Shepherd of the Valley Messages Shepherd of the Valley

-Which of these groups of infamous friends has the strongest friendship? Why?



Batman and Robin? (DC Comics)

Buzz Light Year and Woody? (Toy Story)

Scooby-Doo and Shaggy? 



-Share about a time that someone was particularly encouraging to you. How did it impact you? 



Read Acts 9:26-27



- What role did Barnabas play when Saul (turned Paul) tried to join the disciples in Jerusalem? 



- Why do you think Barnabas decided to support Saul despite the fears of the other disciples? 



- How might we fight our tendency to want to support and agree with our friends in moments that they may need us to share a harder truth for their benefit? 



- What is the line between “just saying it like it is” and speaking truth in love? 



- How might benefit from an encouraging word or time with you in the near future? Reach out and make it happen!

-Describe a time in your life when you really needed a friend.



-Read Proverbs 17:17, 27:6, 27:9-10 - Who in your life has been this kind of friend to you and how?



-Talk about a time you have been able to be a good friend to someone in a challenging season.



-Read John 15:9-17 - What aspects of Jesus command to love are most challenging to incorporate into our friendships?



 

-Think about one of your close friends. How did you meet and become friends? What leads you to consider them a close friend now? 



-Read 1 Samuel 18:1-4. What do you know about the Jonathan and David friendship? What do you think is the significance of their commitment to one another? How does it affect their friendship? 



-How do you respond to the C.S. Lewis quote: “To be loved is to be vulnerable.” Do you agree with this comment? How has vulnerability played a role in your relationships? 



-Read John 15:14-16. What does it mean to have friendship with God? How can friendship with God have an influence on our other relationships?



-Do you have friends that spur you on in faith? Can you share about a time when a friend did that for you? If you don’t, what might keep you from a relationship like that? 



 

-Share a favorite or least favorite trip with your family growing up.



-Read Mark 3:31-35. In a strong familial society, how do you think the disciples would have felt about Jesus words and actions here?



-In what ways do we and do we not treat our church community as “family?” What are aspects of a family we want to emulate and aspects we want to avoid?



-Read Galatians 3:26. What do you think it may have felt like for the members of the early church who did not have Jewish heritage to be welcomed into God’s family. What does it mean for us to be “heirs of Christ?”



Live it out:

Think of someone you know in our community that you could welcome in like family. Discuss who that might be and consider how you might reach out: a phone call, coffee, or meal together.

Share a story of a time you welcomed a stranger or had a memorable dinner guest. 



How have you understood hospitality? Is it something you’ve connected to your faith? 



Read Luke 10:25-42. What do each of these stories teach us about hospitality? 



What makes it challenging to welcome someone to “our table”? How can we practice hospitality? 



Why do you think hospitality is such a major theme in Scripture?

–Describe your favorite community growing up? What made it positive for you?



–What elements keep communities together? What elements fragment communities?



–Read Genesis 2:18. Why do you think Christian community can (at least at times) feel optional rather than essential?

What’s at risk with this thinking?



–Read John 16:11; John 16:20-21. What is the difference between a community based on unity verse affinity?



Live it out - Ponder who you might be keeping at arms length because of an annoyance, personality difference, worldview, or superficial reason. How might you internally let that go and find a way to be kind to them in the coming weeks?