As If it Were Me

Week Seven

Connect: 7:00-7:20

Can you remember a time when you were able to walk in someone else’s shoes and enter into their experience of joy, sadness, or anger?

If not, can you remember a time recently when you watched someone else do this?

Topic of Sunday’s talk: Entering into someone else’s experience the way you wish others would do for you. Empathy was the key word. This is identifying with someone even to the point of responding physically. The Key scripture phrase was “rejoicing with those who rejoice and mourning with those who mourn.” (Rom. 12:15)



Surrender: 7:20-7:30

Read Luke 10:25-37. Before you do, ask the group to join you in a prayer method called Lectio Divina. It consists in listening to the texts of the Bible (Luke 10:25-37 in this case) as if one were in conversation with God and he was suggesting the topics for discussion.

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" 27 He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" 28 "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' 36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" 37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

Surrender yourselves to God to live the kind of life that responds to needs the way that the “Good Samaritan” did.



Grow: 7:30-8:00

The Priest crossed over to the other side.

The Levite/Temple assistant took a closer look and then passed by the other side.

Do you find yourself having these kinds of reactions to those in pain?

Why do you think that is?

Are you having these type of reactions to those who are rejoicing and celebrating accomplishments (promotion, financial gains, new car, new house)?

Why do you think that is?

Is it easier for you to weep with those who are weeping or rejoice with those who are rejoicing? Why do you think that is?

What is your reaction to the statement: “Even Jesus asked ‘Why’?” (“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). Does this indicate that there should be a fair dose of mystery that surrounds pain and suffering?

Are you becoming more or less aware of the mysteries that surround our faith?

§Read Hebrews 2:14-18

What does it mean to you that Jesus suffered and was tempted in all points like we are?

What does it mean to you that b/c Jesus experienced everything that we do, He is able to help us?

Bruce said that empathy is something that is best practiced within a small group of people.

PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ARE…

§ How can this group learn to rejoice with one another better? (ie. celebrate birthdays, milestones, etc.).

§ How can this group learn to mourn with one another better?


Develop: 8:00-8:15

Missonaries (Mutti, Forsens) still available for adopting.

Discuss group intensions (curriculum or sermon based discussions).

Sharing group responsibilities
Leading discussions
Prayer time
Calling absentees
Keeping group roster
Maintain a list of serving opportunities
Organizing group outreach
Hosting group
Becoming an apprentice
Leading worship time
Writing notes and cards
Visiting needy/sick on group roster
Maintaining calendar and schedules
Keeping list of birthdays/anniversaries
Providing feedback/evaluation

Do you want to ask for help in any of these areas?


Share: 8:15-8:30

Has your group narrowed down an activity for outreach?

Is there someone far from God that we can reach out to by rejoicing with them in their current joy?

Is there someone far from God that we can mourn with?

Pray and ask God for wisdom on this.

Reminder: Sunday, December 2nd is a small group leader get-to-gether from 1:30-3:00 at the church.