MERCY TRIUMPHS OVER JUDGEMENT
SMALL GROUP NOTES FROM SUNDAY 30 OCTOBER
2016. THEME - MERCY TRIUMPHS OVER JUDGEMENT. SOLA OSINOIKI
Simon Benham
spoke of our two Gift Days for the Kerith Vision Fund - Sunday 30th October and
Sunday 6th November. The lack of meeting spaces is limiting our growth. We have
a target to raise £200,000 towards redeveloping K2, having midweek space in
Sandhurst and setting up space in Windsor.
READ 2 Corinthians 9:7.
SOLA then
started with a call to respond: the reality is that we offend or hurt each
other - if this church (or any other church) has offended or hurt you, then it
is time to let go of the hurt.
QUESTION: Give the group
a few minutes to consider if anyone needs to respond to this call? Pray for
each other if appropriate.
Sola
introduced Sunday's message as 'rediscovering the God of mercy'.
QUESTION: When you think about
salvation, what words come to mind? READ:
Psalm 103:8, Psalm 111:4. Note the repeating refrain in Psalm 136. Sola
mentioned grace, faith, love etc as likely answers - but mercy is less likely
to feature.
QUESTION: What part does mercy play in salvation? There
can be no salvation without mercy, because all have sinned. There can be
no grace without God first having mercy. READ
Matthew 5:7
READ
Hebrews 4:16. We don't approach the throne of grace based on grace, but based
on mercy. On our journey towards the throne of grace we receive mercy so
that we can find grace.
Question: How would you define 'mercy'? Compassion
or forgiveness to someone you have every right to punish (wikipedia).
God embraces
me in mercy - like the returning prodigal son. READ Ephesians 2:4-5. Sola quoted from the song 'mercy
found me, mercy made me whole'.
READ Micah 6:8. Sola gave an example of
his meeting with a man in reception during church, and being irritated about
missing the worship time. The man was demanding and abusive. Sola wanted to
challenge him about his behaviour but felt God saying 'did I ask you to judge
him?' God showed Sola how showing mercy over judgement is worship.
Question: READ Luke 6:27-36 and ask yourselves how can I show mercy - in what situations or
circumstances or relationships?
Sola repeated several times from verse 35
(amplified Bible) that God is 'good to
the ungrateful'.
Verse 36
says 'Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.' Our response to
having received the mercy of God, is to be merciful to others.
Also, READ this passage in the Message
version - as below....(if possible, print off a few copies of this so everyone
in your group can see it)
27-30 “To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let
them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard
time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you
in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap
your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of
you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff.
Live generously.
31-34 “Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want
people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable,
do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only
help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that.
If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that’s
charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.
35-36 “I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return.
You’ll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way
our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our
worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.
Question: Verse 30 ends with the words 'live
generously' - what does that mean for you?
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