07.22.07
Small Group Plan - July 22, 2007
“Relationship Upgrade”
Small Group Plan
July 22, 2007
Dear Group Leader…
This small group study can be “aimed” at Christian marriages. But since some of you are not married, feel free to broaden these principles and apply them to your general Christian relationships.
It’s been said that marriage is when you decide to spend the rest of your life sleeping in a room that’s little too warm, beside someone who is sleeping in a room that’s a little too cool. How true! But only if your love “doesn’t keep score” (1 Cor. 13:5 – The Message).
OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· Why doesn’t love “keep score” ?
· What happens to a relationship where people DO track mistakes and keep score?
LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …
The gift of listening – James 1:19
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.
· How do you know when someone is really listening to you?
· How can you tell when someone is pretending to listen to you?
· When you truly listen, what is happening both practically and emotionally to the relationship?
The Gift of acceptance – Romans 15:7
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
· To what degree has Jesus accepted us – fully, partially, conditionally?
· How does one person actually accept another person?
· How is God praised when we accept each other?
the gift of time – John 4:9
The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
· How does our society value time?
· What do we mean when we talk of “wasted time” ?
· Was Jesus wasting his time with the Samaritan woman? Explain.
· Would his disciples say he was wasting his time? Why?
· What are the different ways in which we can give our time to another?
the gift of encouragement– Hebrews 3:13
But encourage one another daily.
· What does encouragement actually do? How does it work?
· How does it feel to be given courage?
· In what situations have you needed courage?
the gift of forgiveness – Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
· Forgiveness assumes that failure has occurred. How do we usually relate to those who fail us?
· How do “kindness” “compassion” and “forgiveness” highlight and define each other?
· Why does Paul connect God’s forgiveness of us to our forgiveness of others?
the gift of Trust – 1 Corinthians 13:4, 7
Love is patient, love is kind … It always protects, always trusts
· Why is trust a part of true love?
· What else is missing in a relationship that lacks trust?
· If God is love (1 John 4:8, 16) and love “always trusts” then God’s trusts us. In view of our flaws, how can God trust us?
USE IT / APPLY IT …
· Of the “gifts” listed above, which is the most difficult for you to give? Why?
· Which is the most special for you to receive? Why?
Close by thanking and praising God for His many gifts?