We’ve made it to the last week of the study. We will be talking about chapter six – Transparency with Love.
Being transparent is hard many times. It shows a vulnerability about us that can be scary to share. Once we realize living this life is not about us, but about giving God glory, we soon realize we want others to have that same relationship with God. We desire for them to feel the love we have with God. This will change your perspective. If sharing one of your struggles will help another person’s soul come to Jesus, why would you not share? You soon care less about yourself and more about their soul and salvation.
Letting go of yourself and realizing that your story is valuable in sharing the gospel with others, because it’s full of redeeming grace, is magnetic to those around you. It shows a true sense of love, trust, and affection for God. Your daily giving up of yourself to serve Him and His desires requires you to see others as He sees them. Though the people around you might be difficult, we realize the true enemy is not the people themselves, but Satan who has deceived them.
Pray continually for the salvation of others. Pray that God will open your eyes to be transparent for the sake of helping others: a sign of love for them.
I want to thank you for joining me on this journey. I felt the need to do this study online with videos for some time and when it came time to doing the videos, it just felt crazy weird! 🙂 I appreciate your willingness to accept my videos, recorded by my daughter, and thankful you could look past me and focus on the message I felt so called to share. You have been in my thoughts and prayers these past few months and I’ve been excited about what God would reveal to you during this time.
There will be another session of this online Bible study coming THIS fall. Should you have people, or a small group, you know who would be interested, please share with them. The videos will be available, too, for a small group who would desire to do the study on their own. Just have them contact me and I can get them in the information.
So, for the last time, here’s your assignment:
- Watch the video below.
- Answer the questions in the comments section below.
- Return a couple of hours later to see what other comments were left and feel free to comment to others’ comments.
- Tell your friends about this journey and suggest this book to them.
- Pray. Pray that God will continually show you how you can be transparent each and every day with yourself, Him, and others! Continue to pray for personal revival in the hearts of all Christians and those who don’t know Jesus as their personal Savior.
© 2016 Susan M. Sims
Join the online Bible Study here every Thursday, June 16th – July 28th!
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Buy the books here: Being Transparent: With Yourself, God, and Others and the Leader’s Discussion Guide
Question #1: According to Paul’s definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, which area of love is easiest for you and why? Which area is hardest?
Honesty, all of it is pretty hard to live up to! But I guess the easiest part of it is “rejoicing in truth!”
True that!
Question #2: True love is modeled after God’s love. How do you define true love and how does this definition compare to God’s love in 1 John 4?
When we think of “true love” like it is portrayed in the movies or romance novels, it’s about two people mutually loving each other! But “true love” aka, God’s love is loving others even when they don’t love you back! And even taking it a step further & even loving your enemies!
Question #3: We discussed transparency with yourself, mental expectations, physical expectations, God, and others. Are you more like Jim or Mary in each of these areas and in which area do you struggle the most?
I’ve gotta come back to this one! I’m not home & don’t have the book with me right now!
I’m definitely more like Jim! Like I said in week one (I think it was), I’ve had a pretty good life & it seems petty to open up about “minor” issues & the really big things that have hurt me deeply are really hard to open up about! Also, the really hurtful things in my life have involved loved ones & I feel like it’s not my place to “air” their issues, even though it has hurt me!
I’m like Jim, too, for the most part. I’m finding more and more in my small group I’m able to be more like Mary. Sometimes for me just admitting to someone I have a struggle, no matter how little, it frees me from the grasp of the struggle.
Question #4: Our lives might be the only Bible those in the world read every day. Do you see yourself as a living and breathing Bible? If not, what would it take for you to live like this daily? If you agree, what’s the hardest and easiest part of being a “living Bible”?
Being consistent is the hardest part! I can do okay some of the time but keeping it up all the time is sometimes hard to do! The easy part is pointing others to Jesus as the perfect example! Because I know I fall short but He never fails!
Question #5: Was there a turning point in your life that skewed the way you looked at love? Did this affect your relationship with God and your view of His love for you?
I don’t think I ever really had a turning point! My father was not lovey, dovey! He was just very matter of fact & practical! He always said, “Love is not a feeling, it’s a choice!” So, growing up with that definition of love goes right along with the Biblical concept of love! God chose to demonstrate His love for us by sending His son! I’ve chosen to love my husband for 37 years now, even though there have been times I didn’t “feel” like it! And I choose to love others even when they are hard to love & don’t even deserve it! But God/Jesus have shown us how!
The more I’ve had times to help others and then them helping me, I’ve truly seen God at work. That has shown me true love in action .
Question #6: Has your view of transparency changed positively or negatively while working through this book and why?
I still feel like I want to be a “clam” but I am going to try to do better!
Hey, as long as you want to do better…great! I’m just so glad you were able to do the study with me. Thanks SO much for joining!
Thanks for doing it! It’s helped me stay in the Word & learning new insights this summer! Maybe I will see you at Womens Retreat in September ( as long as Alyssa hasn’t just had the baby)! ☺️
Wonderful. Yes, I hope to be at retreat!