LifeGroup Notes
BIG IDEA
Sunday’s message highlighted the importance of God’s Word for our identity, discipleship, and outreach. It is the means by which we are to know our creator! The Word of God, though, elicits many different outcomes within individuals depending on how they receive it.
OPEN
Take a few minutes and discuss as a group some of the ways in which the word of GOD can affect people. did anyone mention that the word of God is confrontational and offensive to those who are living in sin? The word of GOD can bring conviction which leads to repentance or hardness-of-heart, which leads to condemnation. Today’s study will look at scripture to learn how the Word of GOD affects people differently.
What jumped out at you from the message this week? What led you to really think or even better, to change your actions?
What jumped out at you from the video?
READ
Read Matthew 13:1-9
1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9He who has ears, let him hear.”
As a group, read Matt.13:1-9. What is the purpose of a sower? How does he use the seed?
Is there anything that lies outside the scope of the sower’s job? What can he not do?
For a quick parallel, read as a group, 1 Cor. 3:6-7. How does this passage drive us to have faith?
To some people, this truth is liberating to others is depressing. How does 1 Cor. 3:5-6 make you feel about sharing our faith?
What are the types of seed/growth that we see in Matthew 13 and what is the result for each?
Now turn to and read Matt. 13:18-23. What does each type of seed mean?
DIVE DEEPER
Read Mark 8:31-38
31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
34And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Turn to Mark 8:31-38, describe some of the things that this passage ascribes to believers.
These characteristics are important because of what Jesus said in v31. What makes this verse so important?
Writers note: look closely at v32. Jesus said this plainly, meaning, not in parable–so Peter knew exactly what Jesus was saying. So, why was Peter rebuking Jesus–telling Him that He could not die. Many think it was because Peter loved Jesus so much that he was saying, you are too important…too special to suffer/die. This can’t happen to you. But this is not the case. Jesus had just told the disciples plainly that he was going to suffer, be rejected and die–and that is the same thing that they, as His followers can expect. JVN
So what is Peter really doing when he rebukes Jesus?
Of course we know that Peter had a change of heart–but had he not and this been is final interaction with Jesus, According to Matt. 13:18-23, what type of seed would Peter have been?
Now turn to Phil 3:7-9. Let’s contrast Peter with Paul. It is obvious from this passage that Paul valued GOD above everything else. Above any other type of gain–Paul valued knowing CHRIST. He was willing to suffer and have nothing to know Jesus. What about Paul, in this passage stands out to you the most?
Finally, turn to 2 Tim. 4:9. Compare Demas, in this passage, to Paul from Phil 3:7-9. Why did Demas leave Paul?
What type of seed do you think Demas was?
Closing thought: We looked at three different examples for today’s study. I was strategic in picking these verses because, while we are not always defined by our most recent actions, they do reveal a great deal about us. And, at one time or another, I feel that we all act like Peter, like Demas, or like Paul, sometimes. Here is the takeaway—at one point, Peter looked like a seed among the thorns—but look what he turned into! The difference between Peter and Demas is that Peter let his knowledge of Christ lead him to repentance–whereas Demas walked away with a hardened heart toward the Gospel and toward God’s word. So, if you feel like you are being a Demas, you are only a repentant heart and embracing of God’s Word from becoming a Peter or Paul!
LET’S PRAY
Consider the following questions as you pray together as a LifeGroup.
1. In what ways do we act like Peter?
2. In what ways do we act like Demas?
3. In what ways do we act like Paul?
4. The difference between Peter and Demas is that Peter let his knowledge of Christ lead him to repentance–whereas Demas walked away with a hardened heart toward the Gospel and toward God’s word. So, if you feel like you are being a Demas, you are only a repentant heart and embracing of God’s Word from becoming a Peter or Paul! God’s word is essential for your identity, your discipleship, and outreach!