5 Minutes - Welcome and Prayer


10 Minutes - OPEN

Do you remember the last time you were going through some difficult struggle and had the thought (even if it were short-lived), “life isn’t fair”?

From your past experiences, what are the kinds of occurrences that prompt this kind of reaction in you?

Go around the room and allow everyone to share their own list of injustices and inequities that evidences “life is not fair.”


15-20 Minutes - DIG

Where did we ever develop the notion that “life should be fair”? Why do we even have that expectation?

Wait, weren’t we taught as a child to be “fair” in all our dealings with others? Do you ever remember being punished or scolded as a child for not being fair?

Wouldn’t it be better to prepare our children for the reality that life isn’t fair? But how do you teach and prepare a child for such?

Does this expectation come from something you’ve been taught from scripture? If so, site some examples.

Did you ever believe that living by the Golden Rule “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Mt. 7:12) would mean everything in life would turn out fair?

Or from Gal. 6:7 “you reap what you sow” and so if your sowing is all good, you shouldn’t have to worry about the harvest.

In his own way, wasn’t Jesus, through all he endured, trying to warn us that life wasn’t going to be easy and fair?

“Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head” (Luke 9:58).

Sure we acknowledge that Jesus made great sacrifices on our behalf. But have we discounted the thought that maybe God is warning us too to expect some uneasiness and unfairness and that our reaction to such becomes a key part of our testimony?

Read Job 21:7; Psalm 73:3-12; Eccl. 8:14; Luke 13:1-5

Amidst these realities, how do you develop the state of mind that James describes in chapter 1:2-3?

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”


15 Minutes - REFLECT

Have you ever noticed how we have adopted a false notion that life should be “easy and fair”? As a parent, have you ever caught yourself saying that you want life for your children to be better and easier than it has been for you? What if your children hear you say this and they become programmed to believe it will be that way? What’s going to happen to them when things go wrong?

Let’s admit it. We have an internal code of right and wrong imprinted on our souls and unfairness violates that code. So the real issue becomes, “How are you going to handle unfairness when it comes your way?” Consider these suggestions:

    * Call things for what they are.
    * When something unfair happens - exercise care in how you process and react to such.
    * Don’t try to correct the unfairness.
    * Work on not taking what happened personally.

Forgive.


CLOSING PRAYER

Submit these matters to God!

Pray for specific needs that were revealed during the meeting.

LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE

Wednesday Night, May 31, 2006

 

 “Life Should Be Fair ”

 

5 Minutes		Welcome and Prayer
10 Minutes	OPEN	Do you remember the last time you were going through some difficult struggle and had the thought (even if it were short-lived), “life isn’t fair”? From your past experiences, what are the kinds of occurrences that prompt this kind of reaction in you?
		Go around the room and allow everyone to share their own list of injustices and inequities that evidences “life is not fair.”
15-20 Minutes	DIG	Where did we ever develop the notion that “life should be fair”? Why do we even have that expectation? Wait, weren’t we taught as a child to be “fair” in all our dealings with others? Do you ever remember being punished or scolded as a child for not being fair? Wouldn’t it be better to prepare our children for the reality that life isn’t fair? But how do you teach and prepare a child for such?
		Does this expectation come from something you’ve been taught from scripture? If so, site some examples. Did you ever believe that living by the Golden Rule “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Mt. 7:12) would mean everything in life would turn out fair? Or from Gal. 6:7 “you reap what you sow” and so if your sowing is all good, you shouldn’t have to worry about the harvest.
		In his own way, wasn’t Jesus, through all he endured, trying to warn us that life wasn’t going to be easy and fair? “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head” (Luke 9:58).   Sure we acknowledge that Jesus made great sacrifices on our behalf. But have we discounted the thought that maybe God is warning us too to expect some uneasiness and unfairness and that our reaction to such becomes a key part of our testimony?
		Read Job 21:7; Psalm 73:3-12; Eccl. 8:14; Luke 13:1-5 Amidst these realities, how do you develop the state of mind that James describes in chapter 1:2-3? “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
15 Minutes	REFLECT	Have you ever noticed how we have adopted a false notion that life should be “easy and fair”? As a parent, have you ever caught yourself saying that you want life for your children to be better and easier than it has been for you? What if your children hear you say this and they become programmed to believe it will be that way? What’s going to happen to them when things go wrong?
		Let’s admit it. We have an internal code of right and wrong imprinted on our souls and unfairness violates that code. So the real issue becomes, “How are you going to handle unfairness when it comes your way?” Consider these suggestions: Call things for what they are. When something unfair happens - exercise care in how you process and react to such. Don’t try to correct the unfairness. Work on not taking what happened personally. Forgive.
	CLOSING PRAYER	Submit these matters to God!   Pray for specific needs that were revealed during the meeting.