Unstuck Friendships

Connection Group Questions: February 5, 2012

Opening 

Make sure everyone is aware of events and opportunities happening at Connections listed in the bulletin: we have construction projects, youth programs and other opportunities to move forward in your faith!  

Discussion

We’ve covered some BIG material so far.  Give the group time to catch up, or process.  In particular, talk about two things:

1. If you want to get unstuck in your faith, it is within your power to do something.  Perhaps the single best thing: start reading your bible!  What are you reading?  When and where?  What help do you need?  What resources?  What advice can you share?  Try to aim for 5 out of 7 days each week.
2. If you want to get unstuck in your finances, it’s going to take some work.  Review our BIG three:
1. You got to be knowing where your money is going.
2. Get out of debt.
3. Commit your first fruits to God by working toward a tithe, or to radical generosity!

1. If you want to get unstuck in your family, put God first!  If folks have questions about baptism, any if they feel they are ready to take this step of faith, discuss and pray about the decision.  Review the Family Commitment:

Our Family will serve Jesus through...

~ Engaging faith at home;

~ Engaging faith with our church;

~ Engaging faith in our story.

Friendship is not an option, but neither is hurt...

Read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 and discuss...

How has your Group provided the kinds of friendship you desire, and need?  How might your group nurture this kind of friendship even more?

The Law of Lamech vs. the Love of Jesus... (From John Ortberg’s “Everybody’s Normal Until You Get To Know Them”)

Read Genesis 4:23-24 and Matthew 18:15-35 

To what degree have you lived by the Law of Lamech?

Forgiveness is not excusing, forgetting, reconciling.  How do you distinguish between these?

Discuss the parable that Jesus taught, or move right into the very hard, but relevant issue...

Read 1 Corinthians 15:33

Have you ever had to cut off a relationship?

Are there any friendship that might need more distance, or cutting off entirely?

Review how forgiveness works:

Step One: Giving up our right to “get even.”

Step Two: Seeing the person as Jesus sees them.

Step Three: Blessing the person as Jesus blesses them. 

Is there anyone you need to ask forgiveness from?

Is there anyone you need to offer forgiveness to?

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  ~ Ephesians 4:32

Has it been easy or hard to experience an assurance of forgiveness with God?

Spend some time this week reflecting on how God has forgiven you in Christ.  See how this impacts your ability to forgive others.

Close with a time of prayer for one another.