Discuss It – Matthew 13:24-30
- Why do people dislike weeds?
- How would you respond if you tried to get a Bible study going and a group of non-Christians showed up to give you a hard time?
- What are some ways Christians blend in with non-Christians?
- What do you think about Christians who try to isolate themselves completely from non-Christians?
- What opportunities do you have by living among all different kinds of people?
- In what ways does Satan try to mess up God’s plan and your part in that plan?
- What dangers lie in trying to label people as either “weeds” or “wheat” (non-Christians or Christians)?
- Whose responsibility is it to label the weeds and deal with them?
- Under what circumstances are you to live for Christ?
Discuss It – Matthew 13:36-43
- How do you study the Bible in order to understand better what Christ has said?
- If we seldom pick up the Bible or spend time praying, what do our actions say about us?
- If you had to guess, what would you estimate to be the ratio of “wheat” to “weeds” in your office, town, neighborhood, or school?
- How do these kinds of passages (threats of judgment for unbelievers) make you feel?
- In which category (wheat or weed) would your associates place you? Why?
- What does this passage say to you about the prospect of the world getting better and better?
Apply It
- In what ways do you need to alter your life-style (either attitude or action) today in order to be more like wheat and less like a weed?
- Whom do you need to judge and label less today?
- For what non-Christian coworkers, neighbors, and friends will you pray this week?
- In what ways can you “shine like the sun” in your contacts with unbelievers?
- What passage of Scripture do you need to ask God about and study this week?
- How could you minister to someone today with a quote or insight from the Bible?