Sermon Guide

April 19: John 3:1-18

What stood out to you most from the sermon? Why? 

Key Takeaways:

1. Being born again is not about doing better; it's about being made completely new. It's a spiritual birth that comes from above, not a renovation project we accomplish.
2. To believe in Jesus means more than acknowledging facts about Him. It means knowing you are dead in your sin and trusting Him completely for rescue.
3. We cannot climb our way to God through religious performance. Salvation comes down to us as a gift, not up to us as an achievement.
4. Jesus took on the full appearance of our humanity but with no sin. Then on the cross, He became sin for us so we could be saved.
5. The invitation is simple: confess your need and look to Jesus. You don't need to understand everything or clean yourself up first—just look up.

Discussion Questions: 

1. Who was Nicodemus? What made him such an important figure in Israel? Why is it significant that even someone of his religious status needed to be "born again"?
2. Why do you think Nicodemus came to Jesus at night? What might he have been risking? Can you relate to wanting to seek Jesus but being afraid of what others might think?
3. The Greek word "anothen" means both "again" and "from above." How do these two meanings help us understand what Jesus is saying about salvation?
4. Jesus says the wind is invisible but its effects are visible (John 3:8). What are some visible "effects" you've seen when the Holy Spirit brings someone from death to life? Share examples if you're comfortable. What changes have you noticed in yourself or others after coming to faith that can only be explained by God's Spirit?
5. Nicodemus had spent his entire life climbing the religious ladder through study, discipline, and law-keeping. Why does Jesus tell him he's going in the wrong direction? 
6. In what ways do we still try to "climb up" to God instead of receiving what comes "down from above"? What does this look like in modern Christianity?
7. The pastor said many people don't know what it means to "believe" in Jesus. Before this sermon, how would you have defined what it means to believe? Has your understanding changed?
8. In the Numbers 21 story, some people died not because they didn't believe the pole existed, but because they never looked at it. What's the difference between knowing about Jesus and actually looking to Jesus for rescue?
9. Why do you think God chose such a strange method of rescue in Numbers 21? What does this teach us about God's ways versus our expectations?
10. The bronze serpent looked like the thing that was killing them but had no venom. How does this parallel what Jesus did on the cross? (See 2 Corinthians 5:21 and Galatians 3:13)
11. What kept some Israelites from looking at the bronze serpent? (Pride? Waiting to understand it first? Looking for a more "reasonable" solution?) What keeps people from looking to Jesus today?
12. Belief starts with "life-saving humility" about what's inside of us. Why is honest confession about our sin so important? What happens when we skip this step? Spurgeon's simple message was "Young man, just look up." Is there anything keeping you from simply looking to Jesus right now? What would it look like for you to "walk across the camp" this week?

Practical Applications:

1. Honest Assessment: Set aside 30 minutes for honest prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you areas where you've been trying to "climb up" to God through your own effort rather than receiving grace "from above."
2. Share Your Story: Like the pastor shared about his father's transformation, identify one visible change God has made in your life and share it with someone this week—either a believer who needs encouragement or a non-believer who needs to hear about Jesus.
3. Just Look Up: If you've never truly trusted Jesus for salvation, or if you realize you've been relying on religious activity rather than Jesus Himself, take time this week to simply "look up"—confess your sin and trust completely in what Jesus did on the cross.
4. Help Someone Understand: Think of someone in your life who might be like Nicodemus—religious, moral, but confused about what it means to be born again. Pray for an opportunity to share this message with them.

 Sermon Guide

April 26: John 9

What stood out to you most from the sermon? Why? 

Key Takeaways:

1. Not All Suffering is Punishment: Jesus clearly states that the man's blindness wasn't caused by anyone's sin, but existed so "God's works might be displayed in him" (v. 3).
2. Different Doesn't Mean Deficient: People who learn differently, move differently, or communicate differently aren't problems to solve—they're platforms for God's glory.
3. Your Story Doesn't Need to Be Perfect to Be Powerful: The man simply said: "I was blind, now I see." You don't need all the answers to share what Jesus has done.
4. Following Truth Can Be Costly: The blind man lost his neighbors' acceptance, his parents' support, and his place in the synagogue—but gained Jesus.
5. Jesus Finds Us in Our Wreckage: When everyone else abandoned the blind man, Jesus went looking for him. He still does that today.
6. The Most Dangerous Place is "Close Enough”: The Pharisees weren't far from God—they were close enough to feel fine, which made them spiritually blind.

