Small Group Notes

Small Group notes for 24th November - (For Notes for the week beginning 17th November, please scroll down)

Stories of the King | Partying

Read Matthew 22:1-14

‘The Kingdom of Heaven is like’ there’s a party beginning. We are all invited (:14). The pre-invitations and then actual invitations have been issued (See Romans 1:20; 2:14-15 and Hebrews 1:1-2). But some people are rejecting the invitation. The party is a no-expense, mind-blowing, out-of-this-world experience. The food is heavenly, prepared by the greatest chef and yet for some reason, the honoured guests are absurdly satisfying themselves with their own menus, too busy with their own tiny worlds, little DIY projects, and petty excitements (See Matthew 13:20-23), not realising that the greatest adventure with the most spectacular of favours and gifts awaits (1 Corinthians 2:9). However, the marginal people, the ones who recognise their poverty in the face of such grace (Matthew 5:3,5 & :6) who, change into their party clothes (Romans 13:14 & Galatians 3:27) and pile into the party.

Continuing the parable analogy, we are the servants inviting others in.

- Who will we invite to the Christmas events this year? It may be best to identify, just one or two people, and a specific event you’d like them to come to. Get the whole group to pray for you – now, and over the coming days, and give feedback over the next few weeks.

- Also be aware of our next Alpha starting on the 13^th January.

- How would we begin to describe the wonder that awaits us through Jesus (1 Corinthians 2:9 & Revelation 21:18)?

- How can we avoid being distracted/seduced by the pathetic in comparison material pleasures of this age risking our salvation (Matthew 13:22, John 3:18-21, 2 Corinthians 4:4, James 4:1-4)?

- How might we share the challenging reality of hell?

It’s not clear in the story if the clothes are provided (see this practice in the story of Samson Judges 14:10-13) or they had to provide their own. The fact is a change is required and some people are not prepared to make this change (Matthew 16:24-26, Romans 13:14 & Galatians 2:20 & 3:27).

- How changed are we and what might still need changing?

- And how do we change more this week?

Small Group notes for 17th November

Stories of the King | Owning

Read Matthew 21 v 33-46

You might also like to read Luke 12 v 1-12 and Mark 12 v 9-19

Jesus is in Jerusalem on the run up to the Passover and he knows what he is faced with. As we look at his actions can we say how he was feeling and how this influenced his actions?

Why do you think the tenants behaved the way they did? Did none of them think ‘This is wrong’

Think about the prophets you read about in the OT. What do you know about their lives and how they were treated when they brought the word of God to the people, in particular the leaders in society? How do you think you would respond if you believe God was asking you to speak his words to those in authority?

What do you think the ‘wretched end’ was? What fate befell these bad tenants?

Share your thoughts about being the new people of God along with those Jews (the disciples were all Jews) who followed Jesus

How are we (are you) being faithful to our God?

How do you feel when you are faced with the list of the Fruit of the Spirit? Pray that you would show this fruit in all your relationships. Not simply to those you like.