03.16.08
Small Group Plan - March 16, 2008
“Action & Agony”
The Road to Grace
Small Group Plan
March 16, 2008
Dear Small Group Leader,
A great number of people are searching for peace. They want to find peace and they want to make peace. But it has already been made. God has not left it for us to create, but for us to enter.
OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· What were your childhood understandings of communion and baptism?
· How did they change and mature?
LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …
Thursday – Day of Action
The People at the Supper — Mark 14:12-15
12 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”
· Why does Jesus share this time with those who will desert Him?
· What is there about them that causes Him to stay with them?
· What is there about Himself that empowers Him to stay with them?
The Point of the Supper — Mark 14:22-26
22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” 23 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. 25 “I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.” 26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
· What does God offer us in communion?
· What do we offer Him?
· What does it mean to be one of the “many” (Vs. 24)?
· How can we move our communion reflections on Sunday into Christian action on Monday?
Friday – Day of Agony
The Physical Punishment — Luke 23:32-34
32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals — one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
· The only description in the Bible is “there they crucified him” (Vs. 33).
· Review what we know about the physical practice and purpose of crucifixion. (See http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/deathjesus.pdf for an article from the Journal of the American Medical Association.)
· In your times of suffering, who are you most concerned about? Why?
The Spiritual Punishment — Mark 15:33-34
33 At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” — which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
· Why was Jesus the only acceptable sacrifice for humanity?
· Why did God have to abandon Jesus?
· How would you define the word “atonement” ?
· How would you apply it to yourself?
USE IT / APPLY IT …
· How can we bring the intimate family feeling of the Passover into our communion service today?
· What enables us to share communion, even with those who have disappointed or hurt us?
· What do you think about during communion
· Why did God make the cross of Jesus the center of our religion?
· How can the cross define and shape thoughts, relationships, identity, action, etc.?
Close by thanking God for His incredible sacrifice.