Discussion Guide: For the Love Week 6

Ice Breaker

One of the things we value within community is fun. In the midst of all the pressures life throws at us, it is our ability to laugh, play and celebrate together that reminds us we serve a good, loving, and resurrected Lord who stands above it all. So, we want to take the first few minutes of our time together to play, have fun, and celebrate the fact that we belong to Jesus.

Today’s Ice Breaker: Art Effects

In this game, your group will give keywords to convey items to their partner to create an art masterpiece.  The goal is for your team’s drawer to draw the item being described as accurately as possible. You will need one person standing as Judge who will determine which drawing most accurately reflects the item they were given. 

What You Will Need:

  • Paper
  • A surface to draw on
  • Pencils
  • Erasers

How to Play:

  • Divide the group up into two equal groups and have each group determine who the drawer will be. This person can change from one round to the next.
  • You will give each team a list of 5 items that their drawer will be trying to illustrate. Each team should have different items on their lists as they will be drawing at the same time and you don’t want one team to draw based on the clues of the other team.
  • For each round, the drawer will sit their his/her back to the rest of their group with paper and pencil in front of them. When you say, “go” each team will begin describing the first item to their drawer without telling the drawer what the item is. They can only use descriptives.
  • Each round will last 60 seconds. At the end of the 60 seconds, the drawers must put down their pencils and submit their artwork. The Judge will then determine whose illustration most accurately depicts the item that was being described. The winning team receives 1 point.
  • After 5 rounds the team with the highest score wins.

Today’s Discussion

This week we continue our series that will take us into the Fall titled For the Love. We will be walking through the Gospel of John and seeing God’s love as revealed through the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Christ. We will see that love may not always look and feel the way we think it should, but that if we will allow God’s love to reveal itself to us then our lives will never be the same. 

Discussion Questions

How would you define love? Give some examples of what you think love looks like.

 

Preguntas en Español

¿Cómo definirías el amor? Da algunos ejemplos de cómo crees que es el amor.

C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

“The problem of reconciling human suffering with the existence of a God who loves is only insoluble so long as we attach a trivial meaning to the word “love”, and look on things as if man were the center of them. Man is not the center. God does not exist for the sake of man. Man does not exist for his own sake. “Thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure, they are and were created (Rev. 4;11).” We were made not primarily that we may love God (though we were made for that too) but that God may love us, that we may become objects in which the divine love may rest “well pleased.”

Has there ever been a time in your life where someone’s love for you didn’t feel very “loving,” but looking back now you realize it was exactly what you needed? 

How has that realization shaped, or maybe even altered, the way you see and feel about that person?

Has God ever allowed you to go through something that would fit that description?

How does knowing Jesus already took our ultimate suffering upon Himself help us see and feel rightly about God when it feels like his love is not very loving?

Preguntas en Español

C.S. Lewis, El problema del dolor

“El problema de reconciliar el sufrimiento humano con la existencia de un Dios que ama es insoluble solo mientras atribuyamos un significado trivial a la palabra” amor “, y veamos las cosas como si el hombre fuera el centro de ellas. El hombre no es el centro. Dios no existe por el bien del hombre. El hombre no existe por su propio bien. “Tú has creado todas las cosas, y para tu placer, ellas son y fueron creadas” (Apocalipsis 4; 11). “Fuimos hechos principalmente para que no amemos a Dios (aunque también fuimos hechos para eso) pero que Dios puede amar nosotros, para que podamos convertirnos en objetos en los que el amor divino pueda descansar “bien complacido”.

¿Alguna vez hubo un momento en su vida en que el amor de alguien por usted no se sintiera muy “cariñoso”, pero mirando hacia atrás, ahora se da cuenta de que era exactamente lo que necesitaba?

¿Cómo se ha formado, o tal vez alterado, esa forma de ver y sentir a esa persona?

¿Alguna vez Dios te ha permitido pasar por algo que se ajuste a esa descripción?

¿De qué manera el conocer a Jesús ya tomó nuestro sufrimiento final sobre Él mismo nos ayuda a ver y sentir correctamente acerca de Dios cuando siente que su amor no es muy amoroso?

John 15:1-2

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

Romans 8:28-30

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

What does the Bible say is God’s ultimate desire or purpose for our lives?

Preguntas en Español

Juan 15:1-2

“Yo soy la vid verdadera, y Mi Padre es el viñador. 2Todo sarmiento que en Mí no da fruto, lo quita; y todo el que da fruto, lo poda para que dé más fruto.

