Belonging - End of Week 6

INTRODUCTION
The following is a guide to help facilitate discussion between you and the person you’re studying with or with your Connect Group. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.

OPEN QUESTIONS
What is one of your favorite things about the Christmas season?  What’s one of your least favorite things?

HEAD

1. Read Luke 22:49-51, John 18:10-15, Luke 22:54-62 together and share any wisdom, insights, or thoughts that come to you from the reading.
2. Earlier in this chapter, Jesus said to sell off your coat to buy a sword, but here, in this story, Jesus told them to put away their swords.  Did Jesus contradict himself or did he mean something else earlier in the chapter (verse 38)?  Wouldn’t this have been confusing for the disciples?
3. How surprised do you think the soldiers were that not only did Jesus not want to fight, he actually healed one that was hurt when his disciple attempted to fight?
4. What do you think would have happened if the disciples did try to fight?  What would it have said about Jesus and his movement?
5. What do you think those watching Peter thought about this Jesus movement?  If he was their only point of reference, what conclusion would you make? 

HEART

1. Are there “swords” you need to lay down in your life—actions, attitudes, or habits rooted in self-reliance? How can you replace them with trust in God and His power?
2. Peter has his Messiah arrested. His Messiah tells him not to fight and heals someone he struck. Then Peter denies knowing his Messiah and watches him die.  How do you think Peter felt after all this; did he belong to anyone anymore?
3. Have you ever been tempted to deny your faith? If so, what happened.  If not, have you ever seen someone deny your faith? Why do you think they did?  How did their denial make you feel about them?
4. Knowing that Peter denies Jesus, yet Jesus goes straight to Peter after his resurrection, what does Peter’s journey teach you about Jesus and belonging?

HANDS
Who is on the outside of your community?  Is it you?  If it’s you, why do you think that’s the case and who could you talk to about how you feel?  If it’s someone else, what could you do to reach out to them to help them feel loved and as if they not only could belong, but do belong?

LIVING WORDS FOR YOUR WEEK
“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