4 Preventive Vaccines Against Division

4 germs that cause division in the family and in the Church:

1. .

Vaccine: Philippians 1:12-14 NKJV.

If Christ is the Goal of your life, then envy will disappear and division will not happen.

2. .

Vaccine: Philippians 2:3-8 NKJV.

If the of Christ is the example in your life, then pride will disappear and division will not happen.

3. .

Vaccine: Philippians 3:7-9 NKJV.

If Christ is the reason for your life, then Greed will disappear and division will not happen.

4. .

Vaccine: Philippians 4:4, 4:6 NKJV.

If in Christ is what you rely on, then worry will disappear and division will not happen.

Small Group Questions

What Do You Think?

What struck a chord with you from Sunday’s service?

The Story of Your Life.

1. On Sunday, Nazareth talked about four “germs” that cause issues in the Church as well as four spiritual “vaccines” to inoculate them. Which of the four germs is the most challenging for you to turn around?

Digging Deeper in God’s Word.

1. One of the “germs” Nazareth referenced that can cause issues in our lives (as well as in the Church) is envy. Our fallen human nature often wants to pull us to compare what we have to the circumstances of others – leading to jealousy and other destructive thought patterns and behaviors. One powerful story in the Old Testament where we see these dynamics is found in Genesis 30:1-24. Read it together now.
   1. Have a few members of the group recap the story using their own words.
   2. How are the negative dynamics of envy apparent in this story?
   3. What does this story tell us about God? People? You?
   4. Given this example, how might you counsel your future self should you find yourself in a position where you feel jealous or envious?
2. According to Nazareth, the “vaccine” to jealousy is glorifying Christ as the primary goal in our lives. James offers further insight into how to dispel the negative effects of jealousy and envy in our lives. Read James 3:13-18 and answer the following questions.
   1. How does James suggest that a life of glorifying Christ looks according to these verses?
   2. When feelings of jealousy and envy arise, they’re often hard to de-escalate within ourselves. Left unchecked, they don’t lead to anything productive. From these verses, what self-reminders could you store in your brain to help you next time you feel jealous or envious?
3. The following verses offer different insights into how to protect oneself from becoming lost in jealousy, how to deal with feelings of jealousy, and how to react when we find ourselves in the crosshairs of someone else’s jealousy. Read them one at a time and share an insight from one of those three categories.
   1. Proverbs 14:30.
   2. Proverbs 23:17.
   3. Acts 7:9.
   4. Titus 3:1-7.

Personal reflection and application.

1. Have everyone share one thing someone else mentioned that stood out to you during this discussion.
2. Pray for one another.