WELCOME ICEBREAKER When you grew up, what kind of yard did you have? What was your favorite place in the yard? Did it have a fence? WORSHIP Come into His presence with thanksgiving by singing, praise reports or read a passage of scripture like Psalm 148. WORD In their book on boundaries, Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend write that boundaries are personal property lines, that define who you are and who you are not, and influence all areas of your life. Physical boundaries help you determine who may touch you and under what circumstances. Mental boundaries give you freedom to have your own thoughts and opinions. Emotional boundaries help you deal with your own emotions and disengage from the harmful, manipulative emotions of others. Spiritual boundaries help you distinguish God’s will from your own and give you renewed awe for your Creator. Discuss how healthy boundaries are established. - Listen to the Father, not the crowd. Build your boundaries on His word.
Read the following verses and discuss how they apply to this principle: Proverbs 18:18; John 8:28; Galatians 1:10; 1 Corinthians 4:4, 10:23.
- Find your specific mission. God hasn’t asked us to do everything, to go everywhere, to help everyone.
Jesus had a specific, narrowly defined ministry. While Jesus was on earth, he could have traveled the Mediterranean world—Greece, Italy, Turkey and Spain. But Jesus stayed within one tiny chunk of the world, mostly within the regions of Judea and Galilee.
Why? That’s where the Jewish people were, and they were his primary calling (Matthew 15:24). Jesus poured himself out for people, but within the limits of the calling God, the Father had given him. He focused.
Read Ecclesiastes 9:10. Ask the group to give an example in their lives of something that takes their focus of what they have been called to do.
- Let your yes be yes and your no be no — James 5:12.
Your no is a good “barb” on the fence to let others know you are committed to living according to biblical values and you will protect them. Your words define your edges. What do you have trouble saying yes to? What do you have trouble saying no to? Why do we struggle with maintaining our boundaries?
People often are afraid to say no for fear that their partner or friends may leave them and they will be alone. Fear of being alone keeps many in hurtful patterns for years. Their fear is that, if they set a boundary, they won’t be loved, so they put up with abuse.
Close with a clear example of a man who chose to keep his boundary marked— Joshua 24:15.
WORK In your prayers ask the Holy Spirit to help you keep your boundaries and to define them according to His will. Home group leaders please remember that April 25 is water baptism. Review this with your groups and let the office know if there are any candidates. Has this lesson helped you? Please let us know! Email home group testimonies with this form! Do you think I speak this strongly in order to manipulate crowds? Or curry favor with God? Or get popular applause? If my goal was popularity, I wouldn’t bother being Christ’s slave. Galatians 1:10 — MSG
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