I Am a Church Member: Not My Preference

Opening Questions:
• Which do you prefer most, Mayo, Miracle Whip, or neither, and why?
• What is your preferred style of worship music? What is it about this style that contributes to a heart of worship?

Key Passages: Matthew 16:21-23; Acts 1:6-9; Matthew 19:16-22

1. In what ways have you seen personal preference be a dividing force within the church? What do you think the Lord Jesus thinks of this when He specifically prayed for unity within the body (see John 17).
2. In what ways can you see yourself lay your personal preference aside to maintain unity within the body?
3. What, within the church, should not be about our preference?
4. In Matthew 16:21, Jesus informs His disciples of what is soon to come, that He must “suffer,” “be killed,” and on the “third day be raised.” Why is Jesus communicating this to his disciples? Why is He giving so much detail? Why this plan instead of another?
5. What is Peter’s response in Matthew 16:22? What are your thoughts on Peter’s motivation for responding to Jesus in this manner? In what ways can you relate to Peter’s response?
6. Why does Jesus respond so harshly to Peter in Matthew 16:23? Was Jesus being loving at this moment?
7. In Acts 1:6, the disciples ask Jesus, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” After Jesus, only a few weeks earlier, had told them that He was going to the Father, that He would not leave them alone, but that He would send the Holy Spirit, in John 14. In what way is the disciple’s preference at odds with God’s plan? Can you relate? In what way? What is God’s desire (preference) for us post-ascension? How can you as a Life Group work together to see God’s plan accomplished in and through your lives?
8. In Matthew 19:16-22, Jesus has an interaction with the Rich Young Ruler in which the young man is challenged to sell all of his possessions and follow Jesus. Yet the young man walks away sorrowful; why? How does Jesus respond or, rather, not respond? Why is this significant?

Application
• List some of God’s preferences for humanity, for you as a person.
• In what ways are your personal preferences out of alignment with God today? What can you do to align them?
• As a Life Group, how can you align your varied preferences for worship with God’s desire for your to corporately worship?