HOW TO RESPOND TO BEING MISTREATED PART 2
GROUP AGENDA:
- Pray In
- Ask each person which service they watched on Sunday? 9am, 11am, or 1pm?
- Go over the lesson (Below)
- Ask everyone “What is one thing you learned today?”
- Give offering on the app
- Encourage P12 Leaders to meet with their group (and remind them to take attendance on Friday)
- Ask for prayer requests and pray out
Intro
Today’s P12 is Part 2 from last week’s P12. We covered the 3 Facts about being
mistreated: 1. We can’t control people, but we can control our response, 2. We have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to be a witness even under mistreatment, and 3. Unfair treatment is a part of a believers life. Today, we will continue talking about how to respond to being mistreated.
Question – What is the best response to mistreatment that you’ve witness in your lifetime? (how did that person handle being mistreated?)
Matthew 5:11-12 (ERV) “People will insult you and hurt you. They will lie and say all kinds of evil things about you because you follow me. But when they do that, know that great blessings belong to you. 12 Be happy about it. Be very glad because you have a great reward waiting for you in heaven.
Question – We all react to mistreatment in different ways, and most of the time it’s not in the best way. Take a look back in your life and reflect on the way you respond. How do you react when you’re being mistreated?
Question – What does the scripture mean by “be happy about it”? Why should we be happy about being mistreated?
Here are 3 ways we must respond to mistreatment:
1) RESPOND WITH LOVE.
John 13:34-35 (ESV) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Question – How do people “know we are disciples” by the way we love one another?
Matthew 5:38-39 NLT “You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.
Here is an amazing story about the power of responding with love. There was once a man who had just preached about “turning the other cheek.” He talked about how, as a believer, one must turn and offer the other cheek when he was struck/hit in the face. This sounds alarming, and not very common, but the next day he was at work dealing with a very unhappy customer. The customer was so unhappy that he punched the man in the face. He remember the words he preached the day before and realized he was faced with a big test: will he offer the other cheek. Instead of punching back, he decided to turn his face and offer the second cheek. His coworkers were witnessing all of this happen, and that very day, 3 of them gave
their lives to Jesus.
Question – What would have happened if he hit the man back?
Question – Why is it important to live out Matthew 5:38-39?
2) RESPOND WITH BLESSING.
Matthew 5:44-45 (BRG) 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
The word Bless means: pray for them, ask God to bless and prosper them, to speak well of, to praise.
Question – which of the definitions above do you have the most trouble with and why?
3) RESPOND WITH FORGIVENESS.
Mark 11:25 (ESV) 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
Notice that the scripture says, “whenever you stand praying, forgive.” Jesus had to teach us to search our hearts for unforgiveness every time we pray!
Question – Why is it necessary to forgive so often?
Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV) 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Question – Who was the most challenging person to forgive in your life?
Question – Do you still need to forgive someone?
Giving:
We are a church of action! As a church, we have come together to stand with our community and our city. Looting and rioting took place in our city a couple weeks ago, but that did not stop us from being the light in a dark time. We were able to do a Prayer walk, clean up graffiti, help businesses owners, and spread God’s love throughout the streets!
How to Give:
1. Open the app and click give.
2. Change the fund to P12
3. Set up your tithe on recurring giving