LifeGroup Notes

INTRO

What one thing most resonated with or challenged you from the message this Sunday?

Can a struggling church, low on numbers and resources, battling against persecution, still be effective for God’s Kingdom? If so, how?

READ
Read Revelation 3:7-13
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
8 “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

In Verse 8 an open door is described, what do you think it symbolizes?

How does Jesus describe the church in Philadelphia? (v8-10)

Who seems to be the major problem for this church? (v9)

What present encouragement does Jesus give the church at Philadelphia? (v9-11)

What is the reward for those who conquer? (v12-13)

What do you think the issue was between the Jews and the Christians at Philadelphia?

DIG DEEPER
Read JOhn 10:1-11
1 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
7So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Jesus calls Himself the good shepherd and he uses another analogy. What is this analogy?

What is the main problem that Jesus has with the Pharisees in this passage?

BIG IDEA
It is important to know that Jesus opens and shuts the door. You don’t know when the door will shut and your chances will run out. So don’t put the Lord to the test. Today is the day of salvation. Come to Him while the door is open. Don’t fear man. No one can shut the door on you except Jesus.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Sometimes we can feel that we are ill-equipped to take the opportunities for kingdom-building that God gives us right now. What opportunities for gospel ministry has God provided for you, or your LifeGroup, or the church as a whole, that we could take now?

What is holding us back? How do we get started?