October 27th, 2023
by Sarah Turner
by Sarah Turner
Core Group Guide No Regrets - Week Four
Written by: Sherrill Wall & Jenny Huffmann
Welcome
This is the final week of our series, No Regrets. In this series we have looked at the way we handle mistakes, and we have considered three essential steps in moving forward in relationships with God and with others. The first step is recognizing and owning our mistakes. Pastor Charity defined obstacles we face in doing so - perfectionism, ingrained habits and self preservation. Pastor Madi described how the second step, rethinking, could help us to see alternative choices. Last week, Pastor Matt spoke about the importance of “repairing attempts” that can lead to healing relationships. In this final week, we will be discussing what it means to release our mistakes and to move on.
Opening Prayer
Gracious God, you are good in all things. Thank you for your presence with us in our discussions over the last few weeks. Holy Spirit you have searched our hearts and helped us to see our own trespasses against one another. Thank you for each one who has spoken bravely of past mistakes. Thank you for each one who listened and encouraged by word and by presence. Thank you that in Christ we have forgiveness and freedom from all our regrets. We pray in His name. Amen.
Ice Breaker
Do you think it's better to regret something you did or to regret something you left undone? Briefly explain your choice.
Head
In his letters to the various churches he visited, Paul often seeks to explain how the Old Testament scripture and tradition relates to Jesus and to our life in Christ. In doing so he encourages the new believers to reckon with the past, but to move toward the future. When we look at these verses in Galatians and Philippians we can also be encouraged that we can be free to move on from our mistakes and regrets.
Galatians 5:1
Christ has set us free for freedom. Therefore, stand firm and don’t submit to the bondage of slavery again.
Philippians 3:13-14
Brothers and sisters, I myself don’t think I’ve reached it, but I do this one thing: I forget about the things behind me and reach out for the things ahead of me. The goal I pursue is the prize of God’s upward call in Christ Jesus.
John writes in his letters to the young churches that mistakes (sin) are inevitable, going so far as to say if we deny our sin, we make God a liar. But then he speaks a cherished truth.
1 John 1:9
But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from everything we have done wrong.
Heart
These past weeks of considering our regrets have given us practical advice on how to deal with our mistakes. Yet sometimes, even when we have reflected on our responsibility and made attempts to repair the damage, our own actions loom large in the back of our mind and we are not free to move ahead. In his book, Surrender to Love, David G. Benner, a depth psychologist and transformational coach, invites us to consider the ways in which our view of God affects relationships with others. He asks the question, “What do you assume God feels when you come to mind?” The way we answer that question may well affect whether we are able to receive true forgiveness and move beyond our regrets.
Hands
These four weeks of self examination and review of past mistakes have challenged us in many ways. The emotional effort to recognize and to reflect on the ways in which we have hurt others either by our actions or our failure to act may have left some of us feeling depleted. Whether we have been able to attempt repairing or are still trying to deal with our thoughts internally, it is good to hear that there is a way forward. God offers us forgiveness for all our past mistakes.
Spend some time this week meditating on that release - “He is faithful and just to cleanse us of everything we have done wrong.” [1 John 1:9] Offer to God a prayer of thanksgiving. Breathe. And then as you are ready, begin to move on. Take some time to appreciate the work done and go out and have some fun. Take a walk, go for coffee or out to lunch. The purpose of examining our past mistakes is to experience freedom and to live open lives. Just do it!
Going Deeper
Luke 7:36-50 tells of an incident when Jesus was invited to dine at a particular Pharisee’s home. While he is there a woman begins to wash his feet with her tears and anoint them with an expensive perfume. When the host is offended by both the woman and by Jesus who allows her to touch him, Jesus tells a parable. Read the story about forgiveness and gratitude.
Written by: Sherrill Wall & Jenny Huffmann
Welcome
This is the final week of our series, No Regrets. In this series we have looked at the way we handle mistakes, and we have considered three essential steps in moving forward in relationships with God and with others. The first step is recognizing and owning our mistakes. Pastor Charity defined obstacles we face in doing so - perfectionism, ingrained habits and self preservation. Pastor Madi described how the second step, rethinking, could help us to see alternative choices. Last week, Pastor Matt spoke about the importance of “repairing attempts” that can lead to healing relationships. In this final week, we will be discussing what it means to release our mistakes and to move on.
