What is SOAP?

SOAP is an acronym for: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. As you prepare for participating in City Group this week, we invite you to write down your thoughts in a journal. Journaling is a great way to record and process your thoughts & what God is sharing with you.

Week of November 23rd
What Do I Do With My Bittnerness?

OVERVIEW

Wrapping up the series "That's Sick!" We have learned that not forgiving those who have offended or wounded us leads to a root of bitterness (Hebrews 12:15). Over time, the root of bitterness can become buried, but the fruit it produces is visible and toxic. Is your life bearing any bitter fruits, such as depression, ingratitude, the inability to love, being negative, critical or quick to anger? If so, ask God to expose the root of your bitterness and reveal with whom or what you are bitter. The root of bitterness can also be connected to other internal problems: anger, envy, fear, pride, hurt and a wrong view of God.

KEY POINTS

The sickness of "Bitterness" within us contaminates everything! Scripture uses the metaphor of a root to best describe this sickness within us. Bitterness is the greatest source of pain in our lives and it sucks the life out of the soil around.

Bitterness contaminates everything. So how do we kill a root of bitterness?

  • Expose the objects of your bittnerness.
    • With who ore what are you bitter?
  • Cancel their debt. 
    • Give up your claim to revenge and blame.
  • Bless your offender.
    • Speak well of them.

Forgiveness means extending to someone else what God has freely given you.

  • True forgiveness is second hand

SCRIPTURE

As we read aloud through these verses, let's pause, reflect, and listen for what Holy Spirit might be saying to you through the Word of God.

Key scriptures from Sunday.

  • Hebrews 12:14-15 "See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."

  • Ephesians 5:11 "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them."  

  • Matthew 18:32-35 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?'  In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.   "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."  

  • Luke 6:27-28 "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you

Additional scriptures:

  • Matthew 5:43-48
  • Luke 6:27-28
  • John 13:34; 15:12
  • Romans 12:18-21; 14:13; 15:7
  • Ephesians 4:26-27, 31-32
  • Colossians 2:13; 3:12-13
  • 1 Peter 3:8-9

OBSERVATION

The solution for bitterness is forgiveness. True forgiveness is always second- hand. We can only pass on to others what God has given us. Therefore, we must first understand and appropriate God’s forgiveness. Before you begin tackling the root of bitterness, it will be helpful to remember just how much God has for- given you. The person who has been forgiven much, loves much.

Q. 1. What visible fruit of bitterness is there in your life? What are some reasons we give or.... excuses we make for not forgiving? Besides bitterness, what other hidden attitudes do you struggle with?

Q. 2. What do you think it means to “come short of God’s grace”? How does understanding God’s grace keep us from becoming bitter people? (Hebrews 12:14-16)

Q. 3. Without revealing their identity, think about the most bitter person you know. What are the visible indications of his bitterness? How has this bitterness contaminated everything else?

Q. 4. What situation are you currently dealing with that could potentially make you bitter? Who are you holding responsible? 

Personal Reflection Question: 

  • For what do you need to forgive yourself ? What debt do you need to cancel? How fully have you accepted God’s forgiveness?
  • How has bitterness contaminated other areas of your life and robbed you of joy and contentment
  • Extending forgiveness to others brings freedom, emotional healing, spiritual growth and intimacy with God. It can even lead to physical healing. How ready are you to be free of bitterness?

APPLICATION

This week:

  • Ask someone who knows you well if they see any evidences (fruit) of bit- terness in your life. If he does, ask God to reveal with whom or what you are bitter. Use the handout, “Uprooting Bitterness” to help you expose and kill the root.
  • Identify whom God would like to bless, through you, this week. How will you extend to him that which God has freely given you?
  • What actions do you need to take today so that you can truly say you have made every effort to “live in peace with everyone”?

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, many of us are dealing with issues that we have either been unaware of or lack the courage to address. We ask you for the courage to deal with this root of bitterness, to kill it in our lives by forgiving others, ourselves, situations and circumstances. I want to cancel the debt of others and learn to bless them, to release them to you, and to forgive as I have been so freely forgiven for my sins and debts. Thank you for your help, in Jesus name, Amen!

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