Motherhood is many things, but perhaps more than anything else it is relationship. But motherhood is relationship unlike any other, rich in nurture and responsibility and compassion and challenge. As I’ve watched Amy be a mom to our daughter Bethany, I’ve witnessed firsthand the beautiful complexity of the role. Or, as I read recently, “Mothers don’t sleep, they just worry with their eyes closed.”

But what happens when these most important relationships get stuck? How do we draw near across the distance created by frustration or worry or hurt or apathy?

This week at Grace Snellville, we will begin a new series in which we will see Jesus meet people who are not moving forward in various aspects of their lives. Without exception, he offers to help them get Unstuck. This week’s encounter is from Luke 17 and involves a group of people who are stuck in their relationships. Jesus has mercy for each of them, but only one of the ten can receive the whole healing lesson.

How will we respond to the mercy and healing Jesus offers to us?

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SEE IT // BE IT

(WEEKLY COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE)

DATE: May 14, 2017 // : Unstuck: Relationships and the Ten Lepers //

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19

ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes
Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out.

SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes

Have you ever felt stuck? Getting stuck is a feeling we all of have from time to time. That’s why this week we started a new series called Unstuck. In this series we are going to follow Jesus throughout the Gospels and see how Jesus helps several people get unstuck in their lives. In Luke 17, Jesus met 10 lepers who were stuck in their relationships. Because they had leprosy, they were isolated and excluded from community. The leprosy had created separation between them and others; it is in this situation the lepers met Jesus. As the lepers cried out for mercy (God’s compassion), Jesus healed them—showing us when it comes to relationships mercy is better than merit.

THE MAIN THOUGHT  keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion When it comes to our relationship with God and others—mercy is better than merit.

SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes
Picture  (What is the story saying?): How were the lepers in Luke 17 stuck in their relationships? How were they stuck in their relationship with God? How were they stuck in their relationship with others? What is the connection between our relationship with God and our relationships with others?

Mirror (Where am I in the story?): How were the lepers in Luke 17 stuck in their relationships? How were they stuck in their relationship with God? How were they stuck in their relationship with others? What is the connection between our relationship with God and our relationships with others?

Window (How does the story change how I see those around me?) :What is the difference between a relationship of mercy and a relationship of merit? How does God relate to us in mercy instead of merit? What would it look like to live in mercy with the relationships we have been living in merit in? Is mercy the opposite of boundaries? How do boundaries work with mercy?

BE IT – Practice
Change UP //  Feeling Stuck

Take a moment to make two lists. On one list, name as many ways as you can (as a group) where people get stuck in their relationship with God. On the other list, name as many places as you can (as a group) where people get stuck in their relationships with others. After you have listed as many places as you can where people get stuck in their relationship with God and others, ask each person in the group to pick out one item on the lists that most describes the place he or she is stuck right now. Talk through these places as a group and discuss together how the pathway to becoming unstuck is the pathway of mercy instead of merit.

Change IN //  Community Health

Jon mentioned in his sermon our relationships in the community have a direct effect on our health. Take a moment to thank God for the relationships in your community by finding things to be thankful for- realizing it is good to live in community together. Go around the group and let each person say thank you in different ways for each person’s presence in the group and how their presence has been an extension of the presence of God in your life.

Change OUT // Samaritan Blessing

What person or group of people might you or your group bless by inclusion in your life or community? Take some time this week to identify a few people you or your group could build friendship with. Think through people in your neighborhood, community, workplace, or network that might be looking for relationship. Brainstorm together how you might bless these people this week.

CLOSING PRAYER 5 minutes
Take a few minutes to gather any prayer requests and pray for each other to SEE IT and BE IT this week.