“The Last Word”

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August 27, 2011
Part 1: The Last Word: "The Fourth Gospel for a Final Generation"

Opening Up:
1	What is your full name? How did your parents come up with it?
2	If you currently have a nickname or have had a nickname in the past, how did you get that name?
Reading: John 1:1-5
Reflecting:
3	At what point in Jesus' life does this gospel begin?
4	As you read verses 1-5, what do you learn about “the Word”?
5	List the ways the divinity of Christ can make a difference in your life.
6	After hearing the sermon, how do you want to live differently than you have before?

September 3, 2011
Part 2: The Last Word: "The In-flesh-ment of God"

Reading: John 1:9-14
Reflecting:
1	What kind of reception does Jesus get when he comes to “his own” today?
2	What do you think it means “to receive him”?
3	How can the Word (Jesus) become “flesh” in your life?
4	In what ways is the humanity of Jesus good news for you?

September 10, 2011
Part 3:The Last Word: "The Last Word: The Children of Abraham ‘In the Bosom of the Father’"

Opening Up:
1	What vegetable best describes how you’re feeling right now and why?
2	How would you like God to respond?
3	Pray for each other.
Reading: John 1:14-19
Reflecting:
3	In what ways are you just like your father?
4	How did Jesus reveal grace and truth?
5	As people (family, co-workers, service provider, etc.) observed your life this last week, what did they learn about God?
6	How do you feel about being a personal representative of Jesus?

September 17, 2011
Part 4: The Last Word: "Under the Fig Tree, On Top of the Ladder"

Opening Up:
1	What is the most significant event that happened to you this week?
2	How did it make you feel?
3	Pray for each other.
Reading: John 1:19-51
Reflecting:
1	What did John the baptist mean when he exclaimed, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”?
2	How do you suppose John felt losing his disciples to Jesus?
3	What was the difference between Jesus’ “come and see” (v 39) and philip’s “come and see” (v 46)?
4	What does Jesus see when you are “under the fig tree?

October 1, 2011
Part 5: The Last Word: "Turning Wine into Water"

Opening Up:
1	Share something memorable from a wedding you attended. (usually, this is when something went wrong)
2	Share a time when someone told you to do something that didn’t make sense to you until later.
Reading: John 2
Reflecting:
1	Why do you suppose Jesus chose a wedding to perform his first miracle?
2	What does that tell you about God?
3	What are some ways you need him to turn the water into wine in your life?
4	What are some ways you have turned the wine back into water?
5	How do you want to live based on this miracle?

October 1, 2011
Part 6: The Last Word: "Born Again...Again"

Opening Up:
1	Share what you know about the circumstances of your birth, your mom’s pregnancy, your delivery, or your adoption.
2	What is your natural response when someone shines light into your spiritual darkness? How do you want to react?
3	What would your midnight conversation with Jesus be like?
Reading: John 1:19-51
Reflecting:
1	What kind of a person was Nicodemus? In what ways are you like him?
2	Why did Jesus use the birth metaphor to describe conversion?
3	How would you explain John 3:16 to someone who is hearing it for the first time?
4	Have you been born of water and the Spirit? if you would like to be, please email the pastor (nelson@pmchurch.org).

October 15, 2011
Part 7: The Last Word: Just Another Pretty Face?

Opening Up:
1	When you were growing up, who were the people you were told not to associate with?
2	Tell of a time when you had pre-judged someone incorrectly.
Reading: John 3:1-36
Reflecting:
1	Do you ever avoid public exposure, like the Samaritan woman? Why?
2	Why does Jesus ignore social barriers? When and why should you?
3	What makes a drink of water so refreshing?
4	How does your answer describe what Jesus offers to you?
5	How can you share his water with someone else? Whom do you know who’s thirsty?

October 22, 2011
Part 8: The Last Word: Here Comes the Judge!

Opening Up:
1	Share with the group a story about a time when you were sick.
2	Do you prefer to be the person who is sick, or the person who has to take care of the sick?
3	Did you ever have a time when you were glad you were sick? if so, share the story.
4	What are some illnesses that you feel are self-induced (that people bring on themselves)? how do you respond in these situations?
Reading: John 5:1-47
Reflecting:
1	Why did Jesus select “the worst case” for his healing at Bethsaida?
2	How closely are spiritual health and physical health aligned?
3	What are some ways personal guilt can affect personal health or mental health?
4	What’s the best news this healing offers about Jesus?
5	Apply this good news to Jesus’ declaration that he is the Judge of the world (5:22).

October 29, 2011
Part 9: The Last Word: Starving for Bread When the Pantry is Full

Opening Up:
1	What is your favorite type of bread?
2	What is the longest you have gone without food? Why?
3	When you are really hungry what do you crave?
Reading: John 6:1-71
Reflecting:
1	Why did Jesus turn down the invitation to become their king?
2	What storm in your life is Jesus walking on right now, and what is he saying to you?
3	What does it mean to eat his flesh and drink his blood?
4	What keeps you from leaving Jesus like so many did in John 6?

November 5, 2011
Part 10: The Last Word: The Scarlet Letter

Opening Up:
1	Share a story about a time you got into trouble for doing something wrong
2	If there was a time when someone defended you, or you defended them, tell that story.
3	Who are the people in your life that accept you no matter what you have done?
Reading: John 8:1-36
Reflecting:
1	What was the point the scribes and Pharisees were attempting to make?
2	What was the point in Jesus’ response?
3	If you had been the guilty one thrown at His feet, what would be going through your mind?
4	Describe the freedom Jesus offers (vv 32, 36).
5	When it comes to forgiving yourself when you fail and fall, put an x on the line to indicate where you are between the two ends:I always put myself down ___________I have learned to accept God’s forgiveness.

November 19, 2011
Part 11: The Last Word: Shabbat Shalom

Opening Up:
1	Describe what it was like when you played “blindman” as a child.
2	How sensitive is our society to the seeing impaired?
3	If you were blind, how would you want to be helped?
Reading: John 9
Reflecting:
1	Like the disciples why do we look on human suffering as a judgment from God?
2	What does “Night is coming when no one can work” mean?
3	What is the connection between Jesus being “the Light of the world” and the seventh-day Sabbath on which he conducted this miracle?
4	How have we turned the Sabbath into a day of burden today?
5	What in the world did Jesus mean in v 39?

December 3, 2011
Part 12: The Last Word: Of Sheep and Shepherds and the Midnight Star

Opening Up:
1	Describe a time when you had to be a “shepherd.”
2	If you were a shepherd, how would you define your success?
Reading: John 10
Reflecting:
1	What are the two I Am statements Jesus makes in this passage?
2	What would you say are the three most important tasks of a shepherd?
3	What are the two most important tasks of a sheep?
4	Why do you suppose shepherds were the first to hear of the Good Shepherd’s birth?