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The online groups guide is designed as a teaching series companion to foster discussion, study, and prayer, especially in a group setting.
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Love
Teaching Texts: John 16:29 - 17:5
Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”
“Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone.Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:
“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal lifeto all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you,the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
Themes
Consider these themes and ask your group what else they see in the passage:
Joy Complete – God wants your joy to be complete and Jesus is showing us the way.
Formation
Thoughts and notes you can use for discussion:
One of life's biggest questions - If God exists, what is God like?
Sometimes is easier to believe God exists than to believe He is kind
Dominant narrative of our time: Consumeristic, technologically driven individualism.
Creation narrative: God miraculously and lovingly creates and sustains
When we immerse ourselves in the dominant narrative, we forget the creation story
Then, a series of things happen:
1 - We forgo rootedness of the past – we self-invent
2 - We forgo hope in a faithful God for our future – self-rely
3 - Our present is filled with FRIGHTENED MEANNESS.
Where in your daily life do you experience this drive towards self invention/defining identity?
Where do you see the encouragement and temptation towards self relying/self preserving?
Brueggeman:
“For it is only when the past is brimming with miracle and the future is inundated with fidelity that the present can be recharacterized as a place of neighborliness in which
Scarcity can be displaced by generosity
Anxiety can be displaced by confidence
Greed can be displaced by sharing
Brutality can be displaced by compassion and forgiveness.
“Recovering the biblical text includes the daring persuasive conviction that God’s fidelity outlasts every circumstance.”
The story you live in, is the story you live out
How can we better immerse ourselves in the creation narrative?
What God is like is the catalyzing question of this whole conversation.
“May they know you” is Jesus’ prayer at the end.
This text is less about a to-do list and more about how we can know God deeply.
Challenges in the conflicting narratives:
The dominant cultural narrative might be more prevalent in our lives than the true creation narrative
We are trying to trust Jesus for that joy, but we reserve the right to define still what makes us happy.
We are not able to discern the timing and the perseverance required
Which of these challenges do you struggle with most?
Where in your life do you struggle with a lack of peace and joy?
Take some time to scan through chapter 14-16 of John
Notice one or two things that Jesus says that reveal something about the Father that He wants the disciples to know.
Share them with the group.
Pray prayers of thanks and praise to God for who He is.
God’s Peace comes from a deep conviction that
My future is not in my hands
My God is kind and trustworthy and wants my true and lasting joy
No obstacles I face here and now will have the last word
Jesus completed the work to restore the kingdom and invited us in
He leaves us with His very presence, the Spirit by whom we have access to the Father.
