Last week we looked at being hungry for Truth. We spent some time looking at the passages in John’s Gospel that mention the word “Truth” We came to the conclusion that it’s Jesus himself as the “Truth” that we need to be seeking. We need to be looking at Jesus rather than a philosophy or a doctrine. We said that truth can only be found in a person. We looked at Jesus being the truth that we seek. This week we will be looking what it looks like to be hungry for honesty. To be hungry for honest will mean that we take a long hard look at ourselves, our condition in life, Our contentment to settle for second best, Our own desires and heart. Hungering for Honesty will take us beyond simply a behavior characteristic and will force us to grapple with what we are robbing ourselves of when we refuse to walk with Jesus.
Scriptures:
Philippians
4:8-9 - “Finally, brothers,
whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if
there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have
learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the
God of peace will be with you.”
Psalm 24:4 –
“He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul
to what is false and does not swear deceitfully”
Luke 18:9-14
- “He also told this
parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated
others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee
and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus:
‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust,
adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes
of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even
lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to
me, a sinner!’”
DVD:
- “Think Back” – Honesty from Our Perspective
- “Forgiveness” – Honesty from God’s Perspective
- “Goodness Vs - The Cross” - Honesty – “What God has done”.
Open Discussion :
- Which of the Dvd’s had an impact?
- How honest is your own heart?
- How does God view you?
- Are you courageous and vulnerable enough to admit how honest you are?
- “Clean hands and a pure heart” – What does this mean to you?
- What do you see when you hold a mirror up to you life?
DVD: Hillsong Live – “I Surrender”
Quote: - “The Paradoxical Commandments”
"People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered - Love them anyway. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives - Do good anyway. If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies - Succeed anyway. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow - Do good anyway. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable - Be honest and frank anyway. The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds - Think big anyway. People favour underdogs but follow only top dogs - Fight for a few underdogs anyway. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight - Build anyway. People really need help but may attack you if you do help them - Help people anyway. Give Jesus the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth - Give Jesus the best you have anyway.”
Prayer:
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