Overflow, Week 1: Tipping Point

Romans 15:13 (NIV)

Tipping Point: A specific moment in a situation, process, or system beyond which a significant and often unstoppable effect or change takes place.

James 4:1–2a (NIV)

Today’s Truth: What is in you will eventually come out of you.

⇒ Get to the of the matter.

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV); Romans 7:15–19 (NIV); Jeremiah 17:9 (NIV); Hebrews 4:12–13 (MSG)

⇒ It is through inner , not behavior modification.

Matthew 23:25–26 (NIV); Matthew 15:19b-20a (NIV); Psalm 139:23–24 (NIV)

⇒ Repentance us for greater capacity.

Galatians 5:19–20 (NLT); Ephesians 4:31 (NIV)

Question: Where and when will you create a place and space for repentance that free you to be filled with the abundance of all that God offers?

Theme: The Lie that Cleanliness is Next to Godliness

Share Together: 

Where do you fall in the pendulum between a Neat Freak Nancy or a Messy Marvin? Why? What do others close to you say about you?

Reflect Together: 

What impacted you most from Sunday’s Message and that has led to action steps you are taking this week?

Read and Discuss Together: 

Matthew 23:25–28 (NIV)

• What was Jesus’ tipping point to leading what some called “The Seven Woes” which give us context for the relationship He has with the religious leaders of His day?
• What do you think Jesus meant when he called the Pharisees hypocrites?
• In verses 25-26, Jesus compares the Pharisees’ outward appearance to a cup that has been cleaned on the outside but is still dirty on the inside. How might this apply to our own lives?
• At the end of verse 26, Jesus says that if you clean the inside, then the outside becomes clean. How can this be possible spiritually as part of growing in our Christlikeness?
• In verse 27, Jesus compares the Pharisees to whitewashed tombs, which look clean on the outside but are full of dead bones and uncleanness on the inside. How can we avoid becoming like whitewashed tombs ourselves?
• In verse 28, Jesus says that outwardly the Pharisees appear righteous to others, but inwardly they are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. How can we ensure that our inward lives align with our outward actions?
• How can we avoid becoming like the Pharisees, who were focused on following religious rules and traditions but missed the heart of the gospel message?
• What steps can we take to ensure that our faith is not just an outward show, but a genuine reflection of our inward beliefs and values?

Pray Together:

Take time to share with your spiritual community the good things God is doing in your life, as well as the prayer requests you have.