Starter: (In pairs)
Share any area of your life or some concern you have that needs "peace".
Worship:
use these concerns as a basis for asking the Risen Christ for his gift of peace.
Read the Passage Aloud. JOHN 20.19-31
Personal Focus & Commentary
Re-Read Passage
Commentary:
Thomas was absent when Jesus first appeared. Now Jesus speaks directly to him and challenges him to believe. Thomas makes the journey from unbelief to belief. Thomas sees and believes and new life begins in him. Notice it does not say that Thomas actually thrusts his hand into the wounds! We have not seen in the same way but we believe, and new life is given us by God. The Holy Spirit testifies that Jesus is the Son of God. The Risen Christ offers us his gift of peace.
Personal Focus
1. Which verse speaks to you? What is God saying to you through this passage?
2. Can you relate at all to Thomas in this passage? In what ways?
3. When has Jesus come to you through locked doors and you tried not to let him in?
Life Focus
1. Relate and experience when you requested proof of something that you should not have doubted.
2. Describe and experience in your life that made you more aware of God's presence?
What difference did it make?
3. Describe an experience in your life when you found it hard to forgive.
If you managed to come through it, how did it feel?
4. How do you react to the idea that Jesus followers were "sent"?
How can we live that sense of being those who are "sent" by God?
What are we sent to do in our community?
5. What place is there in your church programme for doubters?
How can we help them grow and develop in faith?
6. Someone recently said of the church when asked what relevance it has, "it needs to be there for
those who want absolution" (a good link with verse 23) In what ways does your church community
life and worship offer that forgiveness of God?
7. What practical outcomes are there from our reflection?
Do we need to make plans to help make things happen?
Group Memory Time
(review actions you agreed to carry out at the last meeting)
Prayer Time
In silence about the things that need forgiving in your life.
Pray for those who desperately need forgiveness.
Pray for grace to be that forgiving community of grace.
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