Self-Righteousness
Connect
What characteristics or actions do you most critically judge in others? How are those similar to the qualities you most value in yourself?
Cultivate
Summary: Jesus is our only source of true righteousness. We become self-righteous when we try to validate our worth through our strengths, relationships, position or actions.
Read Luke 18:9-14 and ask the following questions:
1. What do you like about this passage?
2. What do you find uncomfortable or difficult to understand in this passage?
3. What appears to be the main idea emphasized in this passage? (Look for repeated words or ideas.)
Consider how the following passages increase our understanding of this topic:
Read Philippians 3:1-11.
- What significance does faith play in gaining righteousness?
- What categories could you make out of Paul’s list of things he could boast in (e.g. position, schooling, culture, etc)?
- How are you tempted to put “confidence in the flesh”?
- As people of faith, what can we boast in?
Read Ephesians 2:8-10.
- How can the reality of being “created in Christ Jesus to do good works” enable us to be humble?
- What are some practical ways we can remind ourselves, and each other, of this truth?
4. What are the beliefs and values promoted in these passages?
5. What do they reveal about our human condition and God’s response?
6. How are these beliefs and values similar or different from those that have influenced you? (such as your family, culture, peers, church, etc.)
7. How might our faith increase and our lives change as we embrace what is true and important?
8. In light of what we’ve discussed, how can we pray for each other right now?
Care
Since we last met, what happened as a result of expressing Christ’s love to others?
How can you, or we, express Christ’s love to others this week?
Here are a few ideas:
- Pray God would meet their deepest needs.
- Help meet a felt need they have.
- Encourage them with a text, note or verbally.
- Give them a thoughtful gift or buy them coffee.
- Invite them to do something fun or meaningful.
- Listen to their story.
- Explore their thoughts on the gospel.
All Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
