*NOTE TO DISCUSSION LEADER: Use these questions as you feel led. If a question doesn’t resonate with you, or you want to go in a different direction, go for it! Take the discussion where you feel God wants it to go. Our only request is that for each section, you discuss the final questions, “What does God want us to hear?” “What does God want us to do?” and then challenge each other, “What does God want ME to do?”
Looking back at your notes from this week’s message, was there anything you heard for the first time, stuck with you, challenged or confused you?
What is the one important thing you will take away from this weekend’s message or our community group discussion? Is there any challenge, difficulty or praise that you would like to share with the group for prayer?
Pastor Matt talked about the temptation we face trying to set up our own righteousness instead of embracing God’s free grace. When we finally understand grace and dependence upon Jesus, we finally give up trying to be “good enough.”
MY STORY
If you were completely blindfolded for 12 hours, what would you notice? How would you take care of your needs for that 1/2 day?
WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO HEAR?
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.” (John 8:12-14)
According to Jesus, who is the light of the world? Why was this light rejected by the Pharisees? Why has this light been rejected by so many people?
Why do most crimes happen at night? What is it about a person’s bent toward evil that prefers the dark?
What does it mean to be spiritually in the dark?
What does God want us to hear? Based on the passage and above questions, what “takeaways” do you think God has revealed to you?
WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO DO?
How would you describe your “shadow” side? What dark things are you capable of doing that you’ve held back on doing (so far)?
What might happen to you if you acted on these murkier impulses? Does not acting on them make you righteous? Explain.
What does God want us to do? Flowing out of reading and interpretation, what action does this passage or the Spirit’s leading, call you to?
WHAT DOES GOD WANT ME TO DO?
If your life were a house with many rooms, which ones have the lights out? Why does this closed, locked space always stay dark?
Who do you trust enough to look inside the room? What would a gracious person likely say when he or she saw what was inside?
Why is important to turn a light on in this room, and allow the Holy Spirit to clean it out? Consider doing that this week.
What does God want ME to do? What is the personal application and action step God is calling you, personally, toward?
Message Notes
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