MISSION GROUP QUESTIONS FROM JOHN: 7 Words + 7 Signs - 30/11/09
Continuing our series in John we looked at the first sign of Jesus – Turning water into wine – John 2:1-11
John uses this miracle as the first piece of the puzzle in revealing the glory of Christ. What’s strange is that the very first thing John talks about – is not a big deal. Jesus helps a party carry on for one more day. He stops someone getting embarrassed. And Jesus doesn’t even get the credit.
Jesus miraculously changing the nature of liquid in jars would make people think of a prophet called Elisha who effectively did the same thing hundreds of years before in 2 Kings 4:1.
There are a number of similarities between these two stories:
· Both stories happen because someone’s in need but the initial response is a rebuff.
· Those making the request persist in their faith.
· Elisha and Jesus both give instructions that require obedience.
· The sign occurs through the actions of others and Jesus/Elisha are off-stage. It is the widow and kids that pour the oil and it’s the servants who pour the wine. The reluctance of Jesus has had the effect of drawing the mother further in to faith. Therefore to believe is to participate, not merely to observe.
John is clearly wanting to communicate that Jesus is the new and better Elisha. However he wasn’t the king they were expecting. By performing this miracle, Jesus is said to of “revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him” (11) He is the sort of king who serves, who releases others, draws them into faith, has great power but chooses vulnerability and weakness.
And the climatic shock in the gospel is that the fulfilment of the revealing of God’s glory occurs in the hour of Jesus’ death.
Many things ask for your allegiance in life. e.g. People, government or employers. But there is no one quite like Jesus – humble, vulnerable but a king. Will you bow the knee to the king who has already bowed his knee?
Questions:
(1) Retell the two stories from Elisha and Cana in your own words to each other and talk about the similarities.
(2) Are there any other stories in scripture that are similar? How does this help us understand this miracle being the first sign about Jesus.
(3) Sometimes Jesus withdraws or ignores your request in order to draw out your faith. Have you ever experienced this?
(4) Both the widow and Mary respond to Elisha/Jesus with obedience. Are there any steps of obedience that Jesus is asking of you at the moment.
(5) Talk together about the humility of Jesus.
(6) Who or what asks for your allegiance in life?
(7) What does it mean for you to serve Jesus as king of your life?
MISSION GROUP QUESTIONS JOHN: 7 WORD & 7 SIGNS - 22/11/09
Continuing our series in John we looked at the next 'word' of Jesus - I AM THE TRUE VINE - John 15:1-17
The picture of the vine was foundational to the Jewish history and story. It had been used to symbolise the taking out of Israel from Egypt and being planted into a new land, a land that it would grow to fill (Psalm 80). But the Jewish people never produced good fruit, because the covenant they were under could never fully free them to produce good fruit (Isaiah 5).
1. The life giving vine
When Jesus states that he is the true vine he makes 2 major points:
A. No longer is it about simply being in, being one of the families, about being part by default because of heritage or lineage – now it is about being connected to THE vine – being In Christ.
B. No longer attached because of land but now by Christ. Land was something that defined the jewish peoples success – if Jerusalem fell, Israel fell, If Jerusalem succeeded – the jewish people rose with victory. Geographical Jerusalem is potentially of no more importance as it focuses on land not Christ!
2. Life among the branches - fruit
Branches that produce little or no fruit need sorting out. And God is the ultimate farmer. He knows what is best and able to produce fruit. We cannot bear fruit unless was are in him, John 14:20.
We remain in him as a response to his incredible love and devotion by the giving of himself as a sacrifice for us.
a. Love and joy
Just as Christ loved his father by obeying the commands he gave him, and found joy in them, so we are to do the same. There was obviously no happiness in dying a brutal death on the cross, but the joy came deep in his heart as he knew that he was doing what his father wanted, he was remaining in his fathers love. We are to do the same in him.
What does it mean to remain in his love?
Many things challenge us for our love, but we were made to find our absolute worth and identity from within God, so the only place we can find the antidote for our need for love is in him. No other love can satisfy – no other love can bring joy that lasts, no other love can bear fruit. Every other kind of love is a master leading us to a false end – with us a slave – Christ has come so that we may longer be slaves but friends – alive in the freedom of friendship.
b. Godly prayer
Where true friendship exists – understanding exists.
