Jesus' Greatest Promise for You - John 15

 

Study Guide for Week of August 11, 2024

This Week's Scripture: John 15:1-17 

Crossroads Community Group Guide

A. Welcome: Welcome everyone, especially new people, and read aloud the purpose of your group.

B. Purpose: Our purpose is to spread the Kingdom of God. We do this by multiplying groups of people who care for each as God's family. We begin by inviting new people to our group and building them to be followers of Jesus. Each person here has the potential to be empowered to start and be the leader of a new group and spread God's kingdom.

C. Worship Time (Optional): Spend a few minutes singing a worship song. Here is one you may want to use: I I Give You My Heart (or pick your own YouTube video that shows the lyrics.)

D. Video Message                                                                  

       

E. Upcoming Events: Crossroads Website        

F. Review:

1. How did you do with what you want to apply from last week?
2. Who did you invite to the group for this week?

G. Opening Question (an icebreaker - a simple question to introduce the main theme):

• Why is it hard to change bad habits in our lives? Why is it hard to forgive people? 

H. Background Information for this study: 

In John chapters 15 Jesus is giving His last instruction to His disciples before He returns to heaven. He is going to leave them the task of building and spreading the Kingdom of God. He has promised them the Holy Spirit as their guide and teacher who will be in them and with them. He has told them He is the only door and that obedience to His commands is an expression of love (Chapter 14)

Now in chapter 15 Jesus tells them the source of power to do what he has asked them to do. There are 3 key concepts in these verses: 1: Humility - recognizing they can do nothing without Him. Everything starts with humility. 2. Remaining in Him. Being connected to Him is the key to the power to acomplish the task they are given. Make this practical. What do we do to be connected, to abide, to remain in Jesus. There are 4 basic regular practices: a. Worship service attendance; b. Daily bible reading and prayer alone with Jesus; c. serving - being on mission doing ministry d. being part of a small group weekly. 

3. Promise  - Jesus promises that we will bear good fruit. Fruit is our charachter and purpose. We will reflect the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) in our character  and the purpose of Jesus in our lives - Making disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). 

First Section: John 15:1-4. The example Jesus uses to describe our life and ministry source.

Second Section: John 15:5-8. The promise and condition for a frutful life.

Third Section: John 15: 9-17. The fruit of love.

In this study be sure to make a practical application to each section. Make application to your life including what you will do to tell other people the message.

J. Word: Read the scriptures above by section. Read it in smaller portions aloud together several times. (The goal is for everyone to understand the Bible story or verses by retelling them in their own words; keep at it until everyone knows the story or verses.)

1. What key (important) words do you see in these verses?

2. Tell in your own words what happens in these verses.

3. What are the details?

4. What jumps out at you and catches your attention?

5. What details can you add to what others in the group have said?

K. Discuss the following general questions together. (The goal is to use these general questions to guide a discussion. The leader should not speak for more than 30% of the time; let the group discover what God is saying to them.)

1. What catches your attention in these verses?

2. What new thing did you discover in the story or verses that you did not know before?

3. What did you learn about God (Father, Jesus or Holy Spirit) from the story?

4. What do you learn about people from the story?

5. What important lessons for us do you see in this story?

 
L. Commitment - Obedience - Application

(This is the key - have everyone answer this question.) 

1. What specifically will you commit to apply in your life from this study? 

M. Prayer Time:  Break up into smaller groups of 3-4 - groups of the same sex           

1. Pray for your group to multiply.
2. Ask each other how you are doing spiritually.
3. Pray for the needs of the members of your group