ST NICOLAS, NEWBURY

HOME GROUP QUESTIONS

BASIC CHRISTIANITY - 10 - REACHING A DECISION

For home groups that would like them, here are some questions based on Sunday morning's teaching material. There's no need to answer them all - just tackle the ones you have time for. You don't need to stick to the areas mentioned here - feel free to discuss any other issues that arise for you.

1. 'Aren't I a Christian because I was born in a Christian country?' 'I'm not anything else - so, surely, I must be a Christian?' 'My parents are Christians and brought me up to believe and behave as a Christian - isn't that enough'? How would you respond to someone who said one or more of these?

2. To believe certain facts about who Christ is and what he has done for us is a vital first stage. What more is needed? Why?

3. Have a look at Revelation 3:14-21. What impact has verse 20 had on you in the past?

4. You might like to take a look at Holman Hunt's famous picture 'The Light of the World'. Click here to see a copy. What do you notice in the picture that reflects what Jesus says in Revelation 3:20?

5. Now think about the rest of the passage. From what Jesus says to them, what can we conclude about the Christian community in Laodicea?

6. 'Here I am! I stand at the door and knock...' He could command us to open to him; instead, he merely invites us to do so. Why?

7. What does Jesus intend to do once we open up the door of our lives to him?

8. How would you answer someone who wanted to try and make themselves better before inviting Jesus in?

9. 'Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice...' How exactly do people hear the voice of Jesus? How about you?

10. 'Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door...' What does it mean to 'open the door' to Jesus?

11. What do you make of this quotation from C S Lewis's autobiography, Surprised by Joy? '...without words and (I think) almost without images, a fact about myself was somehow presented to me. I became aware that I was holding something at bay, or shutting something out. Or, if you like, that I was wearing some stiff clothing, like corsets, or even a suit of armour, as if I were a lobster. I felt myself being, there and then, given a free choice. I could open the door or keep it shut; I could unbuckle the armour or keep it on. Neither choice was presented as a duty; no threat or promise was attached to either, though I knew that to open the door or to take off the corset meant the incalculable... I chose to open, to unbuckle, to loosen the rein. I say "I chose", yet it did not really seem possible to do the opposite.'

12. Here's the prayer used at the conclusion of the talk: 'Lord Jesus Christ, I acknowledge that I have gone my own way. I have sinned in thought, word and deed. I am sorry for my sins. I turn from them in repentance. I believe that you died for me, bearing my sins in your body on the cross. I thank you for your great love. Now I open the door. Come in, Lord Jesus. Come in as my Saviour, and cleanse me. Come in as my Lord, and take control of me. And I will serve as you give me strength, all my life. Amen.' Give thanks and pray for those who are in the process of making this prayer their own.

FOR PRAYER

* Pray for those in and around our church who are taking the seriously the challenge to reach a decision about following Jesus.
* The Women's World Day of Prayer takes place this coming Friday, March 6th. Pray for those taking part.
* Pray for the plans being made for the women's and men's breakfasts on March 7th and 14th.
* Give thanks and pray for those who have been participating in the START courses.
* Pray for Paul Reisbach, our new youth minister, as he prepares to join us in April.

David Stone
1 March 2009