Fourth Sunday of Easter

 

Opening Prayer

Jesus

Lead me

Guide me

Protect me

I surrender

I hear your voice!

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Acts 2:14a, 36-41

• Peter’s advice is to repent. Knowing Peter’s story, how do these words impact you coming from him?
• Peter is calling everyone to action. What do you feel called to do after hearing his words?

 1 Peter 2:20b-45

• Jesus had no sin but suffered death to take sin away; write a prayer of thanksgiving to Jesus that your sin is wiped away through his death.
• Jesus already suffered for your sin, what sin(s) do you hold onto because you think you still need to suffer guilt and shame?

 John 10:1-10

• When you see Jesus face to face, do you think you’d have the patience to wait for the gate to be opened or would you want to jump the fence?
• If Jesus is the gate which you must enter, how does a person pass through? Give examples.

 

General Questions for Journaling

• Where do you see corruption in the world? In your community?  Within yourself?
• Share a time when you felt convicted of a wrong doing.
• Have you ever been 100% convinced of something? What was it?
• What changes in the language when one says they “were” baptized and they “are” baptized? Which are you?
• How do you repent of your sins? What are some things which help you repent?
• When did you last testify to your faith? How did you?  Explain how you felt and how others reacted.
• Describe a suffering Christian. Do you know anyone who fits the description?
• Could you hold your tongue if you were falsely accused of something? Why or why not?  Are there circumstances which you could or shouldn’t?
• How does scripture restore you? How does it heal?
• What qualities does a shepherd have which you want? How will you develop these qualities?

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Lord, you refresh my soul

ALL:  and give me all that I need.

Leader:  Lord, you guide my path

ALL:  and give me all that I need.

Leader:  Lord, you walk beside me

 ALL:  and give me all that I need.

Leader:  Lord, you protect me from harm

ALL:  and give me all that I need.

Leader:  Lord, you wrap me in mercy

ALL:  and give me all that I need.

Leader:  Lord, you are my Shepherd

ALL:  and you give me all that I need.

 

Challenge for the Week:  How well do you know God?  What does Jesus’ voice sound like?  Can you feel the Holy Spirit guide you?  Take time this week to think about the people whom you spend the most time.  How well do they know you?  How well do you know them?  Would you recognize their voice?  What if they tried to disguise it, do you know them well enough to know it is someone you trust?  This kind of trust only comes from knowing the person intimately, deeply.  Jesus already knows you better than anyone else; it’s your turn.

OR

Imagine you take your child to Disney on Ice.  There are hundreds, thousands of people, parents and their kids as far as you can see.  You can hear the families talking, the kids crying and calling out to their mom and dad.  How are you able to tell when your child calls out to you?  What is your response when you hear their voice?  You don’t turn around each time you hear a child call “MOM” or “DAD”, rather, you turn around only when you hear your own child’s voice.  It is a voice which you are familiar with, you know it no matter what because of the intimate relationship you have.  This is the same with your relationship with Jesus.  When you know Jesus, really know Him and spend time with Him, you know His voice above any other.  What can you do to hear Jesus more clearly?