PAPER WALLS | WEEK 2
Week 2 Paper Walls
Not Buying It
It’s true that God loves you just the way you are, but he loves you too much to leave you that way.
Discussion Questions
What common excuses come to mind in these scenarios?
They could be excuses you’ve used or heard, or maybe you have some humorous excuses that would finish these sentences well.
I was running late because…
I didn’t do my homework because…
I would have applied for that job, but…
I meant to clean that, but…
I was going to say something in the meeting, but…
I don’t exercise much because…
My spouse and I haven’t done a date night in a while because…
Do you know anyone who excuses behaviors that hurt the people they claim to care most about?
When is the last time someone accused you of making excuses?
Your response?
Read Jesus’s parable Matthew 25:14–30
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Why would Jesus use such harsh consequences as the illustration for the third servant in verses 26–30.
Any paper walls come to mind during the message?
If so, what fear is at the root of that paper wall?
How would someone who truly loves you respond to your “reasons”?