Growth Group Leader’s Guide Week 2 of November

Getting to Know You

These questions are very important as you get to know each other in your group.  Remember, Growth Groups are largely about developing significant Christian relationships with people in our church. These questions are designed to open up class member on a personal levelPlease ensure tenderness and grace are extended to all who share.  However, make sure you leave at least a little time to work through some of the digging deeper questions.

  1. Do you think Edward Snowden (former CIA employee, and former government contractor who leaked classified information from NSA in 2013) is a traitor?  Does it matter that he believed he was helping his country?  Would you ever trust him again? (Jesus trusted Peter and Disciples with the fate of the world.) What would you have done in his position?   Is treason ever justified? Central to this week’s Scripture is Peter and Judas’ betrayal of Jesus.
  2. What is the greatest act of betrayal you have ever known?  Peter, like Judas betrayed Jesus at a critical moment but their relationship will be restored in John 21:4-22.
  3. What is the hardest thing you have ever forgiven?
  4. Does forgiving someone free you from the pain of betrayal or make you venerable again?    

 

Digging Deeper

Read Matthew 26:31-35 and 69-74.

You’ll probably only have time to answer one or two of the Digging Deeper questions.  You will want to choose the question(s) in advance that you will focus on.

Verses 26:31-35

Peter’s Denial Foretold

31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters because of me this night; for it is written,

‘I will strike the shepherd,
    and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

32 But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 33 Peter said to him, “Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 Peter said to him, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And so said all the disciples.

 

  1. Why would He declare they are going to betray Him?  Jesus’ arrest is immanent and His followers must decide if they will follow Him through trial and execution.  What was Jesus’ aim for warning the Disciples?  Jesus cites a Scripture to remind them this is God’s plan and above all He will rise from the dead and meet them in Galilee.  What is Peter’s reaction? Is he being sincere?
  2. What does Jesus think about Peter’s deceleration?  See v. 34.
  3. What do you think God feels about promises we make that He knows we will never keep?

 

 

Verses 26:69-74

Peter’s Denial of Jesus

69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl came to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before all of them, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.”71 When he went out to the porch, another servant-girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.”[a] 72 Again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” 73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.” 74 Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, “I do not know the man!” At that moment the cock crowed.

 

  1. Why does Peter lose his nerve in front of the servant girls?  What good could he have done?
  2. Were Jesus’ words about the rooster helpful? Were they meant to be?

Can Scripture be convicting on one occasion and encouraging later?

 

Read John 21:4-19

Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards[a] off.

When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

 

 

Jesus and Peter

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.18 Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” 19 (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”

 

  1. Where have the Disciples gone?  What does that mean?
  2. What is Jesus doing on the shore?  Why would that be important?
  3. What does Jesus ask Peter?  Why does Jesus ask three times?
  4. What is Peter to do?  How?
  5. Where was Judas?  Would Jesus have asked him the same questions?

 

Take It Home

If you had been Jesus would you have forgiven Peter?  Who was the real Peter?  The Peter who denied Jesus or the one who spread the Gospel?  What difference did Jesus’ forgiveness make in Peter’s life?  What difference does it make in yours?

Closing Prayer