Group Discussion & Life Challenge
Use these notes as discussion prompts for your group, or in your personal time with God.
Connect:
Get to know each other. Connect, warm up to each other, fellowship.
Care:
Carry each other’s burdens. Share life’s challenges and practice Soul Care. Pray together.
Challenge:
1. Why do we get personally offended at the lifestyles of others? In what ways do we let this “offense” affect the way we treat others?
2. Anger brings stress, resentment and mental anguish. Discuss what harboring anger has done to you personally.
3. If you are feeling brave and comfortable enough to share, tell the group about something you have stewed on for years. How has it affected you?
4. Bryce made the statement that giving grace could mean “I surrender my justified claim to resentment and let go of the anger that comes with it.” What does letting go of anger and surrendering resentment look like for you this week?
5. As a group make a list of actionable ways we can love our enemies in the coming weeks.
6. Praying for our enemies could be a great first step, unlocking that area of resentment and bringing all of it before God. It also allows us time to consider what God sees in that person, what is special and maybe a thing that they don’t even see in themselves. Consider pausing in your time together to make a prayer list for those situations and people that come to mind and pray for one another as you go into the week ready to exercise this new habit of praying for your enemies.
Clarify:
Does anyone need clarity on something? Are there any big God questions you are wrestling with?
Celebrate:
Celebrate life’s successes and God’s provision. Worship God’s presence. Time to brag about God.
BibleApp
Through the Bible in one Year
Join us in reading through the entire Bible in one year. Each day of this plan guides you through passages from both the Old and New Testaments, allowing you to see connections between the history of our faith, and the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. Readings average four chapters in length, so it is posible to do. When you use the YouVersion Bible App, you can even have the app read the Bible text to you – very useful when you are in the car or otherwise occupied with your hand.
All you need to do is click the link to the Bible Plan, which should lead you straight to the Bible app. Your two options are now (1) to read the plan on your own, one day at the time. Or (2) you can make it more fun and rewarding, by sharing the plan with one or more friends, and then even “Talk about it”.