Little Sins Week 4
Middle & High School Students
Wednesday, March 26th
6:30 – 8:30

PREPARING FOR iGROUPS

BOTTOM LINE: Envy makes it impossible to love God, our neighbor, or ourselves.  

SCRIPTURE: James 4:1-3

MESSAGE SUMMARY: Comparison really is a thief of joy. When we compare ourselves to the people around us, we can quickly become discontent with our gifts, and that discontentment turns into envy, which only leads to resentment for everyone around us. So envy may seem like a little, internal sin, but it actually makes it impossible to love God, our neighbor, or ourselves.

TRY THIS: Ask the students in your iGroup/Small Group for a schedule for any upcoming events they have going on, like a sporting event, a game, a school play, a competition, or a concert. It’s a great opportunity for you and the other students in your group to show up and support each other. Try to attend one event for each student if you can! 
Little Sins: Envy

Get the group talking… If you could be any celebrity for one day, who would it be and why?  

Ask the group to answer and discuss…
1) Rate on a scale of 1-10, How often you compare yourself to others.
     a) What do you typically compare to others? Why?
     b) What does comparison do to you? Good or bad.
2) Raise your hand if you have ever felt jealous or envious of someone else. Is there a difference between the two? 
3) What things or qualities are you envious of in other people? 
     a) Why do you think you want what they have instead of what you have? 
     b) Is it hard for you to be satisfied with what you have? Why or why not?
4) Read James 4:1-3
     a) Where do jealousy and envy start?
     b) If there is something we want/desire, what does the Bible say to do?
     c) Do we always get what we want, when we ask God for it? Why/why not?
5) Why do you think God explicitly said not to be envious of others?
     a) Why is it important to God that we don’t envy what others have or do?
6) It is impossible to keep envy to ourselves…
     a) What does that mean?
     b) How can envy spoil your relationship with God, other people, & yourself? 
7) Do you believe that God has given you everything you need for where you are right now? Why or why not? Does your idea of how much God loves you depend on what He gives you? Why or why not?
8) Do you feel like you can pray bold prayers and ask great things of God? 
    a) If not, what’s holding you back? If so, do you pray like that?
    b) What if God doesn’t give you exactly what you want?

Apply It… If you notice yourself feeling jealous or envious of someone…pause, take a breath, and pray for them and for continued blessings in their life. It’s impossible to envy others while you’re actively loving them and praying for them.

Bottom Line… Envy makes it impossible to love God, our neighbor, or ourselves.