STUDY GUIDE

A Six-Session Video-Based Study for Small Groups

 Digitized by the Internet Archive
In 2022 with funding from
Kahle/Austin Foundation

https://archive.org/details/ison_9781422803943
 CP LID ak),

RICK WARREN

iietah

MIRACLE
“MERCY

A Six-Session Video-Based
Study for Small Groups

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

MATTHEW 5:7 (NIV)
THE MIRACLE OF MERCY
Small Group Study Guide

Copyright © 2016 Rick Warren

TOR RICK’S
® pastors Nl BAILY HOPE

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Pastors.com
30021 Comercio
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688

ISBN: 978-1-4228-0394-3

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored ina
retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, without the written permission
of Pastors.com.

Scripture quotations noted CEV are from The Contemporary English Version.
Copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations noted ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®
(ESV). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News
Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations noted GW are from God's Word. Copyright © 1995

by God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations noted KJV are from The King James Version.

Scripture quotations noted MSG are from The Message. Copyright © by Eugene H.
Peterson, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress
Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations noted NCV are from The Holy Bible, New Century Version.
Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scriptures quotations noted NIV are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL
VERSION", NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society.
Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Scriptures quotations noted NLT are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living
Translation, Second Edition. Copyright © 1996, 2005 by Tyndale House Publishers,
Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189. All rights reserved.

Scriptures quotations noted NKJV are taken from the New King James Version.
Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.
All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations noted PH are from The New Testament in Modern English,
Revised Edition, J. B. Phillips. Copyright © 1972 Macmillan Publishing Co. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations noted TEV are from Today's English Version. New Testament,
Copyright © 1966; Old Testament, Copyright © 1976 by American Bible Society. Used
by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations noted TLB are from The Living Bible. Copyright © 1971.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, IL 60188.
All rights reserved.

Printed and bound in the United States of America.

me =
gle Me RCIA RebEegheND Te 67V1[a [cpmetpleie © ety Utne Pete ene Ar 8

SESSION ONE: The Five Marks of Mercy .....c..sscssssssssssssescsssessees ll

SESSION TWO: Mercy Forgives the Fallen ..0......essesssssccnsecnees 30
SESSION THREE: Mercy Helps the Hurting .......esessseeee 09
SESSION FOUR: Mercy is Patient with Difficult People ...... 81
SESSION FIVE: Mercy ts Kind £0 EMCiiies ix..ccissosccinasscceensarsess 103
SESSION: SIX:«Mercy Cares for the: Lost a nicetahssssstnneconstereenets 17

Petal COUP ROB OUT CES) sis csce-donsiteer mast vases rveS Si ntoneeis nena bisorenea kaos 146

Beis Tr AB BS si cans occu Sgavnsibircrasnssesncensndsbeoarsnssaseadetivarsiblinets 147

PCSTIOTEIN,SCA DUR IOTAS oo iho esstsaranarosasecn'd-cdesisnaarrhennnssianns 151

SSE Cottey CSU

CMINES gorcaesmcnaiacaccnnesani.atedisiossusnstasesenvarentcenens> 153

Circles Oth ile cic peasheds decom eeustieoied ste uweublmeie oan 155

Small Group Prayer and Praise Report ........ssssesseceseerneeess 156

Smiall Group, Caloraryieecceccsise:nnosscennsseconsssnsnsesssonscansssonssness 158

ANISWET Key -n.rascsecsessoscesossvessssesosnsonsoncsnssessasconcensanssnvenvsonsonsensenseoses 159

Serva: Garcranp Fombemteeer age aterm

eatenstessornodeconsnnsonsnnsshosccas 161
| Blessed are the mercitul, tor
| they will be shown mercy.
 WELCOME TO
THE MIRACLE OF MERCY

Did you know that mercy is God’s number one characteristic in the Bible?
More than his sovereignty, omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, or
any other fancy words about him—more than anything else, the number
one attribute of God in Scripture is his mercy.
The world portrays God as a God of anger and judgment. But God shows
himself first and foremost as a God of mercy. All the way back when God
revealed his glory to Moses and gave him the Ten Commandments, God
said, “This is my name: ‘The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious,
longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth” (Exodus 34:6 NKJV).
Notice his number one characteristic is mercy. God did not say, “I am the
Lord God, just and righteous,” or “The Lord God, eternal and all powerful.”
He said, “This is who I am. 1am merciful, gracious, patient, overflowing
with kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and truth.”

If mercy is God’s number one characteristic that he reveals to us in the

Bible—if that is the most important thing he wants us to know about
him—then it must be the most important thing for us to learn about him.
And it must also be the most important character trait that God wants to
develop in us. God is merciful, and he wants us to be merciful too.
We are going to spend the next six sessions learning what God’s mercy
is all about. In the first session, I will introduce the five marks of mercy:
mercy forgives the fallen, helps the hurting, is patient with difficult people,
is kind to enemies, and cares for the lost. In each of the following sessions,
we will explore more deeply these facets of mercy and see how they apply
to our lives.
The Bible says we are to be not just hearers of the Word, but also doers of
the Word. So in each session, you will find suggestions for how you can put
these truths into practice both on a personal level and as a small group. At
the end of each session, you will also find Bible verses and journal pages
for your daily devotions. I encourage you to take five minutes each day to
read the verses and talk to God about them.
Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Let’s take
the next forty days to see what mercy really looks like.

Parke Rak
Pastor Rick
 HOW TO USE THIS STUDY GUIDE

Here is a brief explanation of the features of this study guide.

Checking In: Open each meeting by briefly discussing a question
or two that will help focus everyone’s attention on the subject of
the lesson.
Memory Verse: Each week you will find a key Bible verse for
your group to memorize together. If someone in the group has
a different translation, ask them to read it aloud so the group
can get a bigger picture of the meaning of the passage.
Video Lesson: There is a video lesson for the group to watch
together each week. Fill in the blanks in the lesson outlines as
you watch the video, and be sure to refer back to these outlines
during your discussion time.
Discovery Questions: Each video segment is complemented by
several questions for group discussion. Please don’t feel pressured
to discuss every single question. There is no reason to rush through
the answers. Give everyone ample opportunity to share their
thoughts. If you don’t get through all of the discovery questions,
that’s okay.
Putting It into Practice: This is where the rubber meets the road.
We don’t want to be just hearers of the Word. We also need to be
doers of the Word (James 1:22). These assignments are application
exercises that will help you put into practice the truths you have
discussed in the lesson. There is a personal application and a
group application in each session.
Diving Deeper: This section contains directions for your group
members’ daily devotions.

Prayer Direction: At the end of each session, you will find

suggestions for your group prayer time. Praying together is
one of the greatest privileges of small group life. Please don’t
take it for granted.
* Daily Devotions and Journal Pages: There are seven daily
devotions and seven journal pages at the end of each session in
your study guide. Use these for your daily quiet times throughout
the week.
* Small Group Resources: There are additional small group
resources, such as Small Group Guidelines, Helps for Hosts,
Small Group Prayer and Praise Reports, etc., in the back of this
study guide.

A TIP FOR THE HOST

The study guide material is meant to be your servant, not your

master. The point is not to race through the sessions; the point is
to take time to let God work in your lives. It is not necessary to “go
around the circle” before you move on to the next question. Give
people the freedom to speak, but don’t insist on it. Your group will
enjoy deeper, more open sharing and discussion if people don’t feel
pressured to speak up.
 fas >) Aes uel
‘ .(—tiees
4 : | ps ia 7 ue Hatt,
“oer bo bt bus , Twat 2 Riis a) pie!
BAA tone aldress Sad OS wil wids wh ccd jot
 THE FIVE MARKS
OF MERCY

CHECKING IN

* If this is your group’s first meeting, or if you have any new group
members, be sure to introduce yourselves. Before you begin this
study, review the Small Group Guidelines on page 153 of this
study guide.
* What does mercy mean to you?

MEMORY VERSE

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

MATTHEW 5:7 (NIV)

WATCH THE VIDEO LESSON

ane NOW AND FOLLOW ALONG
IN YOUR OUTLINE.

#MiracleofMercy THE FIVE MARKS OF MERCY 11

 THE FIVE MARKS OF MERCY

Did you know God’s mercy is his number one characteristic in the Bible?
More than his sovereignty, omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence,
or any other fancy words about him—more than his anger or justice or
judgment—more than anything else, the number one attribute of God in
Scripture is his mercy.

The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering,

and abounding in goodness and truth.
EXODUS 34:6 (NKJV)

* Mercy is Jove ve action.

MERCY: refraining from harm or punishment; unexpected kindness

The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and

filled with unfailing love.
TALE Bay © PSALM 45:8 (NLT)
owe bn
C Ct? ope
THE FIVE MARKS OF MERCY

Ora 4 O Fae, those who have i)allen

Be gentle pny es never hold grudges. Remember,

the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
COLOSSIANS 3:13 (TLB)

Mercy triumphs over judgment.

SE
Fn
RY ie eres a JAMES 2:13b (NIV)

12 SESSION ONE
 pal Ah those who are fuiEng
———
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If
one ofyou says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well
Jed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, ifit is not accompanied by action,
is dead.
JAMES 2:15-17 (NIV)

As Christ’s followers, our faith is merciful to its core. Mercy takes action
where others take off.

Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it.

PROVERBS 3:27 (TEV)

Mercy is not theoretical or philosophical. Mercy is practical. Mercy

isn’t something you just talk about. It’s something you do! Mercy gets
its hands dirty.

AK Ifsomeone who is supposed to be a Christian has enough money

to live well, and sees a brother in need, and wont help hin—how
can God's love be within him?.. . Let us stop just saying we love
people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions.
1 JOHN 3:17-18 (TLB)

> Tam atte with difficult people.

Encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

TTHESSALONIANS 5:14b (NIV)

There’s a Nal
hurt AN
behind
niceevery hang-up. There’s a twist in every story.
Baie acs

Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you.

ROMANS 15:7 (NLT)

It’s a lot easier to criticize than to sympathize. It’s a lot easier to point a
finger than to lend a helping hand. But merciful people are not quick to
criticize or judge.

THE FIVE MARKS OF MERCY 13

 ~

° Taree tomy @p07yKLI

“If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to
you? Even ‘sinners’ do that... But love your enemies, do good to
them... Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of
the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.”
LUKE 6:33, 35 (NIV)

ae | Core for the Lo Rape P

mo petetirrekigg l8/Jewee
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have
everlasting life.
JOHN 3:16 (NKJV)

Mercy does all it can to keep people from going to hell. The greatest act of
mercy you can do is to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.
fo Whe Wheg Ook Stats
THREE MOTIVATIONS FOR MERCY
a

* I must be merciful because kbae ce)

The Lord is kind and does what is right; our God is mercifil.
PSALM 116:5 (NCV)

“Be mercifil, just as your Father is mercifil.”

ce ne LUKE 6:36 (NIV)

At one time you were far away from God and were his enemies
because of the evil things you did and thought. But now, by
means ofthe physical death ofhis Son, God has made you
his friends.
COLOSSIANS 1:21-22 (TEV)

EE ee ee ee
14 SESSION ONE
 * I must be merciful because ae,eA

a Yvo mercy will be shown to those who show no mercy

he ee
ae ates JAMES 2:13 (GW)

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

MATTHEW ST (MY)

j Mercy is a two-way street. When you refuse to show mercy to others,

youre burning the very bridge you have to walk across to receive God's
mercy yourself.

