Romans 12:2

4 Areas of Relational Influence:

• Parents 

• Family 

• Spouse

• Friends

Big Idea: Generational patterns, whether positive or negative, have a profound impact on our lives.

3 Objections to Dealing with Our Past:

• Focusing on the past is bad.

• I don’t need to address my past.

• My past is a can of worms I am not willing to open.

Exodus 20:5-6

"Children who repeat the sins of their fathers evidence it by personally hating God." - Walter Kaiser

Point 1: Identifying Generational Patterns

• Single greatest influence on who you are today - Family of Origin…

- Your entire extended family going back 3-4 generations.

• “Jesus might live in your heart, but grandpa lives in your bones.” - Pete Scazzaro

Point 2: Breaking the Chains of the Past

• 2 Kings 22:1-2

Point 3: Building a Christ-Centered Legacy

• Proverbs 22:6

• “What one generation tolerates, the next generation will embrace.” - John Wesley

Response: 

• The hope to change your generational patterns rests in Jesus.

- Romans 5:18-19

• There is nothing that has been passed down to you from prior generations that Christ cannot redeem and restore.

• God wants to restore broken patterns in your life.

- “for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God”

- “God's jealousy is not a compound of frustration, envy, and spite, as human jealousy so often is, but appears instead as a praiseworthy zeal to preserve something supremely precious.” - J. I. Packer

New pattern established in Christ.

DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY

► This week's Passage: Colossians 3:1-11

► Connection questions:

1. What are you thankful for?

2. What is a challenge you are facing?

3. How did you do with last week’s “I will” statement?

► Have at least one member of the group restate the passage in their own words

► Individual answers to five questions:

1. What stands out to you?

2. What does this passage tell us about people?

3. What does this passage tell us about God?

4. Based on the passage, what is one thing I could do differently starting now and what would happen if I did? (each person commits to their action for one week using an “I will…” statement)

5. Who are you going to tell about what you discovered? (each person commits to having that conversation before the next meeting)