Hello This is a Test

Group Guide

November 20th, 2022
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This Week's City 7:

2. Are there sources outside the Bible that confirm the Biblical account of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead? Many Roman and Jewish historians have confirmed that the apostles died as martyrs for preaching that they saw Jesus risen from the grave. No one dies for something they know to be a lie.
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)

Ice-Breaker:

Parents, what are some of the craziest things your kids have ever said? No kids? You've still heard kids be crazy, right? 

Discussion Questions:

  • In Luke 11, the people are demanding more signs that Jesus really is who he said he was. Jesus brings up Jonah. If you remember, God wanted Jonah to go to Nineveh, but Jonah refused. He didn't like those people. They were brutal and dangerous, and he wanted God to destroy them. You probably know the rest of the story... a boat, a storm, a huge fish that swallows him up for three days. Disobeying God had some consequences, and Jonah eventually learned his lesson. Talk about a time or two in your life when you were disobedient to God and you faced God's discipline in the form of negative consequences. What was the lesson that you learned?

  • The people refused to believe in spite of all that Jesus had done before their very eyes. So he makes a couple of comparisons that would've made the religious leaders very angry. He reminds them of two different situations in which gentiles, not Jews, chose to believe with way less evidence and way fewer signs. He reminds them of Nineveh believing despite Jonah's incomplete message and of the queen of Sheba being convinced by Solomons words of wisdom. Jesus tells them that he is greater than Solomon, yet they refuse to listen. We can often be stubborn and slow to listen to God's voice in our lives. We can be skeptical or doubt God's power or ability to affect our situation. We can turn a deaf ear to what we know is right because we want to do things our own way. Is there a situation in your life right now in which you might be ignoring what you know God is asking of you because of fear or uncertainty? Or are you refusing to ask for his opinion on a decision because you'd rather just go your own way?

  • Matt's first takeaway on Sunday was, "Where Jonah runs FROM Nineveh, Jesus runs TO sinners!" Jonah wanted no part of the wicked Nineveh, and Jesus had every right to feel the same way! He was perfection, God in a body, and he could've easily wanted to avoid the sinful filth that was all around him. Yet he did just the opposite. He went out of his way to seek out the most sinful in order to show them who he was. He came to seek and save the lost. When it comes to the way you spend your time and the people you hang out with, is there room in your life for intentionally hanging out with those who need Jesus in order to minister to them? How often are you being intentional with your lost friends or family?

  • The second takeaway from Sunday was, "Where Jonah wants Nineveh DESTROYED, Jesus wants humanity DELIVERED!" Jonah wanted those wicked people punished. But Jesus sought to forgive. Think of someone in your life that has wronged you, or maybe someone that you might not necessarily like all that much. What is your attitude towards them? Do you secretly hope they get what's coming to them? Do you talk bad about them and put them down? Or do you pray for them, forgive them, asking God to move in their life?

  • Matt challenged us on Sunday to send a text to friends/family in our lives that need Jesus. Did you send one? Take some time, right now in our group, to send a text or two. Say something like, "Hey _______! I just wanted to let you know you're on my mind today and I'm praying for you! Please let me know if there's anything specific I can be praying for!" Give updates on their response this week to the group! 

Prayer Topics:

  • That we would not be stubborn, but obedient to God.
  • That we would be intentional this week with friends and family that need Jesus.
  • That we would pray for and forgive our enemies.

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