Welcome to week eleven of our fall sermon series called A Doubter’s Guide to Jesus. This week’s conversation revolves around several questions Jesus’ disciples ask him during his final week on earth. Join us as we look at what it means that Jesus is God.
SHARE LIFE
Building healthy and life-giving relationships.
Updates
What has been new or challenging in your life since last time the group met? Spend 20–30 minutes checking in with each other.
Share Part of Your Story
What is one of your favorite Thanksgiving memories from when you were a child?
Prayer
How can your group be praying for you? Has there been anything in this series that has been particularly stirring in your heart where others can support you?
PURSUE GOD
Taking next steps toward Christ together.
Have a few people read aloud John 13:33-14:13. What are some things you notice or find interesting in this passage? What is the setting for this story? What is happening?
Jesus is The Way
The disciples ask Jesus a few different questions. What does Peter ask first? How does Jesus respond? How do you think the disciples would have felt about Jesus’ answers to Peter’s questions?
Thomas asks the second question of Jesus. What does he ask? What do you think he may have expected for an answer?
Jesus made some huge claims while he was talking with his disciples here. What are some of the claims in these verses?
What kinds of questions do people ask of God today?
Jesus is The Truth
Many believe that Jesus was “just” a great teacher. What might be some reasons people take this view? Who do you know that may think this about Jesus?
Why is this an insufficient view of who Jesus says he is?
What question does Philip ask of Jesus? How does Jesus respond?
John Dickson uses the simile that “Jesus is to God what a photo is to my father.” What did he mean?
How does that compare to some common perceptions of God in our culture? How does that change how you think of God?
Have someone read Colossians 1:15-20 aloud. Paul uses very descriptive language to explain Jesus as God. What is Paul was trying to communicate?
Jesus is The Life
Jesus as God is both a challenge and a comfort. How often do you think people find it a challenge because they want God to be a specific way? How do you see this in our culture?
How have you found yourself cherry-picking your own idea of God? Why do we do this?
Why is cherry-picking our own idea of God a dangerous practice? What could we do to avoid this way of thinking?
How is it a comfort to know even in the midst of our sin that Jesus, as God, came to rescue us and is preparing a place for us (John 14:1-4)?
This week’s conversation was about how Jesus declared himself to be God. How has this conversation challenged you this week? What is one step you can take to respond to God this week?
INVEST IN OTHERS
Valuing people outside the group and outside the faith.
Discuss how you and your group can better engage the people in your life outside your small group.
Group Growth
This month we are thinking about what it means to connect someone unconnected to our group. Last week we thought of a couple of people who may need what our group has to offer. How is our plan being implemented and what are our next steps?
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