Study Guide

Unstuck: Get Even
Mar 21-22, 2015 – John Ortberg
Note to Leaders: Every small group is different, so choose the questions that relate best to your particular group.
Follow up from last week: What progress have you made with the step of admitting your
wrongful actions to a “fully disclosing friend”?
Connect
1. What has stayed with you from this weekend’s services?
2. In Alcoholics Anonymous, every person introduces him/herself by saying, “My name is
(your name) and I’m an alcoholic.” Say this statement to your group but replace
“alcoholic” with a word that honestly describes the current state of your heart (e.g.
anxious, content, joyful, tired, confused).
Engage
1. Read Luke 19:1-9.
 What was Zacchaeus willing to give up in order to see Jesus?
 How did Zacchaeus respond to Jesus’ acceptance of him?
 Because Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and wealthy, it is likely that he was
dishonest and strongly disliked. Describe the state of Zacchaeus’s heart through
his encounter with Jesus.
2. Read Matthew 5:23-24.
 What does Jesus prioritize over the act of worship? Why?
Apply
1. In thinking about how Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus changed his heart and led to
some significant actions, reflect on the state of your own heart. How has your heart
changed because of Jesus? What were some actions that you took as a result? What
are some actions that you still need to take?
2. What next step do you need to take in getting Unstuck? How can we (your group) pray
with you through that step?
3. If you are following the sermon series and have carefully gone through the first seven
steps, you may be ready for Steps 8 & 9. If so, there is a worksheet below to help you.
Pray
Lord Jesus, your love transforms - if we are willing to let it. Thank you for your faithfulness to
us. Help us to be open to your guidance so that our lives become a reflection of your love and
grace. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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Going Deeper
Serving Opportunity
Compassion weekend signups are open now. For more information and to sign up:
http://www.mppc.org/events/compassion
Personal Spiritual Practice Idea
A copy of the Making Amends worksheet is on the next page, for your convenience.
Review
Here are the steps covered so far in the series:
Step 1: We admitted we are powerless and that our lives have become unmanageable.
Step 2: We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Step 3: We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God.
Step 4: We resolved to make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Step 5: We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of
our wrongs.
Step 6: We made ourselves ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
Step 7: We humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings.
Step 8: We made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to
them all.
Step 9: We made amends wherever possible.
This resource and additional sermon study guides
are available at www.mppc.org
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Send questions to [email protected]
Making Amends Worksheet
In the Twelve Steps, Steps 8 and 9 are an opportunity to carefully identify and then make up for areas
where we have caused harm (after we have gone through Steps 1 – 7). This helps to move us from the
places and ways where we are stuck so that we can more fully experience freedom in Christ.
Steps 8 & 9
Made a list of all persons we had harmed,
And became willing to make amends to them all,
And made amends wherever possible.
a. Who have you harmed? (Write specific names in a list.)
To get started, consider different kinds of relationships: Family; Friends and acquaintances;
Employers/Co-workers; Clients/Customers; Neighbors; School teachers or fellow students;
Service providers.
b. What is the harm that you have caused? (Put a description next to each name.)
c. Are you willing to make amends? (Indicate yes or no for each name.)
 There may be people on your list who have done more harm to you than you have
done to them. With a person we dislike/resent, we must still make amends.
 For every “no,” continue to pray for willingness to make amends.
d. Ask for forgiveness and offer to make things right.* (Work through your entire list and make
amends wherever possible.)
 Before every attempt to amend, ask God for help.
 Approach the person with a humble, forgiving spirit. Confess your former ill feeling,
express your regret and genuinely offer to make things right. Under no condition
should you criticize or argue. Discuss your faults, not theirs.
 It does not matter if they accept your apology or refuse it. We must do our part.
e. When making amends, ask the person “What can I do to right this wrong?” (Write their
answer down on your list to help make it concrete.)
 You must be completely surrendered to setting right your wrongs. We ask God for
strength and direction to do the right thing.
 Before taking action that might implicate others, secure their consent.
*
Some wrongs can never be fully made right.
 The number of circumstances for which this is true should be minimal. Because we are
very good at justifying just about anything, it is important to discuss this with others
before deciding that a wrong cannot be amended.
 This circumstance usually happens when righting a wrong would further injure that
person or another. It is crucial that you are willing to make amends.
 If the person cannot be seen, write an honest letter and send it. If they are no longer
alive, read it aloud at a place or with a person we associate with them.
This step toward making amends—even if imperfectly made—is a giant step toward God. It takes
great courage. God will be with us when we take it. Way to go!
This resource and additional sermon study guides
are available at www.mppc.org
Share your feedback at http://bit.ly/MPPCSSGSurvey
Send questions to [email protected]