God Gives Life

  1. How many times have you thought or said, “If only…”? Give examples.

 

Read John 11:1-16

  1. While Mary and Martha watched their brother die, Jesus decided to stay another two days in the wilderness across the Jordan (10:40). How may they have felt hearing that Jesus did not come right away and heal Lazarus?

 

  1. When have you felt Jesus delaying while you were praying for help?

 

  1. What clues do v.41-42 give us regarding why Jesus did not come right away to help his friend?

 

  1. What do you think Jesus meant in his cryptic answer to the fears of the disciples (v.8-10)?

 

Read John 11:17-27

  1. How does Jesus challenge Martha to look into the future, and at the same time, bring the future into her present?

(see v.23-37)

 

  1. How do we bring God’s future into our present?

 

Read John 11:28-46

  1. If God is just like Jesus, how does the fact that ‘Jesus wept’ shape your view of God?

 

  1. When Jesus asks the people where to find Lazarus they say, “Come and see!” When Jesus called Lazarus out of the grave, He told the people around Him, “Come and see what I can do!” Where have we invited Jesus into our world?  He in turn has invited us to see what He can do!

 

  1. What is Jesus telling me through this story and what do I need to do in response?

 

God Opens Eyes

  1.  Do we have to “pay” in this life when we have done something bad? Do children have to pay for the bad choices of their parents?

 

Read John 9:1-12

  1.  How did the disciples explain the fact that this man was born blind?

 

  1.  Does this line of reasoning still exist today?

 

  1.  How does Jesus explain the situation?

 

  1.  Jesus proceeds to heal that man. What is the significance of the healing?  How does it relate to Jesus’ explanation?

 

  1.  What is the significance of the way Jesus healed the man?

 

  1.  The man does not seem to know who Jesus really is at the time of his healing. All he knows is what Jesus did for him.  Only after a second encounter with Jesus does he “see” who Jesus is (v.35-38).  How do you explain this?  What can you learn from this?

 

  1.  If you read the rest of the chapter you will notice that this healing triggers a lively dialogue between the bystanders, Pharisees, parents and Jesus. The theme: who is actually blind and who is not.  So, who is “blind” and who is it that “sees” according to this story?

 

  1.  Where are you on this spectrum?

 

 

A God Who Cares

1.  Think of a time in your life when you felt cared for. What was the occasion? How did you experience care? How did it make you feel?

Read John 6:1-12
2.  Jesus cared for the physical well-being of the people who came to listen to Him. What does it tell you about Jesus/God? How have you experienced this kind of care?

3.  What exactly did Jesus want to find out when he tested the disciples (v.5-6)? What do Philip’s and Andrew’s answer to the challenge reveal?

4.  By multiplying bread and fish Jesus provided generously for the needs of the people. What is the significance of Jesus commanding His disciples to pick up the leftovers?

5.  Do you feel God is generous in how He provides? Share and explain.

6.  The response of the people to this miracle reveals their selfishness (v.14-15). How?

7.  It says in v.15 “…and Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.” It seemed to be something Jesus did habitually. Why?

Read v.16-21
8.  The disciples are left to fend for themselves. Can you recall a time or situation in your life when you felt you had to fend for yourself and Jesus felt far away? What happened? Why did you feel that way?

9.  Jesus has many ways to get to where “I am.” All nature is at His display if He needs it. When have you experienced Jesus showing up when you least expected it?

10. Where do you sense Jesus telling you, “It is I; don’t be afraid”?

Experience A Life-Giving God

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1. Share a time or situation in your life that made you pray to Jesus for help.

Read John 4:43-48

2. If you read v.44-45,48 what kind of impression do you get from the crowd welcoming Jesus in Cana? (Note: Jesus is addressing the people in v.48 not the royal official; “you” is plural)

3. What is the significance of a royal official making the effort (a daytrip) to see Jesus?

4. How does this royal official expect Jesus solve his problem?  What is he suggesting?

5. How often do you expect Jesus to help in a specific way?  What is your experience?

6. What does Jesus’ answer, “Go, your son lives” reveal about Jesus?

7. What two options did the royal official have in response to Jesus’ answer?

8. Why does the official inquire about the exact time of the healing of his son?

9. What do you learn about Jesus in this story?

10. What do you learn about the kind of faith Jesus looks for?

11. What did you learn about yourself? What do you sense Jesus is telling you?

Experiencing A Generous God

1. Describe a generous person.

2. Do you consider yourself to be generous?

Read John 2:1-11

3. Jewish weddings were joyous events with music, dancing, lots of food and drinks. They could last up to a week! What does the fact that Jesus accepted the invitation to a wedding say about him and his ministry?

