After everyone has had a chance to grab a snack or drink, briefly review the purpose of our Groups using the “Group Commitment.” Are there any questions? Did you make plans yet for a “play time?” May we suggest a Superbowl party or an evening of ice-skating at Victoria Park? Start a sign up sheet for sharing snacks and contact information.
At this time your facilitators we go over our church announcements and explain the purpose of our Connection Cards. You may be surprised to find out why it is so important that our regulars fill out a Card every week!
GROW
If anyone in the group has the gift of leading worship, and if the group wants to, we encourage you to start this time with a song or two. This can be the perfect way to bless the group and grow someone’s gift.
After an opening prayer jump right into our discussion with this conversation: Please share, to the degree that you are comfortable, a time in your life when you “crashed” or experienced great suffering. This could be an experience in your past, or something you are currently navigating. Would you go so far as to call this experience, “A dark night of the soul?”
Review some of the different kinds ways we might suffer:
Through disobedience, bad choices, the choices of others, or just the pain of a broken world. Have you experienced suffering in any or all of these ways?
Read 1 Peter 4: 12-16
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
Now talk about suffering as part of God’s plan for your life.
- Do you feel you’ve ever suffered for being a Christian?
- How has God has used your suffering for your own growth?
- How has God used your suffering as a ministry to others?
- How might God use your suffering if you are still in the midst of the pain?
Can you really rejoice as you suffer? If someone is in the midst of suffering be very sensitive to their needs, and what God is doing in their life. This is an emotional topic. Do not feel the need to bring closure to the questions raised in this study. Invite God to meet you in your suffering, and to use that suffering for the saving of many lives (Genesis 50:20).
For further study: read Romans 5:1-11; review of the life of Joseph, Genesis 37-50; or review on the experience of Job.
REACH
Pray for one another and how you or your group might reach out to those who suffer.
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