Failure Isn't Final

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Failure isn’t fun to think about. In a performance-based culture, many of us wish we could forget our worst grades, biggest mistakes, and worst failures, even though these things stick with us for a long time. But what if God wanted to use our failures to realign and redefine us in a big way? Let’s continue the conversation started this week.

• On a scale of 1-10, how far do you go with setting up Christmas decorations (1 being the Grinch and 10 being Clark Griswold)? When do you set things up?

• Today we’re talking about failure and it’s right after Thanksgiving. Share a cooking fail you had a hand in. What were you trying to make and what happened?

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Discuss Together

• What’s one thing in your past, big or small, you wish you could get a “do over” on? If you could go back, what would you do differently?

Read Luke 22:54-62.

• Just a bit earlier, Peter declared to Jesus he would never deny Him. What do you think happened that caused Peter to do what he did in this passage?

• How does the passage describe Peter’s reaction once he realizes his big failure? Put yourself in his shoes. How would you feel? How would this affect you?

• Talk about a time when you’ve seen a person unable to get past a big failure they’ve had. In what way did that person’s inability to move on affect them?

Read John 21:15-19.

• Why is it significant that Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him three times? What is Jesus doing here?

• How is Jesus’ view of failure different than our culture’s view of failure? How do we tend to view those who have messed up big time?

• Have you seen a failure in your life become an opportunity to connect or minister to someone else? Share with the group.

• How do you handle your own failure? Do you think you handle it in a healthy or unhealthy way?

• Is there a failure in your life that has turned into a source of shame and guilt? If you are open to it, share with the group.