The Why Behind the Why- Life Group Questions

Scriptures: Matthew 5-7, Mark 2: 23-27, John 21:15-25

Jesus is always trying to get to the heart of the matter. He’s trying to point to the thing behind the thing. To do this Jesus fulfills the law in it’s purpose and breaks it in practice. (Mark 2: Disciples picking grain- “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”) The whole of the sermon on the mount is pointing to the motivation, the heart, they “why” behind our decisions. Jesus understands that an external law will never change us the way an internal motivation does… which is being led by the Spirit. Jesus works on our internal motivation and purifies them. Purity comes from going through the fire, not from avoiding it.

In John 21 Jesus invites Peter to eat breakfast with him after the resurrection. While they are eating, Jesus asks Peter three times if Peter loves him. He keeps asking the question to get to the heart of the matter. On Sunday Joel asked Sue why she goes to church. After she answered he asked why else she goes to church. She answered that and then he asked one more time if there were any other reasons she went to church. Each time her answers got deeper and more motivation and heart was revealed. This can be a gift we give to each others. Ask each person the same question three times to see if the answer can get deeper. Do any one of these series of questions with each person or come up with your own.

1. Why do you go to church? Is there any other reason you go to church? Are there any other reasons you go to church?

2. What is one of the highlights of your life and why was it impactful? Why else did it impact you? Are there any other ways it impacted you?

3. What do you want to see God do in your life this next year? What will it look like when this happens? How else do you think this will affect you?