THINGS OVERHEARD: Online.

It's not that we become something different online. We're actually quite the same. But somehow we've not learned yet as a society how to navigate the new context with the maturity we've come to use offline.
Use this discussion-time mindfully. The idea isn't to deride online communication or social media. It's to become more aware, to mature and to understand what is driving us to say things that, oftentimes, veer far from wisdom, compassion or humility.


Thaw

• Best snow apocalypse story. You have one minute to tell it.

• What most resonated with you from Sunday morning? 
• What realizations did you have about yourself (versus others)?

Read

• 1 Peter 2:1
• Proverbs 16:28
• Matthew 15:19
• II Corinthians 10:5b
• Thoughts and impressions?

Discuss

• Why do you think the rules seem to change online for people?

Leader note: At risk of self-promotion, consider the content of my blog post from last fall for some other reflections on this phenomenon.

Read

• 2 Timothy 2:23-25
• Thoughts and Impressions?
• Reading through this again slowly, thinking about it as many scholars suggest, to be Paul's last written words to his young disciple (or anyone else), how does this apply to your communicating with others?

Discuss

• As a group, think together about the implications of "making a point" vs "making a difference."
• When we argue for the "truth" online, are we making a difference? Explain your opinion.
• What kinds of statements do we make about love when we effort to get attention from an online audience?

Apply

• In a few weeks, we will begin what has for many generations been called the season of Lent. Would you consider, during this time of prayer, fasting and reflection, eliminating social media, comment sections, etc.? What might you learn by fasting that way? What do you learn about the sense of resistance you have about the idea?