Too Good at Goodbyes

Main Point: In a world where we are constantly let down by others, what does it look like to have someone to trust who will never leave you hanging?

The Music Video: Too Good at Goodbyes

Twenty-five-year-old Sam Smith came onto the music scene with his 2014 debut album In the Lonely Hour. From that album, his song Stay With Me reached the number two position on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. After a couple years of silence, Smith has released his second studio album, The Thrill of it All. The single Too Good at Goodbyes debuted in the number five spot on the Hot 100 chart. Smith has won numerous awards, and is known for his soft voice that Beyoncé has called “buttery.” This song is about trying to guard himself when he is hurting as a result of broken relationships.

PASS OUT TO EVERY STUDENT

The Music Video: The music video can be viewed for free at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_ub7Etch2U

Transitional Statement:

Sam Smith has been quoted as saying “I haven’t been very lucky in my romantic life, it’s true… I’ve found it all pretty difficult, and I guess in my songs it all just comes spilling out.” This song captures our response to the pain that comes from relationships. As our trust is deeply impacted through failed or broken relationships, we are asking the question of whether Smith’s approach is the right way to respond. Should we refuse to let others close because of the potential for hurt? Will everyone we encounter eventually hurt us, or is there someone who will never leave us hanging in a relationship?

Let’s talk about this a bit and then look and see what God’s Word says on the subject.

Divide into Small Groups:
Let’s go ahead and split up into our discussion groups, and then afterward we’ll come back together for a final word.

CLICK HERE for a quick training article on how to maximize your small groups using our small group format—a great resource to equip your small group leaders.

Discussion Questions:

1. ASK A FEW: Sam Smith is originally from London. Can anyone do a good British accent? If you could have any accent in the world, what would you choose?


2. AROUND THE CIRCLE: What was a difficult goodbye you had to say in your life?


3. ASK A FEW: What do you think Sam means when he sings, I’m never gonna let you close to me, even though you mean the most to me, ‘Cause every time I open up, it hurts?


4. ASK A FEW: Why do you think we sometimes avoid situations that have the potential for emotional hurt? Would anyone share about a time when they did that?


5. ASK A FEW: What do you think Sam means when he sings, cause every time you hurt me, the less that I cry?


6. ASK A FEW: Should people have thick skin or a soft heart? Is it possible to have both?

Read the following passage:

Romans 8:38-39

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.



7. ASK A FEW: This passage lists things that cannot separate us from God’s love. Which of the things on this list are most meaningful to you and why?


8. ASK A FEW: Why do you think Paul (the author of this verse) says he is convinced? Why do you think it was so important to Paul to communicate that he was convinced that he could not be separated from God’s love?


9. ASK A FEW: Considering what Sam Smith says about hurt in relationships, what do these verses say about how we can view God in our relationship with Him?


10. ASK A FEW: Are there other verses you can think of that talk about how God will never leave us hanging in our relationship with Him?


11. ASK A FEW: What would it look like for you to be anchored in a God who will never leave you hanging? How would that impact your view on relationships with other people?


12. AROUND THE CIRCLE: What are the challenges of being anchored in the unfailing love of God? How can we pray for each other as we work to rest in His unchanging love?

So I’m never gonna get too close to you
Even when I mean the most to you
In case you go and leave me in the dirt

Smith has decided to put on a façade of strength to hopefully avoid the continued hurt he is experiencing in relationships. He is declaring that he is not going to get close, even to those of whom he has significance to, just in case they leave him in the dirt.

Is this the best approach for us to take in relationships? Is it inevitable that we will get hurt so we should not let people get close?

(Pause and give them a moment to consider this question.)

Is it possible for us to find security in one who won’t leave us hanging? If we choose to believe in God’s unfailing love for us, how might that help us when we experience relational hurt?

(Pause and give them a moment to consider this question.)

Relationships can be a gigantic mix of both awesome and heartache. It is likely we all carry baggage from past hurts, much like Sam Smith. These hurts can leave us fearful toward letting others in, as we do not want to experience that same hurt again. Everything changes for us when we encounter Jesus, the one who will never leave us hanging. There is nothing anyone can do, including ourselves, which would separate us from His love. He is never going to walk away from us. He will never leave us. When we encounter Him and choose to believe what He says about us, we stand on solid ground. Let’s end our time praying for each other as we draw near to the one who will never leave us hanging, and the one who will never say goodbye.

CLOSE IN PRAYER

Written by Rob Chagdes