Blame | Undivided | Mitch Harrison
Where do you find yourself placing blame when something is wrong? Blame tears relationships apart. It starts looking at everyone else to place responsibility in making yourself look and feel better. Jesus teaches you to look at yourself first and then to consider God's power when something is wrong. Instead of looking at a situation and finding who is to blame, ask, "How is God moving in this moment?" To experience unity with your people, a great first step is to acknowledge that everyone has something to work on and no one is better than anyone else. What steps do you need to take to resist placing blame on others this week?
KEY VERSES
John 17:23 NLT I am in them, and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.
Genesis 3:8-13 NLT: When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees. Then the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” “Who told you that you were naked?” the LORD God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?”The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.”Then the LORD God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.”
John 9:1-5 NLT: As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth.“Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “Why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned to us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Matthew 7:1-5 NLT: “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First, get rid of the log in your own eye; then, you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.
HEARING WHAT GOD IS SAYING
One of the best ways to hear what God is saying right now is to look at what He has said in the Bible with a few friends. Discovery Bible Study is an easy-to-use way to hear from God, make good changes in our lives, and share with others what God is up to. Grab some friends, pick a verse or story from above and dive in deeper to this week’s message.
Recap
+ Reconnect
+ Recap
Discovering What God Is Saying
+ Read and Retell the Bible Story
+ Read and Look
+ Read and Look Again
Doing What God Is Saying
+ Consider
Sharing what God is saying
+ Praying Together
+ Share
Become a Partner
Every time you give in Jesus’ name, you make a difference in others AND you make a difference in your own life! Partnering together in generosity helps accomplish things together that could never be accomplished alone! You can partner together in giving today with a single gift, or schedule recurring giving using your checking account, debit, or credit card.