1.  How can a person ‘judge’ someone in the church graciously without having a judgmental spirit?  Give some examples in which those inthe church have been judged with a judgmental spirit?  Give some examples in which those in the church have been judged with a gracious spirit?  Why is judging those in the church important?

2. Paul Tripp says: “What could be more threatening than the thought that, as sinners, we have an amazing capacity to deceive ourselves?”…How could this good man [David] end up in such a bad place? Such is the dangerous deceitfulness of sin and the disaster of the hardening of the heart…sin isn’t an event; no, it’s a progressive movement of the heart that results in disobedient behavior.” Do you think you could find yourself battling self-deception in the same way David did? Explain. How do you think this happens? How can we avoid such self-deception? Have you ever witnessed this in yourself and others? Describe the steps that led to this hardening of the heart.

3. Are you, as Dave Harvey calls it, self-suspicious of your own motives? Why is this such an intergral way to deal with pride and judgmentalism?

4. Are you able to invite correction into your life? Why or why not?

5. C. J. Mahaney gives these questions for you to ask to someone you trust:

• Do I confess sin consistently?

• Do I confess specific instances of sin and not just general categories or general references to sin?

• Do others find it easy to correct me?

• Do others know the areas of temptation in my life at present?

• Do they know the most pronounced patterns of sin in my life at present?

Is there someone you can ask such questions to?  Are you nervous in asking such questions to another?  Why or why not?

6.  What benefits can you think of by refraining from judgmentalism?

7.  Is there someone in your life you need to forgive?  What keeps you from forgiving such a person?  Please share your struggle specifically.  (Pray together and for that the person, that the Lord would give greater grace to forgive)

8.  On a scale of 1 (very hard time giving) to 10 (love to give), rate your ability to give of 1) your time, 2) your money, 3) your efforts, 4) your home (hospitality).  Share your results.  What joys do you have in giving?  Are there any stories of blessings you have received in giving abundantly to another?  What keeps you from giving more than you do?  What are some practical things you can do to give more?

9.  How is your personal walk with the Lord?  Are you enjoying reading God’s Word and prayer?  What do you think keeps you most from getting the absolute most from the Lord?  Why do you think the Gospel needs to be the ground upon which you pursue God and receive from abundantly?  Pray for one another that everyone would resemble Christ by pursuing a relationship with the Father who has graciously given us His Son (Romans 8:32).