Chapter 15 - The Ultimate Buzz
The Christian life is not just about receiving. It’s also about giving. You have to receive first, which is why that has been the emphasis of this book, but I wanted to talk about how the receiving will affect our relationships with others as well. We’ll need to be able to forgive others, which can be a very difficult thing. Sometimes we’ll also need to forgive ourselves and even God in our own minds. The key to be able to do this is to see things from God’s perspective and how He is able to love. Abiding in His love will not only bring much freedom to our own lives but also free us up to love others as well.
Outline - The Ultimate Buzz
The Ultimate Buzz is speaking about feeling God’s love for others and seeing Him work through you
Example of me being in search of the perfect buzz - we don’t want to experience the buzz by ourselves
In terms of God’s perfect buzz (His love for us), He doesn’t want to experience this by Himself either. He wants someone to share in this “buzz” with Him. He wants to talk about how we and others make Him feel. He wants to talk about His experiences, thoughts, emotions, etc. We are the ones that “do it” for Him and He loves when we share in this “buzz” with Him.
Forgiveness is huge for relationships and experiencing this buzz - the “only love those who love me” attitude is a very weak position to operate from. You are giving others control over your life.
Most of the pain we feel is not from our actual interactions with people, but the judgments we make about what they are doing or saying to us. This is where the problem lies.
Crooked Car Parking Example - many times we only see others for where they are and not what caused them to get there. Many times we take people’s actions against us so personally when it’s actually something that is a result of us living in a fallen world.
A revelation of God’s forgiveness frees you up to love others regardless of how they treat you
Jesus forgiving on the cross - that kind of life can be born in us as well.
John 15:12
Col. 3:13
James 3:17
What does the word Elohim mean? How does this show us the relational aspect of God?
How would you describe the ultimate buzz discussed in this chapter? Can you relate to it?
What is the source of most of the pain we feel in relationships?
Think about the crooked car parking story. Discuss some instances where you may have a hard time forgiving someone. Do you think their interactions with you may have been based on something that happened to them in the past?
What do you think Jesus’ thoughts were on the cross? Who did He forgive? How was He able to forgive? Is this only possible for Jesus or can we find this kind of life born in us too?
What is the key to forgiveness talked about in this chapter?
How do you feel about your ability to forgive others? Share with the group your experiences
What kind of position does the “only love those who love me” belief lead to? Have you ever found yourself in that position?
Does God demand love from us or supply love to us? What effect does this have on our lives?
What are some practical things you can do to abide in the love of God?
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