Small Group Questions

November 16 - 22

Sermon Series: Friends & Family

Week 3: Becoming Whole

Ice Breaker, if Needed:

Are you a good sport when you or your favorite team loses a game? Why or why not?

Discussion Questions for Small Groups or Individual Study

1. What is “ownership”? Why should we be concerned about owning how we contribute to our personal brokenness?

2. If you want to be whole, you have to own your part.
• Read 1 Samuel 25:1-13
• What does Nabal’s response to David’s request reveal about his brokenness?
• Do broken people realize they are broken? Which is worse: Never realizing how broken you are, or being so broken you don’t care that you are broken? What happens when we excuse ourselves from owning our behavior: “I am a worrier!” or “I just lost my temper!” How do outward responses reveal inner brokenness?
• Read Ephesians 5:12-16
• What will the light of Christ do once you awake to what He has for you?

3. If you want to be whole, don’t own someone else’s part.
• Read 1 Samuel 25:14-25
• How did Abigail’s response contrast to Nabal’s? How does owning what you are responsible for (your feelings, actions, obedience) lead to becoming whole? What happens if you try to own what someone else should take ownership over?
• Read 1 Samuel 25:36-39
• What could have happened had Nabal taken ownership of his actions? Where and when do you struggle to take ownership?

4. If you want to be whole, you have to allow God to maintain ownership over what is His.
• Look at 1 Samuel 25:39 again
• How did God save David from “doing wrong”? What kind of person was the agent of this mercy? How has God sent or used people who take ownership to minister to you?

5. God has given us tools to face our brokenness: Repentance, Confession, and Forgiveness.
• Read 2 Corinthians 7:10-11. What is repentance? What do you do when you recognize you are broken and you need help? Why doesn’t God expect you to fix yourself?
• Read James 5:16. How does confession lead to accountability? How does accountability lead to healing?
• Read Ephesians 4:31-32. Why forgive? What is forgiveness and why will your choice to forgive others lead to wholeness?