Enneagram Type 1 – The Reformer – Circle Group Questions
Ice Breaker: What was the biggest or most memorable party your family has ever thrown?
Read Luke 15:11-32 – The Parable of the Two Sons
What was the response of the father in the story to the younger son’s request? (Luke 15:11-12)
What did the younger son do with the inheritance? (Luke 15:13-19)
What was the response of the Father upon the younger son’s return? (Luke 15:20-24)
What was the response of the older son upon his brother’s return? (Luke 15:25-30)
What was the response of the father to the older son? (Luke 15:28,31-32)
This week’s sermon focused on the response of the older son as an example of the Enneagram Type 1 – The Reformer. The following questions are to help us understand The Reformer better and consider issues common to all of us through God’s Word.
You’re kind of a perfectionist. You want the world to be a better place and you see flaws.
Where was the older son and how did he learn about his brother’s return? (25)
The Reformer – They do the right thing, they get stuff done, they’re the good person.
The value of Reformers: You can show others the goodness of God.
What is the benefit to the church to have Reformers in the body of Christ?
How can these attributes contribute to the Kingdom of God? (Matthew 5:16; 1 Peter 2:9,12)
Why was the older son angry with his father? (Luke 15:29-30)
Core motivation: You want to be perfect. The desire for perfection will ruin you.
The core sin: Anger.
Was there a time when you felt that you were treated unfairly by a parent, boss, teacher or other? What happened?
How do you, personally, handle your anger to keep from hurting others or yourself? What do you do when you respond inappropriately?
What should be done when we feel angry? (Ephesians 4:2, 26-27; Romans 12:19-21; James 1:19)
How did the older son feel about his brother? (30) How did the older brother feel about himself? (29) Does the passage imply that the older son is questioning his father’s wisdom?
What darkness is God calling out of the Reformer? Can you trust God? Is God really good? Is God an idiot too?
(From Sermon) The problem is that kind of anger comes from self-righteousness. Self-righteousness is believing that you are right within yourself. Righteousness comes from God. Only God is truly right. Only God is truly good. (See Ecclesiastes 7:20; Mark 10:18; Romans 3:10-12)
What strategies should we implement to avoid believing that we are right within ourselves. (Matthew 6:33, Eph 2:8-10, Romans 12:3)
What did the father in the story want the older son to do? (Luke 15:28, 31-32)
How does our Father in Heaven respond to our sin and imperfections? (Psalm 86:15, Col 2:13, Ephesians 1:7)
How should we respond to the sin and imperfections of others? (Matthew 18:21, Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13) How should we respond to the sin and imperfections of ourselves?
How should we respond if we have offended someone else? (Matthew 5:23)
Consider, is there anyone whom you have not forgiven or apologized to that keeps you from reconciliation and enjoying fellowship with them?
Praise God for Type 1’s because: There’s no Sun Grove Church without you. There’s no Kingdom without you. You serve, you give your time. You show up. You build, you do the right thing. When everybody else is doing the unwise thing. Thank God for you! God loves you perfectly and he’s inviting you to love others in the same way.