Life Groups // Fall 2020 // Week 8
Posted October 31, 2020 — Lincoln Berean
It is Finished // John 19:17-30
Introduction
This week, we see Jesus do what he came to do. We see Him submit to the cross. He did this with us in mind, and we’ve seen what it cost Him.
Take some time to think about the entire crucifixion story as you go over this week’s questions.
We don’t provide a lot of space for your answers to these questions, so we suggest having a journal handy to write down your thoughts. You’re not expected to have time for all these questions during your online meeting, but we encourage you to reflect on them and jot down thoughts on your own.
Getting to Know Each Other (Suggested time: 30 min)
Begin your group time by learning more about each other. Open up and have some fun! Here are some suggestions to get your conversation started:
- What’s your favorite cold-weather activity?
- What is your favorite cold-weather food/meal/snack/drink?
Getting Started
Begin to transition into group discussion.
1) Open group discussion with prayer. Here are a few potential prayer items:
- For the Spirit of God to lead you in truth
- For openness to what you’re learning together
- For friendships to deepen and grow
2) Invite someone (or a couple of people) to read John 19:17-30 to the group.
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Study Questions (Suggested time: 40 min)
Please complete these questions prior to your group’s meeting time.
1) John reminds us many times that these events are the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. In fact, God’s redemptive plan was even foreshadowed in the Passover, the festival happening at this time.
Read Exodus 12: 5-7, 12-14, 17.
- What similarities do you see between the first Passover and the crucifixion of Jesus?
- Often, we tend to think of the Bible as a bunch of little stories broken up across many books. How can viewing the Bible as a single story deepen your faith and appreciation for God’s redemptive plan through Jesus?
- The Jews were experts when it came to the scriptures. Why do you think they missed the fulfillment of those scriptures through Jesus?
2) Knowing the pain and shame inflicted on Jesus at the crucifixion, the conversation we see in v25-27 is a little surprising.
- At this moment, we would expect to see Jesus weakened by what has been done to him and what was still yet to come. However, we see His heart shining through. What does this conversation reveal about Jesus?
- Sometimes, it’s hard to love others, especially when we’re tired, angry, afraid, or in pain. Although we can’t do anything to add to the completed work of Jesus, we should all aspire to be like Jesus in these moments. Why should we love others, even when we don’t feel like it or when it comes at personal cost?
3) The Jewish officials were notorious for adding to the law (like not going into Pilate’s home for fear of defilement) and wrongly applying it (when they didn’t want Jesus to heal on the Sabbath). However, when Jesus said, “It is finished,” he was using the Greek word tetelestai. It’s a word that means paid in full. Even though Jesus says the work is finished, we sometimes struggle to believe His work is final.
- What is finished?
- For you personally, why does it matter that the work is finished?
- Sometimes we believe our sins are too great. Sometimes we fear God only sees our failures. What lies do you believe about yourself? What keeps you from remembering your debts have been paid in full?
- On the other end of the spectrum, we can also be like the Pharisees. We see ourselves as better than others and think we can earn favor with God. How can we have more compassion for those we might see as sinners, misfits, and losers?
4) In the service this week, Pastor Bryan provided some time for us to look back—both through our study of John and our lives. John wrote this book so that we might believe, and he has provided us many opportunities to reflect on the life and work of Jesus.
- What did you reflect upon during this time? What parts of this study have impacted you personally?
- We have talked many times about how the church is more than a building, and we’ve talked about how the church is a family. How does sharing in the lives of other believer’s help deepen your own faith?
If you would like to learn more about opportunities to witness or participate in God’s kingdom in Lincoln and around the world, contact outreach@lincolnberean.org or checkout this Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/lincolnbereanlocal
Group Prayer (Suggested time: 10 min)
In what ways would you like to see God work in your life this week? Do you want His peace, protection, healing, or hope? Or do you want to see Him act in a specific way?
If you’re not in the practice of doing so already, over the next seven days, try to commit yourself to daily prayer on behalf of your Life Group.
- Before Group: Think of a prayer request—something that will be relevant for the next seven days.
- At Group: Share that request with your Life Group. Write down the other prayer requests shared.
- After Group: For the next seven days, try praying daily for the other requests shared in your group.