¢ I must be merciful because ee

Your own soul is nourished when you are kind; it is destroyed

én you are cruel.
PROVERBS 11:17 (TLB)

aaa eam i aaa a TA

J ee Tae eee
THE FIVE MARKS OF MERCY 15
DISCOVERY QUESTIONS

Please don’t feel pressured to discuss every discovery question. It’s okay to
choose the questions that are right for your group. The point is not to race
through the session; the point is to take time to let God work in your lives.
* Mercy is God’s number one characteristic in the Bible. How does
that truth affect the way you think about God?

* How does God’s mercy affect the way you think about others?

¢ Which of the five marks of mercy is the most challenging

for you?

¢ Share a time when someone showed mercy to you. How did their
unexpected kindness impact your life?

PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE

This is where the rubber meets the road. We don’t want to be

just hearers of the Word. We also need to be doers of the Word
(James 1:22). These assignments are application exercises that
will help you put into practice the truths you have discussed in the
lesson. There is a personal application and a group application in
each session.

PERSONAL

What opportunity do you have to show mercy to someone this week? Does
someone need your forgiveness? Does someone need your compassion?
How about your patience or kindness? Do you know someone who doesn’t
know Jesus? Choose one of the five marks of mercy and answer these
questions. Be specific.

16 SESSION ONE
 * Who will it be?

¢ What will I do?

¢ When will I do it?

¢ Where will I do it?

* How will I do it?

GROUP

We don’t want to be just hearers of the Word. We must be doers of

the Word. The Bible says, “Faith that does nothing is worth nothing”
James 2:20b NCV. What can your group do to show God’s mercy to
someone in need?

During this Miracle ofMercy study, we encourage your group to serve

together in a Mercy Project. A Mercy Project simply provides a practical
way for you and your group to show Christ’s love and mercy to people in
your community. Here are your first steps:

¢ Brainstorm ideas with your group. Think about people in

your neighborhood or community that are in need spiritually,
relationally, physically, mentally, emotionally or financially.
People who are struggling and could use your support and
encouragement. Here is a short list of common life struggles:

>» Anxiety > Financial Stress

> Chronic illness > Grief
> Death of a loved one > Homelessness
>» Depression > Loneliness
>» Divorce > Loss of a job
>» Drug Addiction > Poverty

* Come up with some ideas to consider. You don’t have to make a

final choice today. Just talk about the options. You can make your
final project decision next week.
* Identify a Mercy Project champion in your small group:

THE FIVE MARKS OF MERCY 17

 * The champion does not have to do all the work. Their job is to
gather more information about the options you’ve come up with,
and help coordinate the selection and completion of your service
project in the weeks to come.
- Agree with your group that between now and your next session, you
will all pray about which Mercy Project to take on.

DIVING DEEPER

Miracle ofMercy Daily Devotions. On pages 20-33, you will find Bible verses
about mercy, along with prompts for journaling your thoughts. Make the
commitment with your group that you will give at least five minutes every
day this week to read and meditate on these verses. Follow the prompts
and write down your responses.

PRAYER DIRECTION

We recommend that larger groups break into subgroups of three or

four people for prayer. If you are a coed group, subgroup by gender.
This will give everyone ample time to share and pray together. If
praying in a group is new or uncomfortable for you, we encourage
you to start by praying single sentence prayers. Don’t worry about
how fancy you sound. God isn’t looking for eloquence. He just wants
honesty. Talk to God like you talk to a friend. Give everyone a chance
to pray, but don’t insist on it. Over time, you will all feel much more
comfortable praying together.

* If you prayed with Pastor Rick at the end of his message and
opened your life to Jesus Christ, be sure to tell your group and let
them celebrate your decision with you.

* Break into smaller groups of two or three and pray for each other
about the personal steps you wrote down in the Putting It into
Practice section. Ask God to help you be merciful this week.
* Ask God to show you how he would like your group to serve ina
Mercy Project.

18 SESSION ONE
 * Share your prayer requests with your group and pray for each other.
Be sure to record your prayer requests on the Small Group Prayer
and Praise Report on page 156 of your study guide.

BEFORE YOU GO

Healthy groups share responsibilities and group ownership. Turn to the

Small Group Calendar on page 158 of this study guide. Fill out the calendar
together, at least for next week, noting where you will meet each week,
who will facilitate your meeting, and who will provide a meal or snack.
Note special events, socials, or days off as well. Your Group Host will be
very appreciative, and everyone will have a lot more fun together. This
would be a great role for someone to coordinate for the group.
Collect basic contact information, such as phone numbers and email
addresses, for your group members. The Small Group Roster on page 161 of
your study guide is a good place to record this information.

THE FIVE MARKS OF MERCY 19

 THE FIVE MARKS OF MERCY

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

Blessed are the merciful, for

they will be shown mercy.

MATTHEW 5:7 (NIV)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

: _ MWenjere_. Ferjot _

4 Led Larkl fesliazs

ees
Chie sr ree am pt

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? 8 does it apply to your life?

fort Aboo
Go SN ROL.

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

NOW YOU PRAY

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or
praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God’s help. It’s up to you.
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

THE FIVE MARKS OF MERCY 21

 THE FIVE MARKS OF MERCY

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

The Lord is merciful and

compassionate, slow to
set angry and filled with
unrailing love.

PSALM 145:8 (NLT2°05)

}
/
i
WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

wipe tg <p tet 9D fo, Ll

ear Dave = ALWATS

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

TIALS Ay és

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

NOW YOU PRAY

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or
preleesIt could be a prayer of confession or a request for God’s help. It’s up to you.
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.
Vlonk Gou tor dso Pade
eer
SSI Aa hilp, ap et

THE FIVE MARKS OF MERCY 23

 THE FIVE MARKS OF MERCY

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

Be gentle and ready to

torgive; never hold grudges.
Remember, the Lord
forgave you, SO you must |
forgive others. |

COLOSSIANS 3:13 (TLB)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

THE FIVE MARKS OF MERCY 25

 _ @ <a ~~ MOS See ef ; 4
|
|

THE FIVE MARKS OF MERCY

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline key words or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

Suppose a brother or sister

is without clothes and daily
rood. If one of you says to
him, Go, | wish you well
keep warm and well fed,”
but does nothing about
his physical needs, what
good is it? In the same
way, faith by itselfiFit is,not

is dead.
JAMES 2:15-17 (NIV)
WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase

~hus

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

THE FIVE MARKS OF MERCY 27

 THE FIVE MARKS OF MERCY

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

Whenever you possibly

can, do good to those who
need tt.

PROVERBS 3:27 (TEV)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you? ;

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

‘adoes this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

Bue by a pater 2tt¥wu ¥ J

Caw kete Fhe we Ua, donee

HAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

ORT
SINTENTION AL |/

NOW YOU PRAY

of gratitude or
This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer
be a prayer of confess ion or a request for God’s help. It’s up to you.
praise. It could
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

THE FIVE MARKS OF MERCY 29

 THE FIVE MARKS OF MERCY

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

Encourage the timid,

Nelp the weak, be patient
with everyone
——
|

T THESSALONIANS 5:14b (NIV)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

DRAS Ae Geet He Owe @

Lot03 Sbhuggs Outflow

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

NOW YOU PRAY

of gratitude or
This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer
help. It’s up to you.
praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God’s
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

THE FIVE MARKS OF MERCY 31

 = == ee ae ee
|

|
{

THE FIVE MARKS OF MERCY

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

‘It you do good to those

who do good to you, what
credit is that to you? Even
sinners do that... But love

_
them... Then your reward
will be great, and you will
be sons of the Most High,
because he is kind to the
ungratetul and wicked.”

LUKE 6:33, 35 (NIV)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

Qt> Ad Yo Re pre ho, fA

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

vie tine Yo tok 2

NOW YOU PRAY

or
This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude
prayer of confession or a request for God’s help. It’s up to you.
praise. It could be a
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

THE FIVE MARKS OF MERCY 33

 mal

al
=
:

- :

d
'
d

,6 |
:
.

oe ae .
ae 7 . ’

-_ | i ey é —_
P : % J >.
->4 ‘i a * | oh, i> :a * def :

Dire) OAL PIO Ra aad .

| sikh he
‘
Ms pee: Sa > ti a +55 Poe*)

t=}, iad See

4

sue] s
,
oe apa
k 7 eit’ 7 |

a eh — ees. oN QD Mey Poca ¥

~ — |

vn >: rep 7 wie“3

 MERCY FORGIVES
THE FALLEN

CHECKING IN

Choose one of these ideas to start your session.

* Share averse that was especially meaningful to you in your Miracle

ofMercy Daily Devotions this past week.
* In our last session, you identified a personal opportunity to show
mercy. Would any of you like to share your experience with putting
your plan into action?

MEMORY VERSE

Love keeps no record of wrongs.

T CORINTHIANS 13:5b (NIV)

WATCH THE VIDEO LESSON

© NOW AND FOLLOW ALONG
IN YOUR OUTLINE.

#MiracleofMercy MERCY FORGIVES THE FALLEN 35

 MERCY FORGIVES THE FALLEN

Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times

shall Iforgive my brother when he sins against me? Up
to seven times?”
MATTHEW 18:21 (NIV)

It’s the people you know best who are able to hurt you the most deeply and
the most often.

“Not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

MATTHEW 18:22b (NIV)

If you're keeping score, then you're missing the point. If you're counting,
then it doesn’t count.

“The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’
he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.”
MATTHEW 18:26 (NIV)

THREE REASONS | MUST LEARN TO FORGIVE

* Because ieee Ano Aogeoed Oe Ge

“The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and
let him go.”
MATTHEW 18:27 (NIV)

“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow
servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him
and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he
demanded. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged
him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he
refused. Instead, he went off.and had the man thrown into
prison until he could pay the debt.”
MATTHEW 18:28-30 (NIV)

36 SESSION TWO
God has forgiven me an impossible debt! He has forgiven my sins, and now
he expects me to forgive other people.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each

other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
EPHESIANS 4:32 (NIV)

- Because TAY a gOS as

ne Nag hh,
DNR AL

“When the other servants saw what had happened, they were
greatly distressed and went and told their master everything
that had happened. Then the master called the servant in.
You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt ofyours
because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on
your fellow servant just as I had on you?’In anger his master
turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should
pay back all he owed.”
MATTHEW 18:31-34 (NIV)

The servant was not tortured because of his debt. He was tortured because
is unforgiveness!
ee ee eee
Some people... die happy and at ease... Others have noley hog
happiness at all; they live and die with bitterhearts. A it. J
eetee
’ J0B 21:23- 5 (TEV)

The torture chamber of unforgiveness is self-imposed. When we fail to

forgive, God doesn’t have to lock us up in jail. We do it to ourselves. We
lock ourselves in a jail of anger and anxiety.
4

* Because < —)Wee Yr Ltek fo yeenes in the future.

