Miracle Worker: Down to Earth, Pt. 2
Every time we gather as a group, these are some ways we ensure the best group discussion:
We make the circle safe by staying honest and transparent - leave the masks at the door.
We keep it inside the circle. Each person’s story is theirs alone to share.
We look to the Bible for wisdom and truth, and work together to let it shape how we see the world.
We don’t try to fix each other in front of each other or give unsolicited advice. We lovingly save hard conversations for private moments.
We respect each others’ time by starting and ending when we say we will.
We believe that in Jesus Christ, there is hope for everyone.
Psalm 34:18
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
1 Peter 2:24
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed”
Jehovah Rapha: the God who heals
Don’t pull out of life.
Disinfect the wound.
Ephesians 4:31-32
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Deeply allow God to work in you.
MUD: Memorable + Understandable + Doable
What was the most memorable part of the message or service this weekend for you personally? Why?
Did anything you heard challenge or influence how you think about God or your life?
How can what you learned influence or change how you live in everyday life? What tangible steps would it take to make that change a reality?
Additional Questions
What is your favorite or most meaningful Christmas decoration, tradition, or memory?
We all have our own stories of pain and heartbreak - sometimes they end in miracles of healing, but sometimes they don’t.
What stories pain and heartbreak have shaken your faith and foundation?
What happened? Can you see how God showed up? Are you still waiting for healing?
Gene said that one thing we should never do during pain and heartbreak is “pull out of life.” The danger of isolation is actually worse than the danger of the pain we experience.
Do you have a tendency to isolate yourself from others when you’re in pain? What makes it so hard to be vulnerable with others about how you’re really doing?
Have you had the privilege of “sharing the load” with anyone else that’s experiencing pain?
Gene talked about “disinfecting the wound” when we’re in pain. Holding onto hurt makes it turn into hate. But our wounds can be disinfected through forgiveness.
How has holding onto hurt turned into hate? What effect has it had on you?
Forgiveness is crucial to our healing process, but there is a lot of misinformation in our culture about how forgiveness works. How does God’s forgiveness for us, found in Jesus on the cross, teach us about what forgiveness looks like in our own lives?
Brokenness is one of our greatest teachers… when we let it be. We learn what is most important, what we’re really like, and what God wants to do in and for us.
What have you learned through your times of brokenness?
What miracles are you praying for right now? In what ways are you asking God to show up and make a way for you? Take a few minutes to pray for each other before the end of your group meeting.
