Runaway Bride, The Best Man, July 8-14

John 3:22-36

vs 22-24:

-John was baptizing and so was Jesus.  Why did they baptize?  What did it mean when you were baptized by a teacher?  (Baptism is an outward symbol that you were a follower of someone.  All teachers did this.  Kind of an initiation, a going public of your allegiance to a teacher and what he teaches.  Like the concept of membership.)

-Take time to ask your group if they have been baptized.  Allow them to tell their story.  If they haven't been baptized, follow up with them this week and encourage them to get baptized at our next baptism celebration on October 28th.

vs 25-26:

-Talk about ways that a self-absorbed, self-centered attitude hurts your relationship with Jesus.

-How does it hurt your relationship with the church?  Why is an "all about me" attitude so dangerous for followers of Jesus?  Are their some sticking points where you are self-centered?  (Money, time, attitude, comfort level, etc.)

-How does the wrong attitude change everything?  How does an entitlement mentality change the way we approach Jesus with requests, supplications, and prayer?

vs 27-28:

-John mentions that everything we have is a gift from heaven (from God).  When you are confronted with the reality that everything you have is a gift from God, does that impact how you use the things in your life?  If you admitted today that your health, life, family, job, finances, talents, gifts, resources, EVERYTHING you have was given to you by God, does that make you stop and think about how you are using all those things?  Is it for self satisfaction?  Or are you using your God-given talents to bring glory and honor to God?  How are you using what God has given you to bring Him glory and honor?

vs. 29:

- The best man's responsibility is to do whatever he can to help the bride, and ultimately make sure the bride gets to the groom.  When the groom gets to the bride, then he knows his job is complete.  In this illustration, the groom is Jesus, the bride is people, and followers of Christ act as the best man.  John says GET PEOPLE TO JESUS!  It's your job as the best man.  How are you doing with that?

-Why would you want to get people to Jesus?  First of all, because you love Jesus.  Second of all, because Jesus loves people, and as followers of Jesus we need to do the same.  So either way, whether you want to or you like the person or you think it's important or not, an overflow of our love for Jesus should manifest itself by leading other people to him.

-When is the last time you've led someone to the groom?

vs. 30:

What are the areas of your life that you need to decrease in?  What is BIG in your life right now, so much so that there is no room for God?

Accountability:

Next week, ask each other these questions:

1. What are you doing to have a more outwardly focused mentality when it comes to people, church, and Jesus?  How are you battling to make sure your life doesn't become all about you?

2. What are some talents and gifts and resources that you have that you need to give back to God so that he can use them to change other people's lives?

3.  What did you do this week to point people to Jesus?  Is your relationship with Jesus so deep and intimate and loving that you are constantly pointing people towards him?

4. What areas are you focusing on decreasing in your life so that God can increase and continue to change you and your heart?