DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY

⬆️ JESUS

1. How many initially presumed your prayer posture is more like the tax collector?

-- Has that opinion changed? Why or why not?

2. When is the last time your prayer looked and sounded like the tax collector? (Including the times you did not

verbalize it…but still thought it)?

-- Is the Holy Spirit stirring something in you about it?

3. Have you ever prayed a prayer like, “God, be merciful to me, THE sinner”?

-- Share your experience.

➡️ MISSION

4. How can realizing you are in constant need of mercy/grace impact your relationships with ‘others’ who may or

may not know Jesus?

5. Have you built any walls between neighbors/coworkers/family by how you have thought less of them?

-- (Philippians 2:3→ Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more

significant than yourselves)

-- How can you begin tearing those walls down?

6. Compare and discuss how the life of the Pharisee vs the life of the tax collector (after leaving justified) can

impact your relationship (and spiritual influence) with ‘others’ around you?

⬅️ COMMUNITY

7. How easy and often do you tend to trust only in yourself?

-- How can this impact your community?

8. How important is it to have a faith community around you to graciously point out your blindspots when it

comes to pride, self-righteousness, and/or contempt toward others?

9. How having that kind of support/encouragement/accountability galvanized your personal faith as well as the

chemistry of your community?

10. How can living in that kind of community become contagious to ‘others’ who do not have it?

11. How can your community cultivate that kind of depth and transparency?

(extra reading)

James 4:6 → But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

1 John 2:16 → For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

2 Corinthians 10:12 → Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measures themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

Proverbs 18:10–12 → The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. A rich man's wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination. Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.

2 Chronicles 7:14 → If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.