Church of The Open Door

It’s All About Jesus

“Lemons into Lettuce”

1 John 2:1-2

The greatest pain is born from the greatest love.

The power of love is embracing powerlessness.

Laws don’t change people. Love does.

Instead of spilling blood to get to God, God spilled His blood to get to us.

If you don’t let God transform your pain, you will transmit your pain.

Let us draw near to God. Let us hope in God. Let us spur one another to love God, love people and live surrendered.

 

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life

What are your first thoughts from Sundays Message? How did you hear from God?

Read 2 Cor. 5:14-21. How has the awe inducing love of Jesus and his reconciliation compelled you to share his love with others?

Read Hebrews 10:14-25. What sin or pain (either you’ve committed or has been committed against you) do you need to have confidence to draw near to God about? What is He saying?

Jesus gave his life, his blood to reconcile you with God. Who have you not reconciled with? Why?

Spend time discussing how your group can “spur one another” toward love and good deeds.

Encourage each person specifically. How do you see Jesus in their life?

Conclude your group by drawing near to God in prayer and celebrating the HOPE that He will finish the work he began in you. Transformation!

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Spirit-Led Servant/Living Surrendered

It’s All About Jesus

“The Biggest Barrier to Knowing God”

1 John 1:5-10

We can only have an intimate connection with God if we come into the light.

When we sin, we can:

minimize it

but we are just lying,

and it poisons our fellowship with God.

deny it

but we deceive ourselves,

and God sees the truth about us.

conceal it

but we end up calling God a liar,

and we find ourselves empty and isolated.

confess it

And receive forgiveness of our sin.

And be purified of our sin.

And be restored to fellowship.

When it comes to restoring our relationship with God, it’s all about Jesus.

 

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Lives

Read 1 John 1:6. What does darkness represent in this verse? What are some ways people who claim to be Christians (“little Christ ones”) often walk in darkness?

Who is someone in your group who has shown you what it looks like to walk in the light? Take a moment and encourage them right now.

In the sermon, we saw 3 toxic ways to handle our sin and one healthy way to handle our sin. Which one do you tend to lean towards most often? Explain.

Beyond the lies we tell ourselves about our sin, we tell ourselves other lies as well that, while not sinful, are harmful. What are the lies you tell yourself? (Possible suggestions: “I'm not good enough, I'm ugly, I can't do it, I'm stupid, I'm alone, no one is going through a situation like mine, everyone hates me, I'm not loved..., etc.”) How does the light of Jesus shine truth into every one of those areas?  What would it look like to tell yourself the truth in one of those situations?

Read 1 John 1:6–10 again. Why is confession of sin such an important part of the Christian life? What are the consequences if we are unwilling to confess our sin?

Do you consider yourself someone who is quick to confess your sin? What causes us to delay?

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Connected to God through the Word and Prayer

It’s All About Jesus

“The Inside Scoop on God”

1 John 1:5

When Jesus said “God is light,” it tells us a lot about God.

“God is light” helps us see that:

God is pure.

When you are stained by sin, God can purify you.

God overcomes the darkness.

There is no darkness so dark that God’s light cannot penetrate.

God gives life.

When you feel like giving up, God gives you new life.

God’s guidance is perfect.

When you don’t know which way to go, seek God’s guidance.

God reveals what is true.

God reveals himself. God wanted us to know Him, so He sent Jesus.

God reveals what is in us. Light exposes whatever is there.

When the darkness closes in, cry out to Jesus, the Light of the World.

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life

Have you ever been in a place for very long that was totally and completely dark (like a deep cave or room with no windows or light)? What was it like?

In the sermon Pastor Jim invited people to fill in the blank with their own answer for the statement: “God is _________.” What was your answer?

Describe a dark season in your life where it seemed impossible to get the light of truth into your situation. What happened?

Read John 3:19-20. Why do people tend to stay in the darkness? What brought you out of the darkness?  How have you used that to help others into the light?

Review the 5 points in the sermon that describe how the characteristics of light help describe God. Which one felt the most significant to you? Why?

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Heart of Worship/Loving God

It’s All About Jesus

“Welcome to the Family”

1 John 1:1-4

1. We want you to know the truth about Jesus

Jesus is real, not a made-up story

We saw him, heard him, touched him

Jesus is human, not just divine

He knows what and how we feel

Jesus is divine, not just human

He has always existed as God

He makes life worth living

He alone can save us

2. We want you to know the joy of Family

Church is the Family of God

Loved by the Father; saved by the Son

Church is supportive relationships

We are the “Body of Christ”

Church is all about Jesus

Following Jesus

Loving Jesus

Sharing Jesus

What’s your next step?