“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each ofyou unless

you forgive your brother from your heart.
MATTHEW 18:35 (NIV)

MERCY FORGIVES THE FALLEN 37

 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”
—_—— - Tee OMATINEW SET (HY)

Forgiveness is not lip service; forgiveness is a way of life. We have to live in

a constant state of forgiveness—accepting God’s forgiveness and offering
forgiveness to others—no matter how many times they sin against us.
Forgiveness is not the instant restoration of trust. Not at all. Forgiveness—
letting go—is instant. But trust must be rebuilt over time.

Never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God, for he has said

that he will repay those who deserve it.
ROMANS 12:19 (TLB)

Who do you think can do a better job of straightening out the other
person, you or God?

Love keeps no record of wrongs. A

T CORINTHIANS 13:5b (NIV)
v7 c1r$9-

Are you keeping score of somebody’s sins against you? Have they reached
“seven” yet? How about seventy-seven? What if God kept score against you?
Because of the cross, God keeps no record of your wrongs against him;
and because of the cross, he expects you to keep no record of the wrongs
that have been done against you.
Now you might say, “It wouldn't be fair to forgive that person. After all
they've done to me, it’s just not fair.” And youre right. It isn’t fair. But
forgiveness is not about fairness. Forgiveness is about grace. Is it fair that
God forgave you?

HOW CAN YOU RELEASE YOUR HURT?

» flirt otpot Jon. + pmoen. |

38 SESSION TWO
 Be careful that none ofyou fails to respond to the grace which
God gives, for ifhe does there can very easily spring up in
him a bitter spirit which is not only bad in itself but can also
poison the lives of many others.
HEBREWS 12:15 (PHILLIPS)

We know that our old life died with Christ on the cross so that
our sinful selves would have no power over us and we would
not be slaves to sin.
ROMANS 6:6 (NCV)

Don’t be a slave any longer to the sin of unforgiveness. Release your grip
on the person who hurt you. Do it every day if you have to. No matter how
often that painful memory returns, bring it to God, ask for his grace, and
then leave your hurt at the cross.

If your group is coed, we recommend that you break into subgroups

by gender to encourage openness in your discussion. This will be
especially helpful in the Putting It into Practice and Prayer Direction
sections of your study.

MERCY FORGIVES THE FALLEN 39

 POY? A Maenzac (eonpr>
As
DISCOVERY QUESTIONS
eta teres

Is it difficult for you to believe that God has completely forgiven you
and doesn’t hold your past against you?

How can unforgiveness toward others affect your relationship

with God?

Pastor Rick said, “Forgiveness is not about fairness. Forgiveness is

about grace.” How do you respond to that?

Have you been forgiven by someone who chose grace over getting
even? How did their gift of forgiveness affect your relationship
with them?

PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE

PERSONAL

As you listened to Pastor Rick’s message, did the Holy Spirit bring
someone to your mind that you need to forgive? If so, follow
these steps.

THE FIRST STEP

Pinpoint the issue. Do you feel anxiety, anger, or bitterness
toward anyone? This is a clue that you need to release that person
and work on forgiveness.

THE SECOND STEP

Invite the Holy Spirit to search your heart as you read all of the
verses in today’s message outline. Allow the power of God’s Word
to penetrate your heart and mind with its truth.

40 SESSION TWO
 THE THIRD STEP
Turn to God in prayer. Here is a prayer you can use to
help you get started.

Dear Lord,

I choose today to forgive

ty |

Task for yourpowertodothis,

I realize trust may take time to rebuild,

but I choose to hold no grudges.

Help me to let go of bitterness and anger in my heart,
so thatImay live in freedom.
Help me understand how much you have forgiven me.
Give me your grace so that I can let go of my “right” to get even.
Now, Lord, I ask you to bless this person who has hurt me.
In particular,
T ask you to bless him/her with these things:

Now, Lord, please replace my pain with your peace.

Replace my loss with your love.
May the past truly be the past.
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

If you are not ready to pray that prayer yet—if the pain is just too deep—
then pray, “Lord, help me to become willing to forgive.”
Some hurts are so deep thatitcould take days or even weeks to completely
- let go. If the memory of that hurt comes back, repeat these steps. Do them
as often as you need until you have found peace.

MERCY FORGIVES THE FALLEN 41

GROUP

In our last session, we introduced the idea of your small group doing a
Mercy Project together. Here are your steps for this week:
* Your Mercy Project champion (you identified on page 17) should
present the information on several serving opportunities the group
came up with.
¢ As a group, choose one Mercy Project that works best for everyone.
¢ Before your next group meeting, your Mercy Project champion
should work toward scheduling your serving day. Be sure to give
yourselves a deadline for action. Without a date, it’s not a plan, it’s
just an idea.

DIVING DEEPER

Miracle ofMercy Daily Devotions. On pages 44-57, you will find Bible verses
about forgiveness, along with prompts for journaling your thoughts. Make
the commitment with your group that you will give at least five minutes
every day this week to read and meditate on these verses. Follow the
prompts and write down your responses.

PRAYER DIRECTION

* Break into subgroups of three or four people. Start your group

prayer time by thanking God for his forgiveness.
Confess to one another if you need to forgive someone. This is
not a time to share details. Simply mention the person’s name
or the nature of the relationship (e.g., family member, colleague,
neighbor, friend, etc.). Then pray for one another, asking God to
soften your hearts and give you the courage and grace to forgive.
If you are not yet ready to forgive that person, then pray that God
will help you to become “willing to be ready.”

42 SESSION TWO
* Pray that God will use your group to show the love of Christ to
others through your group’s Mercy Project.
¢ Share your prayer requests with your group and pray for each other.
Be sure to record your prayer requests on the Small Group Prayer
and Praise Report on page 156 of your study guide.

MERCY FORGIVES THE FALLEN 43

 MERCY FORGIVES THE FALLEN

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline key words or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

| Love keeps no record of

| wrongs.

T CORINTHIANS 13:5b (NIV)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

MERCY FORGIVES THE FALLEN 45

 ~ i

MERCY FORGIVES THE FALLEN

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

Peter came to Jesus and

asked, Lord, how many
times shall |forgive my
brother when he sins
against me’ Up to seven
times? Jesus answered,
‘I tell you, not seven times,

MATTHEW 18:21-22 (NIV)

cevneraeetnensnscenedrmennr teeter crn ween tert ermererenefvetinthertreyrreereneweimanr

fee
WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?
FORGIVE ~-AUWAYS ofAS
MANE TIMES 5 You NED
ALE |

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

— spears.
WHAT WILL YOU DO?
How will you put this verse inte practice?

ME Contre Lo OGG.
fe
Sar a Fito

NOW YOU PRAY

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or
praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God’s help. It’s up to you.
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

MERCY FORGIVES THE FALLEN 47

 j

@ i io anit We sal

MERCY FORGIVES THE FALLEN

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

Be kind and compassionate |

| to one another, torgiving |
| each other, just as in Christ
God forgave you.

EPHESIANS 4:32 (NIV)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

NOW YOU PRAY

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or
you.
praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God’s help. It’s up to
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

MERCY FORGIVES THE FALLEN 49

 MERCY FORGIVES THE FALLEN

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

‘Then the master called

the servant in. You wicked
servant, he said, |canceled
all that debt of yours
because you begged me
to. shouldnt you have
had mercy on your fellow
servant just as |had on
you’ In anger his master
turned him over to the
jailers to be tortured, until
he should pay back all
he owed.
MATTHEW 18:32-34 (NIV)
WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What dges this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

ferrads 6thiv fuct Ao kW S

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

lw how a Stttator Coro up thee) eae:

NOW YOU PRAY

or
This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude
God’s help. It’s up to you.
praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

MERCY FORGIVES THE FALLEN 51

t
 |

MERCY FORGIVES THE FALLEN

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

| Never avenge yourselves.

| Leave thatto God, for he
has said that he will repay
those who deserve it.
a

ROMANS 12:19 (TLB)

——
WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How
A
does it

We

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

NOW YOU PRAY

gratitude or
This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of
be a prayer of confessi on or a request for God’s help. It’s up to you.
praise. It could
But take a minute to write a prayer of response fo God.
‘tre

MERCY FORGIVES THE FALLEN 53

!
 MERCY FORGIVES THE FALLEN
Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize
a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

Be careful that none of

you fails to respond to
the grace which God
gives, for if he does there
can very easily spring
Up In him a bitter spirit
which Is not only bad in
itselt but can also poison
the lives of many others.
HEBREWS 12:15 (PHILLIPS)
WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?
ote Ae Hanh fel 6 akhravhee_

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

X {

xh x ts Any

NOW YOU PRAY

of gratitude or
This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer
or a request for God’s help. It’s up to you.
praise. It could be a prayer of confession
But take a minute to write a se of respons e to God.

MERCY FORGIVES THE FALLEN 55

 @ | : a peters f

MERCY FORGIVES THE FALLEN

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especiallymeaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

We know that our old lite

died with Christ on the
cross so that our sinful
selves would have no power
| overusandwewoulnotd —
be slaves to sin.

ROMANS 6:6 (NCV)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you? 4

N Olen WE Ope dui |

, Sebuan hart 0 pocwed _

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does\ it apply to your life?

We he Stef 2

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

NOW YOU PRAY

a prayer of gratitude or
This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be
of confess ion or a request for God’s help. It’s up to you.
praise. It could be a prayer
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

MERCY FORGIVES THE FALLEN 57

 .

~~

= =

- 4

- ‘yg - 4 ~
t “hed? ine ’
hy vd =—— Gey" ae be y
‘ , i i ‘
‘ oes ft rhe
" *

ee . be
* } f

60 adewciv HM May
a" 7s r ' : 1s a.
=e —~

q : - 7
, poe 6 P 7 Ce , —e : =
é 7 @ 7

a. i ay : rx — dé i ae Le

} | et bebe le lait yp’

SSS =
 MERCY HELPS
THE HURTING

CHECKING IN

Choose one of these ideas to start your session.

* Share averse that was especially meaningful to you in your Miracle

of Mercy Daily Devotions this past week.
* Mercy is love in action. Did you witness an act of mercy this past
week? If so, share your experience with the group.

MEMORY VERSE

Your own soul is nourished when you are kind.

PROVERBS 11:17 (TLB)

SO WATCH THE VIDEO LESSON

NOW AND FOLLOW ALONG
IN YOUR OUTLINE.

