GrX Small Group QuestionsFrom Sunday, June 9, 2013“Living Life from the Center – Love”Scripture Passage: John 3:16-17 1. Story – Each of us has a story. Our family of origin, our ethnicity, our work history, our successes/failures, our struggles, our hopes and our joys are aspects of our story. In the same way that we carry an individual story, GrX as a church carries a communal story. The church community also has a history, struggles, hopes and joys. What is your own story? How long have you been coming to GrX and how would you describe the community’s story?2. God’s Story –Both our personal story and our community story is lived out within and thru the larger narrative of God’s story. The story of God is seen in Scripture, embodied in Jesus Christ and lived out in the world. John 3:16-17 is a summary of this narrative. You may want to read John 3:1-17 together to see the whole encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus. How would you summarize God’s story? Consider your own life and the life of GrX. When are the times when you most clearly experienced God or saw God’s story interwoven with your story?3. Other Stories – Living in the world, there are many other “competing” stories in our culture. As these stories work their way into our lives, we begin to live out of the center of these other stories. For example, one story is the avoidance of suffering. If and as this becomes the center of our lives, we act in the direction of seeking comfort as the highest goal. What are some of the strong stories in our culture? What are some of the actions and behaviors that are related with these stories? How does God’s story as seen in Jesus Christ speak into these stories of culture?4. What is love? – In Jesus Christ, we see love itself. We see a gracious, invitational love that makes space for people. In reference to the message, as enjoyable as puppies and romantic comedies are, New Testament love is not necessarily a warm and fuzzy feeling. Nor is love an abstraction nor the words of a song nor even a list of propositions. Love is an event. Love is a relational encounter. When Jesus loved people, he engaged them. For God so loved the world that he gave …. How would you describe love? In the story of Christ, how did Jesus love people? In your life, when have you experienced and encountered the love of God?5. Life from the Center – As Christians, we are invited and called to live our lives centered on the story of God in Jesus Christ. This is a story of love…. For God so loved the world. Our response is the invitation to love God and to love others. How do you express love for God? Look around at the people in your small group. Consider “this is someone loved by Jesus.” How does this affect your perspective and how you view others? This week, how will you express love for the people around you?
