The Light of the World

Ground Rules For Conversation - How to be safe people:

• There are “no perfect people allowed” so we won’t “fake fine” or pretend to be something we’re not.
• We aren’t here to fix each other - No unsolicited advice giving - just listen & encourage
• We’ll keep our sharing short so others can participate
• We’ll keep what we hear to ourselves, since each person’s story is their to share
• We’ll show up and join in, because each person’s input matters & helps

Discussion Questions

1. Mike lightheartedly shared some of the ways people drop names… Can you recall a time when you’ve encountered a name dropper? How do you navigate exciting interactions you have with people that are significant to you? Are you more likely to excitedly share about that interaction or keep it a secret and not tell others? Why?

2. Read John 1:1-5 and 1 John 1:5 below. There is a lot to unpack in these passages, these verses claim that Jesus was there at the beginning of creation, that all things were made through him and that there is no evil in him. What stands out to you about these verses? What questions or observations do you have?

3. Read John 8:12 below. What do you think Jesus meant when he said these words? How have you experienced what he is talking about personally? What questions come to mind as you think about this verse?

4. Mike asked the challenging question, “Is Jesus the light of your world?”. What is your response to this question? What does the battle between light and darkness look like in your life? Where do you need Jesus to direct, reveal, protect, comfort or win personally?

5. We naturally have the tendency to hide the things in our life (keep in the dark) that we struggle with the most. What would it look like for you to bring some of those things into the light? What keeps you from bringing those things into the light?

Scriptures

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”—1 John 1:5

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. —John 1:1-5

The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. —John 1:9

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” —John 8:12