Week 1 A fun game for small groups in person. Grab a tray or use a coffee table, something that is central for everyone in your group to see. Prepare before the group arrives, an array of seemingly small insignificant items and place them on the tray or coffee table then cover them up with a towel. These items can be normal things you might have laying around your home such as but not limited to, paper clip, rubber band, scissors, pen/pencil, spoon/utensil, hair clip, hairbrush, toothbrush, razor, or whatever you might have in your possession. Try to gather at least 10-15 items. Give each member of your group a piece of scrap paper and a pen or pencil (can use their phones also), instruct the group that you will lift the towel and the group will have 1 min to examine what is on the table or tray then you will cover it back up. No touching. People can only look. Once this has happened and you reveal then cover it back up, everyone has 1 more minute to write down from memory, the items they saw on the table. The person who lists the most wins. Prize is optional. This mixer is to help setup the group to remember hidden things. Which was the subject from this week's sermon. MIXER This week’s sermon dealt with the pain we carry on the inside and God’s desire for us to engage this pain and NOT disengage from it. His desire is for a “supernatural exchange” with Him. 1. It’s so easy to rehearse the pain in our minds. To play an event, a relationship, a circumstance over and over and over and not pray the pain we have on repeat. Share about one thought you have currently that you have on repeat. In Luke 22, Jesus models for us, the importance of prayer and bringing our painful, messy moments to Him. The emotional “throw up” moments where we pour out all that is within. Jesus did this in the garden of Gethsemane 2. We all know we should pray when we are in pain and yet so often we don’t. What are some roadblocks for you to pray out your pain? Jesus had his 12. They were his disciples, his friends, his community. And we see in Luke 22 that they failed Him when Jesus needed them most. They were imperfect. And yet, Jesus still loved them. He understood them. He knew they were imperfect. He gave them grace. 3. What do you expect of your friends when you are in pain? Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down but a good (encouraging)word makes it glad. DISCUSSION Sometimes the kindest thing we can do for a friend in need is just to be present. Just show up. Your presence will speak more than paragraphs of words you could speak. Phrases like, “I love you, I’m here, I’ll walk with you” go a long way to soothing a soul in pain. Pastor Jules concluded his sermon with the olive illustration. This beautifully conveyed the message that pain yields something beautiful in each of us. The crushing brings forth a rich, fragrant, aroma of His purpose in our lives. 4. Push pause in your mind with all your “to dos” and take a deep breath. Have someone read Psalm 139 out loud. Now ask God to search you. The God who formed you in your mother’s womb, knows you and wants you to know Him. Let Him search out in your heart any places of hidden pain. Pain not disclosed, pain stored away. DISCUSSION CLOSING THOUGHTS Allow a time of ministry to happen in your group as you begin to allow God to shine His light on what pain points are on the inside of you. Don’t be discouraged if you aren’t able to articulate any pain points. What’s important here is allowing God access to your heart to search for them.