TEACHING NOTES

How many of you would say that you have felt feelings of bitterness?

Bitterness: A deep-seated ill will

Bitterness = animosity, animus, antagonism, antipathy, bad blood, enmity, gall, grudge, hostility, jaundice, rancor, blood feud, feud, score, vendetta, hate, hatred, loathing, vindictiveness, virulence, vitriol, alienation, disaffection, estrangement, conflict, coolness, discord, friction, strain, tension, inhospitableness, unfriendliness, malice, malignancy, malignity, spite, spitefulness, venom

Bitterness is “a chronic and pervasive state of smoldering resentment,” and regards it as “one of the most destructive and toxic of human emotions.” — Dr. Stephen Diamond (Ph.D)

Starts as hurt or emotional pain based on malicious intent and grows to anger and resentment, and eventually bitterness

We GROW bitter because we blame someone else for our misery

Naomi grew bitter … Ruth went to work

Cure for bitterness is forgiveness…the choice is yours

TALK IT OVER

INTRODUCTION
There are things that all of us struggle with. During this series, allow God to do a Deep Clean of your heart and mind as you move into fall. God wants to use you and getting our minds and heart right will allow him access to our innermost self. Allow God to work in and through you during this time.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Which part of the message was most impactful for you and why?
2. Bitterness is a deep-seated ill will. Have you ever had those feelings toward someone or even God? If you feel comfortable, please share with the group.
3. Have you allowed bitterness to GROW in you?
4. Naomi grew bitter and Ruth went to work. What are some areas in your life that you need to go to work so you do not grow bitter?
5. Who do you need to forgive today so you do not grow bitter?

MOVING FORWARD
The cure for bitterness is forgiveness. In order to be cures, you need to admit you have a root of bitterness in some area of your life. Work today at forgiveness so that the root of bitterness does not take hold.

CHANGING YOUR MIND

Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness GROWS up to trouble you, corrupting many. —Hebrews 12:15 (NLT)