Group Discussion Guide
So That You May Know, Part 1
This guide is designed to help your group create a space for genuine connection and conversation within your discussion time. Don't feel pressured to address every question each week. Instead, allow the Holy Spirit to guide you as you lead your group in uncovering what God intends to communicate during your time together.
This guide comprises three sections: Loving, Learning, and Living. Each section aims to steer your conversation towards meaningful discussions about spiritual growth as individuals and as members of the body of Christ.
This guide comprises three sections: Loving, Learning, and Living. Each section aims to steer your conversation towards meaningful discussions about spiritual growth as individuals and as members of the body of Christ.
LOVING
First moments together as a group to connect and pray (approx. 10-15 min).
Open with prayer and invite God to be part of your conversation and relationship.
- How have you seen God at work in your life since the last time we met?
- What has been one high and one low since the last time we met?
- How did you do with living out what we talked about last time we met?
Open with prayer and invite God to be part of your conversation and relationship.
LEARNING
The majority of the group discussion is devoted to open dialogue, reflecting on God’s Word and its personal application to each of our lives (approx. 60-75 min).
Scripture References from Message: 1 John 1:1-4; 5:13; John 10:10, 17:1-3
Big Idea from Message: Jesus came and made himself known so we can know him.
Scripture References from Message: 1 John 1:1-4; 5:13; John 10:10, 17:1-3
Big Idea from Message: Jesus came and made himself known so we can know him.
When you hear the phrase “you can know God,” what comes to mind—confidence, doubt, confusion, something else? Why?
If someone asked you, “How do you know your faith is real?”—how would you answer today?
Read 1 John 1:1-4 together as a group. John emphasizes what he has seen, heard, and touched about Jesus. Why do you think that matters for our faith? Where in your life right now does your relationship with Jesus feel most real? Where does it feel distant?
Based on The Big Question (Is your faith built on the real Jesus?), what are some ways people can unintentionally build their faith on a version of Jesus that isn’t fully accurate? Have you ever had a moment where your understanding of Jesus had to change or deepen? What triggered that?
Read John 17:1-3 and John 10:10. How does defining eternal life as knowing God now (not just heaven later) change how you view your faith?
Read 1 John 5:13. If Jesus truly wants to be known, what might be one step you can take this week to know Him more personally? What habits or distractions tend to crowd out your awareness of Jesus in daily life?
If someone asked you, “How do you know your faith is real?”—how would you answer today?
Read 1 John 1:1-4 together as a group. John emphasizes what he has seen, heard, and touched about Jesus. Why do you think that matters for our faith? Where in your life right now does your relationship with Jesus feel most real? Where does it feel distant?
Based on The Big Question (Is your faith built on the real Jesus?), what are some ways people can unintentionally build their faith on a version of Jesus that isn’t fully accurate? Have you ever had a moment where your understanding of Jesus had to change or deepen? What triggered that?
Read John 17:1-3 and John 10:10. How does defining eternal life as knowing God now (not just heaven later) change how you view your faith?
Read 1 John 5:13. If Jesus truly wants to be known, what might be one step you can take this week to know Him more personally? What habits or distractions tend to crowd out your awareness of Jesus in daily life?
LIVING
The challenge for the week ahead is to grow in our faith and lovingly hold each other accountable through the community.
Where do you sense God inviting you from “knowing about Him” to knowing Him more deeply? Resist the urge to just fill up with more information. Instead, ask God to give you opportunities to be like Jesus–act compassionately towards someone, extend forgiveness to those who wronged you, love an enemy, turn the other cheek, feed the hungry, help someone in need, etc. Then reflect on the feeling of knowing Jesus in the sense that you are most like him when your faith is being put into action. After that, pray for another opportunity to do it again!
Where do you sense God inviting you from “knowing about Him” to knowing Him more deeply? Resist the urge to just fill up with more information. Instead, ask God to give you opportunities to be like Jesus–act compassionately towards someone, extend forgiveness to those who wronged you, love an enemy, turn the other cheek, feed the hungry, help someone in need, etc. Then reflect on the feeling of knowing Jesus in the sense that you are most like him when your faith is being put into action. After that, pray for another opportunity to do it again!