When Christians Let You Down
Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ. Romans 10:17 NIV
“Rhema” It refers to the spoken or revealed word, a specific utterance, emphasizing the living and active Word of God.
27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. Matthew 23:27-28 NLT
“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Matthew 23:33
1. Some people who claim Christ aren’t really
.
They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him…..Titus 1:16 NIV
2. Some are Christians, but not
.
13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. 14 Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong. Hebrews 5:13-14 NLT
3. Some are Christians, and maturing, and still
.
When we fall short, we blame our
When someone else falls short, we blame their
For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.” Psalm 103:14 NASB
49 So the Lord’s message spread throughout that region. 50 Then the Jews stirred up the influential religious women and the leaders of the city, and they incited a mob against Paul and Barnabas and ran them out of town. 51 So they shook the dust from their feet as a sign of rejection and went to the town of Iconium. 52 And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:51-52 NLT
If you have lost faith in Jesus because of people, maybe your faith is in people when it should be in Jesus.
Jesus has zero tolerance for hypocrisy. He has unlimited grace for a sinner in need of forgiveness.
Personal & Small Group Discussion Questions:
Talk about a time a brand or restaurant let you down. Would you give it a second chance? Why or why not?
Read Psalm 103:14….What might change about your response to people who let you down if you remembered they were only dust?
Are there any areas in your life where you’re being hypocritical or judgmental? How could embracing God’s grace help you have a more loving response?
Have you been disappointed by church or other Christians? If so, share what you learned from that experience. How can you take a step toward healing?
Share about a time you let someone else down. What did you learn from that experience? Then, spend time as a LifeGroup talking about ways you can model Christ’s love in your daily lives.