#MiracleofMercy MERCY HELPS THE HURTING 59

 MERCY HELPS THE HURTING

THREE RESPONSES TO PEOPLE IN NEED

* [keep my Ais tant

“There was once a man who was going down from Jerusalem
to Jericho when robbers attacked him, stripped him, and beat
him up, leaving him half dead. It so happened that a priest
was going down that road; but when he saw the man, he
walked on by on the other side.”
LUKE 10:30-31 (TEV)

I’m curious but hin lunv2etitedk

“In the same way a Levite also came there, went over and
looked at the man, and then walked on by on the other side.”
LUKE 10:32 (TEV)

= * I get close enough to Cae

“ButaSamaritan who was traveling that way came upon the

man, and when he saw him, his heart was filled with pity.
He went over to him, poured oil and wine on his wounds and
bandaged them; then he put the man on his own animal and
took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day
he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper.
‘Take care of him,’ he told the innkeeper, ‘and when I come
back this way, I will pay you whatever else you spend on
him.” And Jesus concluded, “In your opinion, which one of
these three acted like a neighbor toward the man attacked by
the robbers?” The teacher of the Law answered, “The one who
was kind to him.” Jesus replied, “You go, then, and do
the same.”
LUKE 10:33-37 (TEV)

en inne
n ieee apc
60 SESSION THREE
Mercy takes action where others take off. Mercy isn’t afraid toget its hands
dirty. Mercy is about helping people, no matter who they are, what they
ook like, or where they come from. Serving others and following Christ go
hand in hand.

FOUR STEPS TO SHOWING MERCY

-Imust_ —-2- Yee LTLLAS of people

around me.

Mercy always begins in the eyes. You have to see the need before you can
Mectitia—...<. .....
we ,.. ..-—_
er |a
oe
a
“When {the Samaritan] saw the man, he felt compassion Lea“
for him.” : (YL HE
Oat We br @ hug LUKE 10:33 (NIT) Soe

Do not look out only for yourselves. Look out.for the good of
others also.
OPEN ng EYES CORD / \ CORINTHIANS 10:24 (NCV)

* Imust__)_ cmp athe a. people’s pain.

You see pain with your eyes, but you sympathize with your ears.
Sometimes the greatest way to serve someone is just by listening.

Ac Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. ee

their burdens, and so complete Christ's law. LO G od J
GALATIANS 6:2 (MSG) love
“
fo ephbor

MERCY HELPS THE HURTING 61

) LR~He
itecomforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort
ho “others.
others. When 1
they
they are troubled, we will be able to give them
ee
abt thesame comfort God has given us...
: 2 CORINTHIANS 1:4 (NLT)
Dont clomean, Aubt, Aelate_ desert
off, ploh
Be merciful to those who doubt. Sy f
=_—-e . ; ae Show JUDE1:22 (NIV)

-Imust SC ee: She. Mo mon” and meet

the need. “DOowr WATT. af

Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your

hand is God’s hand for that person. Don’t tell your neighbor,
“Maybe some other time” or, “Try me tomorrow,” when the
OTS R= SS ee Cee 9

money's right there in your pocket. ES PES a

Sor. PROVERBS 3:27-28 (MSG)

“It so happened that a priest was going down that road.”

LUKE 10:31 (TEV)

Ministry opportunities are usually unexpected. In order to seize the

moment, you must be willing to be interrupted. What often seems like a
coincidence in your life is really a God-engineered encounter. If you wait
too long to respond, you might miss the moment.

Mercy touches the untouchable and loves the unlovable.

* ITmust a f EW, dD whatever it takes.

There is always a cost to kindness. There is always a sacrifice

in service.

nrg
62 SESSION THREE
Tfyou feed those who are hungry and take care of the needs of
those who are troubled, then your light will shine in the darkness,
and you will be bright like sunshine at noon. The Lord will always
lead you. He will satisfy your needs in dry lands and give strength
to your bones. You will be like a garden that has much water, like a
spring that never runs dry.
ISAIAH 58:10-11 (NCV)

Your own soul is nourished when you are kind.

PROVERBS 11:17 (TLB)

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”

MATTHEW 5:7 (ESV)

Faith that does nothing is worth nothing. .

ap es Yer JAMES 2:20B (NCV)

i
MERCY HELPS THE HURTING 63
DISCOVERY QUESTIONS

Share a time in your life when other believers brought you comfort
or met a need.

Today’s memory verse says, “Your own soul is nourished when you are
kind” Proverbs 11:17 TLB. Share a time when you found that to be
true in your life.

What can you do with what you've been through? The Bible says,
“[God|] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others”
2 Corinthians 1:4 NLT”°°. What comfort has God given you when
you were going through troubles? How can you share that comfort
with others who are hurting?

The Good Samaritan teaches us that ministry opportunities are

usually unexpected, so we must be willing to be interrupted.
Think of a time when God engineered an unexpected ministry
opportunity just for you. How did you know it was God-engineered?

PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE

Remo heAe>

Pastor Rick said, “Mercy always begins in the eyes. You have to see the
need before you can meet the need.” To be a Good Samaritan, you must
be willing to help people, no matter who they are, what they look like, or
where they come from. It could be someone in your neighborhood, at work,
or at school. It could be a shut-in, a loner, an immigrant, or a homeless
person. Who needs you to be their “neighbor” like the Good Samaritan?
What will you do to serve them this week?

ee a EE Re
64 SESSION THREE
GRO wer

If you haven't already done so, decide which Mercy Project your group will
complete. Be sure to give yourselves a deadline for action. Without a date,
it’s not a plan, it’s just an idea.
¢ Before your next meeting, your group’s Mercy Project champion
should communicate the details of the project and get any
additional feedback from the group.

DIVING DEEPER

Miracle ofMercy Daily Devotions. On pages 66-79, you will find Bible
verses about helping the hurting, along with prompts for journaling your
thoughts. Make the commitment with your group that you will give at least
five minutes every day this week to read and meditate on these verses.
Follow the prompts and write down your responses.

PRAYER DIRECTION

* Break into subgroups of two or three. Pray for the people you
identified in the Putting It into Practice personal exercise. Ask God
to give you the opportunity, courage, and grace to reach out to
them this week.
Pray that God will use your group to show the love of Christ to
others through your Mercy Project.

* Share your prayer requests with your group and pray for each other.
Be sure to record your prayer requests on the Small Group Prayer
and Praise Report on page 156 of your study guide.

MERCY HELPS THE HURTING 65

 MERCY HELPS THE HURTING

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

Your own soul is nourished

when you are kind.

PROVERBS 11:17 (TLB)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most fo to you?

CHOW ful Gorn

kw ope” Ou eee.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How eal put this verse into practice?

NOW YOU PRAY

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or
praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God’s help. It’s up to you.

rnb oe
But take a minufe topvrite a Tigh of response to God.

PEON ve

MERCY HELPS THE HURTING 67

 MERCY HELPS THE HURTING

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

Do not look out only for

yourselves. Look out for the
goodofothersalso.
Cnc ee ee

1 CORINTHIANS 10:24 (NCV)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

_O poids
vo Sf bot efocs
Py eT Sg Ate
bHat) mud ae he Cre ae

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice? y;

NOW YOU PRAY

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or
praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God's help. It’s up to you.
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

MERCY HELPS THE HURTING 69

 MERCY HELPS THE HURTING

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

Stoop down and reach out

to those who are oppressed.
Share their burdens, and so
complete Christ's law.

GALATIANS 6:2 (MSG)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does wipassage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

LL YOU DO?
How will \ou put this verse into practice?

NOW YOU PRAY

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or
praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God’s help. It’s up to you.
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

MERCY HELPS THE HURTING 71

 s DAY 18 jf

MERCY HELPS THE HURTING

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline key words or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

He comrorts us in all our

troubles so that we can
comfort others. When they
are
troubled,
we will be
able to give them the same
comfort God has given us.

2 CORINTHIANS 1:4 (NLT25)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

NOW YOU PRAY

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or
praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God's help. It’s up to you.
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God. iL,

7 ee aes ia

MERCY HELPS THE HURTING 73

 MERCY HELPS THE HURTING

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

Be merciful to those
who doubt. |

JUDE 1:22 (NIV)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

Saas aan 5

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

NOW YOU PRAY

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or
praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God’s help. It’s up to you.
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

MERCY HELPS THE HURTING 75

 |
|

MERCY HELPS THE HURTING |

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

Never
walk away from |
someone
who deserves
help; yourhand
is God's
hand tor that person. Dont
tell your neighbor, Maybe
some other time or, Iry
me tomorrow, when the
moneys right there in
your pocket,

PROVERBS 3:27-28 (MSG)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

Cw honk 22 eb’ Nor

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

NOW YOU PRAY

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or
praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God’s help. It’s up to you.
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

MERCY HELPS THE HURTING 77

 MERCY HELPS THE HURTING

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the |
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

Faith that does nothing is

worth nothing.

JAMES 2:20b (NCV)

—
WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

“DO SomETHWwE[

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How Biaey pucalehine ¥/ z
ag mor

NOW YOU PRAY

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or
praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God’s help. It’s up to you.
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

MERCY HELPS THE HURTING 79

 MERCY IS PATIENT
WITH DIFFICULT
PEOPLE

CHECKING IN

Choose one ofthese ideas to start your session.

¢ Share a verse that was especially meaningful to you in your Miracle

ofMercy Daily Devotions this past week.
* What did God reveal to you through your personal Putting It into
Practice effort last week? How was your soul nourished by offering
kindness to others?

MEMORY VERSE

Mercy triumphs over judgment.

JAMES 2:13b (NIV)

© WATCH THE VIDEO LESSON

NOW AND FOLLOW ALONG
IN YOUR OUTLINE.

eae
ee
MERCY IS PATIENT WITH DIFFICU LT PEOPLE 81
#MiracleofMercy
 MERCY IS PATIENT WITH
DIFFICULT PEOPLE
look at

Pooh, beherct:vhorL —_stheor pam

Ose
Parte”
Hurt people hurt people. You must look past their behavior and see
their pain.

When a fool is annoyed, he quickly lets it be known. Smart

people will ignore an insult. es.
PROVERBS 12:16 (TEV)

Your emotional and spiritual maturity is largely measured by how you

treat people who mistreat you.

When you give up control of your emotions, you lose control of

your tongue.

a Watch your words and hold your tongue; youl save yourself
a lot ofgrief:
PROVERBS 21:23 (MSG)

ti be patient than powerful; it is better to have

S elf-control than to conquer a City.
CST pe pe ee eng PROVERBS 16:32 (NLT)

Learn to pray, “God, give me a tender heart and a tough hide.”

bat iis
A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to
overlook an offense.
PROVERBS 19:11 (NIV)

Glory vo yvoussedf
SHOW path

82 SESSION FOUR
 » Ct How Semo stocle/
se Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's
faults because of your love.
EPHESIANS 4:2b (TLB)

The man who makes no allowances for others will find none
made for him.
o___—_—__~ JAMES 2:13a (PH)

“Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.”

