Bible Study - AFTER LIFE - Freedom From Approval Ratings
Sermon-Based Bible Study – May 16, 2021
- What is something God has done for you that you are thankful for or are celebrating? How have you experienced God’s love and faithfulness this week?
- Where are you experiencing stress, anxiety or discouragement? How would you like to see God move in your life or in the life of someone close to you?
- As a child, did you ever fantasize about becoming rich and famous? What did you dream about becoming? Did you see that as a way of getting or earning the approval of others?
- What did you hear in this week’s sermon that was new or particularly interesting? Did anything stand out to you as puzzling or troubling?
- Read Proverbs 25:29. What does the phrase “fear of man” mean? Chris mentioned that one of the bondages that can keep us from experiencing the kind of freedom we are meant to have in the after-life has to do with an unhealthy desire for the approval of others or fear of disappointing others or being rejected by others. Is this something you struggle with? How is it expressed in your daily life?
- Read John 5:42; 12:42 and Galatians 2:11-14. Which of the following ways has the approval of others/fear of others trap kept you from experiencing the freedom Jesus wants for you?
- Caving in to a pressure to conform your values or behavior.
- An unwillingness to be transparent and settling for less than authentic relationships.
- Being insecure and not able to step into what God has uniquely made you to do because you are tormented by comparison.
- Read John 8:29 and 2 Corinthians 5:7-9. Jesus and Paul lived for an audience of one. What makes it difficult for you to live to please God rather than other people?
- Read John 13:3-4. How does being set free from people-pleasing and approval-addiction set us up for true people-loving? Why is that important?
- What is a simple, next step you could take in obedience to what the Spirit is saying to you through this time in the Word? Who would benefit, or be interested in hearing about what you’ve learned in this study?