Church of The Open Door

When Jesus Challenges You

“It’s a stretch”

John 21:18-24

When Jesus challenges you, he tells the truth.

Following is hard

Following is not “fair”

The truth is, Jesus went first

The truth is freedom

freedom from others

freedom from ourselves

freedom from fear

Following is dying so we can live.

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Lives

Our passage began with Jesus saying “I’m telling you the TRUTH.” As a group begin with a commitment to tell the truth today in your discussion.

What was the most outrageous thing you wanted to be when you were a kid (astronaut, rock star, a professional tree tipper)?

The word of God is alive and active! How did God’s word speak to you today? What are your first thoughts?

Comparing ourselves to others is a killer? How have comparisons held you back from following Jesus?

Our passage tells us that Peter TURNED and NOTICED John. Who or what is causing you to turn away from Jesus?

Following is hard. Read Luke 9:23. Jesus requires us to deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow him EVERY day. What are some ways this truth is evidenced in your life right now?

It was stated that Following Jesus is not “fair”. Do you agree or disagree? Support your answer biblically.

How is Jesus asking you to “stretch out your hands” and surrender your life today? What part, what dream, what issue is he calling to die so you can live?

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Spirit-Led Servant/Living Surrendered

When Jesus Challenges You

John 21:18-24

Restoration Leads Us To Action

The Challenge From Jesus…

You Will Die

You Must Follow

You Can’t Look Back

You Will Be A Witness

Jesus Challenges Us To Truly Live Through Dying

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Lives

To be restored is like being reestablished. In order to be reestablished, you must have first been established. Do you need to be established? Reestablished? Or are you truly living?

No one wants to die or tell himself or herself no…How do we live as if we were dying? What are specific ways that you can live out this truth? (See Gal.2:20 and LK 9:23)

Following involves dying…Will you die? Are you willing to put your desires to death? Will you be a witness? What keeps you from dying?

Each one of us are following someone or something…Who are you actively following? If we followed you around and saw where you put your time, thought, and resource, what would the data say about what’s important to you?

What types of things are the most tempting to turn back to? What catches your eye? What draws you back?

Talk is cheap…Peter ends up proving his restoration through his actions. He preaches at Pentecost- 3000 are saved, he leads the church- many grow in Christ, he writes scripture- we continue to learn and grow…Are you proving your love of Jesus through your actions and obedience? What do you need to stop? What do you need to start?

Do you need a sharp rebuke? A gentle hand of encouragement? A loving embrace? What do you need from Jesus to accept and act on this challenge?

Pray through Romans 12:1-2. You are a living sacrifice.

Core Christlike Characteristic: Living Surrendered

When Jesus Challenges You

John 21:18-24

1. Brace yourself for some truth

“Listen to Me”

2. Be prepared to catch the full extent of what it means to become like Jesus

“Die like Me”

3. Get ready to go back to the beginning and start again

“Follow me”

4. Stop comparing! There is only One opinion that matters.

“Eyes on me”

5. Your true identity is revealed.

“Testify of me”

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Lives

Opening prayer time – begin with a few minutes of silence for each person to listen to God and invite Him into this moment, then open in prayer.

Share a time in your life when someone gave you truth that you did not want to hear. How did it affect you? What changed after that day?

What is the value of having to start over? How do you feel when you have had to go back to the beginning and learn again what you once knew? Share that experience with others.

We all face the fear of the unknown at some point in our lives. Share that moment from your life with the group. Stop and pray for anyone who is facing a fear right now.

Comparisons – how has this temptation overtaken you in life? How has it still plagued you or how have you overcome it?

Read Jesus’ words to the church in Ephesus in Revelation 2. This was a place that John was a pastor! How does Jesus show us the value of starting again – what should we do when we turn away from where we started?!

Read 1 Peter 2:9-12 aloud. How does Peter describe the way we can give testimony and glory to God in this world?

Close your time praying for one another.

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Living Surrendered

When Jesus…

“When Jesus Sees Our Failure”

John 21:1-17

When we fail,

Peter failed Jesus.

Peter failed his friends.

Peter failed God.

Peter failed himself.

Guilt. Remorse. Shame. Hopelessness. Despair.

Jesus responds with:

I’m here for you.

I’m here to restore you.

When you fail, fall into the arms of His unfailing love.

I’m here to entrust you.

I’m here to renew you.

Jesus invites us into His unfailing love where He is making all things new.

Life Group Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Lives

Read John 21:1-3. When Peter got stir crazy, he went fishing, something familiar, something he was good at. What do you tend to fall back on when you’ve lost your way or purpose?

