Remarkable Week 4 – Values, Boundaries and Self Control
Icebreaker: What is something you value other than your immediate family and your faith? What boundaries have you set to protect it?
Series Recap: We’re in our series today called “Remarkable”, which is a series about words and phrases in Proverbs that can bring new life to our relationships and keep our actions aligned with our values.
1.What does Jesus state is his primary mission? (Luke 19:10; Matthew 20:28; John 3:16; John 12:49-50) How does this show that his primary value was people?
Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Matthew 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 12:49–50 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
John 18:37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
Jesus said NO to Protect His Values
Matthew 4:1-10 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
2. How did the devil try to distract Jesus from his mission?
3. What values did Jesus reject and what values did He uphold?
4. How did Jesus demonstrate faithfulness and self-control?
5. How does Jesus describe our primary values (Matthew 22:37-40, John 13:34-35)
Matthew 22:37–40 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
John 13:34–35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
6. How does Satan and the world seek to distract us from serving God and being on mission? (Matthew 13:19-22)
Matthew 13:19–22 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful
7. How can surrendering our lives to God’s authority make it possible to reject distractions to stay on mission?
Proverb 25:28 Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.
(This proverb is talking about how a lack of discipline can break down our lives. By learning to say NO you are building up protection like a city that is well protected.)
8. Why is a broken-down wall such a good illustration of lack of self-control?
9. What are some of your more important values but at the same time, also the hardest thing you have self-control with? What might be the problem?
10. If you take a personal inventory, what better value or behavior would you like to acquire?
11. How does saying NO help us to stay on mission?
12. What do you need to say NO to in order to protect your values? What boundaries should you set for yourself?
13. This week, how can we in the circle group help each other to live truer to our values and to protect our boundaries?