Rescued
Getting Started
Coach Sleepy Thompson was one of those coaches that everyone wanted to play for. He not only knew how to win football games, but he also knew how to develop young men. As a high school football coach, he was an encourager; a coach who instilled life into his players. Players walked a little taller as a result of him living-out one of his favorite sayings, “Accentuate the positive.”
A day would not go by without Coach Thompson reminding his players of that principle. It was short and sweet and yielded powerful results. He stressed accentuating the positive at every practice and made it an essential characteristic of his teams. He focused on the good in players instead of the bad, the future instead of the past. His words gave young men purpose and meaning. He understood that the most powerful two ounces of body weight that he possessed were found in his tongue.
As Christians, we struggle with our mouths. Our tongues slip because they live in a wet place. The book of James compares the tongue to fire because of the potential damage it can inflict. It’s interesting how the tongue is compared to fire and not water. A small glass of water wouldn’t likely start a flood, but one small, careless spark can destroy thousands of acres. The tongue has the same potential, and James warns us that the tongue has the ability to pollute our whole body.
In our lesson today, we are going to talk about relationships and how we can grow them rather than destroy them. We are going to learn how we can bring healing rather than hurt, blessings rather then burdens and truth rather than torture.
Warm-Up Questions
Discuss why encouragement is so powerful.
Bible Study
The book of Ephesians has basically two sections. The first three chapters are more theological and the last three chapters are more practical in nature. In chapter four, Paul provides some very practical principles for building strong and healthy relationships. Spend time studying Ephesians 4:25-32 and have a few men take turns reading this section of scripture.
Discussion Questions
After looking over the passage, what are some general observations about what Paul is talking about?
As a group, make a list of the key relationship building principles from this passage.
In verse 32, we are told to treat each other with kindness, tenderness and to forgive one another. What does that practically look like in our relationships?
Each man share one application for them from this study.
Video
Please, Sorry, Thank You by Mark Batterson
Mark Batterson serves as Lead Pastor of National Community Church in Washington, DC, one church with multiple locations. Mark also serves as Lead Visionary for The Dream Collective, which equips and supports dreamers who long for revival in the church, reformation in the kingdom, and renaissance in culture.
Mark holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Regent University and is the author of 24 books including New York Times bestselling The Circle Maker. Mark is married to Lora and they live on Capitol Hill. They have three children: Parker, Summer (married to Austin), and Josiah.
Discussion Questions
Mark informs us that it says in scripture (Proverbs 18:21 ) that the power of life and death is in the tongue. Words have the power to hurt or to heal. Each of us has memories of words we experienced from someone’s tongue that literally changed our personal world. Share with the men in your group one example of these two experiences.
What has happened to another person’s world having experienced the unjustified bite of your tongue? When sharing with the men in the group, describe how you would have liked to have handled that situation differently?
Closing
- Share with one another the one relationship you would like prayer for.
- Close your time praying for one another.
Spend time praying for one another about acts of forgiveness you are prompted toward in response to this lesson.
Assignment for Next Week:
Listen to the talk by Dusty Davis, Worship at Work, Without Worshiping Work. This can be found in Lesson 4
Recommended Reading:
Book of Proverbs
Receive: The way of Jesus for Men
Scriptures:
Quotes Scriptures:
Four of the Ten Commandments deal with our relationship to God while the other six deal with our relationships with people. But all ten are about relationships. -Rick Warren
When life on earth is ending, people don't surround themselves with objects. What we want around us is people - people we love and have relationships with. -Rick Warren
Nothing breaks down barriers and preconceived ideas about 'Christians and Christianity' more than when we treat people the way Jesus treated His enemies. -Chip Ingram
I cannot even imagine where I would be today were it not for that handful of friends who have given me a heart full of joy. Let's face it, friends make life a lot more fun. -Chuck Swindoll