Questions Jesus Asked | Week Four: Do You Want to Leave Me, Too?
Do You Want to Get Well?
Main Text: John 6:60-69
On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them. From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
Key Takeaways:
Jesus often gives us what we need, not what we want.
The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing.
Jesus is more concerned with the hearts of those who follow Him than the size of the crowd.
Discussion Questions:
The sermon mentions how Jesus fed the 5,000 but then challenged the crowd with difficult teachings. How do you respond when God doesn't meet your expectations or challenges you in unexpected ways?
Pastor Randy said, "We might not have anybody putting a gun to our head, but the truth of the matter is, there are conversations, there are moments throughout our life, almost daily, where we have an opportunity to either stand for Jesus or walk away from him." Can you share a recent experience where you felt pressured to compromise your faith?
Reflect on Peter's response: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." What does this statement mean to you personally?
The sermon presents three questions to ask when tempted to walk away from Jesus: a. What's at stake? b. What's the alternative? c. Who is Jesus at the base of everything else? Discuss how these questions can help strengthen your faith in challenging times.
How does our culture's emphasis on personal truth and identity conflict with Jesus' teachings? How can we navigate these conflicts?
The sermon mentions that many people have walked away from the church in recent years. Why do you think this is happening, and how can we address it?
Practical Applications:
Daily Reflection: Each day this week, ask yourself, "Is Jesus worth it?" Reflect on how this impacts your decisions and actions.
Stand Firm Challenge: Identify one area in your life where you feel pressure to compromise your faith. Commit to standing firm in that area this week and share your experience with the group next time.
Eternal Perspective: Write down three ways your life would be different if you consistently viewed decisions through the lens of eternity rather than temporary satisfaction.
Discipleship Check: Reach out to a fellow believer who may be struggling in their faith. Offer encouragement and support based on the truths discussed in this sermon.
Closing Reflection:
Encourage group members to continue reflecting on the question "Will you leave too?" throughout the week, and to come prepared to share any insights or experiences at the next meeting.