Trouble with strangers pt. 4 -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?”

Welcome any new people.

You might want to have each person introduce themselves again and maybe share something

of who they are by answering 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? And why?

● 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 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. Last Sunday Heather preached on the practice of

peacemaking.

Have someone read one of the Scripture passages from Sunday out loud: Romans 12:14-21.

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.]

2

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?

● Where have you seen good overcome evil in a way that brought healing or

reconciliation?

● Heather said, “Peace doesn’t come from skipping pain.” What does this mean?

● How does mourning with others help make peace, and how can we know what other

people’s pain is?

● Can we think of and name small habits that help us maintain unity in daily life with

people?

● 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. (You

might read Matthew 5:9 and/or Ephesians 4:1-6 which Heather also use din the sermon.

● 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, we thank you for your peace. Give us the strength to bear the pain of others, and

in doing so, helping them have peace. Give us the courage to be peacemakers.

Bless us as we close this day together. Hold us in your love. Strengthen us for

tomorrow. We ask this in your name. Amen.