From Bitter to Better - The Table Discussion Questions - February 20, 2025

Opening Connection Questions

1. What resonated most with you from today’s message? Why?
   • Could be a story
   • Could be a metaphor
   • Could be a principle
2. How do you typically handle it when someone hurts you?
   • Initial reaction
   • Long-term response
   • What you’ve learned works/doesn’t work
3. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received about handling hurt?
   • Could be from family
   • Could be from a friend
   • Could be from experience

Acknowledging Pain Questions

1. Which of the metaphors helped you understand healing better?
   • Broken bone
   • Two wolves
   • Mosaic
   • Why that one?
2. What makes it hard to admit when we’re really hurt?
   • Social pressure
   • Personal expectations
   • Past experiences
   • Fear
3. Have you ever tried to “walk off” an emotional wound? How did that work out?
   • What happened?
   • What did you learn?
   • What would you do differently?

Choice Questions

1. What helps you make good choices when you’re hurting?
   • Practices that help
   • People who help
   • Perspectives that help
2. If you’re comfortable sharing, what’s a time someone’s forgiveness impacted you?
   • Could be receiving forgiveness
   • Could be witnessing forgiveness
   • Could be giving forgiveness
3. Which “wolf” do you find harder to feed – bitterness or hope? Why?
   • Daily challenges
   • What makes it difficult
   • What helps

Purpose Questions

1. Has someone else’s story of healing ever given you hope? How?
   • What about their story helped
   • What they did that made a difference
   • How it impacted you
2. What’s one way you’d like to grow in handling hurt?
   • A habit to develop
   • A perspective to gain
   • A step to take
3. How could your story of healing help someone else?
   • In your family
   • In your friendships
   • In your community

Application Questions

1. What’s one small step you feel ready to take?
   • Could be personal
   • Could be relational
   • Could be practical
2. How can this group support you in that step?
   • Prayer
   • Accountability
   • Practical help
   • Check-ins
3. What stands out to you about how Joseph handled his brothers?
   • His response
   • His perspective
   • His choices
4. How does seeing God’s bigger story in Joseph’s life encourage you with your story?
   • Personal application
   • Current situation
   • Future hope