Outlive Your Life_ You Were Made to Make a Difference - Max Lucado [56]
3. Why do you think the people of Israel never practiced the revolutionary concept of Jubilee? Describe what Jubilee would look like in your area if this law went into effect immediately. What mini-Jubilees can you establish in your heart and habits even though this radical concept is not the law of the land?
4. Max mentioned several of the brightest and best organizations that are doing great work on poverty (World Vision, Compassion International, Living Water, and International Justice Mission). What organizations would you add, and why?
Ideas for Action
• This week find out more about what your church is already doing with the poor. Volunteer to get involved personally, to improve the work, or to fund it more intentionally.
• Rich Stearns told Max, “Poverty is rocket science.” Consult the best thinkers on the more-complicated issues related to poverty. Learn about well-informed poverty solutions and strategies by visiting the Web sites of the excellent organizations mentioned in this chapter: www.wvi.org, www.compassion.com, www.water.cc, www.ijm.org.
• “Cut concern for the poor out of the Bible, and you cut the heart out of it.” Take time this week to study just a few of the nearly two thousand scriptures on poverty, wealth, justice, and oppression. Start with the following verses:
Exodus 23:6
Leviticus 19:15; 23:22; 25:35, 39
Deuteronomy 15:7–11; 24:10–15
Psalm 35:10
Proverbs 14:21; 22:22–23; 31:9
Isaiah 10:1–3; 58:6–7
Jeremiah 5:26–29
Matthew 19:21
Luke 12:32–33; 14:12–14
Acts 4:33–35
James 2:1–4
CHAPTER 11: REMEMBER WHO HOLDS YOU
Questions for Discussion
1. Which personal achievements make you feel most grateful? How much did God have to do with them? How could you thank God for his help and tell others about it?
2. In what seasons of life is it tempting to have a too-small view of God or a too-large view of yourself? What helpful habits could you develop to keep these two tendencies in check?
3. What instruction on pride and humility do you find in James 4:6–10? In what ways do you see humble people experiencing grace? When have you seen proud people opposed?
4. How does James 4:13–17 help you talk about the future with humility?
5. Humility and pride are opposites. However, wisdom may be a helpful path to cultivating humility and beating pride. How might a wise view of reality combat a too-high or too-low view of self?
Ideas for Action
• Do not miss what God is up to in your city. Use a journal to track moments when you see God moving. When did he show up in a way that you noticed? How did things go differently because someone was living as Christ would?
• The next time you receive praise, respond intentionally. Beware of dismissing it entirely by saying the accomplishment was nothing. Spread the praise around to others who helped you achieve it. Even better, praise others who helped, but then give God the glory for it all.
CHAPTER 12: BLAST A FEW WALLS
Questions for Discussion
1. Philip went to Samaria, and the grace of God blasted the walls between the Jews and Samaritans. Max asks you, “Do any walls bisect your world?” What divisions do you see dominating your culture? What unspoken rules of separation promote a subconscious prejudice? How long has this wall been there? What are the root causes? What keeps it going?
2. Describe yourself with the categories Max used to describe Philip (skin, hometown, economics, relationships, etc.). Now describe someone quite the opposite of you in these categories. Name someone you know who resembles the latter.
3. As Christians, how well do we live out Galatians 3:28–29 and erase the divisions between us? Where have we succeeded? Where have we failed?
4. How could you tell a person on the other side of a dividing wall that he or she matters to you? What could you do to show that person you care?
Ideas for Action
• Be honest with yourself about your prejudices. Spend