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How To Identify the Obvious in a Culture That Is Oblivious

They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. ROMANS 1:19 NLT

Create a culture of truth with those around you

Buy truth, and do not sell it; … PROVERBS 23:23 ESV

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 1 CORINTHIANS 13:6 NIV

Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy. PROVERBS 27:6 NLT

“… the truth will set you free.” JOHN 8:32 NIV

Accept that everyone is a mess

And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” MATTHEW 9:35-38 ESV

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. COLOSSIANS 3:13 NLT

Identify the obvious thing I need to change

“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying, ‘Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. LUKE 6:41-42 NLT

What is the most obvious thing that God wants me to work on this week?

Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel! MATTHEW 23:24 NLT

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Locate a quiet place that is free from distractions and allows you to become quiet in your thoughts and feelings. Take a few slow, deep breaths, clearing your mind and inviting God into this process. When you are ready, reflect on the sermon about being oblivious to the obvious changes that God wants to make in your life. Ask Him to help you discern the change He wants you to make in your life that is most needed. If you have trouble determining what that is, ask someone who knows you and whom you trust will tell you the truth in a spirit of love. What will be the challenges in making this change? What are your feelings and thoughts about doing this? Pray to God about what needs to be your next step in making this change, and ask that you would sense His help and presence as you take this step. Close your time by asking God to reveal how your life will be better as a result of making this change. Work on the change each day this week, and thank Him for the help He will give you.

Discussion Questions

  1. Why do you think people are so oblivious?
  2. Talk about a time when you were completely oblivious to what was happening around you.
  3. How can accepting that everyone is a mess help you in living your life?
  4. Read Proverbs 27:6 (NLT). How can you contribute to creating a culture of truth in your life?
  5. Read Matthew 9:35-38 (NLT). In what ways can you become more aware of the needs of the people (the harvest) around you?
  6. NEXT STEPS: What is an area God has revealed to you that He wants to work with you to transform? What is an action you can take this week to cooperate with Him in growing more like Him in this area?