Icebreaker and Defining Moments.

One of the most powerful things God gives each person is their story. Your story is unique to you, and when you leverage your story, it can be a tremendous blessing to you and those around you.

The problem is that though every person has a unique story, few have slowed down to see how God has been active in the high points and hard times. God has been writing a story in your life; the question is if you will connect your story to God's Mission.

To do that, every believer must be able to articulate how God's Story (The Gospel) has changed their story.  Before your first D Group Meeting, take time to reflect on the questions below and complete the exercise below.

In the first section, identify Defining Moments in your life. A defining moment is an experience or season of time that has changed the trajectory of your life.  Write down ten High Points (times of success or joy) that you can think of throughout your life.  Then, write ten hard times (times of failure or grief) that you can thing of throughout your life.

Defining Moment Reflection Questions
1. What are my truly formative experiences in life - that is, what has made a lasting impact?
2. Is there any common thread to my experiences?
3. Why do I do what I do vocationally?
4. Who are my most meaningful friends?
5. Who taught me how to live? How am I learning to live like Christ?
6. How has God's grace been revealed in my life?
7. How does my unique story bring God glory?
8. What would my life be like without God?
9. What may God be preparing me to do in my life?

Make a List of your Top 10 High Points

Make a List of your Top 10 Hard Times

From those two lists, highlight the most significant Defining Moments in your life.

Reading - John 1:1-18

Adult Discussion Questions
1 What does John teach about Jesus before creation?
2 Why is it significant that Jesus is called the Word?
3 How do light and darkness symbolize spiritual truth?
4 What does it mean that Jesus became flesh?
5 What blessings come through God's grace in Christ?
6 How does Jesus reveal the Father?
7 How should this passage affect our worship?
8 What truth stood out to you the most?

Kids Questions
1. Who is Jesus?
2. What is the connection between God and Jesus?
3. Why did Jesus come to earth?
4. How can we follow Jesus?

Old Testament Connections
• Genesis 1:1-3
• Psalm 33:6
• Isaiah 9:6
• Exodus 33:1

Reading - John 1:19-51

Adult Discussion Questions
1 Why did John the Baptist point people to Jesus instead of himself?
2 What does Lamb of God mean?
3 Why did the disciples immediately follow Jesus?
4 What do we learn from Nathanael?
5 How does Jesus know people personally?
6 What does genuine discipleship require?
7 Who first introduced you to Jesus?
8 How can you introduce someone else?

Kids Questions
1. Who told people about Jesus?
2. What animal is Jesus compared to?
3. Why did the disciples follow Jesus?
4. Can you tell someone about Jesus?

 Old Testament Connections
• Isaiah 53:6-7
• Genesis 28:12
• Psalm 2

Reading - John 2-3

Adult Discussion Questions
1 Why was Jesus' first miracle important?
2 Why did Jesus cleanse the Temple?
3 What confused Nicodemus?
4 What does it mean to be born again?
5 Why must faith replace works for salvation?
6 What does John 3:16 teach about God's love?
7 How has your life changed since trusting Christ?
8 How can you explain salvation to others?

Kids Questions
1. What was Jesus' first miracle?
2. Who visited Jesus at night?
3. What does it mean to trust Jesus?
4. Can God make us new?

Old Testament Connections
• Psalm 69:9
• Numbers 21:4-9
• Ezekiel 36:25-27

Reading - John 4

Adult Discussion Questions
1 Why did Jesus speak with the Samaritan woman?
2 What is living water?
3 How did Jesus expose her need?
4 What is true worship?
5 Why did many Samaritans believe?
6 What lessons do we learn about evangelism?
7 How has Christ satisfied your spiritual thirst?
8 Who needs to hear your testimony?

Kids Questions
1. Who did Jesus meet at the well?
2. What kind of water did Jesus offer?
3. Why does Jesus love everyone?
4. Can you tell others about Jesus?

Old Testament Connections
• Isaiah 55:1
• Jeremiah 2:13
• Isaiah 12:3

Reading - John 5

Adult Discussion Questions
1 Why did Jesus heal on the Sabbath?
2 Why were the religious leaders angry?
3 What authority did Jesus claim?
4 How does Jesus offer eternal life?
5 Why is testimony important?
6 What witnesses point to Jesus?
7 What keeps people from believing?
8 How should believers respond?

Kids Questions
1. Who did Jesus heal?
2. Why were people upset?
3. Does Jesus have God's power?
4. Can Jesus help us today?

Old Testament Connections
• Exodus 20
• Daniel 7:13-14
• Isaiah 35:5-6

Reading - John 6

Adult Discussion Questions
1 Why did Jesus feed the crowd?
2 What lesson came from walking on water?
3 What does Bread of Life mean?
4 Why did many stop following Jesus?
5 What does true faith require?
6 Why did Peter stay?
7 What satisfies our deepest needs?
8 How can we trust Jesus daily?

