Grow Group Questions • December 19, 2021

Aby Anderson   -  

Announcements

  • Consider planning a Christmas Party as a group before you break for Christmas
  • Announcement Christmas Eve service times 
    • 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm (Nursery and 2’s Available at 3 pm only)
    • Masked Venue Available at 3 pm
  • December 26
    • Only one service at 10:30
    • Childcare available for nursery and 2’s only
    • Mask Service available in the Student Center (as normal)
    • No KidStuf
  • January 2
    • Both Worship services (as normal) 9:00 and 10:30
    • Childcare available for nursery and 2’s in First Service (as normal)
    • Sunday School, nursery and 2’s in second service (as normal)
    • Mask Service available in the Student Center (as normal)
    • No KidStuf

Conversation Starter 

  • Children are almost always compared with their parents, whether in personality, physical appearance, mannerisms…. In what ways are you like https://www.bernardspharmacy.com one or both of your parents? 
  • How do you see yourself in your kids?

Sermon Based Questions

Read John 5:16-23

  • The original “complaint” against Jesus and the man who was healed at the pool of Bethesda was that they both broke the Sabbath. Parker used the analogy that Jesus brought the Death Star to a knife fight. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?
  • In this passage we see what Jesus said that enraged the Jews enough that they desired his death. What in this passage do you think might be the most offensive to them? Why?
  • Why do you think Jesus responded to the anger of the Jews how he did?
  • In what ways is Jesus equal to his father? How is he different?

Going Deeper

  • Read 1 Corinthians 1:18 and 1 Peter 2:7-8. It’s easy to think of the gospel as being simple, but it is ultimately offensive to the world. Why do you think the gospel is so offensive to the world?
    • In what way is the Gospel still offensive to us, even as Believers?  (What I want -vs-  what God wants in my life)
    • Look at John 5:19 – How is that not reflected in our lives as Christians
    • Do you have family members or friends who struggle with finding the Gospel offensive? How do you handle that with them?
  • Let’s give an answer: The Pharisee challenged Jesus’ authority with the sabbath. How do we challenge the authority of Jesus by making rules or standards for others or ourselves that Jesus has not?

Challenge and Prayer (This would be a good time to break into Gender Groups for prayer):

  • Is there a place in our life where we need to let the offense of the gospel take root and change us? Share one place as a closing prayer topic.