STARTER
(In pairs for 5 minutes)
Whose life and struggles encourage you?
WORSHIP
READ PASSAGE ALOUD
(As this passage is read make notes on the back of this sheet of anything that challenges you.)
RE-READ PASSAGE AND COMMENTARY
(Personal reflection)
PERSONAL FOCUS
(Personal reflection on the passage / commentary & questions in silence 10 minutes)
COMMENTARY
In this passage Jesus speaks of a real resurrection. And he tells his followers that the only way to come to this life of glory is by dying. The image of the grain of wheat offers a powerful example of this reality. The single seed is limited and alone. But if the seed dies to its present state, it will grow into a stalk filled with seeds. The message for us is that the present is good, but because Christ has brought an end to death through his own death and resurrection, we can look forward to a future that will be far more than our limited lives here and now. (Baranowski)
This "life through death" principle also touches our Christian service. It is in dying that we become life-givers. Through a combination of inward struggles, trying circumstances, opposition from the enemies of the gospel, and our wrestling with God permitted weaknesses that we learned to die every day. The seed must perish for the harvest to be produced.
PERSONAL FOCUS QUESTIONS
(Initially just reflect on the question that chooses you. It may help to clarify your thinking to make notes in the spaces provided. This will also give you material to reflect on in the future)
1. What verse in this reading speaks to you? What is God saying to you?
2. How has you commitment to Jesus developed over the years?
3. Is there anything in your life today that needs to die in order to bring forth something better for God?
PERSONAL FOCUS QUESTIONS
(Discuss in triplets / pray for each other -25 minutes)
LIFE FOCUS
(Discuss in whole group-15 minutes)
4. How does your congregation help people (inside and outside of the church) to build up their commitment to God?
What needs to be changed?
5. What practical outcome is there from our reflection?
Do we need to make any plans to make things happen?
GROUP MEMORY TIME
(Review the actions you agreed to carry out at previous meetings)
REVIEW TIME
Does this group help you build your commitment to Jesus?
What would you like to do differently next time?
PRAYER TIME
You could pray for the members of the group that the Holy Spirit will enable them to deepen their commitment to Jesus.
You could pray for your church and all its activities.