4. The host family running out of wine could have brought long lasting shame on them. Why did Mary turn to Jesus for help?

5. Who do you usually turn to when you face problems?

6. Jesus answered that his time has not yet come. What time was he talking about (compare John 13:1; 17:1)? What did that have to do with Mary’s request?

7. Jesus did not use any ritual or special formula in order to make water into wine. It simply took the obedience of the servants for the miracle to happen. What can we learn from that?

8. How much wine did Jesus make?

9. What does the miracle and the amount of wine he made say about God?

10. What effect did the miracle have on the disciples?

11. What effect does the miracle have on you? What did you learn? What do you need to do?

A New Year Without Fear

1. What hopes, plans and dreams do you have for 2020?  Personally?  For your family?  This country?  Your church?

2. What are your fears?

Read Matthew 6:25-34

3. What worries do we usually carry with us?

4. Jesus suggests that we can live in this world without worries and fears. Why?

5. Did Jesus live this kind of worry-free life? Explain.

6. What does it mean to ‘seek’ the kingdom first? How did Jesus demonstrate this?

7. How will you apply v.34 in your life?

8. What does God want you to do this coming year in order to live this kind of worry-free life?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advent: A Time for Celebration

Farewell service for Pastor George.

Interview between Pastor Egbert and Pastor George.

0:10

0:46

1:49

2:04

3:38

4:19

5:29

 

Advent: A Time for Renewal

  1. When was your last vacation? Where did you go? What did you do? Was it relaxing?

 

  1. What do you usually do to relax and recharge?

 

Read Mark 1:1-11

John the Baptist was Jesus’ cousin born a few months before Jesus. His ministry was to get people ready for the greatest moment in world history: Jesus’ ministry, His death and resurrection.

  1. How does John seek to prepare the people for Jesus’ arrival? (v.1-8)

 

  1. In this opening passage, Mark wants us to sense the shock of the new thing God was doing. The people needed to be woken up. In what ways are we asleep today in our communities, churches or our personal lives?

 

  1. What significance does baptism have when you think about the fact that the people of Israel entered the promised land by going through the Jordan river?

 

  1. John called the people of Israel to give evidence of their repentance by being baptized. It’s the only way to be ready for Jesus’ kingdom to come. What do we as Christians have to repent of today in order for God to do a new work? What do you personally need to repent of?

 

  1. What God said to Jesus on that day (v.11) is what He also says to those who are “in Christ,” meaning His followers. What is the significance of hearing God say to you, “You are my dear child; I’m delighted with you”?

Advent: A Time For Encouragement

1.   What does the Advent season mean to you?  Do you observe special traditions?

 

2.   What was your most memorable Advent?

 

Read Luke 21:20-28

3.   Jesus predicts troublesome times for the people of Israel and Jerusalem  by employing OT imagery (see Isaiah 13:9-10; 24:18-20; 34:4; Ezekiel 32:7-8; Joel 2:1, 30-31; 3:15).  He is pointing to the destruction of the Temple by the Romans in 70 AD.  How does Jesus describe the time?

 

4.   In v.27-28 Jesus points his listeners to a prophecy of Daniel (see Daniel 7:13-14).  What exactly did Daniel see?  How and when was this prophecy fulfilled (compare to Matthew 28:18)

 

Read Luke 21:29-36

5.   How are Jesus’ followers to prepare for the upcoming crisis? What will provide them strength and comfort?

 

6.   If you are faced with a crisis what advice and comfort can you take out of this text?

 

Do Not Judge

  1. If you think of your immediate or extended family what kind of actions, attitudes and behaviour destroy good family relationships?

 

Read Matthew 7:1-7

  1. In this passage, Jesus deals with the deadly way in which we try to manage and control those closest to us.

 

  1. What kind of judging is Jesus addressing in v.1?

 

  1. Is there a difference between judging and being judgemental? Explain.

 

  1. What is the connection between judging and condemning?

 

  1. Where do we judge and exclude people today in our society?

 

  1. Have you ever felt judged? How did it make you feel? What consequence did it have for you?

 

  1. In v.2-5 Jesus addresses blaming as another tool that destroys relationships.

 

  1. Why is blaming so hurtful?

 

  1. What leads people to blame others? What is the underlying intent?

 

  1. According to Jesus’ words what should we do before we blame someone?

 

  1. V.6 addresses the practice of pushing things of God upon people whether they are ready for it or not.

 

  • Can you give examples of that? Have you experienced it yourself?

