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SYNOPSIS OF THE SERMON
The book of Galatians, in the simplest sense, is Paul’s passionate plea to the new Christians in Galatia to not abandon the gospel that he preached to them. And the way he goes about doing this is not through subversive marketing or manipulation, but he appeals to the power of his personal relationship with them and to the power of the scriptures.
GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED
These questions can be used as ice-breakers in the beginning OR interwoven between the questions below to draw the group into the discussion.
1. What are some of your favorite TV commercials? Why do you like them? What is the effect that these commercials have on you? How do they make you feel?
2. Who are the people in your life that have had the most influence on you? Why is that the case? 3. Why do you think that suffering and sacrifice leave such a strong impression on people?
4. What are some things that you do or say when you want to persuade someone to stop a destructive behavior? What has worked? What hasn’t worked? Why might that be?
5. When you have received correction about something that need to change in your life, what are the things that have persuaded you?
INTERACTING WITH THE SERMON
1. Briefly give a synopsis of this week’s sermon. What insight, principle, or observation from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Briefly explain.
2. Read John 13:1-17
1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” 10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. 12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.• What is the setting of this passage? (vv. 1-2)
• What do we know about the intentions of Judas at this point? (v. 2) Does Jesus know this? (see v. 11, also v. 26) But what else does Jesus know? (v. 3)
• What does Jesus begin to do in verse 4?
• How does Peter respond to Jesus’ washing his feet? (vv. 6-9) How do you think you would have responded if you were in Peter's position?
• What do you think Jesus meant when he says, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand”? (v. 7)
• What do you think Jesus felt as he was washing the feet of Judas? What might Judas have felt seeing Jesus kneeling down to wash his feet?
• Why do you think is the meaning behind Jesus washing his disciples’ feet? (vv. 12-17)
• What are some ways that we can follow the example Jesus set for us in this passage?
• What can we learn from this passage about the God that we worship?
3. Rich shared the following quote in his sermon: “Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.”
• What is this statement implying? Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?
• Why do you think it is so important for people to know that you care? Have you experienced this in your own life?
• What are some ways that you can live this out in the church, your small group, or in your neighborhood?
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