January 12, 2025

HOW TO BE "WE"

The Art of Conversation

Icebreaker:

Discussion:

1. Read Luke 10:5-12. The meaning of this text has to do with Jesus sending his disciples out to neighboring towns to share the good news of the kingdom. They are to go with peace and bring blessings of peace upon those homes in which they stay. If they're not wanted or the peace returns back to them, Jesus tells them to shake the dust off their feet, still proclaim the good news, and move on.
   1. Have you ever been in conversation with someone who didn't like you or what you were saying? Maybe they didn't want you around? What did that feel like?
   2. What do think the people receiving the disciples should do so that the disciples' "peace would rest on them"? 
   3. Can their peace rest even if there isn't agreement on the message?
   4. For purposes of this sermon series, imagine what it's like for a new person to visit our church. They most likely come in peace looking for peace.
      • What are some things that we would do that would return their peace back to them?
      • What are some things that we could do that would allow their peace to rest on us?

Application
For "peace to rest" among us, we have to be good at conversation.

1. Proverbs 18:21 says, "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." What can we do to make our conversations "life-giving"?
2. Colossians 4:6 says, "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." What does a conversation look like if it's "full of grace" and "seasoned with salt"?
3. James 1:19 says, "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry."
   1. How good are we at asking questions and listening? Is anyone in your group good at this?
   2. What would it look like to be better at listening in our conversations?
   3. What kinds of questions are good to ask?
4. Proverbs 18:2 says, “A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.” Good conversations are dialogues, not monologues. How does it feel when someone just starts freely sharing their opinions or just telling stories?
5. Are we willing to commit to growing in our abilities to have good conversations that are life-giving, full of grace, filled with questions that promote good dialogue? 

Prayer
Take time to ask for personal prayer requests and pray for each other.