Grow Group Questions • February 20, 2022

Announcement

• Be in prayer for the last weekend of February as the search firm will be visiting to work with the church to finalize our search process. Consider signing up for a Focus Group.
• Challenge for the group to read over next week’s text which is all of John 13 a few times before next Sunday

Conversation Starter 

• Share a story of when you “wanted to die” because you were so embarrassed.

Sermon Discussion: 

• In this text, we have words that lead to phrases that we might use a lot in the church but might not all know exactly what they mean. What do you think is the deeper meaning of these phrases?
  • “Die to self”  
    • Read John 12:25. We often pull the phrase “die to self”  from from “hate one’s life” in this verse
    • Look up these other verses with this idea: Galatians 2:20, Luke 9:23, Luke 14:33, Philippians 1:21.
      • What does this look like in our everyday lives? What does it not look like?
      • Is it possible to follow Christ with a focus on our own comforts?
      • How is John 12:42-43 an example of this and how do we practically wrestle with this tension in everyday life?
  • “For God’s Glory”  
    • Read John 12: 28-29 Jesus is bringing glory to the Father in these verses. You will often hear people say “For God’s Glory.”
      • What does that look like in everyday life? What does it not look like?
      • This was Tylor’s Definition of Glorifying God:  “Praise and Worship (God) - To Acknowledge and reveal the majesty and splendor of (God) by one’s Actions.”
      • How can we imperfect humans bring glory to a Holy God?

• Is there anything else from Tylor’s sermon that we have not talked about yet that you would like to discuss?

Going Deeper/Application: 

• Read John 12:24-26 again
  • What will be the positive results of dying, hating our life, serving Christ, and following Him? 

• One theologian says If we only see the hard part, we will miss the power and the freedom. If we only see the glorious part, we will minimize the sacrifice. 
  • Do you agree or disagree?
  • How can we live this out?

Final Challenge:

• In your life right now, what would following Christ through pain, uncertainty or uncomfortable situations look like?
  • Is there something that must die for your life and ministry to bear more fruit?
  • Is there something specific you feel God asking you to do? Are you willing to share with the group? 

Prayer Time: