Discussion Questions

Though we all know the dangers of getting too caught up in the things of this world, and losing sight of our real home, is it possible to be so wrapped up in our desire for heaven that we shirk our responsibilities here? If so, how? How can we strike the right balance in this important topic? What examples can you think of in which people have gone too far in their anticipation of heaven at the expense of their responsibilities here?

   We are always susceptible to the danger of going to extremes
   in our religion. Yes it is true that we must not be of this
   world in our behavior but we must realize that we still
   have a temporal existence.
  
   I have found that the only way to avoid extremes is to have
   your eyes fixed on Jesus. The writer of Hebrews admonishes us
   to "fix our eyes on Jesus." (Heb 12:2) Though heaven is our
   goal as we pattern our lives more and more after Christs we
   can never go wrong.
  
   Whenever we take our eyes off of Christ and began to look to the
   left or the right we sink in the sea of extremism. Peter was
   able to mirecelously walk this tight rope we talk about, but
   as he lost his focus he began to sink.

What are some of the stresses and strains that your particular society places on marriage? How can your church, in that society, deal with these challenges in a way that protects the God-given sanctity of marriage?

   One big strain that is placed on the marriage institution is
   a financial strain. We are constantly tempted to try and keep
   up with popular culture that we often tend to want things
   we don't need.
  
   This desire puts strain on our families and our marriages.
   In addition to this it reduces the time that we spend together
   with each other and breaks communication channels. We must keep
   Christ at the center, seeking His wisdom and trusting his word.
  
   Any marriage which allows anything to displace Christ in the
   home is in danger. The world will offer many things which
   will take our focus off of the strength that we may obtain
   through Christ , but we must decidedly continually look to Him.

In class, talk about situations in which you were wrong, or wronged someone else, and how you were able to resolve the problems. What lessons did you learn from these experiences? How do you deal with situations in which it appears the wrongs are all but unforgivable?
  
   When it comes to situations where you have been hurt it is often
   difficult to forgive and to move one. We must ask God to give us
   strength and also forgive others based upon the forgiveness that
   was first extended unto us.
  
   The type of love that we need in order to forgive in this manner
   is not natural. As we become transformed by God's love for us
   we develop compassion to love as He loved. We must be merciful
   just as Christ was merciful unto us.
  
Prayer: Father we need you this morning. As we have studied this week please make these words life. Make the words we have read become loving actions and deeds. Please don't let these world fall to the ground. Teach us Father to love, to forgive to trust and to live. Fill us with your life, and empower us to be all that we can for you. Thank you in Jesus name amen.