Church of The Open Door

No Greater Love

“King of Love”

John 19:1-16

1. Out of love Jesus laid down his life.

Jesus chose to die for you and me.

2. Out of love Jesus endured horrific suffering.

The pain of gruesome torture

The pain of bearing all the sin of the world

The pain of rejection from his very own

The pain of appalling injustice

3. Out of love Jesus became the Passover Lamb.

Symbol of deliverance

Sacrifice of the innocent

Substitute for the guilty

Every detail of Jesus’ passion displays the depth of Jesus’ love.

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life

Talking about the suffering and death of Jesus is a heavy subject. Do you find yourself avoiding it because it is so graphic or drawn to it because it is so personal?

Under point 2 Pastor Jim talked about four “kinds of suffering” Jesus endured. Of the four, which do you think was the worst?

As the LifeGroup leader reads aloud John 19:1-16, try to imagine yourself in the crowd of people in John 19. Everything you’ve heard about Jesus has been positive and good, but there are Jewish leaders who you respect shouting “crucify!” What are you feeling? What do you think you would have done had you been there?

Think of a time you felt really loved. It could be recently or a long time ago. When each person in the group has identified a time, go around the group and share about it.

Now go around the group and share briefly about how love or lack of love when you were growing up as a kid has affected you as an adult.

The phrase “Every detail of Jesus’ passion displays the depth of Jesus’ love” was repeated throughout the sermon. Which “detail” is most meaningful to you? Do you know and feel the incredible love Jesus has for you?

Close your group time by praying that the love Jesus has for each of us would impact us and define us and change us.

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

Pilate’s Big Test

John 18:28-40

Epic Fail: A compilation of numerous failures over time.

All tests are striving to answer a question.

Some tests have greater consequences than others.

Pilate’s Big Test: What do I do with Jesus?

Reasons for failing:

We fail because of our ability.

We fail because of our thinking.

Jesus took care of the ability issue! (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Thinking fails…

Jesus is trivial.

Jesus is irrelevant.

Jesus is not worth the effort.

Jesus is not equal to or above other areas of our life.

A master teacher is never content with a student’s failure and will patiently model a pattern of success for their student.

Jesus is our master teacher.

Jesus Truths…

Jesus thinks we are valuable.

Jesus thinks we are relevant.

Jesus thinks we are worth dying for.

Jesus thinks that there is no greater priority than to bring you to Him.

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life

What were the four “thinking fails” mentioned in last week’s sermon? Which one presents the biggest challenge to you and why?

Which of the “Jesus Truths” speak the strongest in your life. Why?

Who immediately comes to mind in your life who is struggling and is seemingly on the verge of an epic fail. What will you do this week to encourage them?

Read the exchange between Pilate and Jesus. What things strike you about Jesus and how He responds to Pilate? How can you use His example towards others?

What is one way that you keep Jesus at the forefront of your life to avoid a “thinking fail.”

Reflect on the following statement, “Jesus, our master teacher is never content with a student’s failure and will patiently model a pattern of success for their student.” What words strike you from this statement?

Close your time with a prayer of thanksgiving for the patience of our Savior in working with us.

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Intentional Evangelism/Loving People

“Free Fall”

John 18:10-27

1 – Fall Back

we tend to rely too much on past victories

past failures can keep us from being victorious in the present

2 – Fall Down

Peter attacks

Peter denies

I am NOT

I am HE

Peter crashes

3 – Fall Forward

Jesus pursues us

Jesus restores us

Jesus renews the call to follow Him

Jesus surrounds us with His Spirit and His people to correct and encourage us

”And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”

1 Peter 5:10 (ESV)

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life

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.

Ever watch “epic fail” video compilations on YouTube? If not, someone bring a quick video up on a phone NOW! Why do we love to watch these videos so much?!

Share your funniest or most epic fail from your past with the group.

We talked Sunday about falling back on our successes and failures which can lead to us falling down, but that Peter shows us how to fall forward in Christ. Where do you see yourself in His adventure of becoming like Jesus?

Read 1 Peter 2:20-25 and discuss Peter’s words on falling forward with our eyes on Jesus.

Close your time praying for one another to be free from the bondage of the past and made alive in the Spirit to follow Jesus with boldness and abandon!

Close your time praying for one another to be free from the bondage of the past and made alive in the Spirit to follow Jesus with boldness and abandon!

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Spirit-Led Servant/Living Surrendered

The Big Test

“It’s a no go”

John 18:1-9

Jesus knows the power of prayer

Prayer is where we pay attention to God

The point of prayer is response

Jesus knows Judas will betray him

Jesus knows the leaders have rejected him

Jesus knows the soldiers will kill him

Jesus knows the garden

Jesus knows that prayer is dangerous

Jesus knows the Father

He came to make his love known

He came so we could be one with him

When we make history with God, God makes HISstory through us.

