Three Essential Questions
After watching the message take some time reflect on the following three questions.
- What did you hear? What point in this message was most impactful for you?
- What do you think? How did this message challenge, change, or affirm your thinking?
- What will you do? How will you put into practice what you've learned today?
"People always think they're doing the right thing, but in the end it leadsto their death." Prov. 16:25
"The human mind is the most deceitful of all things. It is incurable. No onecan understand how deceitful it is." Jer. 17:9 (GW)
SOME WAYS I DECEIVE MYSELF
1. WHEN I THINK I'VE EARNED AND DESERVE ALL I HAVE
"Don't be deceived, dear brothers and sisters. Every good gift you have is a perfect present from God above. It has come down from the Father who created all of the heavenly lights." James 1:16-17
2. WHEN I THINKHEARING GOD'S WORD MEANS THAT I'VE OBEYED IT
"Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. You mustDO what it says to do!" James 1:22
Jesus: "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you DO them!"
John 13:17 (NIV)
3. WHEN I THINK I'M MATURE BUT I DON'T CONTROL MY MOUTH
"If you think you are religious but you do not control your tongue, then your
religion is worthless and you deceive yourself." James 1:26 (TEV)
4. WHEN I ASSUMEMY VIEWPOINT IS WHAT GOD THINKS
"You say to God, 'My beliefs are flawless and I can't be blamed for anything.'" Job 11:4 (NIV/NJB)
"The Lord says, 'My thoughts are completely different from yours! And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my views are higher than your views.'" Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)
5. WHEN I CONFUSEKEEPING CURRENT WITH BEING WISE
"Don't fool yourself. Don't think that you can be wise merely by beingup-to-date with the times." 1 Cor. 3:18 (Mes)
". . . you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless." Jer. 7:8 (NIV)
6. when I THINKI HAVE THE RIGHT TO JUDGE OTHERS
"God is the only lawgiver and judge. He alone can save and destroy. So, who do you think you are, to judge someone else?" James 4:12 (TEV)
"If you think you're something when you're really nothing, you are only
deceiving yourself." Gal. 6:3 (TEV)
7. WHEN I THINKWRONG FRIENDS WON'T INFLUENCE ME
"Don't fool yourself. 'Bad companions will ruin good character.'" 1 Cor. 15:33 (TEV)
8. WHEN I THINKI CAN SIN WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES
"Do not deceive yourselves; no one makes a fool of God. You will reapexactly what you've planted." Gal. 6:7 (TEV)
"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." 1 John 1:8 (NIV)
Action Plan: Of the 8 blind spots above, which one stands out as an area you'd like to see improvement? Pray and ask God to help you improve and talk to your small group or a trusted friend about the steps you will take.
HOW CAN I WORK ON MY BLINDSPOTS?
1. ASK GOD FOR CLARITY
Job: "Teach me what I cannot see; if I've done wrong, I will not do so again." Job 34:32 (NIV)
Action Plan:Read 2 or 3 chapters of Proverbs each day this week. Make a journal entry for verses that speak into your current situation. Talk to God about how to make more wise decisions in your life this week.
2. ASK MY SMALL GROUP FOR HELP
"Fools think they need no advice, but the wise listen to others." Pr. 12:15 (NLT)
"Look closely at yourselves. Test yourselves to see if you are living in the
faith." 2 Cor. 13:5a (NCV)
Action Plan: Check in with your small group 3 times this week. Meet each other's needs in small ways. If you would like to get connected to a small group go tohttps://saddleback.com/connect/smallgroups
3. ASK JESUS TO CHANGE ME
"Jesus said, 'I have come to give sight to the blind and to show those whothink they see that they are really blind.'" John 9:39b (NLT)
David: "None of us can see our own errors; so, deliver me, Lord,from my hidden faults!" Psalm 19:12 (TEV)
Every Service Action Steps
We recommit our lives to Jesus Christ. Text NEWSTART (1 word) to 83000 or email newstart@saddleback.com
We express our gratitude to God for his goodness by giving back to him.
Your generosity online is feeding tens of thousands of out-of-work families
and serving many other needs. Give at Saddleback.com/give
We meet in small groups online to discuss what we've heard. To join a group, text SMALLGROUP to 83000 or email SMALLGROUP@saddleback.com.
Listen to our podcasts "Doable Discipleship" and "The Well" from our Saddleback Growth team at Saddleback.com/learn
