Overcome Evil with Good
CONNECTING with my Lord
The GREATEST demonstration of returning good for evil is Christ’s death on the Cross! What was He thinking that would have allowed Him to function that way?
[various answers – the glory of God, obedience to the Father, love for us, grace, and mercy; He, more than anybody, knows the eternal punishment in Hell and He wanted to spare us from that!]
What else has God done, or what else will God do, to model what it looks like to return good for evil?
[OT examples – the Exodus from Egypt, God’s mercy in the wilderness wanderings of Israel, the way Jesus treated the disciples knowing they WOULD forsake Him, and the way He treated the AFTER He rose from the dead – knowing they HAD forsaken Him!]
CONNECTING into my Life
Think of someone in your life that has done you evil. How did you respond? If you didn’t respond well, what SHOULD you have done to return good for the evil done to you?
If you were the one committing the ‘evil,’ how would you want someone to respond to you? Are you willing to do the same to them?
Honestly, why is it so HARD for you to return GOOD for EVIL?
[probably PRIDE; we think: “They hurt me!” – I want to get even!]
CONNECTING into my Church!
Prayer Time: Pray that we as an ABF, church, families, and individuals will return GOOD for any EVIL done to us!
Overcome Evil with Good – READ ROM. 12:14-21
Jesus warned us that evil will likely be done to us as it was to Him!
Remember, never close the Book (God’s Word)
1. We have DIVINE weapons.
2 Cor. 10:3-5 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Q: What are the weapons God used to win you?
Key Passage: Romans 12:14-21
2. Control your TONGUE.
Rom. 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
3. Seek godly ADVISORS and listen to them!
Rom. 12:15-16 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
4. Keep doing what is RIGHT.
Rom. 12:17 Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
* You are not a slave to the expectations of others!
Doing ‘right’ = doing what is right in the eyes of God (i.e. His Word)
Example: 1 Sam. 24 – David fleeing from Saul, but would not kill him.
5. Recognize your LIMITS
Rom. 12:18-19 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
6. The ultimate weapon: deliberate, focused LOVE.
Rom. 12:20-21 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
• Protects you from your own bitterness and resentment.
• May help to bring the other person to repentance.
END OF DVD – Open Discussion/Small Groups
CONNECTING It – Group Discussion
Has there been a time in your life when someone did good to you even when you were being evil to them?
[various examples]
Describe a time when you did something good to someone who had wronged you:
[various examples]
Circle the number on the scale that best represents whether it is very hard for you to do good to someone who has wronged you (1) or whether it is very easy for you to do good to someone who has wronged you (6):
Hard Easy
1 2 3 4 5 6
What are some truths you can focus on that will help you to grow and be in a better position to return good for evil?
[the CROSS, God’s GRACE, MERCY, PATIENCE with us – all the blessings and goodness that should be leading us to repentance!]
CONNECTING to the Word – Small Groups
How does Romans 8:28-29 help me to better understand why I can do good to those who hate or hurt me?
[READ and discuss]
- God says that all things ‘work together’ for good
- He’s wanting to use this situation to conform you to the image of Christ
- It’s part of the growing process – treating others the way God treats me
How does 1 Peter 1:3-12 help me to better understand why I can do good to those who hate or hurt me?
[READ and discuss]
- Trials prove the genuineness of our faith – 1:7
- Anybody can serve God when things are going well
- Focus our ‘rejoicing’ in the Lord and His plans, not ours
- Peter pointed out that it is for ‘a season’ – it may not last as long as you think, but are you learning in the process
How does 1 Peter 2:21-25 help me to better understand why I can do good to those who hate or hurt me?
[READ and discuss]
- We have been ‘called’ to this sort of life [called = a divine summons – i.e. it’s part of God’s plan!]
- Compare what Christ suffered and He didn’t deserve it with what we suffer and sometimes we do deserve it
- Notice His example: How He handled His tongue – 2:23!
- Notice the PURPOSE: 2:24 – He was thinking of us!
- He can help us: He’s the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls!
CONNECTING with my Lord
The GREATEST demonstration of returning good for evil is Christ’s death on the Cross! What was He thinking that would have allowed Him to function that way?
What else has God done, or what else will God do, to model what it looks like to return good for evil?
CONNECTING into my Life
Think of someone in your life that has done you evil. How did you respond? If you didn’t respond well, what SHOULD you have done to return good for the evil done to you?
If you were the one committing the ‘evil,’ how would you want someone to respond to you? Are you willing to do the same to them?
Honestly, why is it so HARD for you to return GOOD for EVIL?
CONNECTING into my Church!
Prayer Time: Pray that we as an ABF, church, families, and individuals will return GOOD for any EVIL done to us!
Overcome Evil with Good
Jesus warned us that evil will likely be done to us as it was to Him!
Remember, never close the Book (God’s Word)
1. We have _____________ weapons.
2 Cor. 10:3-5 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Q: What are the weapons God used to win you?
Key Passage: Romans 12:14-21
2. Control your _______________.
Rom. 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
3. Seek godly ___________________ and listen to them!
Rom. 12:15-16 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
4. Keep doing what is _____________________.
Rom. 12:17 Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
* You are not a slave to the expectations of others!
Doing ‘right’ = doing what is right in the eyes of God (i.e. His Word)
Example: 1 Sam. 24 – David fleeing from Saul, but would not kill him.
5. Recognize your ______________.
Rom. 12:18-19 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
6. The ultimate weapon: deliberate, focused _____________.
Rom. 12:20-21 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
• Protects you from your own bitterness and resentment.
• May help to bring the other person to repentance.
CONNECTING It – Group Discussion
Has there been a time in your life when someone did good to you even when you were being evil to them?
Describe a time when you did something good to someone who had wronged you:
Circle the number on the scale that best represents whether it is very hard for you to do good to someone who has wronged you (1) or whether it is very easy for you to do good to someone who has wronged you (6):
Hard Easy
1 2 3 4 5 6
What are some truths you can focus on that will help you to grow and be in a better position to return good for evil?
CONNECTING to the Word – Small Groups
How does Romans 8:28-29 help me to better understand why I can do good to those who hate or hurt me?
How does 1 Peter 1:3-12 help me to better understand why I can do good to those who hate or hurt me?
How does 1 Peter 2:21-25 help me to better understand why I can do good to those who hate or hurt me?