Romanos 8:28-30

Y sabemos que para los que aman a Dios, todas las cosas cooperan para bien, esto es, para los que son llamados conforme a Su propósito. 29Porque a los que de antemano conoció, también los predestinó a ser hechos conforme a la imagen de Su Hijo, para que El sea el primogénito entre muchos hermanos. 30A los que predestinó, a ésos también llamó. A los que llamó, a ésos también justificó. A los que justificó, a ésos también glorificó.

¿Qué dice la Biblia es el último deseo o propósito de Dios para nuestras vidas?

Leader Notes

Genesis 1 tells us that our original design is to be God’s image-bearers, to act like an angled mirror reflecting God’s heart and character out into the rest of creation while simultaneously reflecting the praise of creation back to God through worship. Paul, here in Romans 8, is further describing that design as being, “conformed to the image of Christ.” Here’s why that makes sense. Jesus was the perfect image-bearer. He reflected the heart and character of the Father out into the world with 100% accuracy. Jesus did what Adam failed to do. He did what Noah failed to do. He did what Israel failed to do. He did what we have all failed to do, and that is fulfilling the design of bearing God’s image, of stewarding over creation in a way that honors who God is. As you (community group leaders) move on in this discussion try to bring the conversation back to this point whenever you can. As we talk about the pruning and the pain God brings to, or allows in, our lives we must help others understand how those circumstances connect us to the heart of God and shape us into the image of Christ, the perfect image bearer. If we are to be conformed to the image of a Savior who is humble, sacrificial, content, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, disciplined, etc. then we must learn to see how the pruning and pain in our lives is being used by God to build those things into us as His people.

NOTAS EN ESPAÑOL

Génesis 1 nos dice que nuestro diseño original es ser los portadores de la imagen de Dios, actuar como un espejo anguloso que refleja el corazón y el carácter de Dios en el resto de la creación mientras simultáneamente refleja la alabanza de la creación a Dios a través de la adoración. Pablo, aquí en Romanos 8, está describiendo más detalladamente ese diseño como “conformado a la imagen de Cristo”. He aquí por qué tiene sentido. Jesús fue el portador de la imagen perfecto. Reflejó el corazón y el carácter del Padre en el mundo con una precisión del 100%. Jesús hizo lo que Adán no hizo. Él hizo lo que Noé no hizo. Hizo lo que Israel no pudo hacer. Hizo lo que todos hemos fallado en hacer, y eso es cumplir el diseño de llevar la imagen de Dios, de corresponsabilizar a la creación de una manera que honre quién es Dios. A medida que usted (los líderes del grupo de la comunidad) avance en esta discusión, intente llevar la conversación de vuelta a este punto cada vez que pueda. A medida que hablamos de la poda y el dolor que Dios trae o permite en nuestras vidas, debemos ayudar a otros a entender cómo esas circunstancias nos conectan con el corazón de Dios y nos dan forma a la imagen de Cristo, el portador de la imagen perfecta. Si queremos ser conformados a la imagen de un Salvador que es humilde, sacrificatario, contento, pacífico, paciente, amable, bueno, fiel, disciplinado, etc., entonces debemos aprender a ver cómo está siendo la poda y el dolor en nuestras vidas. usado por Dios para construir esas cosas en nosotros como su pueblo.

If you were left to your own choices and desires, do you think you would achieve that purpose on your own?

How does/has God “prune(d)” your life to help you produce the fruit He desires your life to produce? What “fruit” have you seen result from that pruning?

Preguntas en Español

Si te dejaran a tus propias elecciones y deseos, ¿crees que conseguirías ese propósito por ti mismo?

¿Cómo / Dios ha “podado” tu vida para ayudarte a producir la fruta que Él desea que produzca tu vida? ¿Qué “fruta” has visto como resultado de esa poda?

John 17:1-3

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said,”Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

What does it mean to “know” God?

Why do you think Jesus says that is what eternal life is all about?

How does the pain and pruning of our lives help us to “know” God?

Preguntas en Español

Juan 17:1-3

Estas cosas habló Jesús, y alzando los ojos al cielo, dijo: “Padre, la hora ha llegado; glorifica a Tu Hijo, para que el Hijo Te glorifique a Ti, 2por cuanto Le diste autoridad sobre todo ser humano, para que El dé vida eterna a todos los que Le has dado. 3Y ésta es la vida eterna: que Te conozcan a Ti, el único Dios verdadero, y a Jesucristo, a quien has enviado.

¿Qué significa “conocer” a Dios?

¿Por qué crees que Jesús dice que de eso se trata la vida eterna?