Opening Prayer
Gracious God, you are good in all things. Thank you for your presence with us in our discussions over the last few weeks. Holy Spirit you have searched our hearts and helped us to see our own trespasses against one another. Thank you for each one who has spoken bravely of past mistakes. Thank you for each one who listened and encouraged by word and by presence. Thank you that in Christ we have forgiveness and freedom from all our regrets. We pray in His name. Amen.
Ice Breaker
Do you think it's better to regret something you did or to regret something you left undone? Briefly explain your choice.
Head
In his letters to the various churches he visited, Paul often seeks to explain how the Old Testament scripture and tradition relates to Jesus and to our life in Christ. In doing so he encourages the new believers to reckon with the past, but to move toward the future. When we look at these verses in Galatians and Philippians we can also be encouraged that we can be free to move on from our mistakes and regrets.
Galatians 5:1
Christ has set us free for freedom. Therefore, stand firm and don’t submit to the bondage of slavery again.
- What is the specific bondage referred to? (see Galatians 3:1-5)
- In what ways do we submit to the bondage of our past mistakes?
Philippians 3:13-14
Brothers and sisters, I myself don’t think I’ve reached it, but I do this one thing: I forget about the things behind me and reach out for the things ahead of me. The goal I pursue is the prize of God’s upward call in Christ Jesus.
- What is the prize Paul is seeking?
- Is the upward call of Christ the same as spiritual maturity? Explain your answer.
- What does Paul have to forget about?
- How does this relate to our discussion of regrets?
John writes in his letters to the young churches that mistakes (sin) are inevitable, going so far as to say if we deny our sin, we make God a liar. But then he speaks a cherished truth.
1 John 1:9
But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from everything we have done wrong.
- What are the two actions in this verse?
- These words were written by John, but we see these truths played out in Paul’s life as well. What evidence is there in Paul’s teaching that indicates he embraces this truth?
- How can this truth impact us as we deal with regrets?
Heart
These past weeks of considering our regrets have given us practical advice on how to deal with our mistakes. Yet sometimes, even when we have reflected on our responsibility and made attempts to repair the damage, our own actions loom large in the back of our mind and we are not free to move ahead. In his book, Surrender to Love, David G. Benner, a depth psychologist and transformational coach, invites us to consider the ways in which our view of God affects relationships with others. He asks the question, “What do you assume God feels when you come to mind?” The way we answer that question may well affect whether we are able to receive true forgiveness and move beyond our regrets.
- Share your thoughts about Benner’s question. Why is such a consideration important in discussing release from regrets?
- How does guilt and/or shame affect your ability to receive forgiveness?
- If you are comfortable, share a time when you had a hard time letting go. What helped you to finally let go?
- Do you think the difficulty a person may have receiving forgiveness affects their ability to forgive others? Why or why not?
- Is forgiveness, both receiving it and extending it to others, always necessary in order to move on? Explain your answer.
Hands
These four weeks of self examination and review of past mistakes have challenged us in many ways. The emotional effort to recognize and to reflect on the ways in which we have hurt others either by our actions or our failure to act may have left some of us feeling depleted. Whether we have been able to attempt repairing or are still trying to deal with our thoughts internally, it is good to hear that there is a way forward. God offers us forgiveness for all our past mistakes.
Spend some time this week meditating on that release - “He is faithful and just to cleanse us of everything we have done wrong.” [1 John 1:9] Offer to God a prayer of thanksgiving. Breathe. And then as you are ready, begin to move on. Take some time to appreciate the work done and go out and have some fun. Take a walk, go for coffee or out to lunch. The purpose of examining our past mistakes is to experience freedom and to live open lives. Just do it!
Going Deeper
Luke 7:36-50 tells of an incident when Jesus was invited to dine at a particular Pharisee’s home. While he is there a woman begins to wash his feet with her tears and anoint them with an expensive perfume. When the host is offended by both the woman and by Jesus who allows her to touch him, Jesus tells a parable. Read the story about forgiveness and gratitude.
- Tell the parable Jesus told in your own words.
- What does Jesus want the Pharisee to understand?
- How does the woman demonstrate her freedom in Christ?
- What does she understand about forgiveness that the Pharisee misses?
