Requiem Required (Part 2): A Series of Fortunate Events

#1 Listen to “Requiem Required (Part 2): A Series of Fortunate Events

Consider this Sunday morning’s lesson. You can listen here: http://bit.ly/1gCDfNL

Or watch here [video will be posted by Monday each week]: www.vimeo.com/rrcoc

What stuck out to you as interesting?

Did you encounter any challenging or re-orienting truth?

How’d it make you feel?

#2 Big Questions

During this series we’ve tried to address some thorny questions we inevitably ask in response to grief. As a group, discuss answers to all/any of the following: 

• Where is God in the midst of my suffering? 

  • While discussing this question, read Isaiah 40:1-11, 28-31. What kind of God is your God? List the ways God is described in the text. Do any of these traits help/benefit us in our times of pain and grief?

  • Have you ever felt like God was absent during suffering? Why do you think you felt that way?

  • Have you experienced God’s presence during suffering? Have you seen God comfort someone close to you? What does that look like?

• How can I help someone who’s grieving?
  • Consider people who’ve comforted you well in the past. What did they do? List small and big things.
  • What have you learned about comforting others from your own grief?
  • What should we NOT do if we want to comfort well?

#3 Comfort In/Dump Out

 Read this article as a group:

“How Not To Say The Wrong Thing”

(http://www.latimes.com/opinion/commentary/la-oe-0407-silk-ring-theory-20130407,0,6378839.story)

Discuss the comfort in, dump out principle.

Does it make sense? Why might it be a good practice to adopt?

#4 Homework

Have each member write down an answer to each of the following questions:

1. Who could I comfort?

2. What can I do?

3. When will I do it?

Pray together over your answers.