Following Jesus is very important. God wants to save you from hell, from Satan and his demons who want to destroy you and all of creation. Have you asked God to give you grace? Have you made a decision to follow Jesus? If so, share about that experience. If not, openly consider the pros and cons with your group or a friend.
Why do you not need to fear Satan or his demons? (Hint Colossians 2:15)
Prayer Requests
At the end of your discussion, go around the group and ask for prayer requests.
Have you placed your relationship with God on the shelf? Maybe you do this every Sunday after Church or after every summer at camp. You find and know God until you leave that place… and then push the pause button and place that relationship away until next time. Why do you think you choose to hide God away, and how do you bring Him back into your everyday life?
What characteristic of God do you find the most impactful to your relationship with Him?
If you had to introduce God to someone who has never met Him or known Him? How do you think you would do that?
Prayer Requests
At the end of your discussion, go around the group and ask for prayer requests.
The Bible is a book of wisdom, and we get to learn from the stories and teachings that are held within it and then try to apply the same principles in our own life.
Knowing who we are is a key point in understanding how we relate to and know others. Our relationships in life start with our relationship with ourselves.
This is a lifelong journey. God’s grace is what allows us to be seen as holy in His eyes. Even in our greatest efforts, we will continue to be broken and in need of God.
In this 4 part series, we will talk about different types of relationships we may have! Breaking each of them down to see how we can best learn from what the Bible says and honour God in those relationships.
Friend, in the midst of the hardships that you are experiencing. Hear these words clearly. They are for you today! Peace be with you.
19That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. 20As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! 21Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” 22Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally, they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you.
Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” he asked. “Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied. “I Am he,” Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.) As Jesus said “I Am he,” they all drew back and fell to the ground!
“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.
How do this
John 15:10
What’s the point?
John 15:7-8
1 John 3:22
How will my love grow?
John 3:16
1 Thes 5:10
Phil 2
Questions
Is God challenging you to be obedient in a certain area? What fruit may come from your obedience?
You can ask God for anything. What do you want to ask him for?
How is your love for other people changed as you receive and understand God’s love for you more deeply?
Prayer Requests
At the end of your discussion, go around the group and ask for prayer requests.
