God loves us = Jesus with us
Advent is the perfect time to reflect on the immensity of God’s engagement with the human condition. This pathway through Advent explores the person of Jesus, what made
people take notice, and the wonder of an ordinary human death which led to extraordinary forgiveness embracing all humanity.
WEEK ONE The impact of Jesus then and now
Q: Who was Jesus in a nutshell?
Discussion Questions
Who was/is Jesus in a nutshell?
Consider the idea that four portraits would capture a person differently, but feature essentially the same person. How does this influence your understanding of the Gospels’ stories and their writers?
Can you think of other parallels? Other things that are treated in the same way? (Images of famous people, remakes of films, films made from books)What do you find breath-taking about Jesus?
Q: What do you find breathtaking about Jesus?
Discussion Questions
What do you find breath-taking about Jesus?
Have you noticed the actions of Jesus as recorded in the Gospels? Sarah suggested that to know who Jesus is, it helps to see what he did. His actions ‘bring divine love, grace and forgiveness, to build and restore community and relationship’. Choose a Gospel and read through it with this focus: what is Jesus doing here? (PS: the shortest Gospel is Mark!)
Imagine you have the task of communicating who Jesus is to a modern audience. What type of communication would you consider using? Facebook post? Tweet? Bus stop poster? Film advertisement? What would the result look/sound like? What would you like to say to your audience about the Jesus we know through the Gospels?
WEEK TWO Jesus and the Kingdom of God
Q: Why does this stuff about Jesus matter so much?
Discussion Questions
Why does this stuff about Jesus matter so much?
• “Why am I here?”
• “What is the purpose of my life? Of life?”
• “Why is there something and not nothing?”
Discuss other questions in this category. Devise your top 10 Big Questions.Play with the idea that faith in Jesus as God makes sense of these questions. Does having a belief in Jesus make these questions easier to live with?
Discuss the idea that we all have faith; even non-belief is still a theological standpoint, and a statement of faith
Q: Jesus talked a great deal about the Kingdom of God. What is that all about?
Discussion Questions
Jesus talked a great deal about the Kingdom of God. What is that all about?
Jo described the Kingdom of God as something that is partly achievable here and now and partly unreachable, a way of being that turns our earthly power structures on their head. What is your experience and understanding of the Kingdom of God?
What was the community that Jesus formed like?
Q: What was the community that Jesus formed like?
Discussion Questions
What was the community that Jesus formed like?
Imagine you were part of this first century community. What would draw you to Jesus?
What is it about you that would catch Jesus’ eye? What strengths do you have that could be useful to Jesus as he builds his community?Imagine that Jesus was someone you met at work. What would Jesus have to say to you to convince you to leave your current job and follow him as he preached and taught around the area?
Then there is Zacchaeus (Luke 19: 1-10) who was a collaborator with the Romans, a Jew who worked collecting taxes from his own people, to pass on to the occupying force. He kept a cut for himself. Why would Zacchaeus respond to Jesus?
What was it about Jesus that appealed to those who already were well off and comfortable?
WEEK THREE Jesus, grace and forgiveness
Q: Jesus was accused of hanging out with disreputable types... was this true?
Discussion Questions
Jesus was accused of hanging out with disreputable types... was this true?
Jesus did not turn away from, or turn people away. This inclusion was essential to Jesus.
· What is it to be hospitable?
· Who do we entertain?
· Who entertains us?
· Who do we exclude from our table?Describe a time when someone was radically hospitable to you.
Describe a situation in modern life where there’s power to be had in deciding who is in and who is out.
Where in your life can you welcome an outsider?
Q: Why did Jesus hang out with those of lower status?
Discussion Questions
Why did Jesus hang out with those of lower status?
Penny talks enthusiastically about Jesus as someone who just assumed others would engage, one who sees every person as a fellow human. What would it take for you to be a bit more like that? Is it too much to ask?
What is your greatest challenge when it comes to accepting others like Jesus did.
Q: The broader culture seems obsessed with sin, but this didn't bar Jesus from associating with people. In what ways did this approach threaten authority?
Discussion Questions
The broader culture seems obsessed with sin, but this didn't bar Jesus from associating with people. In what ways did this approach threaten authority?
In what circumstances do you find yourself judging others?
What is your response to the idea that Jesus did not judge others?
To what extent, and in what circumstances can you see yourself approaching everyone as equal, without judgement?
What appeals to you about the way Jesus approached people?
Q: What appeals to you about the way Jesus approached people?
Discussion Questions
What appeals to you about the way Jesus approached people?
Jesus didn’t bother about status, only about how we are with God. In what ways does this allow you to be yourself?
WEEK FOUR Jesus, the legacy of the wounded healer
Q: Many sources of evidence support the claim that Jesus died. Try to think about Jesus’ death without thinking of the resurrection.
Discussion Questions
Many sources of evidence support the claim that Jesus died. Try to think about Jesus’ death without thinking of the resurrection.
In what ways is the death of Jesus significant to you, and your community?
Jesus suffered a humiliating and painful, yet “ordinary” death for the crimes of blasphemy and sedition. What is the equivalent in our society today? Imagine God suffering a contemporary “ordinary” criminal death and place God there. How does that illuminate our mission?
Q: What do the Gospels say about Jesus rising from the dead?
Discussion Questions
What do the Gospels say about Jesus rising from the dead?
Mary encountered Jesus in the garden but did not recognise him. Then her eyes opened. The disciples walked with Jesus on the road and even invited him to dinner before their eyes opened and they recognised their Lord. In what circumstances have your eyes “opened” after a time of misunderstanding?
Jesus’ friends looked at him and then had to look again. Consider our busy lives. What can we do to make time enough to enable a “second look”?
Q: People wondered if Jesus was the Messiah. Can you explain what that idea was all about?
Discussion Questions
People wondered if Jesus was the Messiah. Can you explain what that idea was all about?
Read Matthew 16:13-28 and imagine you were among the disciples when Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am?” What is your response?