¿Cómo nos ayuda el dolor y la poda de nuestras vidas a “conocer” a Dios?

Leader Notes

The word used for ‘know’ in the Greek is the word ginōskō. In the Greek it means to know someone on a deep and intimate level. It is a word that can also be translated as ‘to have sexual intercourse.’ In other words, it doesn’t just mean to know about someone or even to know someone on a casual or surface level. It is a word that means you know someone in the most intimate way possible, physically, emotionally, spiritually, and psychologically. This is the same word used in Matthew 7 when Jesus says, “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'”

Jesus is saying that knowing about Him, or even knowing the power that comes in His name, is not the same as knowing (ginōskō) Him. He is saying if your heart doesn’t belong to Him, if you have not given all of yourself, in every aspect, to Him then you don’t truly ginōskō Him. Therefore, to “know” God is to both know Him and to be known by Him to the very depth of your soul. It means you are holding nothing back from Him. It means you have committed yourself to Him in a covenant relationship initiated by His love and sacrifice on your behalf. To ‘know’ God is to be completely vulnerable in His presence and to rest in that place of security.

The reason Jesus says this is eternal life is that, and again we go back to our original design, we were made to reflect who He is to the rest of creation. If that is the purpose of our lives then we are never more fully human, or more fully alive, than when we are walking in that purpose. And, if that is our design prior to sin and death entering the equation, then that means it will be our purpose and design long after sin and death are dealt their final blow when Christ returns. Meaning, for all of eternity we will be living out that purpose of bearing God’s image, and the only way we can accurately bear His image is if we are walking in deep, intimate, ginōskō relationship with him. So, this is eternal life, that we might know God, and Jesus Christ, the perfect image bearer, whom God has sent.

NOTAS EN ESPAÑOL

La palabra usada para “saber” en griego es la palabra ginōskō. En griego, significa conocer a alguien en un nivel profundo e íntimo. Es una palabra que también puede traducirse como “tener relaciones sexuales”. En otras palabras, no solo significa conocer a alguien o incluso conocer a alguien de forma casual o superficial. Es una palabra que significa que conoces a alguien de la manera más íntima posible, física, emocional, espiritual y psicológicamente. Esta es la misma palabra usada en Mateo 7 cuando Jesús dice: “Muchos me dirán en aquel día: Señor, Señor, ¿no profetizamos en tu nombre, y en tu nombre echamos fuera demonios, y en tu nombre hicimos muchos milagros? Y luego les declararé:’ Nunca los conocí; apartaos de mí, obreros de la anarquía ‘”.

Jesús está diciendo que saber acerca de Él, o incluso conocer el poder que viene en Su nombre, no es lo mismo que conocerlo (ginōskō). Él está diciendo que si tu corazón no le pertenece a Él, si no te has entregado a ti en todos los aspectos, a Él, entonces no lo ginōskō verdaderamente. Por lo tanto, “conocer” a Dios es tanto conocerlo como ser conocido por Él hasta lo más profundo de su alma. Significa que no estás ocultando nada de Él. Significa que te has comprometido con Él en una relación de pacto iniciada por su amor y sacrificio en tu nombre. Para ‘saber’ Dios es ser completamente vulnerable en su presencia y descansar en ese lugar de seguridad.

La razón por la que Jesús dice que esto es la vida eterna es eso, y volvemos a nuestro diseño original, fuimos hechos para reflejar quién es Él para el resto de la creación. Si ese es el propósito de nuestras vidas, entonces nunca somos más plenamente humanos o más plenamente vivos que cuando caminamos con ese propósito. Y, si ese es nuestro diseño antes de que el pecado y la muerte entren en la ecuación, entonces eso significa que será nuestro propósito y diseño mucho después de que el pecado y la muerte reciban su golpe final cuando Cristo regrese. Es decir, por toda la eternidad estaremos viviendo ese propósito de llevar la imagen de Dios, y la única forma en que podemos soportar su imagen con precisión es si estamos caminando en una relación profunda, íntima y ginōskō con El. Entonces, esta es la vida eterna, para que podamos conocer a Dios, y a Jesucristo, el portador de la imagen perfecta, a quien Dios ha enviado.

Closing Thought

How does the love of God, as seen and experienced through Christ, empower us to go deeper and abide in God’s love despite our circumstances?

Preguntas en Español

Pensamiento Final

¿De qué manera el amor de Dios, visto y experimentado a través de Cristo, nos capacita para profundizar y permanecer en el amor de Dios a pesar de nuestras circunstancias?



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