MATTHEW 5:7 (NIV)

ou must make allowance for each other's faults and fo

the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you
\. so you must forgive others. FV Pn rf a
COLOSSIANS 3:13 (NLT)

Disregarding another person's faults preserves love;

[gossiping] about them separates close friends.
PROVERBS 17:9 (NLT)

Without wood afire goes out; without gossip a quarrel

dies down.
PROVERBS 26:20 (NIV)

Gossip just adds fuel to the fire. It perpetuates the pain.

g
(55055 P- hom B pAollihr

Fhect Aeates E OSS Le Ve Rorern

Vorb, fee (ane,
pinky

MERCY IS PATIENT WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE 83

 Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—
ifanything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such
things ... And the God ofpeace will be with you.
PHILIPPIANS 4:8-9 (NIV)

If you want peace in your life, then let go of the offense, refuse to gossip
about it, and focus on the goodness of God.

Just as charcoal and wood keep a fire going, a quarrelsome

person keeps an argument going.
PROVERBS 26:21 (NCV)

Sometimes the most merciful thing you can do is walk away from an
argument.

ae Mercy triumphs over judgment. ‘

ay JAMES 2:13b (NIV)

Do not repay ... insult with insult.

1 PETER 3:9 (NIV)

Clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness,

humility, gentleness, and patience... Above all, clothe
yourselves with love, which binds us all together in
perfect harmony.
COLOSSIANS 3:12b, 14 (NLT205)

sk God to bless those who persecute you—yes, ask him to

bless, not to curse.
ROMANS 12:14 (TEV)

84 SESSION FOUR
 Ifsomeone has done you wrong, do not repay him with
a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good.
Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with
everybody.
RR oe, ROMANS 12:17-18 (TEV)

Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good.
ROMANS 12:21 (TEV)

If your group is coed, we recommend that you break into subgroups

by gender to encourage openness in your discussion. This will be
especially helpful in the Putting It into Practice and Prayer Direction
sections of your study.

EGELS:

RT
MERCY IS PATIENT WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE 85
 DISCOVERY QUESTIONS

Pastor Rick identified six practices for dealing with difficult people
in your life. In which of these practices does God seem to be giving
you the greatest “opportunity” to grow right now?

Today’s memory verse says, “Mercy triumphs over judgment”

James 2:13b NIV. Why is mercy so important to God?

The Bible says, “Clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy,

kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience .. . Above all, clothe
yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony”
Colossians 3:12b, 14 NLT2°°. What does it mean to “clothe yourself”
with those things, and how can you do it?

The Bible says, “Ask God to bless those who persecute you—yes, ask
him to bless, not to curse” Romans 12:14 TEV. How will you respond if
God answers that prayer by blessing your enemy?

PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE

PERSONAL

God hates gossip. In Romans 1:29, he puts gossip in the same list of sins
as murder, sexual immorality, and violence. So make the commitment to
your group that if someone irritates you this week, and you just have to
gossip about it, that you will only “gossip” with God! That’s called prayer!
Tell God—and only God—all about it, and then leave it in his hands. Sign
your name on the signature line below.

IfT am hurt, shocked, scandalized, irritated, disappointed, or

otherwise offended with anyone this week, I hereby promise thatI
will talk only with God and with no one else.

(Me)
$<
$$$ $$$
86 SESSION FOUR
GROUP

If you haven’t already done so, complete your plans for your group’s Mercy
Project. Discuss the “who, what, when, where, and how” details of your
project, and divide up the responsibilities.

* Continue to pray together asking God to prepare your hearts

for serving.

DIVING DEEPER

* Miracle ofMercy Daily Devotions. On pages 88-101, you will find

Bible verses about getting along with difficult people, along with
prompts for journaling your thoughts. Make the commitment with
your group that you will give at least five minutes every day this
week to read and meditate on these verses. Follow the prompts and
write down your responses.

PRAYER DIRECTION

* Ask God to give ydu “a tender heart and a tough hide” so you can be
patient with the/difficult people in your life. Pray for wisdom to look
behind their béhavior and understand their pain.
* Pray for your group’s Mercy Project.

* Share your prayer requests with your group and pray for each other.
Be sure to record your prayer requests on the Small Group Prayer
and Praise Report on page 156 of your study guide.
D

nnn Serra
MERCY 1S PATIENT WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE 87
 MERCY IS PATIENT WITH
DIFFICULT PEOPLE

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
_journal page. Finish with a prayer.

Mercy triumphs
over judgment.

_ JAMES 2:13b (NIV)

Fmt ernest
WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

NOW YOU PRAY

of gratitude or
This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer
a request for God’s help. It’s up to you.
praise. It could be a prayer of confession or
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

MERCY IS PATIENT WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE 89

 MERCY IS PATIENT WITH
DIFFICULT PEOPLE

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

Watch your words and hold

your tongue; youll save
yourselta lot ofgrief

PROVERBS 21:23 (MSG)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

NOW YOU PRAY

of gratitude or
This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer
a prayer of confessi on or a request for God's help. It’s up to you.
praise. It could be
_ But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

MERCY IS PATIENT WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE 91

/
 MERCY IS PATIENT WITH
DIFFICULT PEOPLE

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

It is better to be patient
than powertul: it is better
to have self-control than
to conquera city.

PROVERBS 16:32 (NLT)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

NOW YOU PRAY

of gratitude or
This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer
or a request for God's help. It’s up to you.
praise. It could be a prayer of confession
But take a minute to write a prayer of respons e to God.

MERCY IS PATIENT WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE 93

 MERCY IS PATIENT WITH
DIFFICULT PEOPLE

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
-_ journal page. Finish with a prayer.

You must make allowance

tor each other's faults and
torgive the person who
ottends you. Remember.
the Lord torgave you, so you
must torgive others.

COLOSSIANS 3:13 (NLT)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

NOW YOU PRAY

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or
praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God’s help. It’s up to you.
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

MERCY IS PATIENT WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE 95

 MERCY IS PATIENT WITH
DIFFICULT PEOPLE

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especiallymeaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
~ journal page. Finish with a prayer.

Whatever is true, whatever

is Noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever
is lovely, whatever is
admirable—if anything is
excellent or praiseworthy—
think about such things...
And the God of peace will
be with you.

PHILIPPIANS 4:8-9 (NIV)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

NOW YOU PRAY

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or
praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God’s help. It’s up to you.
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

MERCY IS PATIENT WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE 97

j|

MERCY IS PATIENT WITH

DIFFICULT PEOPLE

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

Clothe yourselves with

tenderhearted mercy,
kindness, humility,
gentleness, and patience...
Above all, clothe yourselves
with love, which binds
us all together in
perfect harmony.

COLOSSIANS 3:12b, 14 (NLT20°5)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

NOW YOU PRAY

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or
praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God’s help. It’s up to you.
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

MERCY IS PATIENT WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE 99

| MERCY IS PATIENT WITH
DIFFICULT PEOPLE
Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize
a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

| Ask God to bless those who

persecute you—yes, ask him
to bless, not to curse.

ROMANS 12:14 (TEV)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

NOW YOU PRAY

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or
praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God’s help. It’s up to you.
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

MERCY IS PATIENT WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE 101

$64 POT je deh
 MERCY IS KIND
TO ENEMIES

CHECKING IN

Choose one of these ideas to start your session.

¢ Share averse that was especially meaningful to you in your Miracle

ofMercy Daily Devotions this past week.
* How did you do with the "no gossip” covenant you signed in your
personal Putting It into Practice exercise last week?

MEMORY VERSE

Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

JAMES 1:19b (NIV)

WATCH THE VIDEO LESSON

© NOW AND FOLLOW ALONG
IN YOUR OUTLINE.

#MiracleofMercy MERCY IS KIND TO ENEMIES 103

 MERCY IS KIND TO ENEMIES

The best way to eliminate an enemy is to turn him into a friend; and the
best way to do that is to treat him with kindness.

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.”

LUKE 6:27 (NIV)

Peacekeepers avoid conflict and pretend it doesn’t exist. Peacemakers, on

the other hand, resolve conflict and reconcile relationships.

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the

children of God.”
MATTHEW 5:9 (KJV)

Those who are peacemakers will plant seeds ofpeace and

reap a harvest ofgoodness.
JAMES 3:18 (TLB)

SEVEN STEPS OF RECONCILIATION

“Ifyou are about to place your gift on the altar and remember
that someone is angry with you, leave your gift there in front
of the altar. Make peace with that person, then come back and
offer your gift to God.”
MATTHEW 5:23-24 (CEV)

It’s more important to be reconciled than religious.

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us... While we

were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of
his Son.
ROMANS 5:8-10 (ESV)

104 SESSION FIVE

Ifyour enemy is hungry, feed him; ifhe is thirsty, give him
something to drink ... Do not be overcome by evil, but
overcome evil with good.
ROMANS 12:20-21 (NIV)

¢ The only way to resolve a conflict is to

Ifyou want to know what God wants you to do, ask him, and
he will gladly tell you.
JAMES 1:5 (TLB)

The right word at the right time is like precious gold set
in silver.
PROVERBS 25:11 (CEV)

Pride only leads to arguments.

PROVERBS 13:10 (NCV)

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Arent they

caused by the selfish desires that fight to control you?
JAMES 4:1 (GW)

“Why, then, do you look at the speck in your brother's eye and
pay no attention to the log in your own eye?.. . First take
the log out ofyour own eye, and then you will be able to see
clearly to take the speck out ofyour brother's eye.”
MATTHEW 7:3-5 (TEV)

MERCY IS KIND TO ENEMIES 105

The people who need love the most are those who deserve it the least.

Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

JAMES 1:19b (NIV)

God gave you two ears and one mouth. That means you should always
listen twice as much as you speak.

Each ofyou should look not only to your own interests, but
also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the
same as that of Christ Jesus.
PHILIPPIANS 2:4-5 (NIV)

Speak the truth in love.

EPHESIANS 4:15 (NLT?)

The truth is not enough. It’s not just what you say, but how you say it. If you
speak offensively, it will be received defensively. You are never persuasive
when you are abrasive. You never get your point across by being cross.

You must no longer say insulting or cruel things

about others.
COLOSSIANS 3:8b (CEV)

Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind
that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you
say will do good to those who hear you.
EPHESIANS 4:29 (TEV)

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise
brings healing.
PROVERBS 12:18 (NIV)

106 SESSION FIVE

The blame game is a waste of time. As long as you're fixing the blame, you
are not fixing the problem. As long as you're attacking each other, you’re
not attacking the issues.

There are some things we'll never agree on because we're all different. But
you can disagree without being disagreeable. You can have unity without
uniformity. You can walk hand in hand without seeing eye to eye. You can
have reconciliation without resolution.

God has not given us a spirit offear and timidity, but of

power, love, and self-discipline.
2 TIMOTHY 1:7 (NLT)

If your group is coed, we recommend that you break into subgroups

by gender to encourage openness in your discussion. This will be
especially helpful in the Putting It into Practice and Prayer Direction
sections of your study.

