Introduction Enlarging Your Soul Through Grief and Loss

Growing Connected (7 min) As you were growing up, how did you deal with your disappointments? Give one example.

Video: “Enlarge Your Soul” (13 min) [feel free to take notes]

Group Discussion Starters (15 min) Bible Study (35 Min)

Starters: 1.What impacted you the most about the video teaching for this session? 2.Briefly share one loss you have experienced this past year. How has this loss impacted you?

Bible Study: The end of Jesus’ vibrant, popular, earthly life and ministry appeared to be an enormous loss to his disciples and followers. IN this passage we will observe two very different approaches to that loss—the apostle Peter’s and Jesus’ himself. Read Matthew 26:31-44

1.Peter was deeply invested in Jesus and his kingdom, having left everything to follow him. What was Peter’s response to Jesus’ shocking prediction (vv 31-36)?

2.On your handout is a list of common defenses we often use to protect ourselves from grief and loss. Checkmark the common defenses that Peter used to protect himself against the painful reality of Jesus’ prediction.

3.Based on the checklist in question 2, can you identify defenses you tend to use when dealing with loss and setbacks, and why?

4.It is important for us to remember that Jesus was both fully human and fully God. Spend a few moments focusing on Jesus in verse In contrast to the checklist in question 5, what were some of the ways he dealt with and moved through his losses?

5.What about Jesus’ example of grieving most speaks to you about embracing your own grief and loss?

Application Answer the following application questions on your own and then, as a group, spend 5-10 minutes closing the session in prayer. 1.Using the chart on the handout, choose two or three age ranges of your life, and write down your significant losses during those years.

Application 2. What was the experience of filling out the chart like for you? Did it reveal anything new to you? Explain.

Application 3. One of the central message of Christianity is that suffering and earth bring resurrection and new life. Are there any losses you have not yet embraced where new life is still waiting to be birthed?

Pray together as a group regarding what is in your heart in response to this study.

Read chapter 8 of the book Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, “Discover the Rhythms of the Daily Office and Sabbath.” Write down any insights or questions you might want to bring to the next group session. Between Sessions Personal Study Read Week 5 of the devotional Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day, “Enlarge Your Soul through Grief and Loss.” Answer the Questions to Consider and/or journal your thoughts each day.