Chestnut Ridge Church
Blurred - Part 3
Music from today
With Us, The Rock Won't Move, Here As In Heaven, The Same Power [Patrick Garcia (Lead Vocal), Courtney Costello (Background Vocal)]
BLURRED - Part 3 [April 30/May 1, 2016] Tim Haring
The best way to overcome evil is to do good.
Matthew 5:43-44 HCSB
The best way to overcome evil is to do good.
Matthew 5:43-48 HCSB
Romans 12:17-21 HCSB
“Sometimes a person’s fire went out and he needed to borrow some live coals to restart his fire. Giving a person coals in a pan to carry home “on his head” was a neighborly, kind act; it made friends, not enemies.”
– Dr. Walvoord
“...a person guilty of some wrongdoing would carry a pan of burning coals on his head as a sign of his repentance. Thus treating one’s enemy kindly may cause him to repent.”
– Dr. Walvoord
"As metals are melted by heaping coals upon them, so is the heart softened by kindness." - Jamieson
"Perhaps it is better to take it, that kindness is as effectual as coals of fire.” - Thayer
“Men commonly regard as the victor the one who has the last word and can deal the last blow, whereas, as a matter of fact, he who is the last to inflict pain is the one who is worse off, for the evil remains with him while the other is done with it.”
- Luther
"To respond to evil with evil is not to overcome it but to add to it. Believers are called upon to live victoriously in a hostile world by continuing to live as Jesus lived. Right will inevitably prevail against wrong."
– R.H. Mounce
Discussion Questions
1. Can you think of a situation where someone mistreated you? How did you feel about it? How did you respond to that person? What effect did your response have on them?
2. Read Matthew 5:43-48 and Romans 12:17-21. What are some of the reasons why we should love our enemies and return good for evil? Why should we pray for them?
3. How does doing good conquer evil? What happens when we refuse to love our enemies?
4. Can you think of an example where you returned “good for evil” and it turned out well? Can you think of an example where your kindness did not have the desired effect?
5. How does knowing that God will avenge us help us to love those who mistreat us? Do you think we should desire God’s vengeance on others? Why or why not?
6. Are there times when it’s appropriate to seek justice against someone who has wronged us? Explain your answer.
7. Do you think there is a difference between loving a personal enemy and loving a national enemy? If so, what is the difference?