1. We understand now - John 14:26
2. We understand continuously - John 16:12-13
When we come to God in prayer, it is not with a list of non-relational blurb, but with a growing understanding of what is on his heart.
John 15 is not about your prayer life – it is about the fact when you are in the vine – when fruit is being produced in you – which it will be because the spirit is in you – you can know more of God’s heart, you can know what and how to seek his name for, you can know what to pray for – it is a result of the spirits work in you – the fruit!!! – the vine is producing fruit!
God’s desire is that the soul satisfying love that comes from the father that first drew you to him would penetrate right across the earth redeeming the soul crushing loves of this world – and he is asking you to ask for it – not from a false place of words without reality – but from a place of humility as a friend of God, beginning to know his heart.
QUESTIONS:
1. How can you know God’s love?
a. How is it expressed in you?
b. Can people see you love Jesus?
2. What does it mean to have God’s joy made complete in you?
a. Why is it important?
b. What does it look like in you to others around you?
3. Do you struggle with prayer?
a. How can you know God;s heart
b. Who would you like to know God’s heart for themselves?
MISSION GROUP QUESTIONS JOHN: 7 WORDS & 7 SIGNS - 15/11/09
Continuing our series in John we looked at the next 'word' of Jesus - I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE John 14:1-11
The disciples are scared and confused. Jesus knows this and so offers two things
1) A Promise
2) A Claim
1) The Promise
Jesus understands the real issues behind the disciples worry and anxiety is that they don’t believe him and his reasons for going. He explains in verse 2 (my paraphrase) ‘if I go it can only work out better for you. I have an important job to do while I’m gone but I’m definitely coming back.’
The cause for concern is the Departure
but the promise is the Return
The more we trust in Jesus’ return the more we can thrive in this waiting period.
2) The Claim
(6) ““I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
i) I am
Prophets and teachers all point away from themselves. They say follow this route, attain this goal, look to this god,
Jesus is completely humble (gentle, loves the meek, special attention to the shunned in society) but completely realistic when he says – “I am”. All truth points to him!
In ancient times, ancient wisdom literature talked about wisdom having a yoke. All sorts of different places that said “put the yoke of wisdom on you.”
Yet Jesus says Matt 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me…”
Jesus says “I don’t point to wisdom -I am wisdom”.
If you have any integrity. You cannot say Jesus is a nice guy. You cannot respond to him apathetically.
Reject him or accept him
If false – worst thing ever to step foot on this planet
If true – best thing to walk the earth.
ii) The Way
It’s interesting when Jesus says that he is the way, he isn’t just talking about choosing the correct path to take, but he is also saying something of the nature of the path.
Jesus claims the way to know God involves intimacy.
“I am the way”
the way to what?
Look at verse 7 “If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
“I’m the only way to KNOW the father.”
Jesus’ claim is so wonderful.
Jesus is the only way to turn our relationship with God from a finger wagging dictator to an open armed loving father.
Because it’s the only way, it must be true.
It would make no sense for Jesus to lie to you given his sacrifice
Jesus is the way to God because he is the truth of God.
If true it is also life giving.
Everything we know about Christ, his life, his care for the poor, marginalised and sick. Raising the dead, befriending the outcasts, every miracle –all of it points to him only offering goodness and life.
iii) ‘No one comes to the Father except through me.
Many people try to earn God’s favour by attempting to live as a Christians before becoming one. This is unwise.
Jesus earns our salvation on the cross. Salvation is found in him alone, not our best efforts!
This means God’s grace doesn’t go to people who are nicer, better behaved than others, but to those who acknowledge their failure to be good enough and acknowledge their need for a saviour.
Christians who get this, should actually expect to find non believers who are much nicer, kinder, fairer, greater integrity than they are.
Why? Because Christians admit they’re not accepted by God because of their goodness but Jesus work on their behalf.
Questions:
Are you or your family and friends going through a difficult time at the moment. Talk about it together as a group.
Jesus offers a promise of his return to bring comfort to his disciples - how does this work out in reality?
Meditate on Revelation 21 together and talk about what the new creation will be like.
