Small Group Questions

1) When you were a child, what kinds of name calling went on with other kids? As a youth, how were groups of kids identified (e.g. jocks, nerds, etc.). What group did you identify with?

2) Reflecting on question 1, why do you think we separate people into groups, or name-call people different from us?

3) What do you think it was like in Paul’s day when Gentile Christians, who did not observe Jewish laws (e.g. washing, work rules, etc.), went to a church that was predominantly made up of Jewish Christians who did?

4) Pastor George suggests embracing people who are “different” is actually harder than we think, and he bases this partly on evolutionary trends (we inherently distrust the outsider). Do you think he’s right? Is it really that difficult?

5) Jesus teaches us to expand our margins and see all people as children of God. Pastor George suggests really listening to people who are different is a way to respect these differences. What are other ways? What works for you to break down walls of hostility?