& vol 2 (part 1): Slaves & Friends

TO START

During this series we’ll be looking at truths that seem contradictory but aren’t. How about a game to get our minds primed for embracing complex things?

Give group members two minutes to make a list of as many oxymorons as they can think up.

An oxymoron is a common pairing of two words which are opposites. “Jumbo shrimp,” for example, is an oxymoron because shrimp are small no matter what.

Any oxymoron that also appears on another group member’s list gets cancelled out. Whoever has the most unique oxymorons on their list wins!

TO DISCUSS

Do you struggle to embrace truths that are more layered and complex? Do you prefer black and white or do you do well with grey? Why do you think that is?

This week we talked about being God’s slave and being God’s friend. Which is easier for you to identify with? Why do you think that is?

What does it mean to be God’s slave?

We said on Sunday that slavery requires “complete submission, unquestioning obedience, and comprehensive compliance.”

  • How does that make you feel?

  • Do you struggle to give up control of your life to God? Do you obey unquestioningly?

  • Share a time when you struggled to submit to someone else’s leadership. Then share a time when you struggled to submit to God’s leadership.

  • What freedom might we find in slavery? Is there a way in which slavery frees us up?

  • Slaves are workers. What work does God have for you to do. Make a list together of the tasks God is calling you to complete right now in your daily lives.

What does it mean to be God’s friend?  

What are the defining characteristics of friendship?

We said on Sunday, “a friend is loved. Liked, in fact. Friends spend time together because they want to. Friends share a common aim and outlook. Friends trust one another. They know things about each other. They share things with one another that they don’t share with others. They’re close.”

  • How does that make you feel?

  • Do you struggle to accept that kind of a relationship with God? Why or why not?

  • Do you act like a friend of God? Do you talk to Him often? Do you feel close to Him? Do you trust him? Do you know a lot about Him?

  • What could you do on purpose to be more of a friend of God?

TO READ

This week settle down in John chapter 15, reading verses 1-17.

  • What do you learn from this passage about what it looks like to be in relationship with God?

  • How will we be shaped/changed?

  • How will we know if we’re in a relationship?

  • What does it look like to abide in Christ?

TO PRAY

Tonight you might decide to pray for your friends and pray for your slaves.

  • Pray for friends who’re in need, friends going through hard things. Pray for them by name and with gratitude.

  • While we don’t exactly have slaves, we do have servants. Every day we’re served by a host of people meeting our needs. Pray for your kids’ teachers, for your postman, for the garbage collectors, the waitresses and busboys at your favorite restaurant. Pray for their good and pray that you’d be good to them.




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