 

  • How do people respond to pushiness? What is your response?

 

  • Where are you guilty of condemning or blaming people or forcing your wonderful solutions on them? What do you need to confess?

 

  1. What do you need to do in response to Jesus’ words?

My Secret Life

  1. How do you pray? What do you do? What do you say?

 

Read Matthew 6:5-8

  1. What was wrong with the way hypocrites prayed?

 

  1. What does praying “to your Father in secret” look like?

 

  1. How does the fact that our Father knows what we need before we ask Him, affect our prayer?

 

Read Matthew 6:9-13

  1. What role does the Lord’s Prayer play in your prayer life? Are you praying it? If so, how? If not, why not?

 

Read Matthew 6:14-15

  1. What does our readiness to forgive others have to do with our prayers?

 

Read Matthew 6:16-18

  1. What is your experience with fasting?

 

  1. What is the purpose of fasting?

 

  1. What does it mean for our acts of worship and ministry that our Father “is in secret” (v.18)?

 

  1. What do I sense God telling me and what am I going to do about it?

Approved: By Whom?

  1. What does it take to be a respectable person in your world? Who do you respect?

 

Read Matthew 23:5-11

  1. How did the religious elite of Jesus’ time try to solicit respect from the people around them?

 

  1. How should a follower of Christ be different? What is their badge of respectability?

 

Read Matthew 6:1-4

  1. What trap do followers of Christ need to avoid? (v.1)

 

  1. What is a hypocrite? What does a hypocrite do?

 

  1. How do we not let the left hand know what the right hand is doing?

 

  1. Someone said: “God does not want to be present where He is not wanted.” How does that apply to this text?

 

  1. In light of what Jesus is saying, how should we go about helping others?

 

  1. What is God telling me? What do I need to do?

Can’t We Just Get Along?

  1. What makes you really angry?

 

  1. Is the feeling of anger good or bad?

 

Read Matthew 5:21-26

  1. What do you think Jesus wants to say in v.21-22? Is Jesus intensifying the Old Testament Law? Is He laying down a new law?

 

  1. Look at v.23-24. What kind of person would do what Jesus is describing in these verses? What does that have to do with the command “do not murder”?

 

  1. How do you understand v.25-26? How is that connected to the command?

 

  1. As you take another look at this text what is Jesus trying to say? What kind of character does a really good person have when it comes to anger and contempt?

 

  1. How can I become such a person? What kind of spiritual disciplines could help me dealing with anger or contempt?

True Influence

  1. What is influence? What do we mean by saying that people are influential?

 

  1. Who has influenced you?

 

Read Matthew 5:13-16

  1. When Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth” and “You are the light of the word” what kind of people does Jesus have in mind? Who is He talking about? (Consider v.1-12)

 

  1. What makes someone salt or light?

 

  1. What does salt do?

 

  1. How does being salt describe the function of a Christ follower among the people he/she lives with?

 

  1. We know that salt cannot lose its properties of being salty unless it is heavily diluted. What is Jesus trying to say by “if salt loses its flavor?”

 

  1. What is the purpose and function of light?

 

  1. To light a candle only to hide it in a box is absurd. What is Jesus trying so say?

 

  1. When do you function as a light? What is the purpose?

 

  1. What did you hear Jesus telling you while studying this passage? What are you going to do about it?

Growing in Gentleness

  1. When you think of a gentle person who comes to your mind? Why?

 

  1. How would you define gentleness? Is a gentle person a weak person?

 

  1. Jesus speaks of himself as a gentle person and invites us to learn from Him (Matthew 11:28-29). Where do you see Jesus being gentle?

 

  1. Read Proverbs 15:1; 25:15; 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8. What effect does gentleness have on people?

 

  1. Read Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:12; 1 Peter 3:15. In what situations and circumstances are Christ followers called to practice gentleness? Why is it important?

 

  1. Gentleness is the fruit of God’s Spirit working in us (Galatians 3:22-23). Give an example of how gentleness is growing in you. Or are there situations where gentleness needs to grow in you? Explain.

