This guide is a tool to help you facilitate discussion with your rGroup. Use it to lead your group in discovering, owning, and applying God’s Word. This is a flexible tool, not a rigid task list. Follow the Holy Spirit’s lead as you lead your group. You don’t need to ask every question.
Opening Question: Tell us about a movie you walked out of, a television show you gave up on, or a book you quit reading. What about it made you walk away?
Understanding God’s Word: Know and Understand the Truth
READ John 6:22-71 (This is a large passage. Read as much as you feel will help your discussion!)
- What does this passage tell us about who God is?
- What does this passage reveal to us about ourselves?
- What do you think the message of this passage is?
Living and Applying God’s Word: Give a Vision of Life With God
- For followers of Christ, why is the pursuing and receiving Jesus himself far better than pursuing anything that he could ever give us? (Why is Christ better than the things he gives us?)
- Why is obey and believing Jesus the teachings and commandments of Jesus far better than trying to figure out and do life on our own, even if Jesus’ way can be uncomfortable or unpopular at times?
- Realistically, if we as Christians and the church were to believe and obey all that God says, we would find ourselves marginalized by the culture around us. But what do we stand to gain when people see that the church is different? What can God do with people who live out all that God has for us?
Assessing the Heart: Identify and Address Sin
- Has there been a time in your life when you realized that you were following Jesus for the things that he could give you, rather than simply following him just to have him alone? What were some of those things he could give you that you desired more than him? (Examples: A ticket out of hell, a clear conscious, relationships, job, material possessions or wealth, status, etc.)
- Has there been anything that God has said or commanded that you’ve felt uncomfortable with or disagreed with? What in particular?
- What are the consequences of believers who pick and choose what they believe about God’s truth and teachings?
- How does it affect your relationship with God?
- How does it affect your witness as a Christian to the people that God has placed in your life?
Turn to God: Confess and Renew Belief in God
- READ John 6:60-65 — For those of us who struggle to accept some of the teachings about our faith, about different things that God says is true or right or good, what hope is there that we can truly believe and embrace all that God says?
- God's Grace — We aren’t left to ourselves to figure it out. God pursues us and changes us. He can make us new!
- 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 — As Christians, we’ve been given the Holy Spirit and we are now 'in Christ.' These things will help us to believe God. Seek him and ask him to help you believe!
- Over the course of our lies, we will struggle with doubt and questions about our faith. And that’s ok.
- Why is God big enough to take on our doubts and questions, and how can we take those things to him?
- How can we as a community of believers encourage one another as we experience doubts and questions in our faith?
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