Disconnected, Part 3: “Gossip”
September 24, 2023

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Message Review

Humans desire to have real, authentic, intimate, and meaningful connections with people. Despite living in a more interconnected world than ever, we seem to be more disconnected from having these types of relationships than ever before.  One of the major reasons for this is gossip. Gossip is destructive to us, the person being talked about, and our relationship with them.

Main Point: Talk to them instead of about them.

Scripture References: Matthew 18:15-20

Bible Study      

The focus Bible passage from the sermon was Matthew 18:15-20. Before going to the Sermon Discussion Questions, study the passage by reading through it together, then talk through it using the Inductive Bible Study Method questions that follow:

  • Context: Discuss the context of this passage (i.e. when it was written, who wrote it, who it was written to, what was going on before and/or after this specific passage, etc.)

  • Observation: What do you notice in this passage?  What words or phrases stick out to you? And why?

  • Interpretation: What was Jesus’s original intent in this passage?  What main point(s) was he trying to communicate, and why is that important?

  • Application: What is one key takeaway or insight you had from this passage? How can or should you apply it to your life?

  • Questions: What questions/tensions do you have from this passage that you would like to discuss?

Discussion Questions

  • What were your initial thoughts or takeaways from the sermon and why?

  • How has gossip impacted you, and your relationships?

  • Why is gossip so destructive?

  • Pastor Ronnie said, “There will come a time we’ll throw all reasoning and conviction out the window to justify gossiping, and that time is when someone hurts us”.  Why do we justify gossiping about someone who has hurt us?

  • Read Matthew 18:15-17 again as a group. What steps does Jesus instruct us to take when someone has wronged us?  Why does Jesus want us to take those steps?

  • Read Matthew 18:18-20 again as a group. By saying what he said in verses 15-17, what big idea Jesus was communicating in verses 18-20? 

  • What stops you from doing what Jesus has instructed us to do in this passage? 

  • Pastor Ronnie said, “What we say about others when they aren’t present, says more about us than it says about them. Every. Single. Time!” What does it say about us when we gossip about other people?

  • What do you need to do to overcome gossiping?  What can we do to help one another overcome gossiping?

  • Is there anyone you have been talking about that you need to go talk to? What next step do you need to take with that person?

To watch or listen to Sunday’s sermon, visit our Sermons page.