In week 3 of our series, Here We Go Again, we are looking at something that wreaks havoc on our joy, our relationships, our gratitude, and so much more: Discontentment. Discontentment causes us to focus on ourselves and our needs instead of the needs of those around us. It leaves us completely self-absorbed. Simply put, discontentment is a terrible companion. The good news is there is a better way to live than being stuck in our discontentment, and that is looking to Christ and Christ alone for our satisfaction and contentment.
What things keep people today from being content?
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1. How have you seen the negative impact of discontentment, whether in your life or someone else's?
2. Read Philippians 4:10-14. Compare the different circumstances that Paul described facing throughout his life in this passage of Scripture.
Philippians 4:10-14
10 How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. 11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. 14 Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.
3. What was Paul’s “secret of living in every situation?”
4. What is the result of turning to Christ for contentment, according to this passage of Scripture?
1. In your own words, define the word "content" based on what you read in Philippians 4:10-14.
2. Do you find yourself to be a content person? Why or why not?
3. What is currently holding you back from being content in Christ?
What step do you need to take today toward contentment? Do you need to spend more time with your Heavenly Father, spend more time around people who live with Christ-centered contentment, delete social media, or something else? Whatever step it looks like for you, share that step with your group. Then, pair up in groups of two or three. Within your groups, pray for each other. Pray that you all would turn to Christ for contentment and that you would find strength in Christ as a result.
Our human nature tempts us to look to other things in this world for contentment. Particularly, many people look to their life circumstances, their possessions, or other people for their contentment. The problem with living this way is that these things were never meant to satisfy us or lead to our contentment. They are unstable. Our life circumstances change on a dime, our possessions ultimately deteriorate, and people let us down. God, however, will never fail us. Let's take a few moments to look at three character traits of God and be reminded why He is the one we must turn to for contentment.
Unlike our circumstances, other people, or our possessions, God does not change. He is the One who remains consistent in a world that is constantly changing. Because God will never change, we can turn to Him at all times, good and bad, and find peace, hope, and contentment.
1. Read Malachi 3:6.
Malachi 3:6
“I am the Lord, and I do not change.”
2. What is the significance of the truth that God never changes?
3. How does this truth about God compare to the things of this world that we look to for contentment?
4. How would believing this verse and taking it to heart impact your contentment?
It does not take long to live on planet Earth to understand that people will let us down. Even the people who love us the most will disappoint us at times. Additionally, we also hurt those we love the most at times. Our love is imperfect at best. God's love, however, will never let us down. His love is perfect and complete. When we turn to Him for satisfaction, we cannot help but find contentment as we are met with His never-ending love.
1. Read 1 John 4:14-19.
1 John 4:14-19
14 Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. 16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17 And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. 18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 19 We love each other because he loved us first.
2. How is God’s love described in this passage of Scripture?
3. How is God’s love different than the love that the world has to offer?
4. What is the result of experiencing God’s perfect love, according to this passage of Scripture?
5. How would believing this passage of Scripure and taking it to heart impact your contentment?
The enemy wants us to believe that our circumstances, other people, or acquiring enough possessions can save us. The truth is, nothing on this earth can save us. If we look to these things for satisfaction, we will end up disappointed every time because they cannot save us. Only God can do that.
1. Read Acts 4:12.
Acts 4:12
There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.
2. What does this passage of Scripture teach about salvation?
3. What does this passage of Scripture teach about all of the earthly things that we look to for salvation?
Take a few moments to reflect on the truths from Scripture that we studied today.
1. Which of these truths: God never changes, God loves, or God saves, encouraged you the most today? Why?
2. How can you take that truth about God that particularly encouraged you to heart and find contentment in God this week?
When you are finished, pray. Ask God to help you all as you seek to turn to Him for your true source of satisfaction and contentment.
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