Jesus then makes some outrageous claims.
Talk together about your experiences of trying to communicate about the exclusivity of the gospel. What do you say when someone asks you whether or not you believe Jesus is the only way to God?
Jesus promises intimacy. How is your relationship with God? What is he saying to you? Are you growing in your understanding of his love for you?
If Jesus’ way is full of truth and life have you looked to others things to fill the void in our hearts that can only be filled by God?
Discuss the statement ‘Christians who understand grace, should actually expect to find non believers who are much nicer, kinder, fairer, greater integrity than they are.’
MISSION GROUP QUESTIONS FROM JOHN: 7 Words + 7 Signs - 8/11/09
Continuing our series in John we looked at the next 'word' of Jesus - I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD
Each week we have seen that we must understand the context if we are to understand exactly what Jesus is getting at. This week we saw that there were at least 3 connected and interlocking contexts
(1) General Context: Real Life Shepherds. We can all understand that a shepherd (a) tends and feeds and guides his flock & (b) protects the flock from enemies
(2) Immediate Context: The healing of the blind man. Jesus wanted to expose the Pharisees blindness and bring them to himself.
(3) The Old Testament Story (which continues) also know as “the meta-narrative” or overarching storyline of the bible.
It is this third context that is most vital - this is the “backdrop” the ministry of Jesus and helps us understand (a) who God is (b) what God does and therefore how Jesus fulfils all of the Old Testament (cf. Luke 24.25-27, 24.44-47, John 5.39-41 + Matthew 5.19-20)
What do we already know from the story so far?
Psalm 78 - That at the heart of the story of the people of God is the image of God/David being a shepherd to the people of Israel (vs 52-53 + 70-72)
Psalm 23- The Shepherd God who…..
(1) Provides (vs1)
(2) Guides (vs2)
(3) Gives Rest (vs2-3)
(4) Protects (vs4)
(5) Gives Joy (vs5-6)
Ezekiel 34 - The False Shepherds of Israel who looked after themselves and not the flock (vs1-10), God is against them & God is going to come himself to be their Shepherd (vs11-16ff) and God will give them a new shepherd from the line of David to be their prince and rule them with justice (vs23-24)
So Jesus comparing himself (the good shepherd) with the Pharisees (the false shepherds). Where-as the Good Shepherd willingly and voluntarily (vs18) lays down his life for the sheep, the false shepherds are like the hired hand that runs when danger comes (vs12-13). The Good Shepherd pays the ultimate cost (lays down his life) for the sake of protecting the sheep from the wolf whereas the hired hand has no love for the sheep and therefore runs. The defining characteristic of The Good Shepherd is that he lays down his life for the sheep (vs11, 15 + 17).
By laying his life down and taking it up again Jesus defeated the only enemies/wolves that can ultimately and eternally hurt us
- Death was defeated
- Guilt was removed
- The devil was disarmed
- Sin, Judgement and Hell were paid for
Everyone at the time understood just how outrageous Jesus’ words were and they were divided in their response to him. Jesus always divides people (vs19-21)
Here is the fruit (or lack of) of living under The Good Shepherd
(1) Guidance - His voice or another voice? Where do you go to make decisions? How do you make decisions?
(2) Provision - peace or anxiety? Do you really believe God will provide for you. Nothing everything you want, but everything you need (Matthew 6.19-32)
(3) Rest - contentment or striving? Do you know the rest of the soul that Jesus brings (Matthew 11.28-30) or are you always striving to prove yourself or achieve the next thing?
(4) Protection - boldness or fear? This seems to be the main fruit of walking closely with The Good Shepherd. The Valley’s may still be dark but you have a confidence and courage because he is with you and he is comforting you. Are you able to take risks? You able to step out of your comfort zone? Are you able to fail? Where do you see the (negative) fruit of fear in your life? Jesus defeated the only enemies that can ultimately and eternally hurt you freeing you from fearing anything else. NOTHING can ultimately hurt you - as Paul put it “nothing can separate us from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8.31-39)
(5) Joy - Joy or passing happiness? Do you know passing happiness which is dependant on your circumstances or do you know a joy that lasts through the suffering and lasts into the mundane nitty gritty of everyday life because it is a joy in Jesus (and he never changes)?
