Big Idea

What changed when Jesus came? People found purpose.

Scripture

Matthew 4:18-22, Matthew 22:37-39

Bible Discussion

1. Think back over the last year; what high and low points could you share with the group?
2. Read Matthew 4:18-22. What do you notice?
3. There must have been multiple boats on the sea that day, and Jesus picks out these fishermen. Typically people who were much younger and hadn’t settled into a trade yet would apply to a Rabbi to learn from him. Jesus flips the script here and recruits his disciples. This would be like a representative from an Ivy League school coming to your home and asking you to come to their school. Or maybe Lebron James saying, I want you to come and learn from me. What do you think that would have been like for the disciples to hear that call from Jesus?
4. Read Matthew 22:37-39. The whole enterprise of following Jesus could be boiled down to what Jesus says here. What do you think or feel about the simplicity of this teaching?
5. One 72 year Harvard study found that “The only thing that really matters in life are your relationships to other people.” At COMMUNITY, we would say that our relationships with God and others matter most. We call them the “Three Connections of Community,” where we love God, love people in the church, and love those in the world. Which of these three connections do you feel is your strongest connection? What needs more growth?
6. Just like Jesus’ disciples laid down their nets, what do you want to leave behind this year? It could be a lie you’ve been telling yourself, something bad that has happened to you. It could be a habit or practice. How can the group support you?
7. What do you want to start doing in this new year? How can the group support you in that decision?
8. This small group exists to help us grow as followers of Jesus. Let’s continue to support one another and pray for each other that we might leave our nets on the shore and take another step closer to Jesus this year. Close the group in prayer. You might split the group up so everyone can receive prayer for what they’d like to leave behind and embrace in the coming year.