The Hero's Journey (part 6): Bringing It Home

Like we said last week, the arrival of summer signals a change in our small group format. From now until school starts back in August we won’t be providing small group discussion questions. We do, however, encourage you to keep meeting and deepening relationships.

If your group is NEW, we encourage you to continue meeting weekly and engaging through discussion. Contact Dan Burgess at dburgess@rrcoc.org for resources.

If your group is SEASONED, you are encouraged to pursue whatever you think is the best path for your group (though we’d definitely encourage you to meet). You might study a book together, use video curriculum or simply use the summer as an opportunity to grow closer through fun and fellowship.

Whether your group is NEW or SEASONED, we ask that all group leaders would contact Dan to discuss their plans. Thanks so much!

 

TO START

Have you ever come home after a long time away? How did it feel? What was good? What was weird? Did home feel different now that you were different? Explain.

 

TO DISCUSS

We said this week that the last step in the hero’s journey (and the final phase of our transformation) is to return home having been changed. We said, when a character returns, they inhabit their familiar world with a new energy, perspective, awareness, confidence, gravity, or joy.

Can you think of any examples of this in your favorite stories? What do those epic homecoming moments look like?

Justin said on Sunday, “All of Christian behavior is living into our identity as people resurrected by Christ and living in him. It’s being people who have been changed as a result of the journey they’ve been on.”

Do you feel like you’ve been changed by your journey with Christ? How so? What’s different about you today as compared to twenty years ago? Two years ago? Last month?

  • What do you think are the biggest changes God’s brought about in your heart and behavior?

Because we come home at the end of our journey, our transformation affects more than just ourselves. Is your transformation changing your relationships at all? Is it making you feel more comfortable at “home” or less comfortable? Have the people around you noticed a change?

  • What can you do to allow the positive change happening inside you to glorify God?

  • What does it look like (practically speaking) to allow our light to shine in places where we were previously dark? Give examples.

We ended this series with the call to be who we are. After the long journey of becoming the person God made us to be, how terrible would it be to shrink back from our destiny and new identity? What does it look like to be the person God’s making you into? Personally, what do you feel like God’s calling you to do or not do? Share an example of something you’re striving to step into right now.

 

TO READ

For this series’ small group scripture readings we’re looking at some of the hero’s journey stories in the Bible.

This week, read Luke 8:26-39.

  • What was the change that happened in the man they called “Legion”?

  • What did Jesus tell him to do when he begged to follow Jesus to the next town?

  • Why do you think Jesus wanted him to go home?

  • Imagine someone from your town became possessed with 1,000 demons and you witnessed it happen. How would you react to that? Then, what if they returned entirely cured? What would your reaction be? What would you want to know?

 

TO PRAY

This week pray Colossians 3:1-17, turning commands into requests. Try something like this:

God, our Father,

Since we have been raised with Christ, set our hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at your right hand. Set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. For we have died, and our life is now hidden with Christ in You. When Christ, who is our  life, appears, let us also appear with Him in glory.

God, empower us to put to death whatever belongs to our earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

We used to walk in these ways, in the life we once lived. But now help us rid ourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language. By your Spirit, we vow not lie to each other, because we have taken off our old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in Your image, Creator God.

God, we are Your holy people, dearly loved by You. Clothe us with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Enable us to bear with each other and forgive one another, to forgive as You forgive us. Wrap us in love and bind us all together in perfect unity.

Let Your peace rule in our hearts, since as members of one body we are called to peace.

Thank you God. Empower us to thank you more.

Let Your message dwell among us richly.

In Jesus’ powerful name we pray, amen.

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