It’s a know go.

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life

Prayer is where we pay attention to God. Begin your group with a time of prayer inviting God to speak and lead your discussion. Then, pay attention.

Growing up, did you do well on tests in school or did you struggle?

Jesus went ‘often’ to a garden with his disciples. Where is your favorite place to meet other followers and spend time with Jesus?

As a group, go around the room and explain the biggest test you are facing right now.

The point of prayer is to respond. As you pay attention to God, what does He want to do THROUGH you to show His love to others during these trials?

As a group, close your time praying dangerous prayers and inviting God to use you to do ANYTHING He wants.

Christ-like Characteristic: Relates with Other-Centered Love/Spirit led Servant

One

“Making the Father Known”

John 17:25-26

Knowing the Father intimately is life’s greatest experience and most worthwhile

pursuit.

1. The Father was misunderstood until Jesus made Him known.

People have always believed distorted ideas about God.

2. The Father’s character is revealed in Jesus’ life and teaching.

Jesus is what God is like.

3. The Father’s love is revealed in Jesus’ death.

The greatest demonstration of God’s love is the cross.

4. The Father’s power is revealed in Jesus’ resurrection.

The same power that resurrected Jesus is at work in you.

5. The Father’s purpose is revealed in the coming of the Spirit.

Just like Jesus, we are loved, empowered and sent.

Jesus breathes the Spirit of God into us, making us one in love, power and purpose.

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life:

1. Pastor Jim started his sermon talking about an “eggcorn,” which is a word or phrase that is mistakenly used for another word or phrase because it sounds similar and seems plausible.” (For instance, egg- corn instead of acorn.) Do you have an illustration of an “eggcorn” that you’ve mistakenly used?

2. What has been your biggest misunderstanding of God?

3. What is the one thing (pun intended) that you have learned during this series that most stands out to

you?

4. The subpoint of Point 2 is “Jesus is what God is like.” Share what this phrase means to you and why it

is meaningful.

5. In the sermon, Pastor Jim said that “God specializes in bringing new life out of death.” Is there an area

in your life these days that feels like it’s dead (or dying) and into which you would love for God to bring new life?

6. Read Jeremiah 9:23-24 in the NLT. Are you able to boast that you “truly know and understand the Lord”? On a

scale of 1-10, how well would you say you “know and understand the Lord”?

7. Close your group time by praying for unity and oneness in your marriage, in our church, and in the Church of

Jesus Christ.

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Heart of Worship/Loving God

One

“The Incredible Prayer Jesus Prayed for You”

John 17:22-24

1. Jesus prays that we may be one as He and the Father are one.

Unity in diversity for the purpose of ministry

2. Jesus prays that the glory He has given us will unify us.

The glory of God is the love of God on full display.

3. Jesus prays that we will grasp the wonder of how God loves us.

His love is eternal, never ending

His love is unconditional, doesn’t depend on us

His love is extravagant, beyond reason

His love is vulnerable, with reckless abandon

His love is tenacious, never gives up

His love is sacrificial, intentionally self-giving

His love is personal, He knows and loves YOU

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life

Outside of God and the characters in the Bible, who is your favorite illustration/example of love; someone in your family, someone you’ve heard about, someone you’ve read about? Tell your group about this example and why it resonates so much with you.

Read v. 21 and v. 23. Why do you think it is so important to Jesus that people believe that he was “sent from God”?

Of the 7 phrases describing the love God has for us, which one is most meaningful to you?

Which one is the hardest for you to believe or connect with?

How does it make you feel to think of God’s love as vulnerable (i.e. that he makes himself susceptible to rejection. In fact, the vast majority of the world rejects God’s love and yet He still reaches out with a love full of vulnerable tenacity.)

God’s love is not reckless in that it’s careless or thoughtless, but in that he loves regardless of whether or not we will ever love him back. He loves KNOWING he will get hurt, blamed, rejected, hated, falsely accused, etc. Can you think of any examples in the Bible where God loved “with reckless abandon”?

Review again the 7 phrases describing the love God has for us and close your group time praying that each of you will grasp the wonder of God’s love for you.

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

One

“The Purpose of Unity”

John 17:21

1. Jesus prays for unity…

not uniformity

not conformity

2. Jesus prays for unity in diversity…

unity of spirit

unity of love

unity of purpose

3. Jesus prays for unity in diversity for the purpose of ministry.

The church is a group of Jesus followers organized for the purpose of ministry.

A unified church on mission is the church Jesus prayed for and the church our world desperately needs.

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life:

What is the most unified team, church, group of people, etc. you have ever worked with? How successful was that team?

What is the difference between unity and uniformity?

Read v. 17 and then v. 21. What is more important in the church: holding to your own interpretation of God’s word, or being unified in what you believe?

What are some practical things we each can do to help promote and keep the unity of the Spirit?