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Lives

1. Have you ever been called upon to describe something you experienced as an

“eyewitness”? Explain.

2. Why is it important to know the truth about Jesus? Why can’t everyone have their “own

truth” about Jesus?

3. Why is it necessary to believe that Jesus was fully God AND fully man?

4. Everybody roots their “identity” in something. Some people find their identity in what they

accomplish, others in how much they have, still others in what people think about them.

How do all of these fall short of the power and significance of finding our identity in being

loved by the Father. (Read 1 John 3:1) What are you tempted to “find your identity” in?

5. In the sermon, Pastor Jim said “The church is a group of imperfect people who are related

to each other because they share the same Father and whose lives are to be centered

around Jesus.” What are other ways people tend to view the church?

6. If the church is people, then what can you personally do to help people see that the church

is all about Jesus?

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Relates with Other-Centered Love/Loving People

Decade of Discipleship: Building a Culture of Discipleship

“Discipleship Questions”

John 1:35-38

All growth and progress begins with questions.

1. Questions Jesus Asks

• Questions of reflection: invite us to ponder and explore.

• Questions of discovery: help us to think and learn.

• Questions of challenge: motivate us to decision and action.

2. Questions Disciples Ask

• Questions of reflection: What are you doing? Where are you going?

• Questions of discovery: What are you saying? What do you mean?

• Questions of challenge: Will I obey? Will I follow?

3. Questions Disciple-Makers Ask (before they get started)

• What are the qualifications for being a disciple-maker?

• What if they ask questions for which I don’t know the answer?

• How do I disciple someone?

• What are your favorite tools for discipling others?

1. Questions 2. The Bible 3. Next Step Survey

4. Disciple Journal 5. Discipleship Essentials workbook

4. Questions Disciple-Makers Ask (to get started)

• “What do you want?”

• “Would you like to join me in a DIG?”

• DIG Questions

• Workbook questions

All growth and progress continues with obedience.

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Lives

1.     As a general rule, are you a person who loves questions or seeks to avoid them?

2.     What are the situations where you seek to avoid questions?

3.     Read John 1:35-39. As you do, imagine the setting and the tone of Jesus’ voice and the

look on Jesus’ face. Share with the group how you each saw it.

4.     What “Question of Challenge” is Jesus asking you (or has he been asking lately)?

5.     What questions do you have about making disciples?

6.     How would you answer this question at the deepest part of you: “what do you want?”

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Connected to God through the Word and Prayer/Loving

God

Decade of Discipleship: Building a Discipleship Culture

“What Discipleship Looks Like”

Mark 3:14, Acts 4:13

We can disciple others by watching and doing the simple things Jesus did “with” those he was discipling.

1. Relationship

He chose them.

He befriended them.

He ate with them.

He spent time with them.

2. Learning

He taught them a way of life and a set of skills.

He focused on the Word.

He asked and invited questions.

He clarified and explained.

3. Ministry

He brought them with him while he did ministry.

He prayed with them and for them.

He sent them to do ministry.

He sent them to make disciples.

Jesus is “with” us today in His Word and by His Spirit.

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life

1. Have you ever been or had an apprentice or intern? Tell the group about it. How did it go? How much time did you spend together? How long did it last?

2. Here was the last question from last week’s LifeGroup Questions: “We all want to grow or we wouldn’t be in this LifeGroup. Let’s all agree to hold each other accountable and ask each other next week how we did on making progress in taking our next step. Agreed?” So here we are, its “next week.” How is everyone doing on identifying and taking their “next step”?

3. Read Acts 4:1-22, then repeat v. 13. Why was the courage of Peter and John so astonishing?

4. We said in the sermon that discipling is essentially about three things: Relationship, Learning and Ministry. Why are all three necessary? What happens if you leave one of the three out?

5. Jesus taught the disciples a way of life and a set of skills. In a previous sermon (February 19, 2019) we listed the Top 10 skills a disciple must learn (and then teach to those they are discipling) with the reminder that “you haven’t learned it until you’re doing it.”

Learn to know and trust God

Learn to handle the Word of God

Learn to pray

Learn to love people

Learn to minister to others (pray for, help and serve them)

Learn to share your faith

Learn to live surrendered

Learn to overcome temptation

Learn to breathe (live in rhythm and cooperation with the Holy Spirit)

Learn to disciple another person

How are doing with learning these skills? Are there any you don’t feel confident in? What will you do to get more training or confidence so you can obey Jesus’ command to “go make disciples”?

6. Go back to Acts 4:13. Read it in the NASB and the Message versions. Has spending time with Jesus made you more courageous and confident? Explain your answer. 

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Connected to God through the Word and Prayer/Loving God