STARTER
(In pairs for 5 minutes)
What do you like about sheep?
WORSHIP
READ PASSAGE ALOUD
(As you hear this read jot down notes of thoughts that come to you.)
RE-READ PASSAGE AND COMMENTARY
(Personal reflection)
PERSONAL FOCUS
(Personal reflection on the passage / commentary & questions in silence 10 minutes)
COMMENTARY
Jesus describes himself as a good shepherd. He knows his sheep by name; he knows their habits and traits. The sheep know him. His love for them is so great that he freely lays down his life for them. People who know each other in the deep way described in this passage share their thoughts, feelings and will. They become one heart and one mind. Each has no life without the other. Jesus and his Father know each other in that way. Now Jesus tells his followers that they have a share in this depth of intimacy. [Baranowski]
Come let us bow down and worship:
Let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
For he is our God:
And we are the people of his pasture, the sheep for which he provides. Psalm 95
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. Was there a time when you felt lost and needed someone to find you?
3. Have you allowed the people in your life to come to know you,
as Jesus knows his sheep?
What gets in the way?
PERSONAL FOCUS QUESTIONS
(Discuss in triplets / pray for each other -25 minutes)
LIFE FOCUS
(Discuss in whole group-15 minutes)
4. How can we show people that God cares for them?
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 allow you to be really open to other people?
What would you like to do differently next time?
PRAYER TIME
You could pray that each member of the group really feels that God loves them.
You could pray that the Holy Spirit will enable us to show love for other people.
