Chapter 8

The Magnificent Obsession – Chapter Eight

August 1, 2013

 

Mourn Everything Hopefully

 

“Without a doubt Sarah is the most important woman in the Old Testament… She expressed her pursuit of the magnificent obsession in a supporting role. I don’t think for a minute that Abraham would have become the man he did without her support and encouragement… What makes Sarah remarkable is that she devoted her life to Abraham, giving him her support and encouragement through good times and bad so that he could whole-heartedly abandon himself to God and His call.”

The Magnificent Obsession, p. 213-214

 

 

THIS WEEK’S ASSIGNMENT:
Scripture Reading: Genesis 23
Read Chapter 8 – Magnificent Obsession

Questions for Small Group Discussion and Blog:

1. Read 1 Peter 3. How is Sarah described here?

2. Compare the kind of beauty that Sarah exhibited with the world’s standard of beauty today?
3. Review your Bible to find other Bible verses about "beauty".  Use an index or concordance to help.  How does God see "beauty"?   

4. Where do you fall in terms of “Biblical Beauty” vs. “Worldly Beauty”? What changes do you want to make in your life as a result of what you've learned about "beauty"?

5. On page 217 Anne asks us, “Who is your Sarah?” Is there someone in your life who’s been so very dear to you, someone you’ve shared much of life with and now they’re gone?  How have you grieved and dealt with the loss?
6.  Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13.  Can turn Paul’s exhortation into a positive statement?  What do you think it means to grieve as those who have “hope”?

7. Do you live with a “KYF” attitude? A “Keep Your Fork” perspective? (See page 217-218)? Or are you living for this life only?    Do you believe the best is truly yet to come? What do you believe your heavenly home with look like and why?  Cite Bible verses to support your view.  Please share with the group and post on the blog your thoughts.

8. Take some time  as Anne suggests on page 222 and “examine your life”. Look at your calendar, your checkbook, and charge card bills,  your cell phone call log and texts.    Those things have a good way of revealing what we’re living for. Let’s look at it another way: If a reporter from CNN or Fox News were to follow you around for 7 straight days, day and night, what would he find to be the thing or things that you are living for? What would he write about you?  Please share with the group.

 9.  What are you doing in your life that matters to God?

 

For Personal Prayer & Reflection:
Mourn Everything Hopefully~
Forgiveness: It puts you in right standing with God.  Anne says on page 220 “…don’t talk to God in generalities. Be specific. Ask God to forgive you. He promises He will. Then you must- it’s not an option, you must- forgive yourself.” Some of us walk around with tremendous guilt or tremendous bitterness simply because we have not been specific with what we need forgiveness for or what we need to give forgiveness for.  Tell God what you did, what it caused, why you’re asking for forgiveness, what you learned, and end with why you know you are now forgiven… and that you forgive yourself.   Say these words out loud.  In the same way, tell God what someone else did to you, name the person, what happened, how it made you feel, what it caused and why you are  forgiving them. Be as specific as you can… and thank Him for His mercy and grace that enable you to forgive, to be forgiven and to walk free of guilt and bitterness