Exchanging My Hurt for His Healing
Small Group Guide: Exchanging Hurt for Healing
Ice Breaker Question: Share about a time this Christmas season when something unexpected brought up strong emotions—either positive or challenging. What caught you off guard?
Key Scripture
Primary Text: 1 Chronicles 28:9
"As for you, Solomon, my son, know the God of your father and serve him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind. For the Lord searches every heart and understands the intention of every thought."
Supporting Texts:
Jeremiah 17:14
Psalm 56:8
James 5:16
Sermon Summary
This sermon explored how our past hurts often form unstable foundations in our lives—like sinkholes beneath Rome's streets. Just as David invited God to search his heart, we're invited to allow the Holy Spirit to excavate our buried wounds. Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor and Yahweh Rapha (the Lord who heals), asks us the same question He asked the paralyzed man: "Do you want to get well?" Healing comes through confession and allowing God's light to break into the dark corners of our stories.
Discussion Questions
Understanding the Concept
The Sinkhole Metaphor: How does the image of Rome's sinkholes help you understand how buried hurts affect our present lives? Can you identify a "sinkhole moment" in your own life when something unexpectedly gave way?
David's Example: David was described as "a man after God's own heart" despite his serious failures. What does his example teach us about honesty with God? How does this challenge or encourage you?
Personal Reflection
The Searching Question: Jesus asked, "Do you want to get well?" Why do you think Jesus asks what seems like an obvious question? What might prevent someone from answering "yes" to that question?
Confession as Grace: The sermon stated, "Confession is an exercise in grace" and that "spiritual maturity doesn't mean needing to confess less, it means greater freedom to confess." How does this perspective differ from how you've thought about confession before?
Minimizing Wounds: The sermon mentioned how religious leaders in Jeremiah's time minimized people's wounds with phrases like "peace, peace when there is no peace." Have you ever minimized your own hurts or had others minimize them? What impact did that have?
Going Deeper
Hidden Foundations: The sermon suggested that "the content of the wound does not determine the impact." What "no big deal" moments from your past might actually be affecting your foundation today?
The Holy Spirit's Work: How comfortable are you with allowing the Holy Spirit to excavate buried hurts? What makes this process feel safe or unsafe to you?
Lies We Believe: The sermon mentioned common lies we believe: "nobody cares," "everyone leaves," "you're fundamentally annoying," "you need to be in charge." Which of these (or others) resonate with you? How have these lies shaped your behavior?
Key Takeaways
God Never Minimizes Our Wounds - He stores our tears in a bottle and calls it an abomination when leaders dismiss real hurts.
Nothing Is Hidden from God - The Holy Spirit already knows everything about us; excavation is for our benefit, not God's surprise.
Healing Requires Bringing Our Hurts to Jesus - We must actually present something to exchange—our hurt for His healing.
Confession Realigns Us with Truth - It's not about earning forgiveness but acknowledging lies and receiving God's truth.
This Is a Lifelong Journey - Healing one hurt doesn't remove all others; we're invited into ongoing partnership with the Holy Spirit.
Practical Applications
This Week's Challenge:
Choose one of the following practices to engage with this week:
Option 1: The David Prayer Pray Psalm 139:23-24 daily: "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Journal what comes to mind.
Option 2: The Jeremiah Prayer Pray Jeremiah 17:14 daily: "Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed. Save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise." Ask the Holy Spirit to show you one specific hurt that needs His healing attention.
Option 3: Confession Exercise Set aside 30 minutes for honest conversation with God. Ask Him: "What lie am I believing about myself or about You?" Write down what comes to mind, then search Scripture for the corresponding truth.
Option 4: Trusted Conversation Identify one trusted friend, mentor, or counselor and share one hurt you've been carrying. Practice James 5:16: "Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed."
Accountability Questions:
What came up for you during the sermon that you kept trying to shake off?
What would it look like for you to invite Jesus into that memory or hurt?
Who in your life can you trust to walk with you in this process?
Group Prayer Time
Prayer Focus:
Thanksgiving: Thank God that He is Yahweh Rapha—the Lord who heals—and that nothing about us surprises or disgusts Him.
Petition: Ask the Holy Spirit to gently excavate the hurts that need healing in each person's life.
Intercession: Pray for anyone in the group who shared a specific hurt or struggle.
Closing: Close by praying together the Jeremiah 17:14 prayer:
"Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed. Save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise."
Before Next Week
Complete your chosen practical application
Be prepared to share (if comfortable) what God revealed to you
Continue praying for one another throughout the week
Additional Resources
Consider reading: The Wounded Healer by Henri Nouwen or The Soul of Shame by Curt Thompson
For those dealing with significant trauma, consider connecting with a Christian counselor
Psalm 56, Psalm 139, and the Psalms of Lament for further study
Ice Breaker Question: Share about a time this Christmas season when something unexpected brought up strong emotions—either positive or challenging. What caught you off guard?
