What’s True in the Bible?

1. Jesus heals with compassionate care. (Mark 1:29–31 / Matthew 8:14–15 / Luke 4:38–39)

2. Jesus heals with comprehensive power. (Mark 1:32–34a / Luke 4:39–40 / Matthew 8:16–17 / Isaiah 53:4–6)

3. Jesus has commissioned us to be his witnesses. (Mark 1:34b / Luke 4:41)

What’s Real in my life?

• What comforts you when you are sick?
• When you think of being healed—either physically or spiritually—by Jesus, how do you respond?
• How does knowing that Jesus is the ultimate healer change your perspective on sickness and affliction in this life?

What’s Next?

• Look for an opportunity to testify to the compassionate and comprehensive healing power of our Messiah, Jesus.

What’s True in the Bible?

Staying Healthy Like Jesus

1. Strive to be mentally healthy. (Proverbs 2:1–6, 9:10 / 1 Kings 3:16–28 / 2 Chronicles 1:7–12 / Psalm 119:98–100 / James 1:5)

2. Strive to be physically healthy. (1 Corinthians 6:12–13, 19–20 / Ephesians 2:10 / 1 Timothy 4:8)

3. Strive to be spiritually healthy. (2 Peter 3:18 / Psalm 139:23–24)

4. Strive to be relationally healthy. (Luke 2:52 / John 19:26–27 / Proverbs 1:10–16)

What’s Real in my life?

• How would I rate my overall health?
• Which of these areas (above) is God calling me to focus on this year?

What’s Next?

• Determine one practical step you can take to grow in each area of your life.
• Share your commitment with a friend for encouragement and accountability.

What’s True in the Bible?

Why We Forgive

1. If you hold on to offenses, they will hold on to you. (Colossians 3:13 / Hebrews 12:15)

2. Forgiveness is not optional, but it is voluntary. (Colossians 3:13 / Matthew 6:12–15, 18:21–35 / Ephesians 4:30–5:1)

What’s Real in my life?
• What easily offends me?
• When is it difficult to forgive others? Why?
• Have I forgiven everybody in my life as God has forgiven me?
• What do I need to forgive “from the heart?”

What’s Next?

• Who do you need to forgive? Take the next step in forgiving them from the heart.
• How can you prepare yourself to respond to offenses with forgiveness? Write out a prayer that you can use for those situations.

What’s True in the Bible?

How was I forgiven?

1. I felt deep conviction. (Colossians 3:13 / Psalm 38)

2. I expressed genuine confession. (Colossians 3:13 / Psalms 38:15–18; 51; 130:1–8)

3. I received undeserved forgiveness. (Colossians 1:13–14, 2:13–14, 3:13 / Psalm 32)

What’s Real in my life?

• What is my favorite forgiveness story? Why?
• When did I first realize God’s forgiveness in my life?
• When is it difficult to receive forgiveness?
• How would I explain conviction and confession in the life of a believer?

What’s Next?

• Take time to reflect on how God forgave/forgives you.
• What did/does it cost him? How does forgiveness reveal His love for you?

What’s True in the Bible?

How to respond to the wildfire of impatience

1. Stop and pray. (Colossians 3:12–13 / James 5:7 / Psalm 27:13–14, 40:1)

2. Drop your agenda. (Colossians 3:12–13 / 1 Timothy 1:16 / James 5:7–11 / 2 Peter 3:9)

3. Roll with God. (Colossians 3:12–13 / Psalm 130:5 / Isaiah 40:31, 49:23, 64:4 / 1 Corinthians 13:4 / Hebrews 6:12–15)

What’s Real in my life?

• How would I describe patience in my life?

• What circumstances or personalities make it hard for me to be patient?

What’s Next?

• Use the “stop, drop, and roll” technique the next time you feel impatience rising within you.

I. A few cultural reflections

II. Redefining meekness

III. Meekness in the Bible

A. Abraham, Genesis 13

B. Joseph, Genesis 45

C. David, 1 Samuel 24

D. Moses, Numbers 12:3

E. Jesus, Isaiah 53:7

IV. Tests of meekness

V. Cultivating meekness

What’s True in the Bible?

The true look of humility

1. Humility doesn’t stare in the mirror. (Colossians 2:20–23, 3:12 / James 4:6 / 1 Peter 5:5)

2. Humility bows down to God. (Colossians 3:12 / James 4:7 / Micah 6:8)

3. Humility admits its faults. (Colossians 3:12 / James 4:8–9 / 2 Chronicles 7:14)

4. Humility stands in the end. (Colossians 3:12 / James 4:10 / Psalms 18:27, 147:6 / Proverbs 3:34 / Isaiah 66:2)

What’s Real in my life?

• When do I have an inflated or negative view of myself? Why?
• When is it difficult to do what I feel God wanting me to do?
• How do I know if I’m submitting to God when I’m not even sure what He wants?

What’s Next?

• When you feel yourself focusing too much on yourself, take a moment to think about Jesus—what He did and what He wants.

• If you have an opportunity to admit a weakness or fault, don’t be too proud to share. Putting on humility isn’t easy, but it’s worth it.