Think It Over:
For further reflection personally, with a friend or with your
Community Group. If you are leading a group through this guide, don’t feel
like you have to answer every question. Pick out those questions that will stir
up conversation and action among your group.
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ØWhat do you want for Christmas? How bad do you want it? When is
wanting something for Christmas just a fun part of the celebration? How
can wanting something for Christmas, become a deeper sign of
discontentment?
Be Content
Exodus 20:17 (NIV) page 52
ØRead Exodus 20:17(NIV) and read it from the Message Version. How
would you define coveting?
ØRead Hebrews 13:15 (Msg). Why is it so easy in our society to fall into a
coveting mindset? How has it impacted you personally?
ØReview the Ü Dangers of coveting section. How do each of the dangers
drain the joy of life away? Explain how James 1:15 (NLT) speaks to these
dangers.
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No lusting after your neighbor’s house—or wife or servant or maid or ox
or donkey. Don’t set your heart on anything that is your neighbor’s.
Exodus 20:17 (Msg)
Coveting is the uncontrolled desire for more
ØWhat are the two cases where dissatisfaction can be good? How are these
good areas of dissatisfaction showing up in your life? If not, why not?
ØRead Philippians 4:11-13. What did Paul learn? How can we learn it so
that it becomes a part of life’s rhythm?
ØDiscuss each of the three suggestions to learn contentment? Imagine how
they would impact a life challenged with discontentment? What are the
obstacles to integrating each one into everyday life?
ØRead 1 John 2:16–17 (Msg). What reality is John pointing to? How have
you processed through that reality? How does it show up in your life?
Making It Real: The Bottom Line this week is to personally choose the Reither Resist, Rejoice, or Release, that would have the greatest possibility of
increasing your contentment in life. Which did you choose and what is your
plan to integrate it into your life?
Changing Your Mind:5 Don’t be obsessed with getting more…. Be relaxed
with what you have. Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk
off and leave you”. Hebrews 13:5 (Msg)
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Also, CDs are available at the sound booth.
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Don’t be obsessed with getting more…. Be relaxed with what you have.
Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you.
Hebrews 13:5 (Msg)
Learn to admire without having to acquire
Ü Dangers of coveting
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These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed
to grow, it gives birth to death.
James 1:15 (NLT)
Ø Exhaustion
Ø Debt
Ø Worry
part 10/10
Ø Conflict
Ø Dissatisfaction
Your net-worth has nothing
to do with your self-worth
Luke 12:15 (NIV) page 727
Ø Rejoice in what you have
and who you are
When is Dissatisfaction Good?
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Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the
bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what’s given and
delighting in the work. It’s God’s gift!
Ecclesiastes 5:19 (The Msg)
q Dissatisfaction leads me to improve
God will not allow you to be
content in your complacency
Contentment is not getting what you want
but enjoying what you have
Proverbs 1:32 (NIV) page 439
Ø Release what you have
to help others
q Dissatisfaction that is really
Holy Discontentment
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Command those who are rich in the things of this life not to be
proud, but to place their hope, not in such an uncertain thing as
riches, but in God, who generously gives us everything for our
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enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good works,
to be generous and ready to share with others.
1 Timothy 6:17–18 (GNB)
1 Samuel 17:26 (NIV) page 197
Ü How do we learn contentment?
Philippians 4:11–13 (NIV) page 820
Ø Resist comparing yourself
to others
2 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV) page 807
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Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way,
wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing
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to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its
wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God
wants is set for eternity.
1 John 2:16–17 (Msg)
Bottom Line:
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