Life Group – John Sermon Series

November 21, 2021

John 10:1-21 // Paul Gazdik

  • Read John 10:14-21 meditatively in several translations.
  • If there was one door you wish you could open today, what would it be and why?
  • Reread verse 10. Paint a picture of what you think Jesus meant by “have life, and have it to the full?”
  • With verse 16 in mind, how have you heard the voice of God calling you in the past? In the present?
  • There are so many voices in this world calling us to walk through this or that door. How do you sort through the voices? What helps you to her the voice of Jesus?
  • Pray through Psalm 23 with your city, your church, and your life in mind.

November 14, 2021

Blind Doubt // John 9 // Paul Gazdik

  • Reread John 9 taking time to picture the scene and experience the tensions.
  • How has God used difficult circumstances in your life for his glory?
  • In what ways has God opened your eyes?
  • What does it cost to follow Jesus today?
  • Pray asking the Holy Spirit to reveal one way you can follow Jesus this week and for strength to do it no matter the cost.

November 7, 2021

Hard to Swallow // John 8:48-48 // Ryan Farrell

  • Reread John 8:48-58 and read Exodus 3:1-15 and Leviticus 24:13-15. Why did the Judeans want to stone Jesus? 
  • What are some of the common reasons people give for believing that Jesus is a good guy vs. God? Why was this, and is this, continually a hard truth to swallow?
  • What good reasons do we have to conclude that Jesus is God?
  • What is the difference between liking Jesus and worshipping Jesus?
  • In what ways can the God-ness of Jesus be medicinal in your life today?
  • Pray specifically and directly to Jesus. Use his name. Tell him the areas of his teachings that you are struggling with and ask him to empower you as you follow him.

Further Read

October 31, 2021

Reality Check // John 8:31-47 // Paul Gazdik

Reread John 8:31-47.

  • How did Sunday’s message change or challenge your perception of  freedom or what it means to be good?
  • What’s easier for you to accept, Jesus’ definition of freedom (vv 31-32) or his definition of sin (v 34)? Why?

Read Philippians 3:4b-14.

  • How does Paul’s vision of freedom and good compare to Jesus’ teaching in John 8:31-47?
  • How does Phil 3:4b-14 help us understand what following Jesus looks like practically?

What is God prompting you to surrender to today for the sake of following Jesus?

October 24, 2021

Controversy Sunday // John 8:1-11

ON THE ROAD:

How did the Holy Spirit instruct, correct, or encourage you this Sunday?

What follow up action is God calling you to? For example:

  • Pray and think through Halloween for you or your family.
  • Check out the resources and work through the reliability of the Bible.
  • Work through the Steps to Freedom in Christ (Contact: office@baypark.ca)

RESOURCES:
https://www.rightnowmedia.org/content/series/351336
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X5CzmxuDTs

October 17, 2021
Hills to Die On // John 7:1-52 // Paul Gazdik

ON THE ROAD:

Read John 7:1-52

What message is God trying to get through to you?

How does Jesus’ life inspire you to change the way you go about yours?

Memorize John 15:13 and apply it to the conflicts you face.

October 10, 2021

We All Hunger…and Grumble // John 6:41-71 // Paul Gazdik

ON THE ROAD:
Read and pray through John 6:60-69. What teachings of Jesus are most difficult or offensive to you and why? Using the disciples words (vv 68-69) bring these struggles to God praying that the Holy Spirit would give greater understanding and surrender.

October 3, 2021
All Hunger // John 6:25-40 // Ryan Farrell

Key idea: Jesus feeds our souls.

Key verse: “I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me will never go hungry” John 6:35.

Application Point: The Spirit uses our soul’s hunger to fill us up with Christ. The hunger of our community around us is an opportunity to share Christ.

March 14, 2021
Sometimes the Answer is No (John 6:16-27) – Ryan Farrell

3 Questions to Explore

  • How did you do on last week’s challenge? (Meditate on Psalm 34 daily this week using it as a guide for praise and surrender.)
  • Where have you received a No from God in the past and, in hindsight, you are thankful for this answer?
  • In what area of your life–in what expectation, cry or need–would you most dread a No from God?

2 Prayer Prompts

  • God, here are some of the “Yeses” we receive in Jesus, for which we’re thankful…
  • (Open) God, here is my will, here is what I want … (Close) But your will be done, not mine, O God.

1 Action Item

  • Examine some of your current unanswered prayers. Consider that God might be saying No. How could this be a gift? What might be the greater Yes?

March 7, 2021
Authority (John 6:1-15)

3 Questions to Explore

  • How did last week’s action challenge go and what did you learn? (Invite God to do a work of life by praying through a different verse of Colossians 1:15-23 each day.)
  • Quote: “The gospel is not a way to heaven, it’s a way to God. Seek God not the gifts he graciously gives because God himself is what we need most.” Thoughts?
  • Read Matthew 6:5-15 and think through how Jesus’ prayer models true worship that leads to growing surrender.

