Elie Haddad Rockford Campus May 12, 2024
The Abundant Life
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE
REMINDERS
THANK YOU LEADERS! – All this month we’re taking time to meet with and celebrate our Life Group Leaders. Thank you so much for all you do to enable our church to grow closer with the Lord. Keep up the great work!
This past week we celebrated our Life Group Leader Appreciation Gathering which was a wonderful night of food and fun. Thank you to everyone who could make it and celebrate the year that’s been and look forward to the year upcoming.
Next week (5/19) we’ll be at the Northview Campus to say a special Thank You to our leaders there. Please be sure to stop by and see Trent for a sweet treat to say a big THANKS!
TOGETHER IN LIFE
Today’s a day we pause to celebrate MOTHER’S DAY (May 12, 2024).
Take time in group to recall some highlight moments from…
- your life as a mom
- your mom
- other moms who have impacted your life
TOGETHER IN THE WORD
THIS WEEK’S KEY PASSAGE: John 10:1-18
Note: We encourage you to read the entire text together as a group out loud.
Jesus the Good Shepherd and Sheepgate
Jesus was referred to as two different roles in this passage: The Good Shepherd and The Sheepgate. The Good Shepherd representing a faithful protector and leader (contrasting Israel’s faithless priests and leaders) and the Sheepgate representing salvation, access to God, and separation of God’s unique flock.
QUESTIONS:
Where else have you seen Jesus portrayed as a Shepherd or Sheepgate in the New Testament? Think of the roles and the representing qualities.
Thinking back to last week (Love Your Enemy, Luke 6:27-36), how might this week overlap in its message?
Why is knowing, loving and following the Good Shepherd and having security behind the Sheepgate necessary to loving your neighbor?
From v9: What vision of “Abundant Life” do you think Jesus invites His sheep into? (cf Acts 12 or John 15 for context).
How does our culture tend to measure the “Abundant Life”?
How does the Good News of Jesus compare/contrast this view?
What vision of “Abundant Life” do you tend to find easier or more natural to pursue in your day-to-day life?
Theology in Times of Trouble
Pastor Haddad said that it is not surprising that we are dealing with many wars and troubles today, but that it is surprising to see how Christians are responding in these times. Elie finds it divisive and unhelpful to do theology of ideas during wartime.
QUESTIONS:
Why might it be unhelpful to do theology of these topics during wartime?
How might this distract us from the mission of Loving God and Loving Others?
Two Necessary Theologies: A Theology of Non-Violence & A Theology of Loving The Enemy
Last week, Pastor Stu Quakenbush noted that the Christian life is supposed to be shaped around the cross, not around comfort.
This week, Pastor Elie Haddad added to this by stating during wartime, people need to know and live two theologies that can be the most challenging, but do shape us around the way of Jesus:
- A Theology of Non-Violence
- A Theology of Loving Your Enemy
Coming from a man whose country is facing the daily affects of war in and around the Arab world, Haddad gives us unique insight into living this out in real time.
READ: Matthew 5:1-12 & 38-48
QUESTIONS:
What direct statements does Jesus make about those who are blessed?
Elie – referencing Glen Stassen’s work in his book “Kingdom Ethics” – believes that these statements must be read in light of Jesus’ grace, not our own performance. The beatitudes are to be read as prophetic (depending upon God’s initiating, grace-filled action for redemption), rather than as wisdom (depending upon human effort to attain, therefore “achieving” God’s blessing).
Viewing the beatitudes in this way, how might we live differently?
In what ways are we called to “participative grace” (cf Matt. 5:13-16)?
Why do theologies such as “Non-violence” and “Loving Our Enemy” come so unnaturally to us?
How does loving Jesus and trusting Him as Lord enable us to love those who wish evil upon us or block us from getting what we want?
What practical steps can be taken to love your enemy?
TOGETHER IN PRAYER + ACTION
Looking back at last week, we were challenged to see how we all were once enemies of God and separated from Him (cf Rom. 5:10). We also see that the heart of the Gospel requires followers of Jesus to do what the world sees as foolish or impossible in order to love those who do not love us (cf 2 Peter 1:3).
This week:
- Identify someone in your life in which you either have direct enmity with or that there is simply broken relationship that is partially or fully unaddressed.
- Pray at least once each day this week for that person:
- Pray for forgiveness in your heart toward them (Matt. 6:14-15)
- Pray for the eyes of your heart and theirs to be opened by the Lord (Psalm 51)
- Pray for a soft heart and willingness to move toward the other person in love (Matt. 22:36-40)
- Pray that the Lord would help you do good to this person (1 Peter 2:11-12)
- Take one step toward that person in love
Come next week prepared to share what it is like for you to do this exercise.
