Glidden-Lanesboro-Lohrville UMCs

Discussion Questions

What kind of bread do you like best?

How do you feel when you hear communion bread referred to as “the body of Christ, broken for you”?

Why do you think that people struggled with Jesus calling himself the bread from heaven?

Acting on the Word

Each time you eat bread* this week, take a few moments to pray to Jesus and remember that he is the bread of heaven.  *If you are unable to eat bread, choose another common food to do this with.

Daily Readings

Sunday:          John 6:35-59

Monday:         John 6:60-71

Tuesday:         John 7:1-9

Wednesday:    John 7:10-24

Thursday:       John 7:25-31

Friday:            John 7:32-36

Saturday:        Isaiah 44:3-4

Sunday-Friday:  How do people respond to Jesus?  Why?

Saturday: What does God promise in this verse?

Discussion Questions

What was your relationship with your father like?

What feelings do you experience when you hear God referred to as Father?  Why?

What, if anything, puzzles you about Jesus’ explanation about his relationship with the Father?

Acting on the Word

Even if it is not your usual practice, address God as “Father’ in your prayers this week.  Consider journaling about that experience.

Daily Readings

Sunday:          John 5:16-29

Monday:         John 1:14-18

Tuesday:         John 3:25-36

Wednesday:    John 6:35-47

Thursday:       John 10:25-39

Friday:            John 14:6-14

Saturday:        John 17:1-8

What do you learn about Jesus’ relationship with the Father in each passage?

Discussion Questions

What comes to mind when you think of water?

Do you like drinking water?  Why or why not?

What Bible stories do you remember that involve water?

Have you ever had a religious experience that involved water?

Acting on the Word

At least once a day, stop and take note of how you interact with water:  in the shower, as you drink it, washing dishes.  Pause and pray: thank God for the water you are using, and ask God to fill you with the living water Jesus offers.

Daily Readings

Sunday:          John 4:1-42

Monday:         John 1:26-34

Tuesday:         John 7:37-39

Wednesday:    John 13:1-10

Thursday:       John 19:31-35

Friday:            Revelation 7:13-17

Saturday:        Revelation 22:16-17

What role does water play in the passage?  How is it (or is it) a symbol of God’s mercy?  The Holy Spirit?

Discussion Questions

What do the words “glory” and “glorify” mean to you?

Do they have positive or negative nuances?

In what phrases or idioms do we use these words?  (for example, “guts and glory” or “a glorified ______”)

What does it mean for Jesus and/or God the Father to be glorified?

How are Jesus death and his glorification connected?

Acting on the Word

Jesus warned that those who seek to keep their lives would lose them.  What are you keeping/holding on to that is preventing you from fully serving Jesus?  How can you begin to let that go to free yourself to serve Jesus?  Identify one concrete step you can take during Lent (which begins on Wednesday) to give it up and give yourself more fully to following Jesus.

Daily Readings

Sunday:          John 12:20-36

Monday:         John 1:9-14

Tuesday:         John 13:21-32

Wednesday:    John 16:12-15

Thursday:       John 16:31-17:5

Friday:            John 17:20-24

Saturday:        John 21:15-19

What does each passage say about glory? Who is glorified?  How?

Discussion Questions

Do you have any experience with blindness or diminished sight?  What was/it like?

Have you ever felt like someone hasn’t really seen you?

Have you ever discovered you were “blind” to a situation?  What was it like to finally “See” it?

Acting on the Word

Each day, take at least 5 minutes to pause and really see: Take note of everything in your range of vision.  Thank God for the good things; pray for those things you see that trouble you.  If you have diminished vision, try this exercise with another sense (hearing, touch, or taste).

Daily Readings

Sunday:          John 9:1-23

Monday:         John 9:24-41

Tuesday:         John 10:19-21

Wednesday:    John 11:32-37

Thursday:       John 12:36-46

Friday:            1 John 2:8-11

Saturday:        Revelation 3:14-17

What role does blindness play in this passage?  How are people blind?  How does Jesus try to help people see more clearly?

Discussion Questions

What do you think of when you hear the term “Born again?”

How easy is it for you to ask questions when you don’t understand something?

What of Jesus’ teachings do you find difficult to understand?

Acting on the Word

Spend some time this week journaling about a question or questions you have about the faith.  Consider talking to someone those questions.

Daily Readings

Sunday:          John 3:1-21

Monday:         John 3:22-26

Tuesday:         John 5:30-38

Wednesday:    John 5:39-47

Thursday:       John 6:60-69

Friday:            John 7:45-52

Saturday:        John 8:12-20

What are people struggling to understand in each day’s passage?

What does Jesus (or do others) say about who he is and what he is doing?

Discussion Questions

What church building has most impressed you?

What do like most about our current church building?

What kinds of things happen in our building? Why?

What do you think Jesus might question what happens in our building?

Acting on the Word

Take a stroll through our church building; what do you see?  What does what you see say about who we are?  About what’s important to our congregation? How do you think a visitor experiences it?  Write down what your experience and consider sharing it with lay leadership and/or with the pastor.

Sunday:          John 2:13-25

Monday:         Jeremiah 7:3-11

Tuesday:         John 5:1-16

Wednesday:    John 7:14-29

Thursday:       John 8:1-11

Friday:            John 10:22-30