Kids Questions
1. How many loaves and fish were there?
2. What miracle happened on the water?
3. Who is the Bread of Life?
4. Why should we trust Jesus?

Old Testament Connections
• Exodus 16
• Psalm 78
• Deuteronomy 8:3

Reading - John 7-8

Adult Discussion Questions
1 Why were people divided about Jesus?
2 What is living water?
3 What does Jesus mean by Light of the World?
4 How does truth bring freedom?
5 What does Jesus teach about sin?
6 Why did Jesus say, Before Abraham was, I AM?
7 How does Jesus fulfill God's promises?
8 How can we walk in His light?

Kids Questions
1. Who is the Light of the World?
2. Why do we need Jesus?
3. What is truth?
4. How can we follow Jesus?

Old Testament Connections
• Isaiah 9:2
• Psalm 119:105
• Exodus 13:21

Reading - John 9-10

Adult Discussion Questions
1 Why did Jesus heal the blind man?
2 How did the Pharisees respond?
3 What makes Jesus the Good Shepherd?
4 How do sheep know His voice?
5 What does abundant life mean?
6 Why is Jesus the only door?
7 How has Christ cared for you?
8 How can believers follow His voice?

Kids Questions
1. Who did Jesus heal?
2. What animal are believers compared to?
3. Why is Jesus our Shepherd?
4. Can Jesus take care of us?

Old Testament Connections
• Psalm 23
• Ezekiel 34
• Isaiah 35

Reading - John 11

Adult Discussion Questions
1 Why did Jesus delay coming?
2 What do Martha and Mary teach us?
3 Why did Jesus weep?
4 What does resurrection mean?
5 How does this miracle point to the cross?
6 How should believers face death?
7 What does faith look like here?
8 What hope do Christians have?

Kids Questions
1. Who was Lazarus?
2. What did Jesus do?
3. Is Jesus stronger than death?
4. Why can Christians have hope?

Old Testament Connections
• Job 19:25-27
• Isaiah 25:8
• Daniel 12:2

Reading - John 12-13

Adult Discussion Questions
1 Why did Mary anoint Jesus?
2 What does the triumphal entry reveal?
3 Why did Jesus wash the disciples' feet?
4 What is servant leadership?
5 What is the new commandment?
6 How should believers love one another?
7 What hinders humble service?
8 How can we imitate Christ?

Kids Questions
1. What did Jesus wash?
2. Why did Jesus serve others?
3. How can we help people?
4. Who should we love?

Old Testament Connections
• Zechariah 9:9
• Psalm 41:9
• Isaiah 53

Reading - John 14-16

Adult Discussion Questions
1 Why should believers not be troubled?
2 What does Jesus mean by being the only way?
3 Who is the Holy Spirit?
4 What work does the Spirit do?
5 Why does the world oppose believers?
6 What peace does Jesus give?
7 How should Christians abide in Christ?
8 How has the Spirit encouraged you?

Kids Questions
1. Where did Jesus say He was going?
2. Who helps Christians today?
3. What is peace?
4. Why should we trust Jesus?

Old Testament Connections
• Jeremiah 31:31-34
• Ezekiel 36:26-27
• Isaiah 40

No Reading and No Meeting...Just Eating

Reading - John 17

Adult Discussion Questions
1 What did Jesus pray for Himself?
2 What did He pray for His disciples?
3 What does sanctification mean?
4 Why is unity important?
5 How does truth shape believers?
6 How does this prayer encourage us?
7 What should characterize Christian unity?
8 How can we pray more like Jesus?

Kids Questions
1. Who did Jesus pray for?
2. Does Jesus care about us?
3. Why should we pray?
4. What can you thank God for today?

Old Testament Connections
• Psalm 133
• Leviticus 20:26
• Isaiah 6

Reading - John 18-19

Adult Discussion Questions
1 Why did Jesus willingly surrender?
2 How did Peter fail?
3 Why was Jesus innocent?
4 What does It is finished mean?
5 How does the Passover point to Jesus?
6 What did Christ accomplish on the cross?
7 How should believers respond?
8 What does the cross mean personally?

Kids Questions
1. Why did Jesus die?
2. Did Jesus love us?
3. What happened after Jesus died?
4. Can Jesus forgive our sins?

Old Testament Connections
• Isaiah 53
• Psalm 22
• Exodus 12

Reading - John 20-21

Adult Discussion Questions
1 Why is the resurrection essential?
2 What convinced Thomas?
3 Why did John write this Gospel?
4 What do we learn from Peter's restoration?
5 How does Jesus restore failures?
6 What mission did Jesus give His followers?
7 How has studying John strengthened your faith?
8 What is one way you will continue growing in Christ?

Kids Questions
1. Is Jesus alive?
2. Who saw Jesus after He rose?
3. Why is the resurrection good news?
4. How can you follow Jesus every day?

Old Testament Connections
• Psalm 16:10
• Jonah 1:17
• Isaiah 53:10-12