September 22nd- September 27th Life Group Notes

Open in Prayer 

• Welcome/Introductions/Cast Vision - Remind the Life Group of the Guidelines- See bottom of page.

•  Doing the Mission: Did anyone share Jesus or last week's passage?  

• Does anyone have a God story? An undeniable encounter or experience with God that creates an impact or breakthrough in your day-to-day life. These moments can be extraordinary or very humble, but always personally powerful. 

• Opening Question: Have you ever helped a stranger in distress? What happened?
   
   
• Share background for the passage: Jesus teaches the crowds by speaking in parables.

                                                                                       

• Thought/Focus: Jesus is answering the question, “Who is my neighbor?”                                                                                             
• Have someone read or tell this week's passage/story: Luke 10:25-37
• Discuss these questions: Go deeper as led. Remember Head, Heart, Hands.

1. If you had been traveling down the road where the stranger was hurt, what would you have done? Would you get involved or not?  What would be your reasoning?
2. What might be the reasons that the Priest and the Levite did not stop to help?
3. What do you think that this Jewish crowd thought about Jesus making a Samaritan the hero of this story?
4. How does this parable answer the question “Who is my neighbor?”

 5. Who has been a good Samaritan in your life? What did it teach you?
 6. What attitude or behavior does God want you to have that is the most difficult to accept        concerning other people?
 7. Would it be harder for you to help someone of another race or another political view or          religious view than those of your own?
 8. Will you look for ways this week to help someone in need, even though the situation             might be difficult?


Next week's passage/story: Matthew 25:31-46
Select someone to tell next week's story
Dismiss in Prayer  

CONFIDENTIALITY: What is said in the group stays in the group.
 
LISTEN: Let's value one another during the  discussions by really listening to what is  being shared. Try to avoid thinking about  how you are going to respond or what you  are going to say next.
 
PAUSE: Allow a pause in conversation after someone shares. Give the person sharing a  chance to finish and the group the  opportunity to consider what was just  shared before responding.

NO "CROSS TALK": Be considerate of others  as they are sharing- no side conversations.

NO FIXING: We are not here to fix each  other. Jesus does that part. Speak truth is love, give  
encouragement, empathize,  point to Jesus.  You may share  solutions God has led you through. The  other person should never feel shame or  failure, but rather connection & hope.

NO HIJACKING of shared stories.

NO RESCUING: When people are sharing  something deeply personal, there can be a  tendency to try to make them feel better  about themselves or the situation by  providing immediate condolences. This will  often cause them to stop sharing. Resist the  temptation to rescue people.
 
SHARING: Be sensitive about the amount of time  you share.
 
SILENCE: It is important to allow silence in the  group as it provides an opportunity for someone  else to share and for members in the group to  process the topic or question being considered.

BE SELF-AWARE: Be self-aware of how you are  personally affecting the environment through your  words, actions, and non-verbal communication.
 
"I"STATEMENTS: It's easy to talk about the issues  of others, but for our purposes, we want you to put  yourself on the table. Try to use "I" statements rather than "them', "they", "you", "the church", "us", "we", etc.
 
FIGHT FOR RELATIONSHIP: We will commit to resolve conflict  biblically. When conflict or sin issues arise between  group members, we want to make sure that  we are honoring God and each other in the way we  deal with these issues. We will fight for  relationship.  I will discuss the struggle with the person I am in conflict with first, & if not resolved, seek wise advice. The following are a few key Scriptures  in this regard (there are many others.)

• If someone sins against you: Mat. 18:15-20
• Restoring someone in sin: Gal. 6:1-5 
• Forgive a sinner: Col. 3: 12-13 
• Reconciling differences: Mat. 5:23-24, Mat. 7:1-5