Exaggeration
The Message Connect - Going deeper into each week’s sermon message.
Toxic | Week 4: Exaggeration
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Criticism
The Message Connect - Going deeper into each week’s sermon message.
Toxic | Week 3: Criticism
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If you missed church this week, scroll to the bottom of this page OR open up the Ringgold Church App to listen to the Sermon Podcast.
Discussion Questions:
What did Jesus call those who ignore their own imperfections and focus on the flaws of others? Why? (Matthew 7:2)
Why is it necessary to deal with one’s own sins first? (Matthew 7:5)
When, if ever, should we criticize or judge someone else?
How can we become more merciful and nonjudgmental?
What faults block your spiritual vision?
Rules for Criticizing One Another:
1. Disputable Matters — Things That Don’t Matter.
2. Edification.
3. Hearing.
What reasons did Paul give for not judging people on disputable matters?
What is a Christian’s responsibility for building peace among the other believers?
When does restraint speak more loudly than action?
Next Steps:
1. Start talking. Find a conversation starter for your group.
2. Start thinking. Ask a thoughtful question.
3. Start sharing. Choose questions that create openness.
4. Start praying. Be bold, and pray with power.
5. Start doing. Commit to a step and live it out this week.
For more information about taking the next steps in your faith, visit ringgoldchurch.com/nextsteps.
WEEK THREE: CRITICISM
Key Scriptures:
Matthew 7:1-2 (NLT) “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.”
Romans 14:1 (NLT) “Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.”
Romans 14:19 (NLT) “So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.”
Proverbs 27:6 (NLT) “Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.”
Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 (NLT) “Don’t eavesdrop on others—you may hear your servant curse you. 22 For you know how often you yourself have cursed others.”
Matthew 12:34 (NLT) “…For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.”
Matthew 12:37 (NLT) “The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”
Levels of Judging:
Critique.
Condemnation.
Confrontation or Condemnation of a Person’s Behavior.
Complaining
The Message Connect - Going deeper into each week’s sermon message.
Toxic | Week 2: Complaining
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If you missed church this week scroll to the bottom of this page OR open up the Ringgold Church App to listen to the sermon podcast.
How in the world do I find that heart of joy in this dark world?
1. Discover the joy of Creation.
What is true about all that God created?
What attitude should we have toward our own difficult circumstances?
What does it mean to trust the Lord with our problems?
2. Discover the joy of salvation.
How and when has God shown you mercy?
What distractions draw Christians away from their proper course?
How should we respond to our sin and God’s forgiveness?
3. Discover The Joy Of Anticipation.
How will our knowledge of God change when we see Christ? (1 Corinthians 13:12)
What attitudes should we strive to have? (Romans 12:9-16)
Next Steps:
1. Start talking. Find a conversation starter for your group.
2. Start thinking. Ask a thoughtful question.
3. Start sharing. Choose questions that create openness.
4. Start praying. Be bold, and pray with power.
5. Start doing. Commit to a step and live it out this week.
For more information about taking the next steps in your faith, visit ringgoldchurch.com/nextsteps.
Key Scriptures:
1 Timothy 4:4 (NLT) “Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks.”
1 Timothy 6:17 (NLT) “Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.”
1 Timothy 1:16-17 (NLT) “But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.”
Psalm 51:12 (NLT) “Restore to me the joy of your salvation…”
2 Timothy 4:18 (NLT) “Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.”
3 reasons why we can fall into this habit of complaining: Companions, Comparisons, and Crises.
Companions: Sometimes we fall into the habit of complaining because of the people we are around.
Comparisons: We compare ourselves to other people. When we see what we don’t have, we can complain.
Crises: Sometimes the reason we can fall into this habit of complaining are the Crises that come into our lives.
Father God, we thank you for so many good gifts that you have given us. We ask that you would forgive us when we lose sight and we grumble, and we mutter, and we complain. I pray that you would remind us of this good world, of our great salvation, and of that greatest hope. Fill our eyes with the vision of heaven. Fill our hearts with joy. Fill our mouths with song. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Gossip
The Message Connect - Going deeper into each week’s sermon message.
Toxic | Week 1: Gossip
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If you missed church this week, scroll to the bottom of this page OR open up the Ringgold Church App to listen to the sermon podcast.
Key Scriptures:
Matthew 15:18 (NLT) “But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you.”
Proverbs 18:21 (NIV) “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
Proverbs 16:28 (NIV) "A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends."
Proverbs 17:4 (NIV) "A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue."
Matthew 7:3-5 (NIV) "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
Proverbs 26:20 (NIV) “Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.”
Opening Questions:
Have we thought before we spoke?
What power does the tongue possess? (Proverbs18:21)
Why do people like to share their opinions?
What can we do to put a rein on our tongue?
Gossip: words that are spoken behind someone’s back because of their harmful nature.
gossip is true.
Gossip actually means whispering.
Two different types of gossip:
1. The Gossip Speaker.
What does gossip do? (Proverbs 16:28)
What should we do whenever we find ourselves in the middle of a conversation laced with gossip?
2. The Gossip Hearer.
Questions to make you think deeper:
What are the things that can prevent us from gossiping?
What kind of faults do we notice in others? (Matthew 7:3)
What did Jesus call those who ignore their own imperfections and focus on the flaws of others? Why? (Matthew 7:5)
Why is it necessary to deal with one’s own sins first? (Matthew 7:5)
When, if ever, should we criticize or judge someone else?
How can we become more merciful and nonjudgmental?
How do gossip and quarrels work? (Proverbs 26:20-22) Why do people enjoy gossip?
When have you been misled by the deceptive words of an evil person?
Next Steps:
1. Start talking. Find a conversation starter for your group.
2. Start thinking. Ask a thoughtful question.
3. Start sharing. Choose questions that create openness.
4. Start praying. Be bold, and pray with power.
5. Start doing. Commit to a step and live it out this week.
For more information about taking the next steps in your faith, visit ringgoldchurch.com/nextsteps.
Are your words going to be those of life or those of death?
Prayer: Father, thank you for Your Word and thank you for conviction. Honestly, a lot of times we avoid it at all costs because it is going to be painful, a little bit embarrassing, and we have to admit we are imperfect. But we thank You for humility. We thank You for humility that comes from the cross. Without Your Son’s death, we stand on nothing. Let us be constantly reminded of what Your Son did for us so that we can have a life of freedom and we can encourage others towards that. God, You are amazing. We want to speak words of life that come straight from You. It is in Your name I pray. Amen.