Journey to Joy: Week Four

Peace

This week, while you meet with your Faith Formation Group you may want to reflect on our Scripture passage by reading John 14:27-28 & Romans 9:30-33 (printed below) and discuss the questions from the Scripture and Sermon as a way to begin a conversation. 

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. (John 14:27-28)

What does all this mean? Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God’s standards, they were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place. But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path. God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said,

“I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall. But anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” (Romans 9:30-33)

Questions for Consideration:

1. You may ask why we would have scripture from the ends of Jesus’ ministry to bring in the last days of Christmas but this time of Advent is a time to both remember as well as to look ahead. What do you think Christ means when he is telling his followers that he has a gift for them?
2. What is the “peace of heart and mind” that comes through Christ life and then through the gift of the Holy Spirit?
3. Why do these two passages also give speak to the fact that we need the incarnation to have peace?

As you meet this week, we encourage you to also take time to open yourselves up as a group and dialog on the following question: What have been the highlights of my past year and how do I see God challenging me to grow in 2019?

Journey to Joy: Week Two

Love

This week, while you meet with your Faith Formation Group you may want to reflect on our Scripture passage by reading John 1:14, John 3:16-17 & Romans 5:18-21(printed below) and discuss the questions from the Scripture and Sermon as a way to begin a conversation. 

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. (John 1:14)

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17)

Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. ¹⁹ Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. ²¹ So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:18-21)

Questions for Consideration:

1. Think about your life and how you have experienced love? Share a story with your group or write a journal entry about an experience when you felt unconditional love? 
2. In John 1:14 we get the first sign of God’s love for humanity when it says, “the Word became flesh and made his home among us.” What do you think is significant about being among us in expressing love?
3. How has God expressed love for us through His Son Jesus?
4. What problems does our sin cause in experiencing the fullness of God’s love?

As you meet this week, we encourage you to also take time to open yourselves up as a group and dialog on the following Wesley Challenge question: Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I am? In other words, am I a hypocrite? (Pages 99-103 in The Wesley Challenge)

We are just two weeks away from our grand opening weekend! I hope you have friends that you are inviting to come join us for worship Sunday and/or Christmas Eve Monday!