MISSION GROUP QUESTIONS FROM JOHN: 7 Words + 7 Signs - 6/12/12

At our Contemporary Carol Concert we looked at John 1 "the word became flesh"

vs1-3: In the beginning was the word. John starts his gospel with a mind blowing statement…God created the heavens and the earth through his word - Jesus. Both the vastness of the universe and the smallness of the universe makes our mind boggle…and Jesus made it all!

vs14a: The word became flesh. God could not make himself any bigger to impress us so he made himself smaller to attract us. That is the “big picture of Christmas” - the infinitely big becomes inconceivably small. The almighty creator God became part of his creation, he became dependant on someone to hold and protect him.

vs14b: To show us his glory. In Jesus God has made himself known and shown us his glory. He glory is not primarily seen in creative powerful (as glorious as that is), his glory (what makes him captivating, attractive, memorising etc) is that he gave it all up to become weak and vulnerable, to become a humble servant. His glory is seen most magnificently in that fact that he is willing to give up his glory. Do not miss the glory of Jesus this Christmas!

vs5 + vs10-11: The Tragedy of Christmas. The world did not receive him, the darkness did not accept the light. In the end the darkness nailed the light to the cross.

vs12: To make us children of God. However it was through the cross that Jesus brought us back into relationship with his heavenly father.

For Reflection and Application

(1) Read through John 1.1-17 + thank God for everything that John tells us Jesus has done.

(2) Spend some time in repentance, saying sorry for the times you “shut out the light.”

(3) Talk about what Christmas means to the group? What happens? What are the highlights? What are the struggles? Where would people like prayer for this Christmas?

(4) Pray for friends and family that came (or are coming) to the Christmas service. Pray for boldness in following up those relationships.

(5) When you think of the “glory of God” what do you think of? Why? Do you think of the glory of God is the humanity, vulnerability, weakness and servant-heartedness of Jesus?

(6) How can you make sure you “don’t miss the glory of God” this Christmas?

(7) What can you do (individually and corporately) that will bring light into the darkness? How can you open your homes to others?