04.15.07
Small Group Plan - April 15, 2007
“Afraid To Tell You Who I Am”
Small Group Plan
April 15, 2007
Dear Group Leader…
Begin your group by reading these mood-setting quotes:
We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
– Paul, Romans
I can help you to accept and open yourself mostly by accepting and revealing myself to you … To live life fully, we must learn to use things and love people … not love things and use people … To reveal myself openly and honestly takes the rawest kind of courage … To tell you about my feelings is to tell you about me.
– John Powell, Why Am I Afraid To Tell You Who I Am?
OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· How would you describe the power of self-image?
· How would you define the power of a habit?
· Which habits do you think are the most difficult to break?
· Why are they so difficult to overcome?
LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …
The Prison of secrecy
· How does secrecy give more power to a bad habit?
· If something is hurting us, why do we keep it a secret?
· Satan is called “the father of lies” (Jn. 8:44). What lies are we believing when we hide our faults and failures?
The sunlight of confession
· Why does God tell us to confess to each other?
· How does it feel to “open up” to a Christian friend and experience their love and acceptance?
· Contrast a relationship of secrecy with a relationship of openness?
The transparent life - Romans 7
· Why would it be wrong to blame the law for Paul’s spiritual struggles (Vs. 7, 12-14)?
· Who does Paul blame (Vs. 14-17)?
· Why is he being so honest with a church he has never visited?
· Who is his self-disclosure helping? How is it helping?
· How can a person’s anguish and frustration over personal failure be beneficial (Vs. 24-25)?
USE IT / APPLY IT …
· Is it difficult for you to be open and honest about your failure? Explain.
· What experiences have made it more difficult for you to be open?
· What kind of person would make it easier for you to confess?
· How can gossip and slander shut down confession?
· How can confession attack the power of gossip and slander?
Close in prayer by praising and thanking God for His grace.