Part 4 Impact: The Called Life

4.2 Guarding Your Heart

Key Question: Why does it matter that we love and forgive others as Christ?

Goal: You will identify some of the ways that offense creeps in and how to realign your heart with the Love of Jesus.    

In Preparation:

1. Read: The Power & The Purpose 127-136
2. Read: The Bait of Satan, Chapter 1
3. Read: Live UNoffended, Chapter 2
4. Watch: Unoffended Video

SPECIFIC QUESTIONS FOR THIS MODULE – STEP 2

Use the questions from the Participant Guide and your participant’s journal responses to help him/her identify ways that he/she generally becomes offended. For example…

1. Have you been avoiding or ignoring someone because of something they did or said?
2. Have you been replaying past conversations or events in your mind, feeling angry or bothered all over again?
3. Do you find yourself talking about someone in a negative way, even if they are not present? Do you think offense is there?
4. Can you tell me about a situation where you felt upset by someone? Did you pick up an offense?
5. Can you tell me more about how you’ve been processing your feelings about that situation or relationship?
6. Have you noticed any patterns in your relationships where you tend to get offended or hurt?
7. Are there any specific types of actions or words that have make it easy for you to become offended?
8. How do you think holding onto offense is impacting your life and relationships?
9. Have you ever talked to someone else about how you’re feeling?

SPECIFIC QUESTIONS FOR THIS MODULE – STEP 3

Ask:

1. If you had individuals that you needed to forgive, did you have any areas that were challenging to release?
2. Do you find it challenging to love others well? Why or why not?

SPECIAL NOTES FOR THE COACH – STEP 4

For any area or role where you still hear the participant struggling to see themselves or others as God sees them, lead them in a prayer to encounter Jesus over it and let Him speak into it again.

Do you feel the need to overlook an offense for the sake of getting along (i.e peace at all cost)?

Ask Jesus to show you a person that has offended you. Ask Jesus how He sees them? Jesus, how would you have me love this person well. What does this person most need from You through me?

Note: Sometimes it takes speaking the truth in love to the offender in order for change to take place.

SPECIAL NOTES FOR THE COACH – STEP 6

See the P.L.A.N. questions from the Participant Guide.  Discuss those with the Participant and have them write down the steps they will take to apply what they’ve learned.

Consider praying a prayer with the participant for a greater capacity to love everyone as Christ.