TODAY:

Tired Of Trying To Measure Up: Why Can’t I Measure Up? The Problem

With Shame & Shame-Based Systems

BIG IDEA:

Shame denies God’s grace & claims that a person can only be valuable, worthy or

loved if they perform a prescribed set of morals, behaviors, or practices.

SCRIPTURES:

Matthew 11:28-30, Psalm 34:4-5

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Q: Has your personality, identity, relationships, etc. been shaped by a sense of

shame? If so, how & what have the effects been?

Q: How do the Scriptures/concepts from this week help you grow as a disciple

who loves God, loves people & serves the world (lives on incarnational

mission) in everyday life?

Q: Based on these Scriptures, how can you move from unbelief to belief, from

just knowing to actually doing in your life?

Connect with God (UP)...

Q: How can an appropriate sense of guilt be a positive motivator for

transformation, but how can you avoid letting guilt turn into shame?

Q: Read Matthew 11:28-30. Why does Jesus seem so upset about religion or

culture heaping shame on to people?

Q: Read Ephesians 2:8-10. Why is it so important to understand that our

salvation is a giftfrom a loving & gracious God instead of from anything that

we’ve done to earn it?

Q: Why is it so easy to fall into the trap of trying to earn our relationship with

God & our identity instead of simply receiving it from Him?

Connect with Others (IN)...

Q: Review the ways that shame-based systems effect how we relate with those

around us, especially in the church. Do you see any of those in or around

you?If so, what can you/we do about it?

Connect with the World (OUT)...

Q: Read Psalm 34:4-5. How can you both live out this Truth and share it with

people around you?