Tough Talks (Part 2): Receiving Tough Words

A NEW SMALL GROUP FORMAT

For this series, Tough talks, we invite your group to a choose your own adventure of sorts. Each week we are inviting your group to choose 2 of the multiple options below. First pick questions from either the STUDY or PROCESS. After that, choose either PRAY or PRACTICE with your group to culminate into your group discussion. Our hope each week is you “talk it out” and “live it out” in a way that makes sense to your group. 

  • What’s the best piece of constructive feedback you’ve ever received? 

We are jumping into a new series this week called Tough Talks. It centers around the reality that if we follow Jesus, seeking reconnection is part of the journey of discipleship. Therefore, if we identify ourselves with Jesus, our lives should be marked by cultivating thoughtful approaches to others because of how God has been thoughtful in approaching us in Jesus Christ. This week & next were talking about receiving and giving tough words about areas where we need to be convicted and grow. 

TALK IT OUT AFTER READING PROVERBS 15:28-33 (PICK ONE)

STUDY 

  • What does it mean for you “to lodge among the wise” when it comes to tough conversations? And is this your mode of operation?

  • Are you proactive in cultivating an “ear that needs wholesome admonishment”? How do you differentiate?

  • Do you feel like your life is characterized by regularly receiving new understandings about God, yourself & others? 

PROCESS

  • Do you know your default when it comes to tough talks? Reacting? Complaining? Avoiding? Obliging/Accommodating? Running? Nothing? Or Something Else? 

  • How often are you more consumed by what other people need to hear than listening for what you need to hear in your life? Can you think of an example?

  • Does how someone has given you critical feedback in the past affect  your ability to hear well?

LIVE IT OUT (PICK ONE)

PRACTICE

  • How often do you intentionally step out of your world and into someone else's? What might help you listen sacrificially to someone else?

  • Can you say verbatim the last piece of constructive feedback you’ve received? Has it been a long  time? Did you dismiss it?

  • What’s the last thing you’ve changed in your life because of something someone suggested to you? 

PRAY

  • Spend time in prayer repenting of a situation in the past where you dismissed feedback out of insecurity, misunderstanding, anger, etc.

  • Spend time in prayer asking God to help you to practice a posture of listening over responding.

  • Pray for God to create space for you to ask someone you trust this question, “What do others see about myself that I can’t see?”

Matt DeLano