ENVY (AND MISSION SPOT)

Mission Spot

This week we’re going to spend some time praying for Claire, and for the Davies family, as they continue serving Jesus and making him known.

1. Watch

Watch the video update from Claire by clicking here

2. Pray

Spend time praying for Claire and the Davies family.

Claire’s Prayer points:

- finishing well at language school
- decision making for joining a ministry team here
- for people to come to know Jesus as churches run camps and evangelistic events over summer
- for comfort in Jesus and that I'd look for opportunities to serve others when I feel lonely here

The Davies’ Prayer points:

1. Please pray for the kids as they miss being at Citylight, particularly Hazel as the group of girls at Citylight are great buddies.
2. Please pray for us as we seek to raise funds and try to explain why Ireland needs full time workers, we have had some hard conversations with people that don't see the need and this can be quite discouraging.
3. Please pray that God would open a door for us to live and preach the good news of Jesus in Ireland. (Colossians 4:2-3)


3. Respond.

Could anyone in the group send through a message/ short video in response to claire to let her know we are praying for her?

ENVY DISCUSSION GUIDE

Read Psalm 73.

  1. What words or phrases stand out to you most from this psalm?

  2. In verses 1–3, what is the tension the psalmist is experiencing? What does he know to be true about God, and what is he struggling to believe?

  3. What exactly is the psalmist envying? What does he see in the lives of the wicked that makes him feel unsettled or bitter?

  4. Why do you think envy often focuses on people who seem close enough to compare ourselves with, rather than people whose lives are completely different from ours?

  5. What does this psalm show about the different ways that Envy can erode our Joy in God?

  6. What perspective does the psalmist gain when he comes into the presence of God?

  7. What qualities or characteristics of God cause the psalmist to desire him over the things he had been envying?

Read Proverbs 14:30

“A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.”

  1. Where have you seen the way envy “rots the bones”? This could be in your own life, relationships, workplaces, families, churches, or wider culture.

Read Philippians 4:11–13

  1. Paul says he has learned to be content “in any and every situation.” What circumstances make contentment hardest for you?

  2. Paul says, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” How does knowing Christ give strength for contentment, especially when our circumstances do not change?

Application

What is one area where envy has been robbing you of joy, and what would it look like this week to fight it with gratitude, prayer, and remembering what you have in Christ?

Pray