MERCY IS KIND TO ENEMIES 107

DISCOVERY QUESTIONS

Some people hate conflict and do all they can to avoid it; others
face it head-on. What is your typical response to conflict?

The Bible says, “Those who are peacemakers will plant seeds ofpeace
and reap a harvest ofgoodness” James 3:18 TLB. In what relationship
do you need to plant a seed of peace? What would
that look like for you?

Which of the seven steps of reconciliation is most challenging

for you?

Pastor Rick said, “You can disagree without being disagreeable.

You can have unity without uniformity. You can walk hand in
hand without seeing eye to eye.” Talk about the difference between
reconciliation and resolution. How can you have one without
the other?

PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE

PERSONAL

Is it time for you to plan a peace conference to reconcile a broken

relationship? What’s one thing you will do this week to begin the peace
process?

CROUP

Share your experience! If you have completed your Mercy Project, express
how God used your group to show Christ’s love and mercy to others. Tell
your friends. Let your pastor or ministry leader know of your success.
Contact your local media organizations to have your story published to
inspire others to explore mercy opportunities.

108 SESSION FIVE

DIVING DEEPER
Miracle ofMercy Daily Devotions. On pages 112-125, you will find Bible
verses about reconciling broken relationships, along with prompts for
journaling your thoughts. Make the commitment with your group that you
will give at least five minutes every day this week to read and meditate on
these verses. Follow the prompts and write down your responses.

PRAYER DIRECTION

If you haven't already done so, we recommend that you break into
subgroups by gender for your prayer time in this session. It will give
you the opportunity to go deeper in your sharing.

* Do you need to reconcile a relationship? You don’t have to go into

specific details, but join with two or three members of your group
and ask them to pray with you right now. Pray first of all that God
will prepare your heart and show you where you have been wrong
in the relationship. Ask God to give you direction and the right
timing to initiate the conversation. Ask God to give you favor with
that person, and to give you the ability, wisdom, and courage to
speak—and listen—with gentleness, honesty, and genuine love.
* Share your prayer requests with your group and pray for each other.
Be sure to record your prayer requests on the Small Group Prayer
and Praise Report on page 156 of your study guide.

MERCY IS KIND TO ENEMIES 109

BEFORE YOU GO

There is just one session left in this study. Take a few minutes to talk
about what your group will study next. We invite you to visit our Daily
Hope website at PastorRick.com, where you can find more video-based
small group studies. You can also sign up to receive Daily Hope, Pastor
Rick’s free daily devotional email.
Start making plans for an evening meal or a picnic with your group to
celebrate what God has done in your lives through this study of The Miracle
ofMercy. A party is an excellent opportunity for you to invite new people
who might be interested in joining your group. Talk about your celebration
before you leave your meeting. Where will you have your party? When will
you have it? Will it be a potluck, will someone barbecue, or will you call
out for pizza? Divide up the responsibilities, and then get ready to enjoy a
ereat time of fellowship together.

PastorRick.com
We invite you to head over to Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope broadcast to enjoy
spiritually encouraging messages of hope. Stay connected for the latest
news and inspiration via Facebook and Twitter.

aUcnceessseeSAsONestsSOSSASeAeTCnONssitsOCAPAlNbessbteeasissstsn~NseheNusasssennZsssscersesaancereenniAstnssssinisecsinanis
vein vensaat
hltAsnennsnenssntettanstmnttsdusttanniint
aiWaa ssaintsevdsnihnunannntndnsene adnndasnyasinaninnnanasnureensanie
ssaiense

110 SESSION FIVE

 7" '
f 1) ke
‘5. ‘ > Eee
a it ee i «we Gok
. \
 MERCY IS KIND TO ENEMIES

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especiallymeaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

Be quick to listen, slow

to speak and slow to
become angry.

JAMES 1:19b (NIV)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

NOW YOU PRAY

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or
praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God’s help. It’s up to you.
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.
 mrvenveteeovenmeeitinsicnienal

MERCY IS KIND TO ENEMIES

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

Those who are peacemakers

will plant seeds of peace and
reap a harvest of goodness.

JAMES 3:18 (TLB)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

NOW YOU PRAY

or
This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude
praise. It could be a prayer of confessio n or a request for God’s help. It’s up to you.
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

MERCY IS KIND 10 ENEMIES 115

 MERCY IS KIND TO ENEMIES

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

It your enemy is hungry,

teed him; it he is thirsty,
give him something
to drink... Domekbe
overcome by evil, but
overcome
evil with good.

ROMANS 12:20-21 (NIV)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

WHAT WILL YOU D0?

How will you put this verse into practice?

NOW YOU PRAY

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or
praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God's help. It’s up to you.
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

MERCY IS KIND TO ENEMIES 117

 MERCY IS KIND TO ENEMIES

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

‘Why, then, do you look at

the speck in your brothers
eye and pay no attention
to the log in your own eye? |
_.. First take the log out of |
your own eye, and then-you
will be able to see clearly to
take the speck out of your
brothers eye.”

MATTHEW 7:3-5 (TEV)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

NOW YOU PRAY

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or
praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God’s help. It’s up to you.
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

MERCY IS KIND TO ENEMIES 119

 MERCY IS KIND TO ENEMIES

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

Speak
the truth in love.

EPHESIANS 4:15 (NLT20°)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

NOW YOU PRAY

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or
praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God’s help. It’s up to you.
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

MERCY IS KIND TO ENEMIES 121

 MERCY IS KIND TO ENEMIES

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

Do not use harmful words,

but only helpful words,
the kind that build up and
provide what is needed,
so that what you say wil
do good to those who
hear you.

EPHESIANS 4:29 (TEV)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

NOW YOU PRAY

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or
praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God's help. It’s up to you.
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

MERCY IS KIND TO ENEMIES 123

 MERCY IS KIND TO ENEMIES

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

God has not given us a

spirit of tear and timidity,
but of power, love, and
self-discipline.

2 TIMOTHY 1:7 (NLT)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

WHAT WILL YOU D0?

How will you put this verse into practice?

NOW YOU PRAY

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or
praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God’s help. It’s up to you.
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

MERCY IS KIND 10 ENEMIES 125

 Se

| a - cat wavAmt av
- Si Lae Ae: 2 ritoe: Atl Sayed
orl Gy ag My
é

ae

. °F &
> _ - ae =) eae
= ¢

cic. =
r 7el en _ ra -
 MERCY CARES FOR
THE LOST

CHECKING IN

Choose one of these ideas to start your session.

* Share averse that was especially meaningful to you in your Miracle

ofMercy Daily Devotions this past week.
* In our previous session, you were encouraged to plant a seed of
peace in a broken relationship. Would anyone like to share your
experience with putting your plan into action?

MEMORY VERSE

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you

to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with
gentleness and respect.
1 PETER 3:15b (NIV)

WATCH THE VIDEO LESSON

NOW AND FOLLOW ALONG
IN YOUR OUTLINE.

st
len ho eal derr re er
#MiracleofMercy MERCY CARES FOR THE LOST 127
 MERCY CARES FOR THE LOST

Mercy does all it can to keep people from going to hell.

In the same way that you, |Father|, gave me a missio§in

the
world, Dgive them a mission in the world. “au
JOHN 17:18 (MSG)

[God] reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the

ministry of reconciliation.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:18b (NIV)

Is anybody going to be in heaven because of you? You don’t have to be

perfect, or spiritually mature, or a Bible scholar. All you have to know is
that Jesus has made a difference in your life.

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks

you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this
with gentleness and respect. ee

eae
ge eT ies 1 PETER 3:15b (NIV)

God doesn’t expect you to fulfill your mission on your own. Evangelism is
something you can do as a small group.

We work together as partners who belong to God.

T CORINTHIANS 3:9 (NLT)

One day as Jesus was teaching, Pharisees and religion teachers

were sitting around .. . The healing power of God was on him.
Some men arrived carrying a paraplegic on a stretcher. They
were looking for a way to get into the house and set him before
Jesus. When they couldn't find a way in because of the crowd,
they went up on the roof, removed some tiles, and let him down
in the middle of everyone, right in front ofJesus. Impressed
by their bold belief, he said, “Friend, Iforgive your sins.” That
set the religion scholars and Pharisees buzzing. “Who does he
think he is? That's blasphemous talk. God and only God can
forgive sins.” Jesus knew exactly what they were thinking and

atl eataantanneamrnonannnmnnnnemamenraanmammnrmrmmirr Te

128 SESSION SIX

 said, “Why all this gossipy whispering? Which is simpler: to
say Iforgive your sins, or to say ‘Get up and start walking?’
Well, just so it’s clear that I'm the Son of Man and authorized to
do either, or both...” He now spoke directly to the paraplegic:
“Get up. Take your bedroll and go home.” Without a moment's
hesitation, he did it—got up, took his blanket, and leftfor home,
giving glory to God all the way. The people rubbed their eyes,
incredulous—and then also gave glory to God. Awestruck, they
said, “We've never seen anything like that!”
LUKE 5:17-26 (MSG)

FIVE WAYS YOUR SMALL GROUP CAN CARE FOR THE LOST

* The Principle of Co mpnrdacor

Love opens the door for you to share Christ with others. People don’t care
how much you know until they know how much you care.

We should all be concerned about our neighbor and the good

things that will build his faith.
ROMANS 15:2 (GW)

* The Principle of (ova ton.

Sometimes it takes a team to win someone for Christ.

After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God's

servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of
us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your
hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it
grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the
watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.
The one who plants and the one who waters work together
with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their
own hard work. Se ee a
ae 2 peat T CORINTHIANS 3:5-8 (NLT2%)

MERCY CARES FOR THE LOST 129

 ¢ The Principle of Peto

When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins

are forgiven.”
LUKE 5:20 (NIV)

[Jesus| is able, now and always, to save those who come to

God through him.
HEBREWS 7:25 (TEV)

Lt

* The Principle of

Hed & plan f put ut to proche

Be wise in the wdy you act toward outsiders; make the most
of every opportunity.
COLOSSIANS 4:5 (NIV)

“Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and
urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.”
LUKE 14:23 (NLT)

Jesus says to the world, “Come and see;” but to us he says, “Go and tell.”

* The Principle of ~ O04 St lanct >

The Lord is .. . not willing that any should perish but that all
should come to repentance.
2 PETER 3:9 (NKJV)

Helping someone get into heaven is the greatest act of mercy you can do
for them.

130 SESSION SIX

DISCOVERY QUESTIONS

* Ifyou want to know God’s plan for reaching the world for Jesus
Christ, look around the room. You're it. You are God’s plan, because
God works through his people. Does that thought excite you, scare
you, or overwhelm you?

Read 1 Peter 3:15b aloud together—‘Always be prepared to give an

answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that
you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” Break the verse
down phrase by phrase. What principles do you observe about
sharing Christ with others?

* If somebody hadn’t cared enough to tell you the Good News, you
would be living without Christ right now. Who do you know that
needs to hear about God’s mercy in Jesus Christ? Write their name
in the space below. During your closing prayer time, pray together
for all of the names your group members have written down.

