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It's Easier to Avoid Problems |
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LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE
Wednesday Night, April 5, 2006
“It is Easier to Avoid Problems Than to Face Them”
5 Minutes - Welcome and Prayer
10 Minutes - OPEN
In life, “avoiders” ignore problems, hoping they will either go away or be solved by others.
Can anyone relate to dealing with problems in your life by using an avoidance tactic rather than facing them head-on when they arise?
Anybody ever had a bad experience doing so?
For those of us with children –
What are ways we cultivate this bad habit in our children? Have you ever caught yourself rescuing your child from a problem instead of allowing them to grow from the experience?
15-20 Minutes - DIG
Why is “avoidance” a common human reaction in dealing with problems?
Think for a minute and try to classify the types of problems that arise in your life where you seem to instinctively react with an “avoidance” mentality?
When you react with “avoidance,” do you do so because (check the responses which apply for you):
( ) I don’t view the matter as a “problem;”
( ) I believe the problem will go away with time;
( ) I believe confronting the problem will create more
problems;
( ) I believe the problem doesn’t merit my attention;
( ) I believe someone else will solve this problem for me;
( ) List any other factors: ______________________
In 1 Samuel 2 & 3, Eli is portrayed as a father whose sons were living out of control. Though Eli knew about the sins of his sons (3:13), it seems the Lord viewed Eli as “avoiding” such in spite of all the heartache he must have suffered as a result of their behavior.
As it relates to disciplining your children, what are your tendencies (check the responses which apply to you):
( ) To be too strict;
( ) To be too soft and permissive;
( ) To be too harsh and too great a disciplinarian;
( ) To be distant and detached;
( ) To be inconsistent;
( ) List any of your other tendencies: ____________.
While Jesus had a supernatural ability to know the hearts and thoughts of those he encountered (Jn. 2:24-25), what are some very useful principles that Jesus used in his dealings with others that highlight the value of dealing straight-up with problems?
Two particular incidents you might cite:
1. John 4 – The Samaritan Woman
2. John 8:1-11 – The Adulterous Woman
When Paul wrote his second letter to young Timothy (2 Timothy), Timothy was troubled and at risk of throwing in the towel. In light of this reality, read Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 3:10-17 and 4:5. What are some principles that Paul mentions here that can help you when you’re in trouble?
15 Minutes - REFLECT
Some choose avoidance thinking it is the path of least resistance. This is a lie!
Has it been your experience that often this reaction proves to be a more troublesome journey? Allow those in your group to cite some personal examples of lessons learned the hard way.
Why do we tend to apply one standard in dealing with our own problems but another standard in dealing with (or discussing) problems in the lives of others?
How does the Lord view this inconsistency according to Matthew 7:1-2?
As a parent, why is the tendency to “run from problems” such a detrimental behavior for our children to see in us?
If you’ve been someone who avoids problems, what are the changes in your life that you’ll have to adopt to counter this behavior?
CLOSING PRAYER
Submit these matters to God!
Pray for specific needs that were revealed during the meeting.
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