trouble with strangers pt.6 -guide

Gather

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

want, allow a time of quiet for people to come out of their day a bit and move into this

time.

● 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

We are still growing in knowing one another. Here are some questions to go around and answer

to help people continue in making connections. Some are from previous weeks and some are

new.

● What was the last live event (concert, sports, theater, other) that you went to?

● Who is currently on your favorite music playlist? What do you like about that artist?

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

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

● How would you characterize growing up for you?

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.

Have someone read the Scripture passages from Sunday out loud: 2 Corinthians 7:5-16.. 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. Any version of the bible

enriches the reading.]

Questions for discussion:

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

you? Other? Why?

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

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

● When you hear the word trust, what experiences or images come to mind — in

friendships, family, church, or work?

2

● Think of a time when trust was broken but later repaired. What helped make restoration

possible?

● How do you usually respond when trust feels shaky — do you pull back, control,

analyze, or reach out?

● Paul describes the Corinthians’ sorrow as “godly” because it led to change and

restoration.

○ What’s the difference between feeling bad and taking responsibility?

○ What helps move sorrow toward repair rather than shame or withdrawal?

● How could we become a community that is comfortable with repair — where naming hurt

and rebuilding trust are normal parts of belonging?

● How might play, joy, and shared life help us rebuild connection after trust has been

strained?

● Where might God be inviting us — personally or together — to build trust through small,

everyday acts of reliability, honesty, and goodwill?

● What questions are coming up for you?

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

● [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. Here is a prayer you can use if you so choose:

Thank you for this time, dear Lord. Bless each of us as we go to our homes. Give us rest and

peace tonight. And keep us in your care until we gather again.

Thank you for your love for us that never ends. Amen.