Posted in CoreGroup Discussion Guides
Recent
Archive
2024
January
Clean Slate: Week 1 Discussion GuideStarting & Sustaining Change // M-Note 1.6.24Clean Slate: Week 2 Discussion GuideStarting Small, Dreaming Big // M-Note 1.13.24Clean Slate: Week 3 Discussion GuideTogether Towards Change...and Healthy Habits // M-Note 1.20.24Clean Slate: Week 4 Discussion GuideSlowing Down for God to Show Up // M-Note 1.27.24
February
More Isn't Always Better // M-Note 2.3.24Money Talks: Week 1 Discussion GuideAshes for Valentine's Day? // M-Note 2.10.24Money Talks: Week 2 Discussion GuideLenten Devotional 2024Money Talks: Week 3 Discussion GuideWhat's your legacy? // M-Note 2.17.24Strength in Numbers: Community in Ministry // M-Note 2.24.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week One
March
Entourage Discussion Guide - Week TwoUpdates from Clayton and Easter Invitation // M-Note 3.2.24Twenty Students Confirmed Last Sunday // M-Note 3.9.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 3How serving at Easter can really make a difference // M-Note 3.16.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 4Can You Know Joy Without Pain? // M-Note 3.23.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 5It's time for EasterSTL at The Factory // M-Note 3.28.24
April
Easter Discussion GuideScreen Time: Troubleshooting our Relationship with Technology // M-Note 4.6.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 1Springtime Reminders: Joy Comes with the Morning // M-Note 4.13.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 2Shaping the Future at the UMC General Conference // M-Note 4.20.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 3 General Conference Halftime Report// M-Note 4.27.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 4
May
Very Good News at the End of General Conference//M-Note 5.4.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 1Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 2Announcing The Gathering’s Church Planters Lab//M-Note 5.11.24My (Hypothetical) Commencement Address // M-Note 5.18.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 3Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 4
June
July
September
Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 1Transitioning...to 47 // M-Note 9.7.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 2Invitations Work in Mysterious Ways // M-Note 9.14.24Students Stepping Up: Getting Involved in Ministry // M-Note 9.21.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 3A Stressful Season // M-Note 9.28.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 4
October
It Doesn't Have to Be This Way // M-Note 10.5.24Hold These Truths Discussion Guide - Week 1Love Thy Political Neighbor // M-Note 10.11.2024Hold These Truths Discussion Guide - Week 2Fear is a Powerful Motivator // M-Note 10.19.24Hold These Truths Discussion Guide - Week 3Why Do Bad Things Happen? // M-Note 10.26.24Why? Discussion Guide - Week 1
2023
January
February
Explore - Week 1Explore - Week 2Explore - Week 4Explore - Week 3God is Leading Us Forward // M-Note 2.3.23SENT: Week 1 Discussion GuideSomething To Try This Weekend // M-Note 2.10.23SENT: Week 2 Discussion GuideSENT: Week 3 Discussion GuideWe're Doing Something Big! // M-Note 2.17.23Lent Devotional Day 1Lent Devotional Day 2Lent Devotional Day 3SENT: Week 4 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 4Lent Devotional Day 5Lent Devotional Day 6Lent Devotional Day 7
Categories
Tags
1 Kings 3
1 Kings
1 Timothy
2 Corinthians 9:5-7
2 Timothy
Belden Lane
Beyond Simple
Celebrate
Change
Christ
Commit
Confidence
Denee Bowers
Devotional
Discussion Guides
Distractions
Divine Love
Doubt
Easter
Ephesians
Equity
Evangelism
Explore
Five Shared Practices
Focus
Frederick Buechner
Fresh Take
Friends
Generosity
God
Gratitude
Hebrews
Holy Ambiguity
Holy Spirit
Hope
Humanity
Identity
Inside Voice
Isaiah
Jesus
John 21
John
Joy
Kids
King Solomon
Lectio Divina
Lent
Life
Limitations
Longing
M-Note
Matt Miofsky
Matthew
Nadia Bolz-Weber
No Filter
Open
Parables
Parenting
Patience
Paula D'Arcy
Paula D\'Arcy
Paula D\\\'Arcy
Paula D\\\\\\\'Arcy
Paul
Privilege
Proverbs 1
Proverbs
Psalms
Purpose
Questions
Redeem
Rejoice
Righteousness
Sabra Engelbrecht
Second Chance
Self-Love
Struggle
Success
The Bible
The Church
The Gathering
Timothy
Uncertainty
Untethered
Vision
Weird
acts
adulting
advice
challenge
commitment
creation
deconstruction
deconstruct
faith
finances
fitness
forgiveness
forgiving
foundation
freedom
give
growth
kelley weber
love
meister eckhart
money
mystery
new life
opportunity
reconstruction
reconstruct
redemption
relationships
responsibility
simplify
sin
social
thomas merton
transition
truth
willingness
willpower
will
young adult
No Comments