Week Three – Over the Top
Leader Guide
If you knew Jesus was coming back in two weeks, would you make any changes? Would you ask yourself, “Is my life radically different in every area...because of Jesus?” Let’s evaluate ourselves this week to see if we are totally sold out to God.
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
Leader: 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. Make your best argument for which is better: hot coffee or iced coffee?
2. Read Revelation 3:15-16. Do you know someone “on fire” for God? Conversely, do you know someone who lives for other people’s approval? How does that sit with you? Can you then imagine how God might feel? Be honest with yourself: do you make decisions based on what God would think, on others’ opinions, or do we please ourselves? What would it mean to center your life and actions based on God’s approval?
Leader Note: Discuss someone who really seems to be following God, no matter the cost. Now, talk about a coworker who is always flattering the boss or cozying up to a superior. It is so irritating to us. God has the same distaste for insincere love. Areas where we might please ourselves rather than God is the snooze button, where we spend our time and money, how we play, or how we kowtow to what others expect and want from us. Sometimes people cannot follow God because they don’t want to give up a relationship; can’t leave it all and trust God to provide for them; don’t want to look foolish and too fanatic to their friends.
3. Read Revelation 3:17 and Luke 7:44-47. Are you desperate to serve God or to spend time with Him? Do you go further than just praying for your needs, talking to God to get direction from Him and spend time with Him? Are you honest in your need for God—not for things, but for His rescue and salvation? Is your attitude more like the sinful woman or the Pharisee?
Leader Note: Our love for God grows when we realize how much He has done for us: things that we cannot do for ourselves (forgiveness, eternal life, relationship with God). Extravagant forgiveness engenders extravagant love. Unless we realize how desperate we would be without Jesus, we will not love Him enough to follow and obey in all areas of our lives.
4. Read Revelation 3:20. What does Jesus promise in this verse? Who is this invitation extended to? Where have you personally realized you are “a full-time ______ but a part-time Jesus follower”?
Leader Note: “If anyone” equals unbelievers, passionate followers, or lukewarm believers. The offer always stands for us all. Jesus is willing to come in and BE with us, sit down and have a meal (symbolizing a real relationship) when we allow and invite Him into our lives. Many of us have taken that first step but still need to give over some area to the Lordship of Jesus. We must stop being a full-time ____ (student, athlete, caregiver, executive, parent) while neglecting to completely give it all to Jesus.
5. Start Praying: Do you want to live sold out to Jesus? Be bold and pray specifically.
Lord Jesus, You gave everything for us. Will You embolden us to go overboard for You? Holy Spirit, You are invited to show us the lukewarm places in our lives and then heat them up. We ask You to fill us and empower us to live for You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
6. Commit: Do you have a passionate faith? What are some life changes that could help you get there? Try these: Grow your total commitment to God by reading this “Crazy Love” Bible Plan. Or write down one lukewarm area of your faith to tackle this week. If it’s generosity, try trusting God this week in the area of giving. If it’s sharing your faith, share Jesus with one person, and so on.
Leader Note: Ask your group members to commit to at least one suggested action step. Ask if anyone in the group knows of something God wants from them, but just feels a bit too “over the top.” These might be areas of sin, generosity, boldness, trust, closeness, faith.
Deeper
Leader: This section is designed for further use in your Life Group or for personal study. These can also be used as discussion points and ways to stay connected with your group throughout the week. Encourage your group to take time daily to walk through these questions.
When Jesus talks about how to love God with all you are and have, He gives us the example of the sinful woman who anointed Him: “Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her” (Matthew 26:13, ESV).
7. Read Luke 7:36-38: Who was the “woman” and what did she do? LN: We know she was a “city woman” and a sinner, most likely a prostitute, because in verse 39, Simon seems to think just about anyone (and surely a prophet) would know about her obvious and public sins.
8. Read Luke 7:39-40: Who was the Pharisee? What do you know from 7:36? What kind of person is he? What strikes you about Jesus in this exchange? LN: Simon was a Pharisee and the host. He had invited Jesus into his home to eat, but maybe with no intention of listening. Maybe he intended to trap Jesus as we see in later verses that He did not treat Jesus with common respect due to all guests. He is judgmental and thinks the worst of the woman and of Jesus. Jesus, on the other hand, knows all things (by the Spirit) and gently asks to speak the truth.
9. Read Luke 7:41-43: What simple parable did Jesus use to reveal a heart matter? How does this convict you? LN: Self-righteous people judge others. All believers came from a life of sin yet can begin to judge others who are not as far along in their spiritual development or whose sins seem “worse.” Jesus reminds us to always remember how far He has brought us, how sick and sinful we are, and how we can do nothing to be worthy without His sacrifice.
10. Read Luke 7:44-46: How do you feel about Jesus comparing Simon to the woman? What else does the Bible say about comparison? Why is it appropriate in this case? LN: As message pointed out, “be honest with yourself” is the beginning of repentance. Though comparisons are usually discouraged in the Bible (2 Corinthians 10:12; Galatians 6:3-5; John 21:22), Jesus clearly pointed out the different in heart and motivation between Simon and the “sinful woman” for his benefit and for our benefit (Matthew 26:13).
11. Read Luke 7:47-50: What “saved” the woman? LN: There are several things: she comes repentant and weeping to the feet of Jesus. She loves Him much and is passionate about showing her devotion. She has faith that He can save her. This occurs before the cross, but foreshadows it by the anointing with costly burial spices (Matthew 26:12).