Opening Prayer (volunteer)

Sacred Romance (The Beloved)

How easy or hard was it coming up with discussion questions for this chapter?

Who would like to start with one?

Think About: What is it about you that would make others grateful for you? Why would someone want you?

Are these things more related to what you do or who you are? [W 101]

How known do you feel in your life right now? Does anyone pay real attention to you, and if you do receive attention, why? [W 101]

We learn who we are from others…Think about the people you looked up to as a child. What did they want from you? What did they expect you to be? What "role" did they assume you would play?" [W 103]

In the story of your life, what has earned you praise?

How much do you rely on it today? [W 104]

In the story of your life, what has earned you ridicule, scorn, or worse?

How much do you try to avoid it today? [W 104]

Put these two things together and you’ve got the false self. [W 104]

Many, many people assume that God is disappointed when he thinks about them. Do you? (Where did that thought come from?) [W 107]

p91 "What he is after is us – our laughter, our tears, our dreams, our fears, our heart of hearts". How does that thought make you feel? Do you think it’s true[…really]? What if it were true?

What would it take to convince you it is true? [W 107]

Which of the following metaphors comes closest to describing your relationship with God, from your point of view? Why?

Shepherd-Sheep; Master-Servant; Father-Child; Friend-Friend; Lover-Beloved

Sinners??

"Pond scum or glorious ruins? Did we start out as sinners? Do we end that way?" [W 108]

Who We Are In Christ

2 Co 5:17; Eph 1:1; Col 3:12; Eph 5:8; 1 Cor 6:17; Rom 1:7

"Our sin gives us something to work on, something to be fixed so that then we are lovable. But our glory is beyond any fixing – it’s just who we are. What might be desirable in you that God moved heaven and earth to get?…We must hear from the One who knows. … Ask him. Ask God what he thinks of you. And don’t just ask him once; keep on asking him till you are able to hear his answer." [W 110]

Ephesians 1 (The Message)

Dan Fogelberg’s "Longer"

Worship

Silently (or out loud) tell God what you appreciate about Him, His personality, His heart.

Prayer (Volunteer)

(Ask God to help us learn what He is teaching us)

Application / reflection card

Snacks next week?