Fourth Sunday of Easter

 

Opening Prayer

Shepherd

You give me what I need each day;

may I be grateful and have my fill.

You lead me on the path of goodness;

may I accept your mercy and follow.

You call my name to come to you;

may I listen to only Your voice in my life.

Amen

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Acts 2:14a,36-41

• What emotions do you feel as you read these words? Imagine being there.  How do your emotions change?
• 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?

 1Peter 2:20b-25

• How does this reading remind you to seek God’s grace instead of revenge? How can this be applied to a situation your life right now?
• What do you learn about God’s love in this passage? How does it make you feel?  How can you help others see this type of love in your life?

 John 10:1-10

• Who in your life provides you the shelter and protection the Shepherd shows to the sheep in this passage? Who do you provide this depth of security for in your life?
• Are there people whom are need of some type of shelter (physical, emotional, spiritual) which you can help lead them to the shepherd?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• Define conversion. How does conversion work?  Is it a onetime thing or a lifelong thing?  What does it mean when applied to your life?  Have you undergone a conversion of some kind?  What was the result of it?  Do you need to undergo another conversion?  Why or why not?
• Where in your community do you see a need for a change? Is there something you can do to help make a change?
• Think of a time when you tried to do the right/just thing and your efforts were not rewarded in a positive way. Why do you think good people suffer?  Consider some of the reasons a person might have to go through suffering in order to bring about good.
• When confronted with violence, is violence ever the right response? How does your anger get in the way of following Jesus’ example not to retaliate?
• 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?
• When did you last testify to your faith? How did you?  Explain how you felt and how others reacted.
• 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? Explain.
• How does scripture restore you? How does it heal?
• What qualities does a shepherd have which you want? How will you develop these qualities?
• Are there people whom are need of some type of shelter (physical, emotional, spiritual) which you can help lead them to the shepherd?

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  We stray like little sheep

ALL:  Lead us as we are to go.

Leader:  We wander around without direction

ALL:  Lead us as we are to go.

Leader:  We listen to the voices of the world

ALL:  Lead us as we are to go.

Leader:  You know our Spirit and still love us

ALL:  Lead us as we are to go.

Leader:  You are the gate which leads us to heaven

ALL:  Lead us as we are to go.

 

Challenge for the Week:  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; 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?