This past Sunday we voted on the budget of the church. How does one’s financial support of a church reflect their part in the unity of the church?

Are you involved in giving to and serving in a ministry at Open Door? If so, share how that has helped you grow. If not, talk to your LifeGroup leader about how you can get involved or you can visit opendoor.tv and start the process.

What changes need to be made in your life so that Jesus’ prayer for unity can be true of you?

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Relates with other-centered love/Loving People

Backstage Pass

The Fine Print of Being Saved

John 17:17-20

What have you gotten yourself into?

You are here for salvation and it means you’re saved from sin

Truth holds the words of life

Truth cleanses us

Truth is in opposition to the world

You are here to be sent out and it means you can’t stay where you are

Truth came for us

Truth is not optional

Truth leads us to action

The “fine print”…You are becoming like Christ to be sent out by Christ

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life

What is the worst “fine print” experience you ever had?

Name a person or small group of people from any time period who helped change the world. How did they do so? What were they up against?

Why does Jesus say that holiness is so essential for our lives?

On a scale of 1-5 how serious do you take your pursuit of holiness?

Truth seems to be under attack today. How can you be sure that you don’t believe lies or half-truths about God, you, this world, etc.?

What do you do when it’s clear the Bible is saying one thing, but you feel like going in a different direction? We all sin, but isn’t this active rebellion? How does rebellion fit in with holiness?

How would you describe the adventure of becoming like Christ? Is it an adventure for you, or a burden? Is it boring? Impossible? Is it a life-giving journey?

What are the roadblocks that keep you from living as one who is sent out by God? (selfishness, seeking power, seeking comfort, seeking approval, etc.)

Pick one of those roadblocks and make a plan to navigate around it this week. Live sent!

CORE CHRISTlike Characteristic: Connected to God through the Word and Prayer/ Intentional Evangelism

Joyless Christian?

The Basis for our Joy in Christ

John 17:11-16

The basis for our Joy in Christ

is not due to this world

Not due to our inherent faithfulness

is tied to our connection to the Father.

What do I do if I am Joyless?

1: Confess sin

2: Make use of the means of Grace:

The Word

Prayer

Meditation

The daily occupation of the heart with Christ

Dwelling constantly on the future that awaits us.

Proclaiming to others the riches of knowing Christ.

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Lives

What is the major stealer of your joy? (Complaining, Procrastination, Gossip, Approval Seeking, Not keeping your word, Negative self talk, Attachment to circumstances, Living in the past, Fear of the future, Prayerlessness)

Where have you seen God show up in His faithfulness where you weren’t faithful?

What emotions do you have when you think of vs. 11,12,15 and the words guard, protect, and keep? What is God guarding and protecting you from?

What brings you the most joy?

How is your connection to the Father? Is it bringing real joy?

Pray for one another that we would experience real joy, not just temporary circumstantial happiness.

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

Backstage Pass: An Inside Look at the Greatest Prayer Ever Prayed

“How Jesus Makes Followers into Disciples”

John 17:4-10

To grow as a disciple of Jesus you need:

1. Revelation: An accurate understanding of God

a. Who God is

b. Who Jesus is

2. Teaching: Core lessons on following

a. Jesus’ Words of life

b. Jesus’ Way of life

3. Training: A process of development

a. Model: A does it, B watches.

b. Mentor: A does it, B follows.

c. Monitor: B does it, A coaches.

d. Multiply: B trains, C learns.

4. Commitment: Our response to God

a. Receive what He says

b. Believe what He says

c. Obey what He says

5. Help: Vital assistance from others

a. Jesus prays for you

b. The Holy Spirit is the Helper

c. Other disciples

Jesus receives glory when we grow as disciples.

Discipleship today starts at the cross.

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life

1. Is/Was there anyone who you (used to) love to hear pray? Why?

2. Why is it so important that we have an accurate understanding of who God is?

3. Is it enough to just be taught Jesus’ “words” and not His “way”? Can you really be a disciple of Jesus if you “follow” His words, but not His way?

4. Have you ever been discipled? Who did it? How did it go?

5. Pick a skill (like prayer, doing devotions, studying the Bible, leading a LifeGroup, sharing your testimony, presenting the gospel, etc.) and as a group walk through the training process outlined in point 3, discussing what that might look like.

6. Where are you in the process of being a disciple of Jesus?

a. I am watching, following from a distance. I’m not ready to follow closely.

b. I am following, but I need help. I need to be discipled by someone.

c. I am growing, it’s time for me to disciple someone else.

d. I have stagnated and plateaued, I need to obey Jesus and get growing again. I need to be discipled or I need to disciple someone else to help me grow.

e. I am actively discipling another person, helping them to grow, which is actually helping me continue to grow as well.

7. After you have identified where you are in question 6, go around the group and pray for yourself and one other, that each of you will take the next step as a disciple of Jesus.

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