Read the rest of the passage now, vv. 1-17. What do you think Peter was feeling in each of these verses: 3, 6, 7, 15, 17?

Why don’t you think the disciples could recognize Jesus (v. 4)?

Have you ever felt like such a failure, you felt like you couldn’t go on? What happened?

The text isn’t clear about what the word “these” refers to in v. 15. As you read the passage, what do you think Jesus was referring to?

a. The thrill of catching fish and the security of his fishing job and all that came with it

b. The brotherly love, friendship and camaraderie he had with the other 6 disciple he was with that day

c. The level of love that the other disciples had for Jesus

d. Other

6. If there is something or someone in your life that you love more than Jesus, what would it be? Close your meeting with a time of silence where each person in the group invites the Holy Spirit to speak truth to them regarding this question. Ask Him to show you if there is something or someone you love more than Him. Don’t be afraid of the silence in the room. Stay focused on listening to anything God wants to say to you. Then after 60-90 seconds of quiet, if you feel so led, confess out loud what God showed you and ask Him to forgive you. Receive His forgiveness and revel in His love for you.

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

When Jesus…

“When Jesus Blesses You”

John 20:24-31

1. Jesus helps you in your struggle to believe.

Believing is a process.

We provide acceptance, teaching and space.

2. Jesus challenges you when you refuse to believe.

Doubt can be healthy; unbelief is dangerous.

Believing is a choice.

3. Jesus blesses you when you choose to believe.

The most important thing to believe is the truth about who Jesus is.

He is the Messiah, the Son of God.

He is my Lord and my God!

He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life

Believing is a lifestyle.

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Lives

Read John 20:24-31. This is a loaded passage. What stands out to you the most?

What is it you find yourself most “struggling to believe” these days?

How has struggling with what you believe helped you learn and grow and see the truth?

Tell your LifeGroup of a time when your faith was challenged by coming face to face with the truth.

Discuss among your group the phrase “Doubt can be healthy; unbelief is dangerous.” What is the difference between doubt and unbelief? Can doubt become unbelief?

Look at the 3 statements of belief about Jesus under point 3. If you had to choose one as the most important, which would it be? Why?

Read John 20:28. Have you come to the place in your life where you recognize Jesus as “my Lord and my God”? What does that mean?

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

When Jesus…

“When Jesus Breathes”

John 20:19-23

When fear seizes you:

It imprisons you

It controls you

It poisons you

It destroys you

When Jesus comes to you:

He gives you peace

He gives you grace

He gives you the Holy Spirit

When Jesus breathes on you:

He fills you

He gives you life

He empowers you

He sends you

Jesus sends us to be grace givers and peacemakers in the power of the Spirit.

When you feel fear, just breathe.

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Lives

1. Think back over your life. Do you have a story of when fear seized you? Perhaps it’s funny, sad, or even scary. What were the circumstances?

2. Why is fear so powerful?

3. Do you see any evidence where fear is imprisoning, poisoning or destroying you and relationships you’re in?

4. How does fear perpetuate broken relationships?

5. Read Romans 5:1-2. What is the relationship between the cross and peace?

6. Who do you need to forgive?

7. How can you offer grace and peace to the people you relate to each day?

Core CHRISTlike Characteristics: Spirit-led Servant/Living Surrendered

When Jesus Calls Your Name

Mary Magdalene

John 20:11-18

our times of grief we often can’t see what God is doing so Mary teaches us to stay close to where Jesus was in hopes of an answer.

Jesus will often send his messengers to draw out the why of our pain, suffering, confusion, anger.

Jesus takes us beyond the why to the who

the source of life we are looking for

the person in control of the plan

Jesus calls you by name

Jesus says, let go, so I can go to the Father and you can go to the brothers

We are family and we share the same Father and God with Jesus!

1 John 1:3 – “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.”

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to our Life

Edith Bunker was a character who saw the best in her husband, Archie. She loved him unconditionally and she was written to display a love like Jesus. Who, in your life, loved you like Jesus? Tell the story of that person to your group.

Mary of Magdala stayed by the tomb when others went home. How did Jesus reward the desires of her heart? How did her desires, though, differ from Jesus’ plans for her?

Describe a time in your life when you realized that your plans differed from what Jesus revealed He wanted for you. How did that revelation come – through people, through His Word, in prayer?

In Psalm 22:2 King David wrote, “My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest.” Take a minute to reflect on a time you felt the same.

Read the surrounding verses in this Psalm 22. Who else quoted this Psalm and why?

