08.23.20 - Small Group Discussion

Talking Points - Kingdom First

The Unity and Diversity of the Early Church shocked and intrigued the ancient world, and ours should too.

  • What’s one thing that stood out to you this week? Why do you think it grabbed you?

  • Many times, we attribute someone’s character to their behavior. For instance, what’s your initial opinion of someone when you see them being lazy? Late? Generous? Opinionated? Educated? Extravagant? Loud?

  • Similarly, people can make character judgments based on how people lean politically. Why do you think people do that?

  • When it comes to having conversations about politics, would you describe yourself as more unifying or more disruptive? What’s something you can do (or stop doing) to approach political conversations in a healthier way?

Read: Galatians 6:2, Galatians 3:26-29, Luke 16:15, John 13:35

  • In Galatians 3, Paul talks about cultural barriers that should be minimized because of Jesus. What stands out to you?

  • Are there cultural categories (gender, race, political parties, economic class, etc.) that you have difficulty seeing both sides of as having equal value? What makes it difficult for you, or why is it difficult?

  • The Fundamental Attribution Error is a cognitive bias that causes us to attribute another person’s behavior to their character, even though we attribute our own behavior to circumstances or environmental factors. How do we work to combat that bias?

  • How do know when a person’s behavior can be attributed to their character?

  • Does South have division between power/powerless, wealthy/poor, educated/not educated, citizen/foreigner, or race? Why or why not? If we don’t have those divisions, how do we maintain that? If we do, how do we eliminate them?

Prayer: Pray for unity and to love unconditionally.