Knowing Jesus - Knowing His Resolve

Introduction:

Knowing His Resolve: How to Face Trouble Confidently Like Jesus (John 18:1-11):

1. Know what's Comin . (John 18:1-4a)
2. Remember who has the Power . (John 18:4b-6)

3. Rest in His Promises . (John 18:7-9)
4. Follow His Example . (John 18:10-11)

   Isaiah 51:17 - Wake yourself, wake yourself, stand up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the LORD the cup of his wrath, who have drunk to the dregs the bowl, the cup of staggering.

   1 Peter 2:21,23 - For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps... When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

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Small Group Discussion
Read John 18:1-11

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

2. What “trouble” are you facing right now? What promises from God's Word directly address your situation?
   

3. How does knowing what's coming (end-time prophecies) equip us to handle these global troubles confidently? How confidently are you handling them?
   

4. Recall Peter's actions in John 18:10. Tell of a time you tried to handle the trouble before you in your own way (instead of God's). If you could go back in time, what would you do differently?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Knowing Jesus - Knowing His Prayer - Part 2

Introduction:

Knowing His Prayer: What Jesus Wants for You (John 17:20-26):

1. He wants you to be Unified . (John 17:21-23)

2. He wants you to be With Him . (John 17:24-26)

   1 John 3:2 - Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

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Small Group Discussion
Read John 17:20-26

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

2. As specific as you can – describe what Jesus meant by “being one”. How did Jesus demonstrate that with His relationship with the Father?
   

3. What are some obstacles to “one-ness” in the church?
   

4. Why does Jesus want us to “see His glory” (John 17:24)? How would you respond to someone who responds to this, “That sounds arrogant!”?

Breakout
Pray for one another, that we would grow in the reality of one-ness with Christ.

Knowing Jesus - Knowing His Prayer

Introduction:

Knowing His Prayer: What Jesus Wants for His Disciples (John 17:1-19):

1. He wants you to be Authentic . (John 17:6-7)

2. He wants you to be Protected . (John 17:11-16)
3. He wants you to be Used . (John 17:17-19)

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Small Group Discussion
Read John 17:1-19

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

2. Why do you think many Christians' prayer list is mainly for physical illnesses? Why don't many Christians pray for spiritual / Kingdom matters?
   

3. Why ISN'T Jesus praying for the world (John 17:9)? Why is Jesus' prayer focused on disciples? What does this say about how we should pray?
   

4. Since Jesus prayed for protection for us, why do so many disciples experience hardships? What exactly was Jesus praying for when He asked the Father to “keep us” (John 17:11)?

Breakout
Pray for the 3 things Jesus prayed for disciples: that we would be authentic, protected, and used by God.

Knowing Jesus - Knowing His Victory

Introduction:

Acts 1:3 - He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

Life in Christ is Faith-Based Not Performance-Based (John 16:25-33):

1. Answered Prayers : Faith-based, not performance-based. (John 16:26-27)
2. God's Love for you: Faith-based, not performance-based. (John 16:27)
3. Peace : Faith-based, not performance-based. (John 16:33)

   1 John 5:4-5 - For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

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Small Group Discussion
Read John 16:25-33

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

2. Why did Jesus, in the midst of all these promises, tell the disciples that they would scatter and abandon Him? (John 16:32)
   

3. Why do so many Christians think that prayer, God's love, and peace are all performance-based things with God? What does Jesus say about that?
   

4. Have you ever been reluctant to pray because you were struggling with a sin of some kind? How did you get out of that rut?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Knowing Jesus - Knowing His Joy

Introduction:

Why Do I Lose Sight of My Joy in Christ? (John 16:16-24)

1. Because of my Ignorance . (John 16:16-18)

   Proverbs 13:12 - Hope deferred makes the heart sick...

2. Because I'm not looking at the Big Picture . (John 16:19-22)

   Hebrews 12:2 - looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

3. Because I'm not Praying (John 16:23-24)

   Philippians 4:6 - do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

   Philippians 4:7 - And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

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Small Group Discussion
Read John 16:16-24

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

2. Tell of a time you personally experienced Jesus turning your sorrow to joy: a circumstance that looked bad at the time but ended up being a blessing.
   

3. How exactly is having “full joy” connected to prayer (John 16:23-24)?
   

4. How would you respond to someone who says, “Jesus turns suffering in joy?! There is no way I can have joy as a result of this situation I am going through.”?

Breakout
Pray for one another.