NO OFFENSE
From the latest headline to social media comments—there are plenty of opportunities to be offended each day. But what if we decided to respond differently to those around us? Together, let’s learn how to live with No Offense.
WEEK 1
Do you want to be right or do you want to prove a point?
Reflect and take action: Read John 8:1-11. Who do you identify most with in this story? Are you the one who is holding the stone and you need to set it down? Are you the woman, in need of God’s grace? Or are you trying to be more like Jesus and look beyond people’s shortcomings and see their potential?
MAKE THIS MESSAGE WORK IN YOUR LIFE
Being offended is a certainty. Living offended is a choice.
WEEK 2
Reflect and respond: Read the entire book of Ephesians this week, especially 4:26-32. What is Paul’s purpose in writing this letter (hint: 1:15-18)? Are you carrying hurt that causes you to be easily offended? If you’ve asked God to forgive you, have you also forgiven yourself? Pick one day this week and, with God’s strength, refuse to be offended all day. When you feel anger, remember that you have been forgiven. This isn’t a call to passivity, it’s a call to love. Does 1 Corinthians 13 seem passive to you? Read it for yourself.
MAKE THIS MESSAGE WORK IN YOUR LIFE
What could it look like to live a life of humility?
WEEK 3
Reflect and respond: Read Philippians 2:1-11 this week. Are there areas of your life where you can start putting others before yourself? When you read the example of humility shown by Jesus, how do you think you can imitate that humility in your own life? Pray: Ask God to show you people you can serve and people that you can show gratitude to this week.
MAKE THIS MESSAGE WORK IN YOUR LIFE
Being bitter usually leads us somewhere we don't want to be. Today, let's learn how we can let go of our bitterness by leaning into God!
WEEK 4
Reflect and respond: Read Matthew 18:21-35 this week. When you read about the forgiveness of massive debt that the King showed his servant (that God showed us), think about how you can follow that example in your life. Do you want to be imprisoned by your own bitterness because you refuse to forgive? Or do you want to create a legacy of grace, peace, and holiness? Pray: Ask God to strengthen you for the hard work of digging out the roots of bitterness in your life. Thank Him for the forgiveness that He has given you so that you in turn can show grace to your offenders.