Preparing for Departure
(John 16 : 5-33)
“Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.”
John 16:20
Discussion Questions
Imagine that you were at the last supper where this conversation took place. If you knew what Jesus was about to do, what would you say to the clueless disciples ahead of their grief?
Talk about the different dimensions of truth the Holy Spirit will teach the world when he comes (verses 7-11)
How do you receive these?
How does the world receive these in your experiences or from conversations with non-Christian friends?
Verses 12 to 15 talk about how the Holy Spirit will relate to us. What things does Jesus say The Spirit will do for us?
What have your experiences been of these interactions with The Spirit
OR
What are your questions about how this works?
Jesus says that we can ask things of God the Father directly in Christ’s name (verse 26-27). That has not been the case before (verse 24). Take a moment to remember what Christ did to make this and other things possible. What are you most thankful to Jesus for today?
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Verse 33)
Discuss any situations where Jesus has given you his peace in troubled times.
Talk about struggles you have to find this peace in areas of your life where its needed most.
Spiritual Practice: scripture meditation
Its been said that 90% of how the Lord will speak directly to us will be through scripture. Academic Bible study is crucial in that it helps us mine the depths of what scripture is saying. But its not the the only way to hear from God.
Scripture meditation is a way that engages our emotions and our creative imagination to open a personal encounter with the Lord in scripture, mediated by the Holy Spirit.
The “Pray-As-You-Go” App offers a slowed down guided way to experience scripture meditation and talk with Jesus about what he’s saying to you. They play music, read the scripture and ask a few questions so you can just relax and be guided along. I (mike) use this regularly and I love it.
Try the November 16th episode that invites you to imagine yourself in the story of Jesus healing a blind man on the side of the road from Luke 18:35-43.
Are you the blind man? Are you one of the people in the crowd? How do you experience Jesus’ question to the blind man “what do you want me to do for you?”
“The Christian life is not self-improvement but Christ replacement.”
— Alan Redpath