Warm up:
What was your favorite way to cement your elementary school friendships? Friendship bracelets? Origami notes? Mud face paint? Chest bumps?

Opening Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit for a spirit of brave vulnerability as we discuss ourselves and our hearts. Ask Him to guide your conversation and give you wisdom and insight. Pray for your group to be a soft place to peel back layers that may have been cemented for too long.

Conversation Diving-boards:
1. Pastor Scotty shared about the story of Patrick and Justin making the trek across the Camino de Santiago – Patrick pushing paralyzed Justin the whole way. Think about this privately: If you insert yourself into this story in place of one of the men, which do you most naturally take on? The pusher or the pushee? Now imagine that you have to be the opposite one of the one that you naturally take on – share why that would be difficult for you.
2. Have you ever been caught in a negative thought-loop related in some way to not being able to handle things? Or not being “independent” enough? What would you say to a friend who is struggling with that same thought spiral? Is the premise even valid?
3. What do you think of the popular phrase “Pull yourself up by your bootstraps?” Is it a healthy ambition (or even possible)?
4. Pastor Scotty mentioned the Greek word “ἀλλήλων” (ah-LAY-loan) which means being in interdependent relationships. That word shows up in different areas in the New Testament encouraging believers to be interdependent in many areas.
a. Have a volunteer read the following list (pausing after each one). When possible, imagine real relationships in your life as the list is read. Then imagine both giving AND RECEIVING these:
i. Love one another
ii. Forgive one another
iii. Serve one another
iv. Speak truth to one another
v. Speak truth to one another
vi. Be at peace with one another
b. Did any of these stick in your mind?
5. What is keeping you from moving to a level deeper in your friendships? What would your imaginary-loving-but-firm-old-Italian-and-Christ-loving grandmother tell you to do about that as she cups your cheeks in her hands?

Closing Prayer:
Pray for each other and any needs you share.
Pray for the bravery to act on anything that the Holy Spirit stirred in your heart this week.