Mary wanted to hold on to Jesus and never let go! Jesus knew that His ascension would bring the Holy Spirit, which would bless Mary and the disciples beyond belief. How has God’s Spirit been a blessing in your life with Christ?

Jesus wants us to let GO so we can GO! What do you need to let get of so you can be freed up to go and tell the good news about Jesus to others?

Core CHRISTlike Characteristics: Connected to God through the Word and Prayer and Spirit-led Servant/Loving God/Living Surrendered

No Greater Love

“The Moment”

John 20:1-10

The Making of a Moment

The Background

The Death of Jesus

Feeling of Loss

Stone Rolled Away

The Characters (in order of appearance)

Mary

Peter

John

The Details

Trusting the Message to Women

The Race

The Empty Tomb

The Anticipation

Looking into the Tomb

Pieces of Linen

A Folded Face Cloth

The Moment

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to our Life

Don’t take it for granted that people know your story…take some time and share your moment- how you came to believe in Jesus as the risen savior.

Who are those who have been most influential in your moment? Take some time to share how they’ve impacted you. Reach out to encourage them this week (drop a note, email, text, phone call)

If the resurrection was such a big deal 2000 years ago, why does it lack importance in today’s Christianity? Does it even matter in our world today? Or in your world?

Are there roadblocks in you affirming the resurrection of Jesus Christ? How do those roadblocks affect you in times of trial or temptation?

Who are the marginalized in your sphere of influence? How can you show love, hope, and help giving purpose to those around you?

Our personal stories matter, but we can also get so caught up in our stories, our past, that our vision is shortsighted to where God is taking us in the future. How does your past hold you back and what do you need to do to affirm the new life Christ offers?

Worship is a response to encountering the living God, spend some time praying and thanking God for your moment.

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

No Greater Love

“It is finished”

John 19:28-42

What?

The debt we are unable to pay.

How?

Jesus died for you

Jesus died as you

Why?

To reckon ourselves dead to sin

And alive in Jesus.

Jesus is heavens final answer

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life

What are your first thoughts from the sermon? What did God speak personally to you from His Word?

Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-2. Paul was obsessed with knowing and proclaiming Jesus and the power of the cross. When was the last time you talked about the cross? What holds us back?

How does our belief (or unbelief) that “it is finished” affect the power that sin has over our lives?

Review what “reckon” means. Have you reckoned yourself dead to sin? Explain you answer.

The finished work of Jesus means sin has been completely dealt with. It’s finished. Why do so many Christians pray and ask for deliverance from sin? What’s missing?

CHALLENGE- as a group, go around to each person and name a sin you might be struggling with (pride, anger, anxiety). Then, since that sin is dealt with/finished, ask Jesus what the opposite is. If the sin is anger, identify peace. If it is pride, identify humility. If it’s depression, identify joy. Next, say out loud “Jesus, we thank you that (name the sin) is finished in (name the group member)’s life through the blood of Jesus. It’s dead in Jesus name. Jesus, we thank you for bringing forth (peace, love, joy) in (group member’s name) life.” Conclude your time by encouraging one another to REMEMBER we are dead to sin and ALIVE in Jesus.

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Spirit-Led

Servant/Trustworthy Steward of God’s Resources/Living Surrendered

No Greater Love

“Cruciform Love”

John 19:16-27

1. Cruciform love is sacrificial

for those who don’t understand it

for those who don’t deserve it

Jesus says: “I died for you.”

2. Cruciform love extends forgiveness

before people ask for it

when people ask for it

Jesus says: “I forgive you.”

3. Cruciform love is other-centered

cares for the hurting

provides for the needy

anticipates the needs of others

Jesus says: “I care for you.”

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life

The phrase “no greater love” implies there are lesser loves, or loves that may be great but not as great as “no greater love.” See how many kinds of love your group can name (like puppy love, first love, etc.)

The cross is central to Christianity, but is it possible to become too familiar with the cross? If so, what are possible hazards that come as a result?

How does one keep from becoming too familiar with the cross?

Read vv. 19-22. Why did the Jewish religious leaders not want the sign posted on the cross to say, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”?

Is it possible to truly love someone or something without there being some sort of sacrifice made along the way?

The question was asked in the sermon, “what is Jesus speaking to you?” How did you answer that in the sermon and how would you answer it today?

Read vv. 25-27. Even though he was suffering beyond belief, Jesus took time to care for his mother. Caring for those who are hurting, poor and/or needy was a core practice of Jesus’ ministry. How are you following Jesus in this regard? Is there something you could do as an individual, family or LifeGroup this week to love on someone who is hurting, poor and/or has a significant need in their life?

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