
Connect
Were there labels for different groups of kids in your school when you were growing up? What were some of those labels? Which group were you in?
Consider
- We’ve been talking about reconciliation for a few weeks in the Mending the Divide sermon series. Read 2 Corinthians 5:18-19. What does it mean to be reconciled to God? What does it mean when it says that God has given us the message of reconciliation?
- What are examples of us vs. them in today’s culture? Is it easier to see an us vs. them attitude in other people or in ourselves? Why?
- Read Galatians 3:26-28. What does it say about the differences among people?
- Scotty gave us three steps we can take toward reconciliation:
• Curiosity. What are ways that we can practice curiosity when it comes to reconciliation?
• Confession. What role does confession play in reconciliation? Consider our reconciliation with God as well as our reconciliation with others. What about when reconciliation is needed on a large scale like racial or gender reconciliation?
• Love. How did Jesus demonstrate love? How can we love (and show that love) to those who are different than us?
Commit
Choose an area of your life where you have an us vs. them mentality. What can you do this week to move toward reconciliation? What is a specific thing you can do to practice curiosity, confession, and/or love? Share that action item with your group.
Pray
• for each other in your commitments toward reconciliation.
• for reconciliation in our families, church, neighborhood, state, nation, and world.
• for others to understand and receive God’s gift of reconciliation through Christ.