Boundaries That Restore | Line in the Sand | Week 1

Opening

As we approach the holidays, what relationships are you concerned about navigating? Did this sermon give you any handles for how you can approach those? 

Overview  

Real relationships thrive on respected boundaries, which are a combination of freedom and responsibilities. From the beginning, God establishes boundaries with humanity and commands that we respect His boundaries. Humans were responsible for the care of the garden but God was responsible for knowing good and evil. Humanity crossed that boundary and we still struggle with boundaries.

Respected boundaries deepen connection and commitment; dishonored boundaries destroy both. Saying “no” and respecting “no” opens more grace, power, and connection in a relationship. We alone are free and responsible to change out attitudes or actions; others cannot do this for us and we cannot do it for others. Real relationships are built on the freedom to say “no” and the responsibility to hear “no.”

Discussion Questions

1. Do you have a harder time hearing “no” or saying “no”?
2. Where have you been dishonoring your own boundaries or the boundaries of others?

Practice

Revelation 3 ¹⁹ I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference. ²⁰ “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. ²¹ Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne. ²² “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.”

 Read the preceding Bible passage aloud and then use the passage to list what God names as the responsibility of people. What does God say He will do? What is the interaction between the two?

Allow people to share (perhaps with identifying details left out) a relationship they have that would benefit from boundaries. Can the group help them sort out where they are responsible to both say “no” and to hear “no”? Do this for as many people as you have time.

Closing

Pray for your group to get better at relationships through the power of the Holy Spirit. A lot of our testimony among our community stands on how we relate to one another and to people outside of our church community. Jesus shows us a different way.