Ble, Reronsiphbes _ dtr 4 Gan_

Coraebepes Fa fan ae nelg-
* What is the most important lesson you have learned in your study
of The Miracle ofMercy?

Uh hme. Ralhets HiCos

Bub bBinps y Te eee

Bah isiog Chie /Lirdsag

St} Flovido
uf Cancer
Ded paid.

MERCY CARES FOR THE LOST 131

PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE

PERSONAL

* Are you prepared to “give the reason for the hope that you have”?
For the next ten minutes, pair up with one other person and
practice telling your story by answering these three questions:
> What was your life like before you knew Jesus Christ?

>» How did you meet him?

>» What difference has he made in your life?

¢ We would love to hear how God has changed your life through
The Miracle ofMercy study. By sharing your story, you can inspire
and encourage others. Have you experienced forgiveness,
compassion for the hurting, reconciliation in a relationship, or a
change of heart toward a particularly difficult person in your life?
Email us at [email protected] to tell us about your experience.

GROUP

By now you might have completed your Mercy Project, or you might still
be in the planning stage. Wherever you are in the process, we want to
challenge you to go one step further. Would you prayerfully consider
making a one-year commitment to doing Mercy Projects as a group? As
Pastor Rick said in Session One, “Mercy is more than an attitude. Mercy is
a lifestyle.” Our hope is that you will look back and not say, “Look at what
we did,” but rather say, “Look at what we started!” What can your group do
to make Mercy Projects a part of the life of your group?

132 SESSION SIX

DIVING DEEPER

The Miracle ofMercy Daily Devotions. On pages 136-145, you will find Bible
verses about caring for lost people, along with prompts for journaling your
thoughts. Make the commitment with your group that you will give at least
five minutes every day this week to read and meditate on these verses.
Follow the prompts and write down your responses.

PRAYER DIRECTION

* Pastor Rick asked each of you to come up with a name of someone

who doesn’t know Jesus and pray together for them. Here are three
ways you can pray:
>» Ask God to soften your heart and give you his love for the people
in your life who don’t know Jesus Christ.

> Ask God to give you opportunities and the courage to “give them
the reason for the hope that you have,” and to invite them to
church or your small group.

>» Ask God to soften their hearts and prepare them to hear the
Good News of Jesus Christ.

¢ Share your prayer requests with your group and pray for each other.
Be sure to record your prayer requests on the Small Group Prayer
and Praise Report on page 156 of your study guide.

MERCY CARES FOR THE LOST 133

BEFORE YOU GO

¢ Pastor Rick would love to hear your story of what this study has
meant to you. You can write to him at [email protected].
¢ Visit our Daily Hope website at PastorRick.com, where you can find
more video-based small group studies. You can also sign up to
receive Daily Hope, Pastor Rick’s free daily devotional email.
* Have you made plans for a party with your group to celebrate what
God has done in your lives through this study of The Miracle of
Mercy? A party is an excellent opportunity for you to invite new
people who might be interested in joining your group. Talk about
your celebration before you leave your meeting. Where will you
have your party? When will you have it? Will it be a potluck,
will someone barbecue, or will you call out for pizza? Divide up
the responsibilities and get ready to enjoy a great time of
fellowship together.

PastorRick.com
We invite you to head over to Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope broadcast to enjoy
spiritually encouraging messages of hope. Stay connected for the latest
news and inspiration via Facebook and Twitter.

134 SESSION SIX

 MERCY CARES FOR THE LOST

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especiallymeaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

Always be prepared to give

an answer to everyone who
asks you to give the reason
for the hope that you have.
But do this with gentleness
and respect. |

1 PETER 3:15b (NIV)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

NOW YOU PRAY

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or
praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God’s help. It’s up to you.
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

MERCY CARES FOR THE LOST 137

 MERCY CARES FOR THE LOST

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords orphrases thatare especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

[God] reconciled us to
himself through Christ
and gave us the ministry
of reconciliation.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:18b (NIV)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

NOW YOU PRAY

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or
praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God’s help. It’s up to you.
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

MERCY CARES FOR THE LOST 139

 MERCY CARES FOR THE LOST
Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize
a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

Weshouldallbeconcerned |
about our neighbor and the |
good things that will build
his faith.

ROMANS 15:2 (GW)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

NOW YOU PRAY

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or
praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God’s help. It’s up to you.
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

MERCY CARES FOR THE LOST 141

 MERCY CARES FOR THE LOST

Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize

a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

Its not important wno

does the planting, or who
does the watering. Whats |
important is that God
makes the seed grow. Ihe |
onewhoplantsandtheone |
who waters work together
with the same purpose. And
both will be rewarded for
their own hard work.

T CORINTHIANS 3:7-8 (NLT?0°)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
Was most meaningful to you?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

NOW YOU PRAY

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or
praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God’s help. It’s up to you.
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

MERCY CARES FOR THE LOST 143

 MERCY CARES FOR THE LOST
Read this Scripture passage several times, slowly. Emphasize
a different word or phrase each time you read the passage.
Underline keywords or phrases that are especially meaningful
to you. Then take a few minutes to write your thoughts on the
journal page. Finish with a prayer.

Be wise in the way you act

toward outsiders; make the
most of every opportunity.

COLOSSIANS 4:5 (NIV)

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
What did God say to you as you read today’s Bible passage? What word or phrase
was most meaningful to you?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What does this passage mean to you? How does it apply to your life?

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

How will you put this verse into practice?

NOW YOU PRAY

This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or
praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God’s help. It’s up to you.
But take a minute to write a prayer of response to God.

MERCY CARES FOR THE LOST 145

 SMALL GROUP
RESOURCES

146 SMALL GROUP RESOURCES

 HELPS FOR HOSTS

TOP TEN IDEAS FOR NEW HOSTS

CONGRATULATIONS! As the host of your small group, you have responded

to the call to help shepherd Jesus’ flock. Few other tasks in the family
of God surpass the contribution you will be making. As you prepare to
facilitate your group, whether it is one session or the entire series, here are
a few thoughts to keep in mind.
Remember you are not alone. God knows everything about you, and
he knew you would be asked to facilitate your group. Even though
you may not feel ready, this is common for all good hosts. God
promises, “I will never leave you; I will never abandon you”
Hebrews 13:5 TEV. Whether you are facilitating for one evening,
several weeks, or a lifetime, you will be blessed as you serve.
Don’t try to do it alone. Pray right now for God to help you build
a healthy team. If you can enlist a co-host to help you shepherd
the group, you will find your experience much richer. This is your
chance to involve as many people as you can in building a healthy
group. All you have to do is ask people to help. You'll be surprised
at the response.
Be friendly and be yourself. God wants to use your unique gifts and
temperament. Be sure to greet people at the door with a big smile
... this can set the mood for the whole gathering. Remember, they
are taking as big a step to show up at your house as you are to host
a small group! Don’t try to do things exactly like another host; do
them in a way that fits you. Admit when you don’t have an answer
and apologize when you make a mistake. Your group will love you
for it and you'll sleep better at night.
Prepare for your meeting ahead of time. Preview the session and
write down your responses to each question.

Pray for your group members by name. Before your group arrives,
take a few moments to pray for each member by name. You may
want to review the Small Group Prayer and Praise Report at least
once a week. Ask God to use your time together to touch the heart
of each person in your group. Expect God to lead you to whomever
he wants you to encourage or challenge in a special way. If you
listen, God will surely lead.

SMALL GROUP RESOURCES 147

 * When you ask a question, be patient. Someone will eventually
respond. Sometimes people need a moment or two of silence to
think about the question. If silence doesn’t bother you, it won't
bother anyone else. After someone responds, affirm the response
with a simple “thanks” or “great answer.” Then ask, “How about
somebody else?” or “Would someone who hasn’t shared like to
add anything?” Be sensitive to new people or reluctant members
who aren't ready to say, pray, or do anything. If you give them a
safe setting, they will blossom over time. If someone in your group
is a wallflower who sits silently through every session, consider
talking to them privately and encouraging them to participate.
Let them know how important they are to you—that they are loved
and appreciated, and that the group would value their input.
Remember, still water often runs deep.
* Provide transitions between questions. Ask if anyone would like to
read the paragraph or Bible passage. Don’t call on anyone, but ask
for a volunteer, and then be patient until someone begins. Be sure
to thank the person who reads aloud.

* Break into smaller groups occasionally. With a greater opportunity

to talk in a small circle, people will connect more with the study,
apply more quickly what they’re learning, and ultimately get more
out of their small group experience. A small circle also encourages
a quiet person to participate and tends to minimize the effects of a
more vocal or dominant member.
* Small circles are also helpful during prayer time. People who are
unaccustomed to praying aloud will feel more comfortable trying
it with just two or three others. Also, prayer requests won't take as
much time, so circles will have more time to actually pray. When
you gather back with the whole group, you can have one person
from each circle briefly update everyone on the prayer requests
from their subgroups. The other great aspect of subgrouping is that
it fosters leadership development. As you ask people in the group
to facilitate discussion or to lead a prayer circle, it gives them a
small leadership step that can build their confidence.
* Rotate facilitators occasionally. You may be perfectly capable of
hosting each time, but you will help others grow in their faith and
gifts if you give them opportunities to host the group.
* One final challenge (for new or first-time hosts). Before your first
opportunity to lead, look up each of the six passages listed below.
Read each one as a devotional exercise to help prepare you with
a shepherd's heart. Trust us on this one. If you do this, you will be
more than ready for your first meeting.

NTT ATT treater nsninennnnninninntncnames

148 SMALL GROUP RESOURCES
“When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they
were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to
his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord
of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
MATTHEW 9:36-38 (NIV)

“Tam the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just
as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my lifefor
the sheep.”
JOHN 10:14-15 (NIV)

“Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—
not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be;
not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted
to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd
appears, you will receive the crown ofglory that will never fade away.”
1 PETER 5:2-4 (NIV)

“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, ifany
comfort from his love, ifany fellowship with the Spirit, ifany tenderness
and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having
the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out ofselfish
ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than
yourselves. Each ofyou should look not only to your own interests, but
also to the interests ofothers. Your attitude should be the same as that of
Jesus Christ.”
PHILIPPIANS 2:1-5 (NIV)

“Letushold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is

faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love
and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit
ofdoing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the
Day approaching.”
HEBREWS 10:23-25 (NIV)

SMALL GROUP RESOURCES 149

“But we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.
We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the
Gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.
... For you know that we dealt with each ofyou as a father deals with his
own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy
of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.”
TTHESSALONIANS 2:7-8, 11-12 (NIV)

150 SMALL GROUP RESOURCES

 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

HOW LONG WILL THIS GROUP MEET?

This study is six sessions long. We encourage your group to add a seventh
session for a celebration. In your final session, each group member may
decide if he or she desires to continue on for another study. At that time
you may also want to do some informal evaluation, discuss your Small
Group Guidelines (see page 153), and decide which study you want to do
next. We recommend you visit our website at PastorRick.com for more
video-based small-group studies.

