REALLIFE STUDY GROUP
"Measure
Up!"
ICEBREAKER: How old were you when you remember physically
growing the most and tell us how you felt? (How many inches in what period of
time) Name one thing in life or in the world that we measure.
INTRODUCTION:
Our entire world is full of measurements! Life is
truly a series of measurements! We seem to be infatuated with measuring the
size, the shape, the age, the weight, the height, the depth, the shade, the
color, the hue and the value of everything. Sometimes the greater the
number the greater the value, as in the weight of gold and the size of the
cattle.
Sometimes the lesser the number, the better the
score, as in golf
Is it any wonder we are so obsessed with numbers?
Its no wonder we are constantly and consistently comparing ourselves to each
other.
We count, calculate and evaluate
everything. Because we are so enamored with measuring, calculating and
comparing it blows our minds when we try to comprehend a God and His love that
are so infinite that He cannot be measured.
So how can we measure up to a God that cannot be measured? The answer to
the question is, we cannot measure up. So when it was time for the
examination he sent his son, the flawless lamb of God, to be our vicarious
substitute. What a gracious, merciful God!
The best measuring tool we have to evaluate our progress is the Word of
God.
CONFESSION:
I am more than a conquerer through Jesus Christ who first loved me. The measure
of a man is measured by how he hears God's Word and responds to it! I choose to
trust God with all my flaws, failures, inadequacies, weaknesses, mistakes and
shortcomings! I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!
DEFINITION: Measure Up: Means to make the grade, to
meet the demand, to be the equivalent to the requirement, to be up to the task.
Middah:
Hebrew for measure, measurement, stature, size, garment
Metron:
Greek word for measure, an instrument for measuring, determined extent,
portion measured off, measure or limit, proverbially, the rule or standard of judgment
OUTLINE: The Rule of Measurements
1.
Measurements
record our growth and give us a way to evaluate our progress.
(And Jesus increased in
wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. Luke 2:52 KJV)
Jesus
The Model
2.
When
constructing a building, if the measurements for the foundations are off then
everything else will be off.
(And are built upon the foundation
of the apostles and prophets, Jesus
Christ himself being the chief corner stone; Ephesians 2:20 KJV)
Jesus The Chief Cornerstone
3.
If
the measuring device or instrument is off or broken or needs to be
re-calibrated then the measurements will be wrong.
(A false balance is
abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight. Proverbs
11:1 KJV)
Jesus
The Standard
4.
When
measuring you have got to use the right tools.
The Ten Commandments were the measuring tool
God gave the Hebrew people in
the wilderness then Jesus reduced it down to two: Love the Lord with
all you heart, mind and soul and love your neighbor as yourself. (Jesus saith unto him, I am the way,
the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John
14:6 KJV)
Jesus
The Way, The Truth and The Life
5.
When
measuring even little mistakes could have drastic results.
When baking if your
measurements are off the taste, the texture and the look of your product
will be altered. (I am that bread of life. John 6:48 KJV)
Jesus
The Bread of Life
6.
When
giving an offering or tithing, be sure it meets the required God instructed
specified measurement.
When the sacrificial lamb
was presented to the priest, it had to be
without spot or blemish. The offering had to be inspected and measured
by God's criteria and found perfect to fulfill the law. (But with the
precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 1
Peter 1:19 KJV; The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith,
Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29
KJV)
Jesus
The Lamb of God
7.
Measuring
yourself by yourself is not wise.
Someone said its like a one-eyed
king comparing his vision to the blind rather than comparing his ability to two
20/20 fully functioning eyes. (For we dare not make ourselves of the
number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they
measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves,
are not wise. 2 Corinthians
10:12 KJV)
Jesus
The King
8.
Measuring
is a task that must be done diligently, carefully, faithfully, truthfully and
methodically in order to get the best results.
(And I saw heaven opened,
and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and
True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. Revelation
19:11 KJV)
Jesus
The Warrior and The Judge
TEXT: Job 38:1-6; Isaiah 44:13; Luke 6:38;
Ephesians 4:13; Psalm 133:2 (The Hebrew word for measurement is
translated garment in Psalm
133 referring to the measure of authority and anointing God has given to us?)
STUDY
GROUP QUESTIONS:
1.
Which of the following unique, immeasurable
attributes of God do you find most fascinating or would you say you need to
remember the most?
a.
His thoughts are higher!
b.
His love is endless!
c.
His ways are perfect!
d.
His words are timeless!
e.
His motives are unquestionable!
f.
His faithfulness is indescribable!
g.
His mercy is boundless!
h.
His justice is righteous!
i.
His character is holy!
j.
His power is limitless!
k.
His grace is always sufficient!
l.
His potential is indefinable!
m. His
wisdom is all encompassing!
n.
His freedom is uncontainable!
o.
His joy is overflowing!
p.
His peace is incomprehensible!
q.
His patience is everlasting!
r.
His resources are infinite!
s.
His intelligence is unexplainable!
t.
His plans are flawless!
2.
We often measure our lives to prove our
uniqueness. In what way do you
think that you are most unique?
3.
Read Romans 12. First it says we are to
become living sacrifices to God. Second,
we are to be transformed by renewing our minds. And third, we are to do this
through grace remembering each of us has been given the measure of faith.
Then the writer begins to give us a measuring stick of gifts we have and how we should behave as believers. Pick one
verse in Romans 12 that speaks to
you and comment.
4.
Count how many times any form of the word measure
is used in Ezekiel 40. In the New Testament we are the temple! What is God measuring in our lives? (Our Fruit,
Our Motives, Our Attitudes, Our Words,
etc...)
5.
Responses to not measuring up in the Bible
include: Adam blamed Eve, Cain killed Able, Abraham lied about Sarah, Jacob
cheated Esau out of His Blessing, Joseph held on to God's Word, Daniel &
three Hebrew boys let God do the measuring, Moses interceded for the Israelites
when they didn't measure up, Isaiah said I am a man of unclean lips, John the
Baptist said Behold the Lamb..of whom I am not worthy, John the Apostle said I
am John who Jesus loves! How do people respond today when they don't feel like
they measure up?
a.
Pout about it
b.
Justify it by comparing themselves to others
c.
Blame others
d.
Try harder
e.
Whine & Complain about it
f.
Trust God to enable them to overcome it
g.
Meditate on what Jesus did for them
h.
Quit trying all together
i.
_____________________________________________________
6.
Man literally attempts to measure just about
everything from time to capacity to speed to distance. We use telescopes,
microscopes, rulers, clocks, scales, gauges and calipers and many other tools.
Is it any wonder we are stressed out of our heads with numbers,
comparisons, evaluations, assessments, examinations, and statistics? Right
now is there any area of your life that you do not feel that you measure up? If
so, what are they?
PRAISE
REPORTS & PRAYER REQUESTS:
ACTION
POINT: This week I will remind myself every time I fail
to measure up that Jesus' love and grace are immeasurable, therefore I can do
all things through Christ who strengthens me!