No In-N-Out Groups

No In-N-Out Groups

Matthew 15:21-39 NIV 

“Once we identify our In-Group, we tend to apply an In-Group Bias. This is the often-subconscious tendency for us to give preference to people we perceive as being part of our group. This preferential treatment is associated with an increased level of trust, patience, benefit of the doubt, interest, and comfort around those in our In-Group. Those who aren’t part of our In-Group are part of our Out-Group. Those are the people we identify as being not like us. We tend to be much less familiar, less trusting, less patient, and less interested in members of our Out-Group.” --Miles McPherson, The Third Option.

GOD BLESSED ISRAEL TO BE A BLESSING  !!

Genesis 22:17–18 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me. 

JESUS CAME TO   OF SEPARATION.

Eph 2:14 NLT Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.

SALVATION IS FOR PEOPLE FROM EVERY ,, AND  . 

Rev 7:9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

 THE STORY OF THE GENTILE WOMAN PROVIDES THE LESSON:  .

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 

THE STORY OF THE 4000 GENTILES PROVIDES THE APPLICATION:  .

Matthew 15:35-37 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. They all ate and were satisfied. 

THE HOLY SPIRIT UNITES ALL BELIEVERS INTO ONE FAMILY:   .

1 Corinthians 12:13 We were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—
whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 

“We can only nurture unity by honoring the value that God places on each of us. Honor assigns value to someone, regardless of who they are, what they look like, or what they have done.  Recognizing a person’s priceless value makes them inherently honorable and causes us to cherish them as we would a prized possession.” --Miles McPherson, The Third Option. 

 Discussion Questions

1. Can you give some examples of ways you might subconsciously treat others as “Out-Group” people?
2. What are ways that you naturally favor people in your “In-Group”?
3. How have you experienced discrimination by someone else who doesn’t include you
4. What are ways you might especially honor others who are different than you this week?