small group discussion

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SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION DATE

February 14 14 February

BIBLE PASSAGE

John 13:33-35 John 13:33-35

GRADES 9-12

1. KNOW THE CONTEXT The of John The Book Book of John is is a a collection collection of of stories stories about about the the life life and and teachings teachings of of Jesus. Jesus. John John was was called, called, "the "the disciple disciple whom whom Jesus Jesus loved." loved." Talked Talked about about a a title! title! John John wrote wrote this this book book from from a a very very personal personal point point of of view. view. He He had had been been a a close close follower follower of of Jesus. Jesus. He He had had witnessed witnessed the the miracles miracles that that Jesus Jesus had had performed, performed, was was there there is is some some of of the the less less public public moments moments of of Jesus' Jesus' life. life. You You could could say say he he was was one one of of Jesus' Jesus' best best friends. friends. In In the the passage passage for for today today Jesus Jesus knew knew that that his his time time on on earth earth was was coming coming to to an an end. end. So So he he wanted wanted to to relay relay some some really really important important information. information. Just Just like like when when your your teacher teacher is is going going to to be be gone, gone, they they will will tell tell your your class class that that they they will will be be gone, gone, and and give give you you important important details. details. This This is is what what Jesus Jesus was was doing, doing, he he wanted wanted to to make make sure sure in in his his absence absence his his disciples disciples knew knew what what they they were were to to do. do. So So listen listen up, up, this this is is important important information information Jesus Jesus is is relaying! relaying!

2. READ THE BIBLE PASSAGE TOGETHER 3. SPEND TIME IN OBSERVATION Which verses, ideas, or characters stuck out to you? What questions could come from this passage? Observation notes:

Questions:

4. SPEND TIME IN INTERPRETATION What did this passage mean to the original audience? What would it have felt like to be a character in this passage, and who in the passage is the hero/role model (if any)? What’s the main point of this passage?

Questions

Answers

Why is Why is itit important important to to understand that that Jesus Jesus was was understand coming close close to to dying? dying? coming

When When someone someone knows knows something something is is coming coming to to an an end end or or are are getting getting ready ready to to leave, leave, we we tend to to focus focus on on what what is is important. important. tend

How do How do we we often often define define love love today? today?

Dating, Dating, sex, sex, friendship, friendship, family, family, feelings, feelings, marriage, marriage, love love for for food, food, We We love love things, things, our our possessions. We We often often times times throw throw the the word word love, love, to to emphasize emphasize how how much much we we like like possessions. something. something.

What had Jesus Jesus shown shown What ways ways had love to to his his disciples? disciples? love

He them to to follow follow him. spent time to pray. He called called them him. He He spent time with with them. them. He He taught taught them them how how to pray. He He invested invested his his life life into into their their lives. lives.

Jesus says to to love love each each Jesus says other, what what does does itit mean mean to to other, love each each other? other? love

To is to to put put someone someone ahead them ahead ahead of of ourselves. ourselves. To love love is ahead of of our our own own desires. desires. To To place place them To invest invest in in them them and and spend spend time time with with them. them. To

How could the the way way we we love love How could each other other show show we we follow follow each Jesus? Jesus?

It very different It is is a a very different message message then then culture culture is is giving. giving. Culture Culture says says you you do do you, you, get get what what is is yours, yours, live live for for yourself. yourself. Jesus Jesus tells tells us us to to love, love, put put others others above above ourselves. ourselves. So So when when we we love differently people notice. love differently people notice.

5. SPEND TIME IN APPLICATION What is the “universal truth” God wants to teach us from this passage? How can we apply the message of this passage to our daily lives?

How can can Christians Christians love love like like Jesus Jesus in in a a different different way way then then culture culture tries tries to to define define love? love? How What would would itit look look like like ifif your your small small group group loved loved each each other other like like Jesus Jesus loved loved his his disciples? disciples? What When When we we love love each each other other like like Jesus Jesus loves, loves, how how can can that that help help up up reach reach people people with with the the message message of of Jesus? Jesus? Who do do you you think think God God is is asking asking to to love love better better today? today? Who How How can can your your small small group group help help you you love love people people better? better?

6. PRAY Follow-up notes: