Knowing Jesus - Knowing His Call

Introduction:

A Sales Pitch to Die (John 12:20-26):

1. Theological Reason: Because Jesus says it's the path to Glory . (John 12 12:24)
2. Practical Reason: You find life through your Death . (John 12 12:25)

   Matthew 10:39 - Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

3. Motivational Reason: God will Honor you. (John 12 12:26)

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Small Group Discussion
Read John 12:20-26

1. What was your big “take-away” from this passage / message?
   

2. Explain the connection between John 12:24 and 25. Why did Jesus go from “His death” to the “call to discipleship to hate your life in this world”? What's the connection?
   

3. Confession time: in what area do you need to “die to yourself / hate your life” (John 12:25)?
   

4. What does it mean that “the Father will honor you” (John 12:26)? What does that look like?

Breakout
Pray for one another to die to self – daily carrying your cross.

Knowing Jesus - Knowing His Triumph

Introduction:

Daniel 9

Luke 19:41-44 - And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, "Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation."

Two Reasons People Turn Against Jesus (John 12:12-19):

1. Jesus isn't Offering what you want. (Luke 19:42)
2. Jesus is offering what you Don't Want . (Luke 19:44)

The time of your visitation...

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Small Group Discussion
Read John 12:12-19

1. What was your big “take-away” from this passage / message?
   

2. What was Jesus’ purpose for the “Triumphal Entry”?
   

3. Why did this crowd go from cheering “HOSANNA” here to shouting “CRUCIFY HIM” a few days later?
   

4. What wrong expectations do people have of Jesus today? Where do those wrong expectations come from?
   

5. Read Luke 19:41-44. Why did Jesus weep over Jerusalem? What does this say about how Jesus must feel today about those who don’t understand who He is or why He came?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Knowing Jesus - Knowing His Value

Introduction:

Knowing His Value: When Your Actions Reveal Your Heart (John 12:1-11):

1. Three Marks That Jesus is Highly Valued By You. (John 12:1-3)
   1. You Serve Him. (John 12:2)
   2. You desire His Presence . (John 12:2)
   3. You Sacrifice for Him. (John 12:3)

2. Three Marks Jesus is Not Valued By You. (John 12:4-11)
   1. You are quick to Criticize . (John 12:5)
   2. You are fixed more on Getting than giving. (John 12:6)
   3. You want to remove anything Associated with Jesus. (John 12:10-11)

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Small Group Discussion
Read John 12:1-11

1. What was your big “take-away” from this passage / message?
   

2. If Jesus knew Judas was a thief (John 12:6, and see John 2:24-25), why did Jesus allow Judas to be the treasurer and steal from their funds?
   

3. Explain Jesus’ statement in John 12:8. What was He saying about worship? What was He saying about taking care of the poor?
   

4. Why did the chief priests want to kill Lazarus (John 12:10)? How is this like “cancel culture” in our day?
   

5. How would you show an unbeliever Jesus’ worth?

Breakout
Pray for one another to demonstrate how you value Jesus, as Martha, Lazarus, and Mary did.

Build Yourself a Babel

Introduction:

What is a Babel?

Build Yourself a Babel in 3 Easy Steps: (Genesis 11:1-9)

1. Put God's Word Aside . (Gen 11:4,9:1,9:11)

   (Isaiah 30:1) - "Ah, stubborn children," declares the Lord , "who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin;

2. Make it all about Me . (Gen 11:4)

   Genesis 11:4 - Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth."

3. Seek the approval of Other People (Gen 11:6).

   Genesis 11:6 - "Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do."

God's Response

DON'T Build Yourself a Babel in 3 Easy Steps:

1. Put God's Word First .

   Proverbs 18:10 - The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

   Proverbs 16:9 - The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

2. Make it all about Christ .

   Romans 10:9 - "Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

   Acts 4:12 - "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

3. Seek the approval of God Alone .

   Matthew 25:21 - "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master."

   1 Peter 2:5 - "You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

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Small Group Discussion
Read Genesis 11:1-9

1. What was your big “take-away” from this passage / message?
   

2. What babels have you built before? Are you building any now?
   

3. What is one thing that you learned from this passage? And how will this change you?
   

4. Applying the revised 3 steps, what practical and specific steps can you take to ensure that you don't build a babel?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

This is Who We Are: Pillar 4

Introduction:

The Two Motivations to Share the Good News of Jesus That Are Embraced by Every True Witness (2 Cor 5:14-21):

1. I'm controlled by Love . (2 Cor 5:14-15)
2. I'm defined by Identity . (2 Cor 5:18-21)

1. Trustee (2 Cor 5:18-19)
2. Ambassador (2 Cor 5:20a)
3. Spokesperson (2 Cor 5:20bc)

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Small Group Discussion
Read 2 Corinthians 5:14-21

1. What was your big “take-away” from this passage / message?
   

2. Explain how the love of Christ controls us (2 Cor 5:14-15). How does that motivate you to share the Good News of Jesus with others?
   

3. What is the difference between “I am commanded to witness” vs “I am a witness”? How does understanding your identity make you an effective witness for sharing the Good News of Jesus?
   

4. What would you say to someone who says, “Honestly - I don't really share Christ with others. It's just not my gift.”

Breakout
Pray for boldness – when opportunity comes to share Jesus with someone, you take that opportunity.