OUTRAGE week 1

 Icebreaker: Share with the group one of the best meals you've ever had.

1- Have you ever had an awkward meal experience? Maybe a first date or a meeting the parents type situation that was really awkward? If so, share!

Our rGroup session for this week is about an awkward meal that Jesus ate with His disciples. 

READ Matthew 26:18-21

2- What do you think you would have done if you were in the situations of the disciples in these verses?

READ Matthew 26:22-25

3- How do you think Jesus' disciples felt when Jesus told them one of them would betray Him? What do you think they felt when Jesus ousted Judas? 

4- Put yourself in the shoes of each person. How would you feel if you were in Jesus' place? How would you feel if you were Judas? What would your thoughts be if you were in the other 11 disciples' shoes?  

5- Now, think about this scenario through the lens of our new series called "OUTRAGE" leading up the Presidential election. If something like this happened today, what sort of response would our culture have? What response do you think you would have?

READ Matthew 26:26-30

6- After this awkward moment at dinner, Jesus displays symbols of sacrifice and forgiveness. How do you think we as Jesus followers, can apply this to our current cultural moment?

READ Eph. 4:1-3 (we studied this in a recent rGroup study a few weeks ago) 

Often in our lives as Christians we avoid hard conversations in order to avoid outrage. However, Jesus addressed the difficult and awkward reality of the situation in Matthew 26. On the other hand, Ephesians 4 tells us to make every effort to live in unity.

7- As you think about the outrage culture we live in, how can Christians walk the fine line of addressing what needs to be addressed while still bearing with one another and keeping unity? 

8- Each week during the OUTRAGE series we are going to pray through cultural issues that are often hotly discussed. A good rule Christians should consider is "if you haven't prayed about it, don't post about it." 

• This week, focus on the division that exists in the United States. Spend a few minutes discussing how political and social division has affected you personally and our country corporately. 
• Then spend time praying for each other and those we come in contact with throughout the week.