Group Guide
This Week's City 7:
4. Can a person be good enough to go to heaven? No. Because Jesus rose from the dead proving He is God, I believe a person is saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
Ice-Breaker:
What new movie are you looking forward to? Is there anyone that can't wait to see the geriatric Top Gun??
Discussion Questions:
- In Luke 8:22 we see the story of the disciples getting caught in a storm. Even thought they are with Jesus, right where they are supposed to be, they faced a literal storm. They faced real and legitimate fear. Genesis 3 tells us that the ground is cursed because of sin. Romans 8 tells us that all creation is subjected to this curse. What are some ways that this curse is evident in our culture today?
- The first takeaway from Sunday was that Jesus give us glimpse of the coming PARADISE. We are guaranteed to experience storms in our lives. But, ultimately, the storm is still subject to the word and authority of Jesus. With one word, Jesus brought calm to the storm. This is but a taste of when the earth will one day be redeemed, a new earth. All creation is subject to God's curse, but all creation is looking forward to and longing for the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay. Jesus will ultimately bring calm to the storms. So Jesus asks us today, "Where is your faith?" Maybe the storms of life have derailed you. Maybe you just need to catch a glimpse of the power of Jesus over a particular storm in your life?
- Jesus then casts out some demons. Back to Genesis 3, God promised there would be war and hostility between Satan and humans. The devil seeks to do nothing other than to steal, kill and destroy every good work of God. But God also promises that the seed of the woman, or Jesus, would crush the serpent. Jesus has triumphed over this enemy. This is why the demons begged Jesus not to torture them. They knew their place. The enemy trembles in fear at the name of Jesus. The next takeaway was that Jesus gives us a glimpse of the coming VICTORY. He gives us a small taste of the coming freedom, peace and rest. A peak at of the justice that is coming when evil and sin and Satan will be destroyed and gone forever when Satan is finally thrown into the bottomless pit. What does it do to your faith to think about the fact that we are on the winning side and our enemy has already be defeated? How should it change the way we see trials in our life? How should it change the way we pray?
- Starting in verse 40, Jesus heals a woman and also raises a girl from the dead. He is showing us that he has triumphed over the curse of death. This gives us a glimpse of the coming RESURRECTION. Hebrews chapter 2 tells us that, because he was resurrected from the dead, Jesus has destroyed sin and death and that he now holds the power of death. Though our bodies will eventually die, our spirit's will live on for eternity with him. And when he returns we will receive our new bodies to live with him in paradise. If we truly believe that Jesus holds the power over death and that we will live forever, why should we fear our own deaths? And if we don't even fear death itself, what can Satan do to us? If we are on the side of the One who wins in the end, what have we to fear?
- Because we are on the winning side of this life and death battle called life, God's people have a responsibility. If there truly is only one name by which we can be saved, we have work to do! This glimpse into Jesus and the reality of what is to come has given us every reason to get busy. He has given US the responsibility of spreading the Gospel and pushing back darkness with the authority we have through Jesus. This is basically a hostage situation. The devil has been destroyed but he is holding hostages! And Jesus seeks to now partner with his brothers and sisters, that is us, to bring rescue, redemption and triumph over the enemy. Who in your life is being held hostage by our enemy? Who do you need to get busy sharing the good news of God's grace with?
Prayer Topics:
- That we would remember that He has overcome the storms in our lives.
- That we would remember that He has already won the ultimate victory.
- That we would fear nothing, not even death itself.
- That we would get busy rescuing hostages.
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