Discussion Questions: 

1. Assumptions About Suffering (vv. 1-5). Why do you think we naturally try to find reasons or causes for people's suffering? What does this reveal about our need for control or understanding?
2. The disciples talked about the blind man like he wasn't there. When have you witnessed (or participated in) treating someone's struggle as a "case study" rather than seeing them as a person? How can we change this to think like Jesus when he said,”this is to display God's works.” and change how we view people with disabilities or chronic struggles in our church family?
3. Sharing Your Story (vv. 6-17). The healed man's testimony was simple: "I was blind, now I see." What keeps us from sharing our own simple stories of what Jesus has done in our lives? Sharing your faith has as much to do with your faith being grown as their faith being found. Have you experienced this? How has telling your story deepened your own faith?
4. The man didn't have all the answers. When asked "Where is Jesus?" he said "I don't know." Why is it actually more trustworthy to say "I don't know" than to make something up? When have you felt pressure to have all the answers?
5. The Cost of Following Jesus (vv. 18-34). The man's parents were afraid and distanced themselves from what God had done in their son's life. When have you been tempted to stay silent about Jesus because of what it might cost you?
6. The healed man lost his neighbors' acceptance, his parents' support, and his place in the synagogue. What are you most afraid of losing if you fully follow Jesus? Be honest.
7. Jesus Comes Looking (vv. 35-38) Jesus heard the man was thrown out and went looking for him. What does this tell you about Jesus' heart? When have you experienced Jesus "finding you" in a difficult moment?
8. When the man realized who Jesus was, he fell down and worshiped. What would it look like for you to respond to Jesus with that level of complete surrender this week?
9. The Warning to the Religious (vv. 39-41). The Pharisees knew Scripture, kept rules, and showed up faithfully—but were spiritually blind. How can religious activity become a substitute for actually encountering Jesus?
10. "The most spiritually precarious place to be is close enough to God where you feel fine." Have you ever experienced this spiritual numbness? What woke you up? Have you domesticated Jesus just enough that he never really shakes you up? In what areas of your life have you tried to keep Jesus at a comfortable distance?

Practical Applications:

1. Personal Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you've been sitting "by the side of the road" waiting for something to change? When everything else is stripped away, is Jesus actually enough for you? What would it look like to fall at Jesus' feet in worship over what He's done in your life?
2. Share Your Story: Tell one person this week your simple "I was blind, now I see" story. Don't overcomplicate it—just share what Jesus has done.
3. See Someone Differently: Identify someone in your church or community who might feel overlooked. Intentionally engage with them as a person, not a project. Ask their story.
4. Examine Your Comfort: Write down one area where you've made Jesus "comfortable" instead of allowing Him to be Lord. Pray specifically about surrendering that area.
5. Fall Down and Worship: Set aside 30 minutes this week for uninterrupted worship. No agenda, no requests—just awe and surrender before Jesus.

Sermon Guide

May 3: John 15

What stood out to you most from the sermon? Why? 

Key Takeaways:

1. Jesus is the True Vine: He claimed the identity that Israel failed to live up to and is the channel through which God's love, blessing, and character flow to the world. Apart from Him, we can do nothing of eternal significance
2. We Are Branches, Not Admirers: We're not called to admire Jesus from a distance but to be connected to Him. Fruit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) is the natural byproduct of connection. Branches don't strategize or strain to produce fruit—they simply stay attached
3. Abiding Means Being in Two Places at Once: Abiding is maintaining ongoing awareness of Jesus' presence throughout your daily life. It’s not just a morning quiet time—it's carrying that posture into every moment intentionally but not faking it.
4. Pruning is Intimacy, Not Abandonment: God prunes branches that ARE producing fruit so they'll produce MORE. The gardener is closest to the plant during pruning, so remember that difficult seasons aren't evidence of God's absence but of His nearness.

Discussion Questions: 

1. How does understanding Israel as "the vine" in the Old Testament change your understanding of Jesus' claim in John 15?
2. Read Galatians 5:22-23 together. Which aspect of the fruit of the Spirit do you most long to see grow in your life? Why that one?
3. Which of these practical definitions of the Fruit of the Spirit resonates most with a current struggle in your life? Love is choosing good when it feels better not to, peace is staying steady when everything is shaking, or self-control is stopping when everything in you wants to keep going
4. On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your current "connectedness" to Jesus? What influences that rating?
5. We all check our phones 60-100 times per day. What would change if you "returned to Jesus" with that same frequency? What might that look like practically?
6. What's the difference between "spiritual disciplines" and "abiding"? How do they work together?
7. Share about a time when you experienced God's "pruning" in your life. Looking back, can you see how He was close to you during that season?
8. Abiding means "being in two places at once"—fully present in your circumstances while aware of Jesus' presence. What makes this difficult? When have you experienced this successfully?
9. What are the biggest obstacles that keep you from remaining/abiding in Christ throughout your day? Busyness? Noise and distraction? Shame or guilt? Feeling unworthy? Not knowing how?
10. How does our culture's emphasis on productivity and performance make it harder to trust that fruit comes from connection rather than effort?

