Recycling Pain – the Sharing Choice

Here are some questions that will stimulate honest discussion and prayer. Feel free to use some or all of them to explore the topic. Remember to give time for friendship and socialising, as well as prayer and letting the Holy Spirit guide your time together

Open up a general (but fairly brief!) discussion about why God allows pain.
When is our freedom to choose not always a good thing for us? Has anyone a story about the consequences of a bad choice?
Does God sometimes allow us to go through painful experiences in order to bring us closer to himself – particularly, perhaps, when we have been wandering away?
Think of biblical examples of when God used difficult circumstances to encourage his people to depend on him and not on themselves. Has anyone a similar experience?
When have difficult times allowed you to sympathise more effectively with others? Is it necessary to have experienced pain similar to that of others in order to be able to help them?
Pray for members of the group (or others known to you) who are going through difficult times at the moment.

For more prayer ideas, see the weekly notice sheet.

Peter Edwards, 24/04/2010