Sermon-Based Small Group Lessons
Frazzled: Be Humble
Les
Hughes
December
21, 2008
Coming soon… “Make it Personal” Emphasis
and building plans revealed in 2009.
Leader Preparation
Cut
and prepare the memory verse at the bottom for distribution to each group
member.
Outline of Sermon (The Life-Changing
Lessons)
This is for the leader’s use. You don’t have to read through
these for the group.
1. I demonstrate humility when I consider myself less than others.
2. God will find ways to exalt the humble.
3. God will find ways to humble the proud.
4. Jesus set aside what He was entitled to, to give us what we
weren’t entitled to.
Related
Scriptures
Do nothing out
of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better
than yourselves. Philippians 2:3
When pride
comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2
Therefore, as
God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness
and patience. Colossians 3:12
Humble yourselves,
therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 1 Peter 5:6
The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. James 1:9
But he gives us more grace. That is why
Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6
Humble yourselves
before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
James 4:10
Focus
Passage: Philippians
2:1-13 (New International Version)
1If you have any
encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if
any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being
like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or
vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
4Each of you
should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of
others.
5Your
attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6Who,
being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be
grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the very
nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man, he
humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest
place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10that at
the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the
earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12Therefore, my
dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now
much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and
trembling, 13for it is God
who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
The Lesson
Briefly tell of a time, preferably this holiday
season or last, in which you were frazzled or frustrated.
1. Read the focus passage. Encourage the group to listen for
something we should do as a result of this scripture.
2. What do you think is the root cause of
being frazzled? (Usually, it is
because someone takes something from us that we feel we deserve. Ask people to
think back to their stories and identify what was taken.)
3. Discuss this true/false question. The more self-centered we are, the more
likely to be frazzled we are. (The
inverse of this is that the more humble we are, the less likely we’ll
become frazzled.)
Often,
our pride causes us to become frazzled.
When we desire to be the smartest, most significant, or most successful,
we are frazzled when someone challenges that in any way. Prov. 27:2 says to let other men praise
us.
Questions
to ask ourselves
a. Do you have
to be right all the time?
b. Do you have
to have the last word all the time?
c. Do you
exaggerate the facts on something that may be true?
d. Do I get my
feelings hurt when we feel others take us for granted?
4. Less One states, “I
demonstrate humility when I consider myself less than others.” This means putting the needs of others
first. What things keep us from
doing this?
In
order to help us remember to strive to be humble, distribute the memory verse
and review it again. (Philippians 2:3)
5. Jesus was the best demonstration
of humility for us. He was God,
come to earth in the form of a man.
Verse 7 says that Jesus took on the form of a servant. He also showed his servant-nature by
washing the disciple’s feet. If
Jesus can show humility like this, what makes us think we are so important that
we can’t serve others? (rhetorical question)
6. Lesson Two states, “God will find ways to exalt the humble.” Read verses 9-10 above. How do you think God will do this in the
lives of people? Can you think of
an example when you or someone you know chose humility and God lifted up the
humble?
7. Here is a list of
the results of humility in our lives.
Which is most appealing to you?
a. Our relationships
improve as our relationship with God improves.
b. We’re
not as frazzled.
c. We demonstrate
joy by showing compassion.
d. We’re moved
to meet the needs of others.
e. We deal with conflict
differently.
8. Lesson Three states, “God will find ways to humble the proud.” Are you confident that God will do this?
If that is so, wouldn’t we rather God be looking for ways to exalt and
lift us up, rather than to humble us?
9. Lesson Four states, “Jesus set aside what He was entitled to,
to give us what we weren’t entitled to.” Have you ever realized what Jesus did
for us in becoming humble and coming to earth? Have you ever been humble enough to
humbly admit your need for him? Ask
one volunteer to share when they accepted Christ.
As we heard in the lives of some missionaries Les mentioned, there
is something much bigger going on that our happiness. What is more important to us than the
really big things in life? What do
we need to push down our priority list?
Memory Verse (Print these
for the group)
Do nothing out
of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better
than yourselves. Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out
of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better
than yourselves. Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out
of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better
than yourselves. Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out
of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better
than yourselves. Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out
of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better
than yourselves. Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out
of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better
than yourselves. Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out
of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better
than yourselves. Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out
of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better
than yourselves. Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out
of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better
than yourselves. Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out
of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better
than yourselves. Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out
of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better
than yourselves. Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out
of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better
than yourselves. Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out
of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better
than yourselves. Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out
of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better
than yourselves. Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out
of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better
than yourselves. Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out
of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better
than yourselves. Philippians 2:3