Leader Guide
We’ve reached the final week of our series, Judged, and it has been an eye-opening journey. Throughout this series, we’ve shifted from holding a gavel to picking up a mirror-allowing God to examine our own hearts, revealing our sins and flaws before we confront others. We are sometimes called to help others recognize the seriousness of sin and its consequences. This week we now turn our final thoughts to God’s grace. We are also called to extend the same grace we have received. Forgiveness isn’t always easy, and it may not always seem fair, but it reflects the kindness and mercy of God. Just as He forgives us, we are called to forgive others.
What you will need: A Bible or your Bible app, a notebook, pen, and highlighter. The verses highlighted below are linked so that you can easily access them during your study time.
Jump Start
Leaders: This section is designed to get discussions started, examine God’s truth, and apply it to our week. Life Group leaders should not assume everyone in their group is a Christ follower. Because they are taking part in a Life Group, they must have some openness to knowing more, exploring. Pray for the Holy Spirit to work and let Him lead you as well.
1. What’s one of the most unfair things that happened to you as a kid? What is the most unfair rule in a game or sport you’ve encountered?
2. Read Matthew 20:6-12. As you reflect on this story, do you find yourself struggling with the fact that the workers hired later received the same pay? Why is it not our place to grumble about the master's decision to pay them the same?
Leaders: A lot of times the reason we make judgements is because we want things to be fair and just. We like it when we receive grace but when someone else receives it, sometimes we feel that it was unfair. It was the master's choice to give the amount he wanted, and the workers really didn’t have a say in that.
3. Read Matthew 20:13-16. Have you ever felt like someone else got something they didn’t deserve while you worked harder? How does this parable challenge the way we think about what we “deserve” from God? What are some areas of your life where you might be comparing your situation to others?
Leaders: We see quickly in life that things are not always fair. We all have different opinions and viewpoints of fairness and so we are biased. Jesus told this parable to make the point that those who are always wanting to be first will be last in His kingdom.
4. Read Matthew 18:26-30. Why do you think the servant was so quick to demand repayment after being forgiven such a huge debt? Share a time when you were the one who received unexpected grace or generosity? How did you respond?
Leaders: In this story we see the hypocrisy of the servant that received mercy. When he walked away, he seemed to forget the huge debt that had been forgiven him. When we go to judge another, we should remember the hefty sin that was forgiven in our lives.
5. Read Matthew 18:31-35. What are some practical ways we can remind ourselves of God’s mercy when we struggle to forgive others?
Leaders: We are called to reflect Jesus as we forgive, serve, and love our neighbors, co-workers, family, and even our enemies. As serious as Jesus was about sin, he paid the price for our sin on the cross so that we might receive what we did not deserve.
Action Steps: As we finish this series, let's remember to ask God to examine our own hearts first before we try to get the “speck” out of our brother's eye. We are called to be gentle as we help others trapped in sin and to care enough about the world that we guide them to Jesus in love. Finally, realize that things are not always fair. If life was fair, we would get the justice we deserve for our sin. Amazingly, in God’s great mercy we receive grace instead of the punishment we deserve.