Wednesday, May 03, 2017

Image Bearers 5: Grace-based Relationships

In part 5, we look at grace-based vs works-based relationships.
As usual, we start with a sermon (here), and then later in the week discuss through our heart issues, with the worksheet below.

Image Bearers 5 ‘Relationships’

Two different ways to have relationships

Works based relationships
This is when we accept people based on what they do instead of their faith in Christ (compare with Gal 2:16). We each have our own mental check lists of how we want other people to be. If people check off enough boxes, we like them. If people do not, we judge them, and look down on them. We’re basically say they are not justified because they have not fulfilled the law!

The big lies behind this mentality:
1.    Its as if we think we are God, and we have the right to make a checklist, and judge everyone.
2.    Its as if we think we are a good person, because we think we do all the things right on God’s checklist (Jas 2:10).

Grace based relationships:
We accept people even with all their shortcomings. This is because we’re continually remembering that we have so many shortcomings, and yet God still accepted us through faith in Jesus Christ (Rom 3:23-24).

Which of these things do you find hinder you accepting people?
Do you have the same root sin?
What might repentance include?
They’re from another group / class / ethnicity  
Are you from a different group to God? Has he still accepted you? Why?
Confessing self-righteousness. Accepting others from different groups
They don’t do things the same way as you  

Do you do things exactly as God does? Yet, does he still accept you? Why?
Confessing self-righteousness. Accepting people who do things differently
They seem selfish
Are you ever selfish? Does God still accept you? Why?
Confessing selfishness, accepting and viewing other selfish people as just like me.
They seem lazy
Do you have the same root sin of selfishness? Does God still accept you? Why?
Confessing selfishness. Realizing we all have our own favourite ways of being selfish. Accepting those who display it in a lazy way.
They seem controlling
Do you also try to control things in an unloving way? Does God still accept you? Why?
Confessing control. Realizing we all struggle with it in some way. Accepting others who control, knowing they’re like you and God has accepted you both.
They think they’re better than everyone else
Do you also have the same root sin of pride? Does God still accept you? Why?
Confess pride in even the thought that others are proud! Accept those people, knowing Jesus gives them and you his righteousness
They’re always letting me down
Do you let God down? Does God still accept you? Why?
Recognise when others let us down, its no worse than how we’ve let God down. Extend forgiveness to others like God has to us.
They gossip too much 
Have you ever gossiped? Do you have the same root sin of self-righteousness and pride? Do you only ever speak in a way that is a blessing to others? Does God still accept you? Why?
Recognise that none of us speak in a way that earns God’s righteousness. Therefore, its wrong to look down on others for how they speak.
They eat too much
Is there anything that you indulge of too much? Does God still accept you? Why?

They’re judgmental
Do you have the same root sin of pride and self-righteousness? Does God still accept you? Why?

They don’t encourage me enough

Are there ways that you also don’t lift people up enough? Does God still accept you? Why?


Read Matthew 7:1-5

Good relationships involves knowing where I’m at, and where you’re at.

Where I’m at.
I might think I can see a spec in your eye, but I need to also know I have a log in my eye. I’m in the wrong, but made in the right by Christ alone.

Where the other person is at
My friend is also in the wrong, but made right by Christ alone. I also need to be aware of what situation they’re in right now…

Memorize 1 Thessalonians 5:14

From this verse what are the 3 types of specs we might think we see in someone’s eye?

What are your usual reactions to these supposed specs in others?



Disruptive / lazy _________________________



Disheartened ___________________________



Weak     _______________________________



What might repentance look like for you?


For the previous parts to this course:
Part 1 video can be found here
Part 1 discussion guide can be found here
Part 2 video can be found here
Part 2 discussion guide can be found here