RealLife Study Group
Topic: “Turn Your Mess into a Message”
Icebreaker: “Grumble, Grumble”
Description: Pair up all participants. Instruct them to talk simultaneously sharing their personal complaints, reservations, resentments, irritations, and concerns. When on member runs out of things to say then he must say “grumble, grumble until everyone is saying “grumble, grumble”.
Text: Genesis 16:1-13
Study Discussion: Overcoming Family Mess
§ We must deal with the root of the issue not just the fruit of the issue.
The danger of dealing
with the fruit instead of the root issue is:
A. You will find yourself dealing with shame.
§ Why was Abraham ashamed in this text?
B. A family mess always stems from a spiritual issue.
§ What was the root of the issue with Abe & Sarah?
§ Are there any messes n your family or are there any messes where you work?
§ If so what?
C. A mess never just affects one person or generation.
§ How is Abe’s mess affecting us today?
§ Whose mess is affecting you now?
D. A family mess requires God to heal it.
§ What do you think God is waiting on in order to heal your mess?
a. For you to ask
b. For something cosmic to happen
c. For you to be willing to change
E. You must be willing to let go of the mess.
4 Parts:
a. Who must you forgive?
b. What must you forget?
c. How will your future change?
d. What faith art will it require for you to receive your healing.
F. Go back to letter B where you identified your mess.
§ What do you think the root is? Was?
§ Now apply the 4 principles of “E” to work through the issues.