Our culture is encouraging us to adopt a victim mentality, a mentality that ultimately changes our perspective on everything that happens in life. It promises freedom but delivers defeat. As Christians, we are called to live with a different mindset…one of a victor not a victim. Not based upon anything we have done, but because our lives are attached to the work of Christ, the biggest victim in history, who died innocently and rose again triumphantly to conqueror sin, death, and hell so that our identity doesn’t have to be in drama, trauma, or circumstance, but in victory. ~ Pastor Dave
Open: Have you ever experienced a victim mentality or been around someone who has? Share your story.
Read: John 5; Genesis 3; Psalm 112:7; Romans 8; 1 Corinthians 15:57-58; 1 John 5:4-5
Discuss:
1. Describe the difference between a victim and a victim mentality. What is a victim mentality? What does it look like in our culture? How have you noticed a cultural shift to a victim mentality in our society today? Share some examples.
2. Read Genesis 3. How does the serpent, Satan, encourage the victim mentality? How is blame shifting a sign of a victim mentality?
3. Read John 5. Describe the situation that Jesus finds at Bethesda. How long had the man been afflicted? Jesus asked the man if he wanted to be healed. What do you make of the man’s response to Jesus’ question? How does Jesus confront the victim mindset right from the start?
4. What makes a victim mentality so dangerous for Christians? In what ways do we carry unhealed pain, distorted perspectives and limited thinking as a result of unwanted circumstances? What do you make of Jesus’ question in John 5:14? What was Jesus saying? What sin do you think Jesus was warning this man of?
5. Read Romans 8. Read 1 Corinthians 15:57-58. How does the gospel motivate a victor mentality instead of a victim mentality? How was Jesus a victorious victim? What does a victor mentality look like lived out? What are some ways that you can overcome a victim mentality?
Pray: Take some time to evaluate your thinking and words. Ask God to reveal the areas where you might have a victim mentality. Pray that God would give you a deeper understanding of gospel victory and that you would live in the strength and confidence of your identity in Christ. If there is anyone you need to forgive, ask God to give you the power to forgive and to rest in His just plan.
Memorize/Meditate: For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:4-5