There will always be wolves (false shepherds) that we can follow. We have to actively turn away from them, say “no” to the father of lies because he ultimately only comes to destroy and leave us anxious, nervous, restless, discontent + fearful.
Application
(1) Use Psalm 23 + Romans 8.31-39 to thank God for who he is and what he does (has done in Christ). Spend some time worshipping God through song.
(2) How does it make you feel to know that Jesus has always divided people? How does that affect your 1-2-1 evangelism?
(3) Where do you see the negative fruit in your life? Why? What are the false shepherds you are running to? What does it look like for you run to the Good Shepherd today (and tomorrow and always)?
(4) How does knowing that Jesus has defeated our ultimate enemies give us confidence day by day to live for God and stand out for him?
(5) How does Jesus willingly and voluntarily laying down his life help you trust him? Why does that make him THE Good Shepherd?
(6) Confess you sins (running to other Shepherds) to one another and thank God for his forgiveness.
(7) For leaders - How does 1 Peter 5.1-4 pick up on this theme of shepherding? How does this affect our leadership? What are the alternatives that Peter gives us? What are we do to instead?
MISSION GROUP QUESTIONS FROM ADRIAN HOLLOWAY - 1/11/09
It was a great privilege for us to have Adrian Holloway with us this Sunday to teach us about "communicating the gospel in your world"
Adrian’s main point was this….Evangelism is a process…and it is all something we can easily do! There needs to be no burden or pressure or feeling of helplessness because all that is required is for you to find people who don’t know Jesus who enjoy doing ‘the thing’ that you enjoy doing. Easy as that!!! Once you have got into relationships with those that don’t know Jesus you help them move towards God step by step….and use INTRO, Mission Groups, Sunday’s & other friends at Mosaic to help you in that process.
He helpfully highlighted that most of us give up on this type of “relational evangelism” because of the ‘set backs’ and that when we are at a ‘low point’ in our faith we “decide what we are gifted at” and evangelism is the first thing on the list to go. However once we see that “evangelism is a process” and we are to help people move “up the scale” towards God then we won’t give up when people don’t make commitments (or fall back).
Adrian looked at John 4 and the story of the women at the well and how Jesus reflects on his encounter with the women by saying to his disciples “one sows and another reaps” (vs37). Jesus saw evangelism as a process.
Finally, Adrian took us through some helpful practical pointers to get us started
(1) Leisure Time - find people who enjoy doing what you do and start doing it with them and see where things go from there….and use INTRO, Mission Group, Sunday’s and other friends at Mosaic to help you move them on.
(2) Those you work with - be a “team player” in your workplace. Build up a good reputation so people are “favourably disposed towards you.”
(3) Other people we come into contact with (e.g neighbours) - invite people around for a BBQ or to watch a band or to play football or coffee at starbucks etc.
Reflection and Application
(1) Read John 4. What lessons can you learn about relational evangelism from how Jesus interacts with this women. How “should” this conversation have gone but how does Jesus meet her where she was at?
(2) When and why have you “given up” on relational evangelism. How does Adrian’s talk help you?
(3) Do you see evangelism as a burden? If so why? How can Adrian’s talk help you?
(4) How do Jesus’ 3 stories in Luke 15 motivate you in evangelism - the lost coin, sheep + son?
(5) Which of Adrian’s 3 practical pointers can you put into practice this month (a) as an individual and (b) as a Mission Group?
(6) In the Leadership Summit Adrian said that each week at “life group” (which are equivalent to our Mission Groups) they spend 10 minutes sharing about “successes and disappointments” in conversations with people about Jesus over the last week and 10 minutes planning the next “Mission Group social(s)” where they could invite their friends to - just to hang out and get to know each others non-christian mates. Why not set 20 minutes aside in your Mission Group this week to do this.
(7) Adrian also said that with each life group they get them to write down “8 people you are connected to in London” - why not do that with your group and work out how you can start moving even just a few of these people along the scale towards God.
(8) Pray that God would raise up more people within Mosaic to into the harvest field of Leeds and be a witness to him (see Luke 10.1-2 + Matthew 9.35-38)
