Complaining leads to more complaining - stuck in our own perspective forgetting God’s bigger plan.
Talking Points:
- Complaining puts our focus on our unmet desires rather than on God’s ability to accomplish his plan. Exodus 14:11-12, Numbers 11:4-9
- Three questions to overcome complaining:
- What can I do to make a difference here?
- Where is my perspective wrong? Philippians 2:17-18
- How has God blessed me outside of this? Psalm 103:2
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- What do you tend to complain about the most? How does complaining tend to affect your outlook and that of those around you?
- Read Exodus 14:10-13 and Numbers 11:4-9. Identify all that God had done for the Israelites in these verses. How have you been like the Israelites – taking God’s provision for granted and demanding more?
- Read Philippians 2:17-18. Do you more often need to change your circumstance or your perspective? Explain.
- Read Psalm 103:2. Share some of the blessings God has given you. In the past, how did your complaining get in the way of seeing God’s blessings?
- Read Philippians 4:6-7. How does this passage challenge you? How can thankfulness impact your perspective?
- How do you plan to incorporate the insights you’ve learned about complaining in your life moving forward?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
