader tip: You can also ask this as “How will your daily life be different as a follower of Christ from this series?”
Pray over your group at the end of the session: Thank Jesus for the humble, sacrificial love he has freely given us. Pray that we live life differently because of His sacrifice and that we not only love the world but also that our relationships with other Christ followers would be like Jesus’ love for us – limitless and sacrificial. Pray that Jesus be glorified and be made known by the way we love each other. Pray that our love for each other is authentic and reflects our relationship with Christ. Seek God’s wisdom and direction so that we may mend broken relationships, engage in real relationships with other Christ followers and love humbly and honestly. Help us to live in truth and grace. Give us hearts that love each other as Christ loves us.