Get Over It

• Pastor Robert said he would love to preach in the Bahamas. If you were on vacation in the Bahamas, what would you do to relax?

 

• Which would be hardest to get over: losing your phone, having all of your social media accounts deleted, or having to hit every red light while you’re driving for the next year?

 

• Pastor Robert lives in Texas. If you were visiting in Texas, what kind of food would you be most excited to try? (e.g., Tex-Mex, authentic Mexican, BBQ, farm-fresh meals, etc.)

Ask eGroup members to share their favorite points from the sermon, what spoke to them, a phrase or moment from the sermon they related to the most, or questions they have. If members have a hard time recalling the sermon, talk through your notes and share your favorite points.

• How would you define “offended”? (To feel hurt, angry, or upset by something said or done.)

 

• We live in a culture of offense. What are some ways you see people getting offended?

 

• On a scale of 1-10, how would someone close to you rank your level of “offendability”? (1 is low, 10 is high. Consider going first so your group is encouraged to be open and honest.) Give an example of why they would rank you at that number.

 

• Read Matthew 15:21-28. If you were the Canaanite woman, would you have been offended? How do her responses challenge you?

 

• Pastor Steven has said that offense is an event, but offended is a decision. Is it easy for you to look at offended as a decision? What makes it difficult?

 

• Sometimes we feel offended because Jesus shows us or tells us something. What about Jesus’ character can cause us to feel offended? Have you ever felt offended because of something Jesus said or showed you?

 

• Read Luke 19:1-8. Jesus offended the crowd by choosing to stay at Zacchaeus’s house. How would you have felt if you were Zacchaeus? How does his response in the face of offense challenge you to be “unoffendable”?

 

• In which area is it easiest for you to feel offended:
  • Ignored (e.g., God didn’t answer your prayer, people don’t listen or respond to you, you wanted to be noticed but you weren’t, etc.)
  • Institution (e.g., a Christian did or said something you felt didn’t reflect God, you had a bad experience with the church, you disagree with a certain denomination, etc.)
  • Insignificance (e.g., someone didn’t put you first, your problem was overlooked, it felt like you weren’t worth someone’s time, etc.)
  • Insulted (e.g., it seems like God is doing something for others that He won’t do for you, you’re tithing but still struggling financially, someone said something mean about you, etc.)

 

• Talk about why that area is challenging for you. Give an example of a time when you felt offended in that area.

 

• How would living “unoffendable” change your life? (Give specific examples, like how you speak to your spouse, your relationship with God, the way you relate to your coworkers, etc.)

What offenses are you dealing with right now? Write down 2-3 steps you need to take to get over them. (e.g., apologize to someone, pray for God to help you, talk to someone you trust and ask them to call you out if they see you being offended, etc.)

Ask eGroup members to share any prayer requests they have. Record any notes or prayer requests to pray for members during the week.  Father, we’re so grateful for how Jesus showed us to deal with offense. We want to live out His example, so please show us any areas where we’ve allowed ourselves to become easily offended. Help us get over it so we can keep our eyes and our hearts focused on You. In Jesus’ name, amen.