Week 7: Letting Go of Guilt

Explore the cause and effects of this heavy topic.

by Sam O'Neal

Do you understand what I mean when I say that "guilt" is a heavy word? It's kind of like sin—it can just weigh down a conversation. So, as a small-group leader, it can be a bit daunting to say you are going to lead an entire group discussion on the subject of guilt.

Fortunately, there are a couple weighs to lighten things up a bit.

Important Icebreaker
The biggest thing I would recommend for this week's group session is that you intentionally have some fun up front. Use an icebreaker that gets people talking or moving—something that has a high probability of producing some laughs. (I've listed two of them in this week's newsletter, so be sure to check that out.)

Then, be open about the topic of your discussion this week. Say something like, "I wanted to help us have a little fun at the beginning of our gathering tonight because our discussion is going to focus on a topic that can be kind of heavy for many people." Then move on into the lesson.

Teaching Points
I think the question posed in Teaching Point One is a great place for your group to camp out for a while: Why do we feel guilty? What causes our guilt, and what maintains it?

After letting people talk for a little while, you could then steer the conversation toward Scripture by asking what the Bible has to say about our guilt. Have people look for specific verses that address the topic. Then, if no one else mentions it, move into the Hebrews passage discussed in this week's study material.

The second and third teaching points deal with the idea of forgetting our sin—does God really forget, and should we? I think the Philip Yancey quote near the end of the study has a lot of potential for discussion: "What is forgotten can never be healed." Do you agree? Disagree? Why?

Teachable Moments
I'll admit that I'm a bit stumped when it comes to teachable moments from this week's material. Certainly the Holy Spirit can move whenever he likes, but do you see any elements of the study that strike you as particularly powerful? Or after you go through the study, were there any questions or topics that really struck a chord with your group?

If so, please let us know!