Created to Care
June 22, 2025
Discussion Guide

INTRODUCTION

All children — that’s you and me — long for the approval of their parents…especially their fathers. It’s a longing that never goes away. It gets buried or transferred to other relationships, but it’s there. And we underestimate its power. Every parent wants to be approved by his or her child — to be a hero, to hear, “when I grow up I want to be just like you.” As that desire grows, so does a parent’s insecurity.

Buried beneath the hurt, disappointment, distance, or silence is a desire to be connected to our children and our fathers. It lasts a lifetime.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Talk about a time when you received affirmation from your parent or your child. How did it make you feel?
How has your relationship with your father made a relationship with God easier or more difficult?
About who in your family do you say, “I don’t care”? What makes your relationship with that person challenging?
What can you do this week to open a door, extend a hand, or lean in the direction of that person? What can this group do to support you?

MOVING FORWARD

The goal of reconciliation is a relationship characterized by acceptance, despite past offenses and current differences. Reconciliation keeps you honest emotionally and prevents old dysfunction from invading your new relationships.

You can’t make reconciliation happen, but you can take the first step. It’s your best bet for wholeness and health.

CHANGING YOUR MIND

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
2 Corinthians 5:14–15

HELPFUL DISCUSSION GROUP GUIDELINES

It's a good idea for every group to put words to their shared values, expectations, and commitments. Such guidelines will help you avoid unspoken agendas and unmet expectations. We recommend you discuss your guidelines during your first session together — in order to lay the foundation for a healthy group experience. Feel free to modify anything that does not work for your group.

We agree to the following values:

CLEAR PURPOSE To grow healthy spiritual lives by building a healthy discussion group community
GROUP ATTENDANCE To give priority to the group meeting (call if I am absent or late)
SAFE ENVIRONMENT To create a safe place where people can be heard and feel loved (no quick answers, snap judgments, or simple fixes)
BE CONFIDENTIAL To keep anything that is shared strictly confidential and within the group
CONFLICT RESOLUTION To avoid gossip and to immediately resolve any concerns by following the principles of Matthew 18:15-17
SPIRITUAL HEALTH To give group members permission to speak into my life and help me live a healthy, balanced spiritual life that is pleasing to God
LIMIT OUR FREEDOM To limit our freedom by not serving or consuming alcohol during small group meetings or events so as to avoid causing a weaker brother or sister to stumble (1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Romans 14:19-21)
WELCOME NEWCOMERS To invite friends who might benefit from this study and warmly welcome newcomers
BUILD RELATIONSHIPS To get to know the other members of the group and pray for them regularly
OTHER ________________________________________________________________