WHO IS THE HOST?

The host is the person who coordinates and facilitates your group
meetings. In addition to a host, we encourage you to select one or
more group members to lead your group discussions. Several other
responsibilities can be rotated, including refreshments, prayer requests,
worship, or keeping up with those who miss a meeting. Shared ownership
in the group helps everybody grow.

WHERE DO WE FIND NEW GROUP MEMBERS?

Recruiting new members can be a challenge for groups, especially new

groups with just a few people, or existing groups that lose a few people
along the way. We encourage you to use the Circles ofLife diagram on
page 155 of this study guide to brainstorm a list of people from your
workplace, church, school, neighborhood, family, and so on. Then pray
for the people on each member's list. Allow each member to invite several
people from their list. Some groups fear that newcomers will interrupt
the intimacy that members have built over time. However, groups that
welcome newcomers generally gain strength with the infusion of new
blood. Remember, the next person you add just might become a friend
for eternity. Logistically, groups find different ways to add members.
Some groups remain permanently open, while others choose to open
periodically, such as at the beginning or end of a study. If your group
becomes too large for easy, face-to-face conversations, you can subgroup,
forming a second discussion group in another room.

eee
eee ee
SMALL GROUP RESOURCES 151
HOW DO WE HANDLE THE CHILD-CARE NEEDS IN OUR GROUP?

Child-care needs must be handled very carefully. This is a sensitive issue.

We suggest you seek creative solutions as a group. One common solution
is to have the adults meet in the living room and share the cost of a baby
sitter (or two) who can be with the kids in another part of the house.
Another popular option is to have one home for the kids and a second
home (close by) for the adults. If desired, the adults could rotate the
responsibility of providing a lesson for the kids. This last option is great
with school-age kids and can be a huge blessing to families.

152 SMALL GROUP RESOURCES

 SMALL GROUP GUIDELINES

It’s a good idea for every group to put words to their shared values,
expectations, and commitments. Such guidelines will help you avoid
unspoken agendas and unmet expectations. We recommend you discuss
your guidelines during Session One in order to lay the foundation for a
healthy group experience. Feel free to modify anything that does not work
for your group.
We agree to the following values:

CLEAR PURPOSE To grow healthy spiritual lives by building

a healthy small group community
GROUP ATTENDANCE To give priority to the group meeting (call
if lam absent or late)
SAFE ENVIRONMENT To create a safe place where people can be
heard and feel loved (no quick answers,
snap judgments, or simple fixes)
BE CONFIDENTIAL To keep anything that is shared strictly
confidential and within the group
CONFLICT RESOLUTION To avoid gossip and to immediately
resolve any concerns by following the
principles of Matthew 18:15-17
SPIRITUAL HEALTH To give group members permission to
speak into my life and help me live a
healthy, balanced spiritual life that is
pleasing to God
LIMIT OUR FREEDOM To limit our freedom by not serving or
consuming alcohol during small group
meetings or events so as to avoid causing a
weaker brother or sister to stumble
(1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Romans 14:19-21)
WELCOME NEWCOMERS To invite friends who might benefit
from this study and warmly welcome
newcomers
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS To get to know the other members of the
group and pray for them regularly
OTHER ;

ee
SMALL GROUP RESOURCES 153
We have also discussed and agree on the following items:
¢ Child Care

* Starting Time

* Ending Time
If you haven't already done so, take a few minutes to fill out the Small
Group Calendar on page 158.

ee
154 SMALL GROUP RESOURCES |
 CIRCLES OF LIFE

DISCOVER WHO YOU CAN CONNECT IN COMMUNITY

Use this chart to help carry out one of the values in the Small Group
Guidelines, to “Welcome Newcomers.”

FAMILY
(immediate or extended)

FRIENDS
FELLOWSHIP (neighbors, kids,
(church relationships) sports, school, etc.)

FUN FACTORY/FIRM
(gym, hobbies, (work, professional
hang-outs) arenas)

FOLLOW THIS SIMPLE THREE-STEP PROCESS:

1. List one to two people in each circle.

2. Prayerfully select one person or couple from your list and tell your
group about them.

3. Give them a call and invite them to your next meeting. Over fifty
percent of those invited to a small group say, “Yes!”

SMALL GROUP RESOURCES 155

 SMALL GROUP PRAYER AND
PRAISE REPORT

This is a place where you can write each other's requests for prayer. You
can also make a note when God answers a prayer. Pray for each other’s
requests. If you’re new to group prayer, it’s okay to pray silently or to pray
by using just one sentence:

“God, please help to

PERSON PRAYER REQUEST PRAISE REPORT

| i
|
| |
fporven Sank pis #4 - amie idiot ee

|
|

| | |
raan Sie See acter i Seipsace oer ote rae re — + a2. = =

156 SMALL GROUP RESOURCES .

 DATE PERSON PRAYER REQUEST | PRAISE REPORT

i i

j
|

|
nee See paeeserenmeecensinmmasinmninstansi — rairat onions = a aa se audaniaudscmewetot

| H
j |
L-
|
- — nl ntti H
| |
j| j i
j|
| | i

| | H
|
1 { ,

|
ee a eae ER ERES. eee eee ee Sa antiemttt ch is eee eee |
f y |

i H
i i
i i |
| ; {
H
| — —}— — —— ——— ———— |

| | i
{i j i
/ |

) ——— = = a cmt
i i

i
|

/|/ |
j ;
i
|
}

SMALL GROUP RESOURCES 157

 SMALL GROUP CALENDAR

Healthy groups share responsibilities and group ownership. It might

take some time for this to develop. Shared ownership ensures that
responsibility for the group doesn’t fall to one person. Use the calendar
to keep track of social events, mission projects, birthdays, or days off.
Complete this calendar at your first or second meeting. Planning ahead
will increase attendance and shared ownership.

DATE | LESSON LOCATION | FACILITATOR | SNACK OR MEAL

|
~ SESSIONT =

| | |
| |
|
SESSION2 |

oS Se es ee Seek oe Pe
a| |
|
| SESSIONS
ae
a
|
ee eee a) =
|
|
— ee
|
= =
| | |
| |
SESSIONS = | / |
|

| |
SESSION 5 / | |
| |

SESSION 6 |

ss = = aiken | ee ee Pee

SAP aPSPnesearnareereeee
158 SMALL GROUP RESOURCES .
 ANSWER KEY

SESSION ONE

Mercy is LOVE in ACTION.

I FORGIVE those who have FALLEN.
I HELP those who are HURTING.
Tam PATIENT with difficult people.
Iam KIND to my ENEMIES.
I CARE for the LOST.
I must be merciful because MERCIFUL.
GOD IS
I must be merciful because [NEED MERCY EVERY DAY.
I must be merciful because MERCY MAKES ME HAPPY.

SESSION TWO

* Because GOD HAS FORGIVEN ME.

* Because RESENTMENT MAKES ME MISERABLE.
* Because |WILL NEED FORGIVENESS in the future.
¢ LEAVE IT TO GOD.
¢ HEALIT WITH GRACE.
¢ NAILIT TO THE CROSS.

SESSION THREE

I keep my DISTANCE.
I’m curious but UNINVOLVED.
I get close enough to CARE.
I must SEE THE NEEDS of people around me.
I must SYMPATHIZE with people’s pain.
I must SEIZE THE MOMENT and meet the need.
I must SPEND whatever it takes.

SMALL GROUP RESOURCES 159

SESSION FOUR

¢ LOOK BEHIND THEIR BEHAVIOR.

¢ REFUSE TO BE OFFENDED.
¢ CUT THEM SOME SLACK.
¢ REFUSE TO GOSSIP ABOUT THEM.
¢ REFUSE TO PLAY THEIR GAME.
¢ ALWAYS TAKE THE HIGH GROUND.

SESSION FIVE

MAKE THE FIRST MOVE.

. ASK GOD FOR WISDOM.
. START WITH YOUR OWN CONFESSION.
. LISTEN TO THEIR PAIN AND PERSPECTIVE.
. SPEAK THE TRUTH TACTFULLY.
. FLX THE PROBLEM, NOT THE BLAME.
ee
eo
ESS
HO
tep
SS FOCUS ON RECONCILIATION, NOT RESOLUTION.

SESSION SIX

* The Principle of COMPASSION.

* The Principle of COOPERATION.
* The Principle of FAITH.
* The Principle of ACTION.
* The Principle of PERSISTENCE.

160 SMALL GROUP RESOURCES

 SMALL GROUP ROSTER

ra ia = |

4 a ee a —— — ——— Sees

|
eae 7 le eeacamnaans

SMALL GROUP RESOURCES 161

 NOTES
Ih
SONU - Chris’ SFei ened = [Ls rd Slag
“BSF HS wig
rt SE eee s eerere bzee —_

— Athds ag [Che's _ —
_boren- Rew mest, eels pebfer
SPS ler rn Tg AL PO ———

bore Briand Fess _

fnargie. — Opie
—Stacy Goper, Chris, faa fire,.
CLYOKE ee

(@) att
—Carsonr
-ors L6tmew ~- fracy ye
ftir 0phag. ENCORE OSE

@ Arno & Motley. $3 Sarees

cor. Sferm —
aler? aang 3:
ee
3 Of J Wie ar a
FLO eL1OA
4 Chtzs—trenol—lost+—his_Wike- Let
EF 0Sello ~ SLrve ng

162 SMALL GROUP RESOURCES

SMALL GROUP RESOURCES 163
 a ee

164 SMALL GROUP RESOURCES

NOTES
NOTES
 THE Did you know that mercy is God’s number one
M [R XO LE characteristic in the Bible? The world portrays {
|
God as a God of anger and judgment. But God
OF M4ERCY shows himself first and: foremost as a God
of mercy. }'

If mercy is God’s number one characteristic that he reveals to us in the Bible—if ||

that is the most important thing he wants us to know about him—then it must be
the most important thing for us to learn about him. And it must also be the most |
important character trait that God wants to develop in us.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”
MATTHEW 5:7 (NIV)

Let’s take the next forty days to see what mercy really looks like.

_ THE SIX SESSIONS INCLUDE:

Session One: The Five Marks of Mercy

Session Two: Mercy Forgives the Fallen
Session Three: Mercy Helps the Hurting
- Session Four: Mercy is Patient with Difficult People
Session Five: Mercy is Kind to Enemies
Session Six: Mercy Cares for the Lost

Study guide also includes 40 daily devotions for yo

personal quiet time with God.

RICK WARREN is the founding pastor of Saddlebac

one of the largest churches in the world, with cam}

TeYeyeviccocoyemeravnelorCec@elere emlim elilelitieliurem svhice) avmnyleemenre)

32 million copies sold.

RELIGION / Christian Life / Personal Growth

Tn
ISBN 978-1-4228-0394-3

N PASTOR
DAILY HOPE
RICK’S
@ pastors 9 |
8 422"80394 3 |
WWW.PASTORRICK,COM