07/07 Be Righteous As I Am Righteous

OPENING QUESTIONS

1. Have you ever built or made something only to realize after you were done that it was crooked?
2. Have you ever felt like someone else was "crooked" and took advantage of you?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Psalm 11:7 says, "For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face."
   
   1. Can you recall from this week's message what it means to be "righteous"?
   2. In what ways is God righteous and how does his righteousness benefit us?
      
2. Deuteronomy 6:25 says, "And if we are careful to obey all this law before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.” And, Isaiah 33:15-17 says, "Those who walk righteously and speak what is right, who reject gain from extortion and keep their hands from accepting bribes, who stop their ears against plots of murder and shut their eyes against contemplating evil—they are the ones who will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain fortress. Their bread will be supplied, and water will not fail them. Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar."
   
   1. According to this passage, in what ways are we to be righteous?
   2. What are some other ways we are to be righteous?
3. Isaiah 32:17 says, "The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever."
   1. Why does God want us to be righteous?
   2. These verses are found in the Old Testament. Has God's desire for us changed since Jesus and the New Testament?
4. At Romans 3:22, Paul says, "This righteousness [the righteousness of God] is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." And, at 1 John 2:6, John says, "Whoever claims to live in him [Jesus], must live as Jesus did."
   
   1. What role does Jesus play in our righteousness?
   2. What role do we play in our righteousness?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS

1. Who is someone from your life that you would consider to be an example of righteousness?
2. Are there any areas of your own life in which you'd like to develop more righteousness?
3. What benefit might that righteousness bring?

PRAYER
Take some time for people to share prayer requests. Then pray. First, ask God to help you grow in righteousness. Then pray for each other's prayer requests.