Sermon Discussion Guide

1.) Have you ever faced a challenge, in that moment you spoke what was on your mind, and by doing that you made the situation worse instead of better?

Read James 1:19-27

2.) If you want to become the person you were created to be, you need to pay attention to your reactions. How do you respond to the people around you? To the people who love you? To the people who challenge you? Do you pay attention to your responses?

3.) If you want to become the person you were created to be, you need to pay attention to the gaps. Gaps are when the actions you take aren’t in sync with your values and beliefs. Do your actions, attitudes, and behaviours line up with your values and beliefs?

Read Matthew 15:1-20

4.) In Matthew 15, the religious leaders had created an exception to the commandment to honour their parents. That was interfering with the way Jesus intended his followers to live. If you want to become the person you were created to be, you need to pay attention to your priorities. What are your priorities? Where do you spend your time? If we say we are committed to following Jesus, then how does that show up in our priorities?

Going Deeper – The Last 10%

5.) Take time to pray with each other for the people you are becoming. As you pray, ask God to help you pay attention to your reactions, your gaps and your priorities this week. As you go through this week, know that who you are is evident in what you say and do. Remember that God wants good things for you and he is revealing them to you. As you examine the teachings of Jesus, identify your gaps and begin to do as he says.