Pandemic Discussion Part II

Many LifeGroups are following this series and discussing the affects of sin and suffering in our world. As they tackled the depths of last weeks discussion, many found there was a lot more than you could possibly get to in a single group time. You should review last week here and be open to revisiting the momentum that you have begun and not finished then.

This week, we will build discussion on last week's theme as well as talk about some NT principles and an interesting statement found in psalm 137:1-4. When times are at their toughest, we many times withdraw from God and wait for things to get better before we deem Him worthy of our praise and following again. We can't even imagine seeing Him the same way when everything is going wrong around us.

This week, you can pick up on some of the exact theme from last week, as well as how we build on the message.

Thaw

• What's something you haven't done in a long time that you really miss doing?
  
• What something someone has asked you to do, but you just don't want to do anymore?
  
• What changed? Why don't you do it anymore?
  
• How is this like what happens in our faith when things get difficult?
  

Read

• Psalm 137:1-4
  
• First thoughts?
  
• Can you blame the Israelites for feeling this way? Why or why not?

Read

• Romans 5:3-5
  
• First thoughts
  
• Spend some time as a group walking through how this progression actually looks when lived out.
  

Leader note: You may help the group note that the rejoicing in the beginning has in mind the hope and character in the end. You can't rejoice if you don't think there is anything beyond the suffering, or that you are going to turn out worse for it. We must believe that God can redeem anything, and come back to the principle of not knowing why, but that God IS going to do something about it. 

You may also note, if none of the group members recognize it, that the words "us" and "we" are used in this short passage 6 times (literally about 3 in the original language, but implied as many as 3 additional times, as translated in English in the New International Version). This supports the pervasive call of the scriptures, in contrast to our modern way of living individually, to live these realities openly, in community, vulnerably and in long term unity, no matter what.

Discuss

• What are ways we hang our harps?
  
• Do you agree that giving up on living in trust, selflessness, love and holiness are ways we "hang our harps"? Why or why not?

• In looking at the passage from Romans 5, what are the benefits of someone sharing their grief, pain and suffering with you and the group? What are the drawbacks?
  
• What does this say to our need to tell our story(ies)?
  

Application

• What can this group do to collectively pick their harp back up?
  
• What's in the way?
  
• What needs to change to make this happen?