Pilgrim Church

How do you understand the concept of joy as described in John 15:11? Can you share a personal experience where you felt joy in your relationship with Christ?

Jesus refers to His followers as friends in verses 14-15. Do you sense that you enjoy friendship with Christ? If so, when or how did this start and what is it like? Compare and contrast being Christ’s servant and Christ’s friend.

In John 15:9, Jesus talks about abiding in His love. How do you practice abiding in Christ’s love in your daily life? How do you “make your home with Him” (as Frederick Bruner wrote)? What impact does this have on your life?

How does obeying Christ’s commands contribute to joy (John 15:10-11)? Share a time when you experienced joy through obedience to God.

Jesus speaks of the greatest love being laying down one’s life for friends (John 15:13). How can we practice sacrificial love in our everyday relationships?

How does the joy that comes from a relationship with Christ differ from the happiness sought in other worldviews?

Reflect on the mission statement: “We exist to love our city and to invite our neighbours to flourish.” How can we practically invite our friends and neighbors to experience this flourishing in Christ? Share ideas on how to invite others to church community events and gatherings.

Watch The Bible Project’s overview on the Gospel of John: https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/john-1-12/  https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/john-13-21/ 

What stood out to you in the videos?

What do you love or appreciate about Jesus?

What do you love or appreciate about John’s style?

Read John 15:1-11.  How does this text fit in the overall narrative?

Discuss Mark Sayer’s 7 key belief statements of our age (below).  How do they help us relate or bridge the gap between Scripture and our modern context?  How do they affect the way we might evangelize or convey the Gospel?

The highest good is individual freedom, happiness, self-definition, and self-expression.

Traditions, religions, received wisdom, regulations, and social ties that restrict individual freedom, happiness, self-definition, and self-expression must be reshaped, deconstructed, or destroyed.

The world will inevitably improve as the scope of individual freedom grows. Technology —in particular the internet—will motor this progression toward utopia.

The primary social ethic is tolerance of everyone’s self-defined quest for individual freedom and self-expression. Any deviation from this ethic of tolerance is dangerous and must not be tolerated. Therefore social justice is less about economic or class inequality, and more about issues of equality relating to individual identity, self-expression, and personal autonomy.

Humans are inherently good.

Large-scale structures and institutions are suspicious at best and evil at worst.

Forms of external authority are rejected and personal authenticity is lauded.

Discuss the concept of discerning fruits in your life and in the broader culture. What are some indicators of true spiritual growth?

How can we maintain unity and focus on Christ as the center of our church community, especially during times of change and uncertainty?

Share about a time when God's pruning in your life led to greater spiritual fruitfulness. What did you learn from that experience?

As a church, how can we better embody Christ's love and joy to those outside our community?

God’s Timing: How do you handle situations when God's answers to your prayers seem delayed or different from what you expected? What helps you to continue trusting in God's timing?

Role of Emotions in Prayer: How do you approach God with your honest emotions, including fears and frustrations? How does this authenticity affect your prayer life?

Transitioning to a Prayerful Life: What practical steps can you take to move from moments of prayer to living a prayerful life? How can you incorporate continuous dialogue with God into your daily routine?

Challenges in Prayer: What are the biggest challenges you face in your prayer life? How can you overcome these obstacles and maintain a consistent prayer practice?

Inspiration from Other Believers: How can learning about the prayer experiences of others, like Henri Nouwen or Martin Luther, inspire and strengthen your own prayer life?