Knowing Jesus - Knowing His Life

Introduction:

Three Astonishing Claims of Christ
for Those Who Will Believe: (John 5:18-29)

1. Submission is power. (John 5:19-23)
2. Judgment is cancelled. (John 5:24)

Satan's Lies:

1. Man is basically good
2. The "good Lord" overlooks our faults.
3. If we try to do right, God lets us into heaven.
4. The pain we go through on earth is God's only judgment for sin.
5. I've always been a Christian.
6. Any "religious path" will get you to heaven.
7. We can't really be sure of heaven.

   1 John 5:13 - I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

3. Life is Restored . (John 5:25-29)

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Small Group Discussion
Read John 5:18-29

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

2. Why do you think Jesus didn’t try to “reason” with His critics? Why would Jesus declare such truths about Himself if He knew it would only make them angrier?
   

3. According to John 5:29, what is the basis of judgment? If good works cannot save you, what does this mean? What place do “good works” have in the life of the redeemed?

Breakout
Have you ever struggled with feeling condemned? What does John 5:24 say about judgment for the one who believes in Jesus? Why do we often believe our feelings over the Word of God? How can we change that? Pray for one another.

Knowing Jesus - Knowing His Healing

Introduction:

Do You Want to Be Healed?
5 Things You Need to Do to Get Better :
(John 5:1-18)

1. You have to Want to. (John 5:6)
2. Stop Blaming others for your problems. (John 5:7)
3. Stop doing things Your way. (John 5:7)
4. Do what Jesus says to do. (John 5:8)
   1. Get up
   2. Take up your bed
   3. Walk
5. Live in Gratitude to Jesus. (John 5:14)

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Small Group Discussion
Read John 5:1-18

1. What was your big takeaway from this passage / message?
   

2. Why do you think some people do NOT want to be made well? (John 5:6)
   

3. Why do you think we naturally tend to point fingers and blame others for our troubles? (John 5:7)
   

4. How does living in gratitude keep us from living in sin? (John 5:14)
   What specifically has God done for YOU that you could use reminded of?

Breakout
With which of the “5 things needed to get better” do you struggle the most with? Why? Pray for one another.

Living in Exile

Introduction:

Daniel 1

5 Responsibilities While We Are Away From Home:

1. Maintain Perspective. (Dan 1:1-4)
   1. Heaven is our Home. (Dan 1:1)
   2. God is in Control. (Dan 1:2)
2. Live as Undefiled. (Dan 1:5-8)

   Colossians 3:5-10

3. Pray . (Dan 1:9, 2:17-18, 6:10)
   1. Pray for Wisdom
   2. Pray for Provision
   3. Pray for Leaders

Jeremiah 29:7 - But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

4. Test your Faith . (Dan 1:10-16)
5. Do your Job . (Dan 1:17-21)

   Micah 6:8 | 1 Timothy 5:8 | Titus 3:1-2

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Small Group Discussion
Read Daniel 1:1-21

1. Do you ever feel as though you are in exile? How so?
   

2. Of the responsibilities listed, which one encouraged you the most? Which one convicted you the most?
   

3. What job are you neglecting? How do you plan to fix this?
   

Breakout
In what ways are you “defiling" yourself? Pray for repentance there and for the proposed actions above.

Dare to [Not] Compare!

Introduction:

Genesis 3:1-7

1 John 2:16 - For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

1. Comparison breeds Discontent . (Gen 3:1)
2. Comparison encourages Compromise . (Gen 3:2-5)
3. Comparison causes Disaster . (Gen 3:6-7)

Dare to NOT Compare!

1. Know the Word . (Gen 3:1)

   Philippians 2:3 | Hebrews 13:5 | Ephesians 5:8 | Galatians 3:26, 4:6 | Ephesians 2:4-6

2. Take your eyes off the World .

   1 John 2:15-17

3. Fix your eyes on Jesus .

   2 Peter 1:3

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Small Group Discussion
Read Genesis 3:1-7

1. What are your big takeaways from the text and/or the message?
   

2. Why do you think we are so prone to compare ourselves with others?
   

3. Can you think of a time when you compared yourself to another person (besides Jesus) and it produced constructive thoughts and a holy outcome?
   

4. Why is knowing Scripture essential to overcoming the urge to compare?
   

5. What are some practical ways we can “put off” the world and “put on” Christ?

Breakout
Pray that God will enable you more and more to fix your eyes on Jesus, and to refuse to compare yourself and your circumstances to others.

I Love an Addict… But He Doesn't Want to Change

Introduction:

See: Luke 15:11-32

2 Timothy 2:24-26 - And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

How Can We Best Love an Addict?

1. We let them Go .

   Proverbs 22:10 - Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out...

2. We Wait .
3. We Pray .

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Small Group Discussion
Read any of the passages from this week’s message

1. What was your big “take-away” from the message?
   

2. How do you know when an addict truly repents? What are some signs?
   

3. When an addict is unrepentant, what specifically do YOU do while you wait?
   

4. How do you know what course of “treatment” is best for an addict (residential, group therapy, living with a believer, etc)?

Breakout
Pray for an addicted loved one, by name, that God would grant them repentance, spare their life, and use you and others to minister the Word to them.