Tough Talks (Part 5): Tough Discussions & Disagrements

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 your favorite super bowl snack? OR what was your favorite super bowl commercial?

We are continuing a series this week called Tough Talks. It centers around the belief 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.  Over the final 2 weeks of the series, we will focus on how to engage with those we find ourselves in disagreement or different perspectives.

TALK IT OUT AFTER READING Philippians 4:1-5 (PICK ONE)

STUDY 

  • How would you define standing firm in the Lord? What are the things Paul is calling for them to stand firm in and what is he not calling them to stand firm in?

  • How does “being in the same mind of the Lord” alter the way we interact with each other?

  • How do you see gentleness or a lack of gentleness  impact relationships in the life of the early church in Scripture? 

  • Why in the world does Paul say “rejoice” twice in the midst of this disagreement?

PROCESS

  • What’s a topic of conversation in your life right now that feels constantly draining?

  • How did those in your upbringing navigate disagreements?

  • Do you have a deep relationship with anyone that you have a major disagreement or difference of opinion with? How does that relationship survive? 

LIVE IT OUT (PICK ONE)

PRACTICE

  • Share a time when someone chose gentleness when in a disagreement with you. 

  • Is responding in the heat of the moment difficult for you? What are some practical ways for you to choose another way?

  • Share a time when you chose to only acknowledge the facts someone was sharing with you (which you disagreed with) rather than trying to understand or acknowledge the feelings, stories of encounters that shape what they see or don’t see. 

PRAY

  • Spend time praying for the Spirit to help you to create space to acknowledge not just the facts around what people believe but the feelings and stories that shape that belief.

  • Spend time praying for the Spirit to lead you to repent for the times when your lack of gentleness has harmed relationships in your life. 

  • Pray for RRCOC to be a place where we can actually model a devotion to Jesus even in our disagreements.

Matt DeLano