MEETING AGENDA:
- OPENING PRAYER – Ask one person to Open the meeting in prayer.
- DEVELOPMENT QUESTIONS – Ask everyone the Development Questions.
- ATTENDANCE – Take attendance through the SG Attendance System.
- TODAY’S LESSON – Go over this week’s SG lesson.
- CLOSING PRAYER – Ask for prayer requests and pray.
Development Questions
Question #1
Who would like to share a highlight, praise report, or testimony from this week?
Question #2
What did you learn from this week’s sermon?
Question #3
What was your most important accomplishment this week?
This Week's Passage:
Luke 18:9–14
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Connection Question:
What is something valuable you once had to let go of, and what did you learn through that experience?
Truth #1:
Pride Trusts in Self, but Humility Depends on God
Discussion Points:
- Pride compares ourselves to others instead of measuring our lives against God’s holiness. (2 Corinthians 10:12)
- God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6)
- True discipleship begins by recognizing our complete dependence upon God. (John 15:5)
Growth Question:
What area of your life is most difficult to fully surrender to God?
Truth #2:
Empty Hands Receive God’s Mercy
Discussion Points:
- Salvation is received through God’s mercy, not through human achievement. (Ephesians 2:8–9)
- Confession and repentance open the door to restoration and grace.
(1 John 1:9) - Empty hands before God are the posture of true worship and surrender.
(Matthew 5:3)
Growth Question:
How does comparison with others affect your spiritual life?
Truth #3:
Humility Leads to Justification and Exaltation
Discussion Points:
- Jesus declared that the humble tax collector went home justified before God. (Luke 18:14)
- Those who humble themselves before the Lord will be lifted up in His timing. (James 4:10)
- A humble life reflects the heart and character of Jesus to the world.
(Micah 6:8)
Growth Question:
How did Jesus model humility in ways that challenge you personally?
GO THEREFORE QUESTION:
Jesus taught that those who exalt themselves will be humbled, but those who humble themselves will be exalted. What is one area of pride you need to surrender this week, and how can you intentionally approach God and others with empty hands that fully depend on His grace?
PRAYER:
Question #1
Who are you praying for
to be saved?
to be saved?
Question #2
Who can you invite to Church and/or to Small Group?
Question #3
What are your prayer requests?