Jesus the Small Group LeaderSample

Follow Feelings

It’s powerful to imagine that the God of the universe felt things. He felt tired, hungry, happy, and yes, compassionate. 

One of the most vulnerable things we can do in a small group is share how we’re feeling. But that can be a scary ask. For starters, we may not even be able to articulate exactly how we’re feeling (let alone why we feel that way!). That uncertainty can cause us to keep our feelings to ourselves.

Another reason people tend to cover up emotions is because we don’t know how other people will react. “Am I the only one who feels this way?” “Is this feeling even allowed?” There are plenty of doubts and uncertainties that force us into hiding, but that’s not what Jesus did.

Jesus felt deeply, and out of his feelings flowed his ministry. When he looked at the people, he felt compassion. And out of compassion, he acted. He loved us so much that he died for us. His feelings took him all the way to the cross!

When feelings are shared, we can pursue them as the gateway to the heart and the catalyst for connection. Even if the feelings you have may not be ones you're proud of, small group can be a time to open up and ask others to help you see which feelings are worth following. A great small group leader is someone who helps people feel less alone.

And when we share our feelings, we can find out that we’re never the only ones who have felt that way. So, what feelings are leading you to act lovingly toward others? What feelings do you need help understanding? Your group can be a place to ask and answer both of those questions.

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