Week of March 26, 2012

1. Read John 12:20-36.
2. Are you more likely to panic in the big crises or in the little ones?
3. What would motive these Gentiles in v. 20 to come to Jerusalem during a special time of Jewish patriotism?
4. What was so unique about their request that Philip would filter it through Andrew instead of just going right to Jesus?
5. Jesus has said several times that "His time had not yet come". What about this request caused Him to say that now His time has come?
6. What is He calling His disciples to do in verses 25-26? What promise do they receive?
7. In verses 27-32 "now" is repeated three times. What things are about to occur? How do these realities affect Jesus? How doe He deal with the anxiety?
8. How is Jesus' death (v. 32) related to His being glorified (v. 23)?
9. From verses 24-26, where is Jesus calling you to "die" so that you may really "live"? What do you tend to hold on to rather than Jesus?
10. How does Jesus' example in verse 27 give you the courage to deal with your ambiguous feelings about life?
    
11. Pray for one another....

Lent 4 - Small Group Questions

If you were not with us on Sunday you can listen to this sermon here.

Jn 3:14-21
1. What is your childhood memory of the dark?
2. Give examples of ways that you equate light with goodness and evil (or badness) with darkness?
3. Sometimes we place people in boxes, labeling them as good or bad. Do you tend to see folks as 'all light' or 'all dark?' Or do you see that folks are indwelt by both light and darkness? How might this understanding help you find a space for relationship with folks that you disagree with?
4. Have you examined yourself to see where the darkness is in your life? Have you tried to keep it hidden, or have you offered it up to Jesus for healing?
5. What are your thoughts about the judgment of God? What does this passage say about God's judgment?
6. Can you recall times in your life when you experienced judgment through an unwillingness or inability to live in Christ's light? to allow your life or your will to be submitted to God's?
7. What are ways that you can be Christ's light to others?

Week of March 12, 2012

1. Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5.
2. On a scale of 1-10, how important are the following to you: great wealth? personal power? physical beauty? immense intellect? Why?
3. What qualities were most important to the Greeks and Jews of Paul's day?
4. What has God done to the wisdom of the world? Why do the "wise" so often miss the significance of Christ and the cross? What has it become for them? How does God show both wisdom and power?
5. Describe the Corinthian church. Why did God choose them? What is their boast?
6. How did Paul's ministry demonstrate the distinction between the wisdom and power of the world and that of God? What was a priority for Paul? Why?
7. What does a ministry devoid of God's wisdom and power look like? Sound like? Feel like?
8. How is our society like and unlike the one pictured in this passage? Where do your friends and family confuse God's wisdom and power from the world's? In whom or what does your family trust? Why do we Christians often miss the significance of Christ and the cross?
9. Can you think of any situation today where God uses the foolish, the weak, the lowly or the despised to build His kingdom?
10. How has God demonstrated His wisdom and power in your life recently?
11. Pray for one another....

Week of March 2, 2012

1. Read Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16.
2. Do you know someone who did some amazing things late in life? Who were they? What did they do?
3. God visits Abram at a time in his life when he was presumably fine with his life with Ishmael. Still, God had Isaac in mind! Have you ever tried to fulfill God's plans for your life on your own? Can you think of a time when you've settled for Ishmael when God wanted to give you Isaac?
4. Can you relate to the following statement from the sermon: "You may me finished with you, but God isn't finished with you yet!"?
5. The Lord asks Abram to respond to Him with trust and obedience. How do you see this in our passage for today? What is the connection between God's calling and righteousness?
6. The Lord promises Abraham that He will bless him and "be his God" forever. How do you see this in the passage for today? What is the significance of Abraham's name change?
7. Why does the Lord go out of His way to include Sarai?
8. Have you given over your limitations to God? What parameters have you set on what God can and cannot do through you?
9. Which do you need more today, to be changed like Abraham (surrendering your will to the Lord) or to be changed like Sarah (laying down your limitations to the Lord?
10. Pray for one another.....