 

  1. What do you sense Jesus is telling you?

 

  1. What are you going to do about it?

Become More Loving

1. If someone wanted to become a more loving person, what advice would you give them?

Read Galatians 5:19-21

2. What does Paul mean by “flesh”? And “works of the flesh”?

3. As you read through the works of the flesh is there any work you could find in yourself? Describe. How does it make you feel?

Read Galatians 5:22-26

4. Paul speaks of the “works/acts” of the flesh and the “fruit” for the spirit. What is the difference between works and fruit?

5. List the nine qualities of a Spirit led life. Try to explain each quality in your own words and give examples.

6. Where do you see these qualities in Jesus? Where and to what degree do you see them in yourself?

7. What qualities within you do you feel need improvement? What are you going to do to about it?

How to Relate to Others

  1. In your experience, what makes a relationship difficult and what makes it easy?

 

  1. What part do you play in a good relationship?

 

Read James 3:13-18

  1. What does this text have to do with good and bad relationships?

 

  1. According to v.14 and v.16 what disposition of my heart destroys any good relationship?

 

  1. How do you recognize jealousy and selfish ambition in yourself and others?

 

  1. What can you do against your own jealousy and selfish ambition?

 

  1. What are prerequisites for a good relationship (v.17)?

 

  1. How can I cultivate this “wisdom from above” in my heart?

 

  1. Where is God calling me to be a peacemaker?

Putting Our Past Behind Us

  1. What destroys good relationships?

 

  1. Can you remember an occasion where your words or actions have destroyed a relationship? What happened? What were the consequences?

 

  1. Love “keeps no record of wrongs” (1 Corinthians 13:5). What does this mean? How can you do that?

 

Read Matthew 18:21-22

  1. What issue does Peter bring before Jesus? What does his answer imply?

 

  1. If you consider that rabbis suggested to forgive at least three times, Peter is already aiming high by suggesting seven times. How is Jesus answering Peter’s question and what does He mean by his answer?

 

Read Matthew 18:23-34

  1. The story is certainly not factual because the amount of debt owed is simply unrealistic. Jesus tells this parable to make a point. What is it that Jesus wants to say? Consider also that with this parable Jesus explains how the kingship of God operates (v.23).

 

  1. What does it mean to forgive according to this parable?

 

  1. How does this parable relate to Peter’s question in v.21?

 

  1. How do you understand v.35? See also Matthew 6:12,14-15.

 

  1. In light of this Bible study who do you need to forgive? Why? Remember: to forgive does not mean to forget nor does it mean to reconcile.

 

Answering God’s Call

  1. Have you ever felt you were given a second chance? What happened? Why did it feel like a second chance to you?

 

Read Jonah 3:1-10

  1. God’s grace is relentless. Jonah gets another chance (v.1-2). What does it mean to you that God’s grace is relentless toward you?

 

  1. Nineveh was one of the most significant cities in Jonah’s days. The phrase “exceedingly great city” (v.3) could also be translated “a great city to god”. Why would God show such an interest in Nineveh?

 

  1. Jonah’s message was short (v.4). No mention of God or of the reasons why God will overthrow the city nor any offer of repentance. Considering Jonah’s initial reluctance to go to Nineveh, could there be a reason why his message was so short and lacking any grace?

 

  1. The response of the people was drastic and swift. How did they express their repentance? Why did they do it? (v.5-9)

 

  1. How do people respond to God’s call to repent today? How do you respond?

 

  1. God did exactly what Jonah feared: He relented (v.10). Is this typical of God?

 

  1. In light of this story of Jonah how do you imagine God? Is God a God who always relents or is God a God of judgment? Are there other stories in the Bible to support your view?

 

  1. A graceless Jonah vs. a grace filled God. Where do you fit in?

Caution: God at Work!

1. What do you know of the story of Jonah? What have you heard, perhaps from Sunday school?

Read Jonah 1:

2. What did God want Jonah to do?

3. How did Jonah respond?

4. Why did Jonah head off to Tarshish instead of Nineveh?

5. What do you make out of the fact that while the crew of the ship fights for survival Jonah is sound asleep in the bow of the ship?

6. While Jonah runs from the presence of God, he finds himself not out of reach from God. What storms in your life served as reminders of God’s inescapable presence?

7. Do you think Jonah anticipated to be rescued when he asked the sailors to throw him overboard?

8. “I’d rather die than obey!” Can you imagine a situation where you would say these words?

9. When has running away from God brought you (and/or others) into trouble?

10. Do you think Jonah’s rescue by a fish is factual or symbolic? Explain.

11. How has God rescued you in spite of your disobedience?