No Regrets Life
Matt 26:69-75, John 21:15-19
Connect:
Share how you have seen God in the Highs and Lows of your week.
Prayer:
Pray that God would lead your discussion time and bring fresh insight, conviction, and hope through your time together.
Read:
Context: Work as group to put together a picture of what is happening in the story:
o Jesus’ words had increasingly challenged the traditions of the Pharisees/Sadducees
o When they arrested Jesus, all of the disciples had fled in fear
Read the passage out loud together.
Reflect:
Discuss the imprisoning power of regrets—why is the power of “If only I had…” so impactful in our decisions, actions… identity?
Talk about the differences and similarities between the two reactions of regret in the story (Judas’ suicide in Matt 27:1-5, Peter’s weeping in Matt 26:69-75).
o What was Judas’ rationale for suicide?
o Do you think Peter’s grief in regret had lost all hope? Why or why not?
What was happening when Jesus asked Peter 3 times, “Do you love me?”, each time Jesus gave Peter a commission (“Feed My sheep”) (John 21:15-17)
o Countering 3 denials?
o Restoring Peter’s confidence that God’s purpose for his life had not changed?
o Warning Peter about the consequences of following Jesus? (John 21:18-19)
Discuss options for dealing with regrets, and the consequences of these options in light of our lifetime and God’s purposes in eternity:
o Repress it-- deny the regret and its impact
o Express it-- act out more of the same
o Confess both the regret and God’s offer of restoration
Why did Jesus finish the conversation about Peter’s death with the command, “Follow Me.”?
Respond:
o What “Confession of what is truest about you before God” is necessary at this point in your life and walk with the Lord?
o Break out into groups of 2 or 3 and share this confession (if appropriate), confess it before God and pray that over each other.
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