Small group Bible study discussion guides

Series:                         WITH ONE HEART                        Discussion Guide #16

Lesson:  “Accept One Another”

Texts:    Romans 15:1-13, Philippians 2:1-11

Aim:   to sum up the series by reviewing how we may build one another up.

ICEBREAKER QUESTION:  A “pet peeve” is some set of circumstances or actions that has a predictable capacity to aggravate us.  For example, some people’s “pet peeve” is drivers who make a sudden turn in front of you without using their turn signal.  For others, their pet peeve is getting stuck in the supermarket aisle between two very sloooooooow shoppers.  All of us have something that gets on our nerves.   What is one thing that is guaranteed to spark an annoyed reaction in YOU?  I’ll begin:  My name is ______, and one of my “pet peeves” is….…

DISCUSSION QUESTION:  Would you say we are more likely to get on each other’s nerves: 

1. When we’re with our relatives while on a family vacation?
2. When we’re with our colleagues at work?
3. Or when we’re with our fellow-Christians at church?

In which of those settings are we likely to find the greatest potential for irritations, and why?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:  1. When an individual has some habit that is really annoying to you, what is the WORST way to react?  What is an unhealthy way to respond to aggravations, and why?                  2.  If we carefully consider our reactions we may notice that sometimes we are more annoyed than others.  Can you identify what makes the difference?  What might be some reasons we react to provocations more strongly at some times than at others?

DISCUSSION QUESTION:   1.  Some of the annoying things that people do is because of SELFISHNESS, but other aggravating actions are because of mere THOUGHTLESSNESS.  If you were unknowingly doing something that was getting on your friend’s nerves, would you want him or her to tell you?  Why, or why not?             2.  If your friend was doing something that was annoying to you, would you be likely to tell him or her?  Why, or why not?

In any group of people who interact on a regular basis, there will be occasions when we may experience annoyances and disagreements.  In this conversation we will conclude our series on “Faith Friendships” by realizing why it is so important to demonstrate Christian love and to “accept one another.”        TURN to the book of Romans, Chapter 15.   READ Verse 1          DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:  1. You may remember we suggested in our previous conversations that the “weak” brothers to whom Paul refers were those Jewish believers in the church at Rome who did not feel comfortable eating meat freely, as did their Gentile brothers.   In your imagination, can you picture a situation in which the Gentile Christians might become annoyed by the actions or attitudes of their Jewish brothers in the church?   Can you think of any reasons why the weak brothers might get on their nerves?                   2.  What do you think Paul means when he says, “Bear with the failings of the weak”?  What does that expression suggest to you?

Background Notes:   1.  Paul says “WE who are strong.”  Paul had already suggested back in 14:3 that the “meat-eaters” were not wrong, and had stated his own conviction in 14:14.  The pronoun “We” makes his appeal even stronger, by suggesting that even though Paul knew he was right, he was personally willing to put up with the limited understanding of his weaker brothers.              2.  The Greek word translated “bear” in verse 1 can mean either “tolerate, endure” OR have the sense of “carry, support.”

READ Verses 1-2   DISCUSSION QUESTION:  In Chapter 14 Paul had told the stronger Christians not to “judge,” or cause to “stumble,” or “distress” the weaker brother.  Now, in Chapter 15, he goes beyond those negative warnings to a positive command:  we are to “build up” each other.  How exactly do we accomplish that?  Can you think of any ways that others have “built you up” over the years?

DISCUSSION QUESTION:  What would be the OPPOSITE of this command?  What might be some ways that we could tear each other down?

READ Verses 1-4    DISCUSSION QUESTION:  Whenever the New Testament reminds Christians of their moral and social responsibilities, sooner or later it will always bring them back to the example of JESUS!    What would you say are some of the ways that Jesus demonstrated great patience and endurance?   And, how could his example help us when we must react to those who irritate or aggravate us?            Background Note:  Cf. Romans 14:15.

READ Verses 5-12   LEADER’S INSIGHT:  Paul uses a beautiful expression to describe what he desired for the Jewish and Gentile believers in the church at Rome:  he wanted them to glorify God “with one heart and mouth.”  There has never been a better description of genuine Christian unity! 

DISCUSSION QUESTION:  Why do you think Paul repeatedly reminds the Gentiles and Jews in the church at Rome that God wanted them to SING together?  What might be some of the connections between our SINGING praises to God and our UNITY with each other?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:   1. Paul had made it clear back in Chapter 14 that they would probably not come to agreement over their differences of opinion, but now he tells them here in Verse 7 to “Accept” one another.  What would you say are some of the differences between “AGREEING” with one another and “ACCEPTING” one another?                  2. Why do you suppose Paul reminds them in verse 7 that “Christ accepted YOU”?   How might remembering that fact help them to have better faith friendships?

When we first began this series on “Faith Friendships” we read in Chapter 12, Verse 16:  “Live in harmony with one another.  Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.”  Now, in closing, we will consider the greatest example of humility in history.     TURN to the book of Philippians (it is five books after Romans), Chapter 2. 

READ Verses 1-4   DISCUSSION QUESTION:  This is one of the most practical guides to healthy relationships in all of the Bible!   If you had to sum it all up in one principle, one sentence, what would you say?   

READ Verses 5-11   DISCUSSION QUESTION:  As you think about the life and death of Jesus, what, to you, is the most remarkable thing about his attitude? 

SUMMARY STATEMENT:   Because humans are imperfect, we will always encounter situations in which we are tempted to be impatient with others.  If we remember the example of Jesus, however, and especially his amazing humility, it can help us to be more patient and accepting of our weaker brothers.  An unselfish concern for others is the key to healthy faith friendships!

THIS CONCLUDES our series on “With One Heart.”

© Dan Williams               With One Heart 16