Shepherds: Experiences of Compromise

(5–10 minutes, easy set-up)

Lead learners to share their perspectives on the impact of compromise on their worship of God. Invite them to share stories of how compromise, whether their own or someone else’s, changed their perspective and shaped their own faithful worship, including their experience of God’s faithfulness in the midst of it. After the discussion, ask: In the midst of life, how do your experiences of compromise affect your worldview? How do they affect how you interact with life? How do they affect how you worship God faithfully?

Instruct learners to work in groups of three or four to determine how they could express their understanding of faithful worship and compromise to a newer Christian. After a few minutes, encourage learners to prayer for each other within their small groups, that God would provide opportunities for them to share their understanding of faithful worhsip and compromise with new Christians. Remind learners that God can use the circumstances in our lives to test our faith and to provide a witness to others.