Trouble with strangers pt 3 -guide

Gather

● When everyone has gathered open by welcoming everyone. Begin with prayer.

● You can introduce the time of silence this way to help people understand the reason for

a time of silence:

Psalm 62 says, “For God alone my soul waits in silence.” Let’s begin with a time

of silence to quiet our hearts and minds, to come out of the day, and become

more focused on God with us. Then we will open with prayer.

● You can use any prayer, but here is one you can use to open if you wish:

Lord, we thank you for this time and for each person here. We thank you that

you are present with us. Help us to be present to you and to one another in this

time.

We ask that you would help us to see our lives in the light of Jesus. We ask that

you would help us to grow. We ask you to help us discuss, listen, and by doing

so, love one another.

We ask this in your name. Amen.

Warm-up

Part of building community is getting to know one another. If the group is newer it can be helpful

to break the ice with a time to learn about one another. The first week or with new people you

might have people share “What are your hopes for this Home Church group” or “what has it

meant to you in the past?”

Or begin with each person introducing themselves, where they’re from, life situation, and

sharing their answer to one of these questions:

● Who has been the most influential person in your life and why?

● What is one book or movie that is a favorite of yours?

● How were you raised in relation to religion or faith?

● What is your favorite place in the whole world? What makes it your favorite?

● How would you characterize growing up for you?

Or choose another question that will help you all to learn more about each other.

Conversation

Start with the summary:

We are in a sermon series called “The Trouble With Strangers.”

We were made for connection, but forming a meaningful community is harder than we expected.

We long for belonging but often feel like outsiders. In this series we are exploring the tensions of

loneliness and the good news of a Jesus-centered community. Together, we’ll learn the

everyday practices that help strangers become friends and form a household of faith marked by

peace, forgiveness, and trust.

We live in a world where belonging is both deeply longed for and painfully difficult. Political

divides, cultural differences, personal wounds, and busy schedules all work against community.

And yet, research and Scripture agree: we flourish when we belong.

Have someone read the Scripture passage from Sunday out loud: Luke 7:36-50. Leave about

30 seconds of quiet. Then have a different person read it again. [This allows space for people

to really encounter the passage and hear it in a new way.]

Questions for discussion:

● What words or phrases stand out to you in this passage and why?

● Was there an idea, quote or part of the sermon that struck you?

● What do you take to be the main point of the passage and/or sermon?

● What do you think is the biggest or main idea about God in this?

● What do you think Jesus was seeing in this scene?

● From Jordan’s sermon on Sunday, do I feel “Holy Obligated” to the people and places of

Salt Lake ?

● Who do I feel called to and how can I respond?

● What are ways we can create a rhythm of befriending others, seeing connection and

participating in life together?

● What questions are coming up for you?

● What themes or beliefs do you think of?

● Does this passage or the sermon challenge you? Comfort you? Give you hope? Disturb

you? Other? Why?

● Are there other Scripture passages that this brings to mind? Read them together.

● What convictions are coming to people?

● [Ask other questions as they come to your mind or as appropriate. Go with the flow of

the conversation.]

Closing

● Have each person share one thing for which they are thankful right now. Have each

person share one challenge, concern, or place of adversity in their lives.

● If time, have an open time of prayer for people to pray for one another.. Encourage

people to do so without forcing anyone to have to.

End with prayer

Jesus, thank you for this time and our Home Church. Help us to keep in mind the things

we have shared tonight. Give us grace for the week ahead.

Keep our hearts and minds