Throughout the Gospels, Jesus is often questioned. And, like a good teacher, he also asks questions. His words exposed motives, invited faith, challenged thinking, and revealed truth. In this series, we’ll explore three of those conversations and what his questions invite us to consider today.
SELECTIVE COMPASSION?
December 30, 2025
Following Jesus requires that we love God and love our neighbor as ourselves. This begs the question of who does and doesn’t fall into the neighbor category. According to Jesus, selective compassion is not an option.
QUESTIONS:
1. Who do you know that is great at asking insightful questions? How do you view your interactions with them?
2. Read Luke 10:25–37. In the passage, the command to “love your neighbor” was clear, but the expert in the law asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Why do you think we have a tendency to try to put parameters on the things God asks of us?
3. Jesus’s response shifts the conversation from who is worthy of love to what it looks like to be a loving neighbor. What does this tell us about what it means to follow Jesus?
4. In the message, Samer made the statement, “In the way of Jesus, love, mercy, and compassion are not limited by the object of love.” What do you find most challenging about this statement?
5. Who are you most likely to put in the non-neighbor category?
6. What would it look like for you to lead with love, model mercy, and choose compassion with those who are most difficult for you to see as a neighbor?
DON'T SETTLE
January 6, 2025
Our problem often isn’t that we ask God for too much but rather that we settle for too little.
QUESTIONS:
1. If you could have any meal or snack delivered to you right now—perfectly prepared and guilt-free—what would your request be?
2. Read Mark 10:17–31, 35–52. These passages feature the Rich Young Ruler, James and John, and Blind Bartimaeus. Which of these three interactions captured your attention the most, and why? What did Jesus’ responses show about what matters the most to Him?
3. Imagine Jesus looks at you and asks, “What do you want me to do for you?” How would you answer Him, really?
4. C.S. Lewis described settling for less than God’s best as choosing “mud pies in a slum” instead of a “holiday at the sea.” Have you ever felt like you might be settling for “mud pies”?
5. In the message, Samer gave a list of things Jesus offers (joy, hope, purpose, identity, grace, redemption, etc.), which one means the most to you right now? Why is that gift so important in your life today?
6. Is there a current area of life that you would like God to help you see with spiritual clarity? How can our group support you in it?
HE IS JESUS
January 13, 2025
Jesus was often questioned but he is often doing the questioning. And his question exposed motives, challenged assumptions, revealed truth, and as we’ll discuss today, invited faith.
QUESTIONS:
1. Who controls the direction of most conversations: the person who asks questions or answers questions? Have you ever experienced this dynamic in the context of your own group small group?
2. Over 300 times in the New Testament Jesus asks and poses a question to those around him. How did he use this “question-asking” strategy to lead through difficult conversations? Is this a strategy you’ve used in your own experience?
3. Read John 6:1-24 (or have someone in your group summarize these passages). What are
the two miracles that Jesus performed? What is Jesus trying to teach through these miracles?
4. Read John 6:60-66. Is it hard to follow Jesus? Why? When has it been the most difficult for you to follow Jesus?
5. Read John 6:67-69. Abandoning Jesus is a very real temptation during difficult times. Does Simon Peter’s response (“to whom shall we go?”) resonate with you? How can this group support you this week to keep following Jesus in all circumstances?