Practical Applications:

1. Personal Reflection: What specific practice will you commit to this week? How will you remember to do it? Who will you ask to check in with you about it?
2. The Five-Minute Practice: Set aside 5 minutes each day for silence then ask three questions: Who are You? Who am I? How are we? Share your experience with the group next week
3. The Hourly Return: Set a gentle reminder on your phone every 1-2 hours. When it goes off, take 30 seconds to acknowledge Jesus' presence. Pray a simple prayer some thing like "Jesus, I'm here. You're here. We're together."
4. The Two-Places Practice: Choose one routine activity (commute, exercise, household chore)  to practice being "in two places at once.” Do the activity while conversing with Jesus and then journal about what you notice.
5. Spiritual Discipline Reset: Choose one spiritual discipline to practice this week (Scripture reading, prayer, Sabbath, etc.) Don't do it to check a box. Do it as a way to stay rooted in the vine. Reflect: How did this practice help you remain connected?
6. Communion is a physical reminder that we are attached to Jesus. How does taking communion help you remember your connection to the vine?

 Sermon Guide

May 10: John 21

What stood out to you most from the sermon? Why? 

Key Takeaways:

1. Jesus doesn't discard us when we fail - Our worst moments don't define us; His grace does.
2. Jesus meets us in our shame - He deliberately walks into our darkest moments to bring healing, not condemnation.
3. Restoration requires vulnerability - Jesus can't heal what we won't let Him touch.
4. Our identity is in Christ, not our failures - We are defined by His wounds, not ours.
5. God uses broken people - Jesus is the king of using screw-ups and the least qualified to accomplish great things.

Discussion Questions: 

1. Peter's personality was extreme - high highs and low lows. How do you relate to Peter's "all in or not at all" approach to life? Where do you see yourself in his story?
2. In John 21, Peter went back to fishing after Jesus' death. What are the "fishing boats" in your life - the familiar places or habits you return to when you're confused or hurting?
3. Why do you think Jesus specifically asked the angel to mention Peter by name ("Go tell the disciples and Peter")? What does this tell us about how God sees us in our failure?
4. Jesus intentionally built a charcoal fire - the same kind of fire where Peter denied Him. Why would Jesus recreate that painful memory? How does this change your understanding of how Jesus deals with our shame?
5. Jesus doesn't heal what you don't let him touch. What wounds or failures have you been hiding from Jesus (or others) that need His healing touch?
6. Jesus asked Peter "Do you love me?" three times - once for each denial. How does this surgical approach to restoration speak to you? What might Jesus be asking you three times?
7. After Peter's failure, Jesus gave him the most important job: "Feed my sheep." What does this teach us about how God views our usefulness after we've messed up?
8. Jesus told Peter "mind your business" when Peter asked about John's future. In what ways do you compare your journey to others? How does this comparison steal your focus from following Jesus?
9. You are not your screw-up, you are not your vice, you are not your addiction, you are not your failures. In Christ, you're His. Which of these false identities do you struggle with most? How can this truth set you free?
10. Peter went from denying Jesus by a fire to dying for Jesus on a cross. What do you think made the difference? How can we experience that same transformation?
11. Your love for Jesus is real and it matters, but it's not the thing that holds us all together. It's His love for you. How does shifting focus from our love to His love change the way you approach your relationship with God?

Practical Applications:

1. Identify one area of shame or failure you've been hiding. Share it with a trusted Christian friend or this small group, and ask them to pray for you specifically about this area.
2. Write down the lies you believe about yourself based on your failures. Next to each lie, write the truth from Scripture about who you are in Christ. Read these truths aloud each morning this week.
3. Notice when you compare yourself to others this week. Each time you catch yourself, pray: "Jesus, help me follow YOU, not them.” Journal about what unique calling or personality trait God might be redeeming in you.
4. Build your own "charcoal fire” by Identifying a specific failure or moment of shame in your past, and invite Jesus into that memory through prayer. Ask Him to show you how He was present even then and how He wants to redeem it.
5. Scripture for Further Study
1. Luke 5:1-11 - Peter's first encounter with Jesus and the miraculous catch
2. Matthew 16:13-23 - Peter's confession and immediate rebuke
3. Matthew 26:69-75 - Peter's denial
4. Acts 2:14-41 - Peter's Pentecost sermon
5. Acts 4:1-20 - Peter's boldness before the religious leaders
6. Romans 8:1 - "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus"
7. 2 Corinthians 5:17 - "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come"

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