Big Idea Series – This Changes Everything

Week 1 – Heaven Starts Now

Sept 15 – 21, 2019

Message Big Idea

Jesus gives us a picture of an eternal life that starts right now.

Scripture

Mark 1:14-15, John 10:7-10, John 17:1-5

Icebreaker & Opening Thought

  1. What product, relationship, or experience have you ever believed would completely change your life? What did you find out about it?
  2. When Jesus announced that the Kingdom of God was at hand, he was saying that the life of God or eternal life was something available for us to experience now. What do you typically think of when you hear the phrase “eternal life?”

Bible Discussion

  1. Read Mark 1:14-15, John 10:7-10, and John 17:1-5. What do you notice about the announcements and teachings of Jesus in these passages?
  2. To understand the statement the “Kingdom of God,” it might be helpful to think about the fact that all of us have a kingdom. Your kingdom is the range of your effective will. What does it mean for us to be a part of God’s Kingdom?
  3. When Jesus announced, “The kingdom of God has come near,” he is saying that can be entered into right now by following him as his apprentice or disciple. In your own words, what does it mean to be an apprentice of Jesus?

Life Application

  1. In this series, we’re contrasting “In and Out Christianity” with “Apprenticeship with Jesus.” How have you thought about the Christian faith? What practical difference is there between the two? (If you need a refresher on these terms, consult the leader’s guide.)
  2. An apprentice of Jesus is someone whose ultimate goal is to live their life the way Jesus would live it. In what ways do you think Jesus would live your life differently?
  3. In what ways could you follow Jesus for the first time or follow him more closely?

Challenge

All of us have been invited on a journey to follow after Jesus and discover an eternal kind of life that is available to you right now! It is a life lived in the Kingdom of God. It’s life as an apprentice of Jesus. As a group, let’s lift each other up in prayer and ask ourselves how Jesus would live our lives if he were living them in our place this week.