SESSION OBJECTIVE:

Ask each member what objects or images they can think of when they hear the word commitment.

THE WORD

Discover the various facets of commitment contained in each of the Bible passages and write them on the spaces.

1. “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” – Lamentations 3:22-23

It is ______________________________________________________________________________________.
Commitment does not need any big trial to prove itself. It is more often proven in consistent performance of even the minute duties. Some who can promise extraordinary things during an emotional moment may not after all, have the maturity to abide faithfully by their word. This is the case of many who pledge their love. There is no question about their sincerity at the time they are pledging eternal love to one another. The only question is whether they are capable of abiding by their word over time.

The best demonstration of this kind of love is God. Daily He makes the sun rise at the east, sends the rain, provides air for all creatures to breathe and causes the plants to grow. Such simple and oftentimes taken for granted things are the very evidence of His loving-kindness. Without which, life cannot continue even for a moment.

“Commitment is as simple as giving and keeping your word, doing your best. Commitment is doing what you said you would do whether you feel like it or not.” – Peter L. Hirsch

2. “But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.” – Ruth 1:16

It is holding on __________________________________________________________________________.
The words found in Ruth 1:16 is one o ft he most beautiful expressions of commitment in the Bible. It never fails to touch our hearts and make us admire Ruth. She never left her widowed mother-in-law even though there was nothing more to gain. Naomi had no more sons for Ruth to marry and to provide for their needs. But since Ruth stuck it out, her story is immortalized as one of the best and most touching stories of human commitment.

A common example of commitment is marriage. We love to hear the words: “In sickness or in health, for richer or for poorer, till death do us part.” This is commitment— to stick it out even when the going gets tough, to stay together, and weather the storms of life. Bolting out when the going gets tough is not only a sign of one’s lack of commitment but also of personal immaturity.

Any relationship is only as strong as the commitment of the people in it. This is true be it in marriage, Grow Group, family, organization or anything. When people stop being committed, the relationship dies.

3. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” – Ruth 1:16

Commitment involves __________________________________________________________________.
When one party fails, many would just turn their back reasoning that since the other has not fulfilled their part, they are free not to fulfill theirs. We do not judge them. Perhaps the limit of their endurance has been reached, but we cannot help but admire those who continue to stick it out. We wonder where they get their strength to endure and continue.

God is the prime example of this kind of commitment. He would simply not let go, He would not leave us in spite of our continued sinfulness, and we can only be eternally grateful for that.

Commitment entails the willingness to fill in where others have fallen short. It means willingness to go the extra mile, to bridge the gap, to give oneself so that the relationship is kept whole.

4. “On the next day Moses said to the people, ‘You yourselves have committed a great sin; and now I am going up to the LORD, perhaps I can make atonement for your sin. Then Moses returned to the LORD, and said, ‘Alas, this people have committed a great sin, and they have made a god of gold for themselves. But now, if You will, forgive their sin-and if not, please blot me out from Your book which You have written!'” – Exodus 32:30-32

True commitment means ________________________________________________________________
One of the truest tests of commitment is our willingness to sacrifice our personal interests, gains, even ourselves. It is easy to stay in an agreement if it costs you very little. But when loving means pain and being misunderstood, can we still go on?

God did. When man disobeyed Him and fell into sin, He could have chosen to destroy man or desert him forever, and no one is going to question Him for that. But He did something so beautiful. He showed us what divine commitment means. He stuck it out with man even though it brought him pain and eventually death on the cross.

THE LIFE

Share an experience where you failed in a given commitment. How did those who depended on you feel?

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What are the things you want to commit to your CARE Group? Write them down:

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THROUGH SONG

I‘m Going to Live

There’ve been times when giving and loving brought pain
And I promise I would never let it happen again
But I found out that loving is well worth the risk
And that even in losing you win

Refrain:
I’m going to live the way He wants me to live
I’m going to give ’till there’s just no more to give
I’m going to love, love ’till there’s just no more love
But I could never, never out-love the Lord.

THROUGH PRAYER

Thank God for continuing to love you and care for you though you have failed and rejected Him countless of times. Pray that God will give you strength to be committed to your relationship with Him and to other important persons in your life and in the Care Group to which you belong.