Key Scripture
Primary Text: 1 Chronicles 28:9
"As for you, Solomon, my son, know the God of your father and serve him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind. For the Lord searches every heart and understands the intention of every thought."
Supporting Texts:
Jeremiah 17:14
Psalm 56:8
James 5:16
Sermon Summary
This sermon explored how our past hurts often form unstable foundations in our lives—like sinkholes beneath Rome's streets. Just as David invited God to search his heart, we're invited to allow the Holy Spirit to excavate our buried wounds. Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor and Yahweh Rapha (the Lord who heals), asks us the same question He asked the paralyzed man: "Do you want to get well?" Healing comes through confession and allowing God's light to break into the dark corners of our stories.
Discussion Questions
Understanding the Concept
The Sinkhole Metaphor: How does the image of Rome's sinkholes help you understand how buried hurts affect our present lives? Can you identify a "sinkhole moment" in your own life when something unexpectedly gave way?
David's Example: David was described as "a man after God's own heart" despite his serious failures. What does his example teach us about honesty with God? How does this challenge or encourage you?
Personal Reflection
The Searching Question: Jesus asked, "Do you want to get well?" Why do you think Jesus asks what seems like an obvious question? What might prevent someone from answering "yes" to that question?
Confession as Grace: The sermon stated, "Confession is an exercise in grace" and that "spiritual maturity doesn't mean needing to confess less, it means greater freedom to confess." How does this perspective differ from how you've thought about confession before?
Minimizing Wounds: The sermon mentioned how religious leaders in Jeremiah's time minimized people's wounds with phrases like "peace, peace when there is no peace." Have you ever minimized your own hurts or had others minimize them? What impact did that have?
Going Deeper
Hidden Foundations: The sermon suggested that "the content of the wound does not determine the impact." What "no big deal" moments from your past might actually be affecting your foundation today?
The Holy Spirit's Work: How comfortable are you with allowing the Holy Spirit to excavate buried hurts? What makes this process feel safe or unsafe to you?
Lies We Believe: The sermon mentioned common lies we believe: "nobody cares," "everyone leaves," "you're fundamentally annoying," "you need to be in charge." Which of these (or others) resonate with you? How have these lies shaped your behavior?
Key Takeaways
God Never Minimizes Our Wounds - He stores our tears in a bottle and calls it an abomination when leaders dismiss real hurts.
Nothing Is Hidden from God - The Holy Spirit already knows everything about us; excavation is for our benefit, not God's surprise.
Healing Requires Bringing Our Hurts to Jesus - We must actually present something to exchange—our hurt for His healing.
Confession Realigns Us with Truth - It's not about earning forgiveness but acknowledging lies and receiving God's truth.
This Is a Lifelong Journey - Healing one hurt doesn't remove all others; we're invited into ongoing partnership with the Holy Spirit.
Practical Applications
This Week's Challenge:
Choose one of the following practices to engage with this week:
Option 1: The David Prayer Pray Psalm 139:23-24 daily: "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Journal what comes to mind.
Option 2: The Jeremiah Prayer Pray Jeremiah 17:14 daily: "Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed. Save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise." Ask the Holy Spirit to show you one specific hurt that needs His healing attention.
Option 3: Confession Exercise Set aside 30 minutes for honest conversation with God. Ask Him: "What lie am I believing about myself or about You?" Write down what comes to mind, then search Scripture for the corresponding truth.
Option 4: Trusted Conversation Identify one trusted friend, mentor, or counselor and share one hurt you've been carrying. Practice James 5:16: "Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed."
Accountability Questions:
What came up for you during the sermon that you kept trying to shake off?
What would it look like for you to invite Jesus into that memory or hurt?
Who in your life can you trust to walk with you in this process?
Group Prayer Time
Prayer Focus:
Thanksgiving: Thank God that He is Yahweh Rapha—the Lord who heals—and that nothing about us surprises or disgusts Him.
Petition: Ask the Holy Spirit to gently excavate the hurts that need healing in each person's life.
Intercession: Pray for anyone in the group who shared a specific hurt or struggle.
Closing: Close by praying together the Jeremiah 17:14 prayer:
"Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed. Save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise."
Before Next Week
Complete your chosen practical application
Be prepared to share (if comfortable) what God revealed to you
Continue praying for one another throughout the week
Additional Resources
Consider reading: The Wounded Healer by Henri Nouwen or The Soul of Shame by Curt Thompson
For those dealing with significant trauma, consider connecting with a Christian counselor
Psalm 56, Psalm 139, and the Psalms of Lament for further study
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