2 Prayer Prompts

  • Think through the various attributes of God (all-powerful, all-knowing, just, loving, etc.) and praise God for who he is.
  • Think through this last year of Covid and thank God for how he has been present in big and small ways.

1 Action

  • Meditate on Psalm 34 daily this week using it as a guide for praise and surrender.

Feb 28, 2021
Whose Authority? (John 5:16-30)

3 Questions to Explore

  • How did last week’s action challenge go and what did you learn? (What is one chronic worry you have?  Pray to Jesus in surrender every time the worry pops up. In other words: let the worry be a reminder to pray!)
  • Can you remember what human reactions are often the sign of a cherished idol or stronghold? What other reactions would you add to the list? 
  • Read Colossians 1:15-23. What do we learn about Jesus’ authority and how he uses it? How might this passage help us as we wrestle with idols and strongholds? 

2 Prayer Prompts

  • Pick one verse from Colossians 1:15-20 and use it to worship God.
  • Pick one verse from Colossians 1:21-23 and ask God to search and convict you.

1 Action

  • Invite God to do a work of life by praying through a different verse of Colossians 1:15-23 each day this week. It’s a good idea to also journal what God is saying to you.

Feb 21, 2021
Powerlessness (John 4:46-5:15)

3 Questions to Explore

  • How did last week’s action challenge go and what did you learn?
  • Jen Wilkins says, God never will declare his need for us. It is for us to say, “I need thee every hour.” It is for him to say, “I Am.” Why is it so difficult to move away from self-sufficiency and self-reliance? Where is the temptation strongest for you? 
  • Read Acts 17:24-25. What difference can God’s all-powerful nature make in our lives? How does this verse impact your posture and attitude toward Covid?

2 Prayer Prompts

  • God you know we rely on ourselves for . . . 
  • God we praise you because you are all powerful. We see that in . . .

1 Action

  • What is one chronic worry you have?  Pray to Jesus in surrender every time the worry pops up. In other words: let the worry be a reminder to pray!

Feb 14, 2021
Family 101 (Matthew 19:1-9)

3 Questions to Explore

  • How did last week’s action challenge go and what did you learn?
  • How would you describe the differences between a contract vs a covenant? Which one most reflects your view of family including church?
  • Read Ephesians 5:21-6:9. With the context of the time in mind (ie arranged marriages, legality of slavery) how did living in light of God’s covenant shape family and church relationships? How does this passage still apply today?

2 Prayer Prompts

  • Father God I praise you for your covenant keeping love and how . . . 
  • Spirit give me strength to love as you love, especially in . . .

1 Action

  • Find at least 1 way to serve your family or church with a covenant mindset this week.

Feb 7, 2021
Afraid of Rejection (John 4:27-42)

3 Questions to Explore

  • How did last week’s action challenge go and what did you learn? [30 minute confession meeting time with God to work through Psalm 32 & 51].
  • Ryan said there are two main reasons we do not evangelize: (1) We don’t really believe Jesus is Good News; or, (2) We are afraid of the rejection of others. Do you agree or disagree? What might be some other reasons?
  • What most surprises you about the Samaritan woman’s transformation? What transformation would you like to see in your own life?

2 Prayer Prompts

  • Jesus, this is what scares me most about sharing the Good News with others…
  • Spirit of God, who do you want me to share the Good News with this week?

1 Action

  • Write your two sentence testimony and share it with someone who is not a follower of Jesus. If you’re afraid that’s good!

Jan 31, 2021
The Honesty Factor (John 4: 3-26)

3 Questions to Explore

  • How did last weeks action challenge go and what did you learn?
  • Read Luke 18:9-14 & 1 John 1:5-10. What do we learn about God and ourselves from these passages?
  • What role has confession played in your spiritual journey so far? What role do you want it to play going forward?

2 Prayer Prompts

  • Thank you God for the grace and forgiveness you keep powering out over our sins of . . . .
  • Holy Spirit show us what it looks like to be more like the tax collector than the Pharisee.

1 Action

  • Set aside a 30 minute meeting time with God this week and then with pen and paper in hand work through Psalm 32 & 51 with the Holy Spirit as your guide.

Week of March 15, 2020
John 4:3-26
John Series – Participant’s Guide

Week of March 8, 2020
John 3:22-36
John Series – Participant’s Guide
John Series – Leader’s Guide

Week of March 1, 2020
John 3:1-16
John Series – Participant’s Guide
John Series – Leader’s Guide

Week of February 23, 2020
John 2:13-25
John Series – Participant’s Guide
John Series – Leader’s Guide 

Week of February 16, 2020
John 2:1-12
John Series – Participant’s Guide
John Series – Leader’s Guide

Week of February 9, 2020
John 1:35-51
John Series – Participants Guide
John Series – Leader’s Guide