Read Psalm 118:28 “You are my God and I will praise you.”
What can we thank or praise God for today?
Caring for each other
If this is your first time your group is meeting, introduce yourselves (where do you live, what do you normally do from 9 to 5... ).
What has been going well for you this week?
What has been difficult for you this past week?
Do you need any help from God in your life?
Celebrating God’s Faithfulness
What have you put into practice since our last meeting?
How have you experienced God working through your life this week? Were you able to:
tell anyone this week about what God is doing in your life?
share a Bible passage?
meet a practical need?
pray with anyone?
+ Motivation and Encouragement
God loves people! The Bible tells us God’s desire is that all people are saved and come to understand the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).
4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
The gospel is not only for you but for all your friends and family. God loves them and will use you to pass on what you are learning about Jesus so that they can follow Jesus also. As we journey together, it will be exciting to see what God will do in the lives of those around us.
LOOK UP
+ Context
Jesus was teaching that he is the good shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep (v 11). He also said, “I know my sheep and my sheep know me,” and “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” However, many of the Jews don’t believe him, and doubt His claims. This is where our story begins.
Read
Read or watch John 10:22-30 two times as everyone listens.
22 Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter,23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.24 The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me,26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.30 I and the Father are one.”
What caught your attention or what did you like best? Why?
What does this passage tell you about people?
What does this passage tell you about Jesus?
What are some possible ways a person could apply this passage? Is there:
A behaviour to change?
A promise to claim?
An example to follow?
A command to obey?
Ask God what He wants you to do in response to the passage. (Write an "I will" statement).
Share this with the group and ask someone to keep notes for our next gathering.
Read, Tell and Correct
Read the story again. Have someone tell the story and ask the group to correct if necessary.
+ Key Principle
On the cross Jesus, the good shepherd, laid down his life as a sacrifice for your sins. As one of his sheep, he wants you to know that you have eternal life and you will never perish. You are safe in his hands and no one, including Satan himself, can snatch you away.
Map out your social connections using a daisy illustration.
Write your name in the middle.
Label each petal with a social group or community that you’re a part of. (eg. Immediate family, extended family, footy team, work, neighbours, gym etc).
List 3 or 4 people in each group who need Jesus or are already Christians and might help you connect these people with Jesus.
It’s called a “daisy chain” because every person in your daisy will have their own relationship network (daisy).
Ask God to point out 2 or 3 people that He wants you to pray for during the next two weeks. Mark them in a special way on your daisy.
Share what you learnt as you created your Daisy:
Were you able to complete your Daisy?
Was there one petal of your Daisy that you think God wants you to pay more attention to? Why?
How do you feel about the number of non-Christians in your social circles?
What questions do you have about the Daisy?
Ask one person to pray that we would be faithful in praying for the people on our Daisy on a regular basis.
