Small Group Notes for 31st May 2026
N.B. Sermon can be heard via our website and YouTube channel and the Paper Service version is on our website: https://parishofmedsteadandfourmarks.co.uk/online-church/paper-services/
Read: John 17:20-23 – if possible in two different versions (NIV and NLT)
- Which version helped your understanding most, and what jumped out at you as you read the passages, and why?
In today's Gospel reading, Jesus not only prays for his disciples but also for those who will believe through their message, this includes us and those who told us. A couple of chapters later, he commissions them, sending them out in the power of the Spirit. (John 20:21-22) And then in Acts 2 we see the early church commissioned at Pentecost.
God positioned and equipped the first disciples to share their testimony (Acts 2 and throughout Paul's letters). He has positioned us and promises to equip us to share our testimony, our experience of God, and our life with Jesus with those around us in our daily lives.
- How does it make you feel to hear that God has positioned you to tell others?
(excited, confident, apprehensive, overwhelmed or other?)
On Sunday, Jane talked about doing as Jesus did with his disciples, sharing his life, creating windows into what living a life of faith looks like (see also Matthew 5, the Sermon on the Mount). And how Jesus used stories, familiar contexts (farming, vineyards, sheep, fishing, and riches) to frame and help those listening understand who God is. Take time to share in your group one or more of the following:
- What has helped you on your faith journey? Did anyone create a window for you to see their life of faith, or frame something that helped your understanding of God or the bible?
- Times when you have been able to create a window, allowing others to see what living of faith looks like for you.
or
- Times when have you been able to frame discussions or situations to help someone better understand who God is, or to unwind or clarify any misunderstandings or misconceptions about God or the Bible.
Creating windows, framing and unwinding are three of the tools we use in family ministry, developed by Parenting for Faith; they are equally effective when applied to discipleship for faith. However, if these tools don't suit your group, feel free to develop your own "toolbox" using language that resonates with you.
On Sunday, Jane used LEGO bricks to demonstrate that we are all different but all designed to be connected and to be kingdom builders.
Take time now in prayer together, asking God who He is positioning you to share with this week, whom to pray for, whom to meet with, and whom to tell and then invite the Holy Spirit to equip each of you and wait- (an appropriate time for your group).
- If appropriate, share any thoughts, pictures, words, or names revealed to you in this time of waiting on the Holy Spirit.
Note:
A fourth tool in the Parenting for Faith toolbox is called ‘surfing the waves’, so if you didn’t get through all the questions but were led elsewhere in discussions, then you have surfed a wave of interest as we travel this discipleship for faith journey together- equipping and encouraging each other as we go.
You can find out more about these tools here: https://www.parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk/tools/