THE WESLEYAN WAY | Connection Group Discussion Guide | Week Two 1 “Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” — Philippians 2:12-13
Connect (5 to 10 minutes)
Come together to build relationships through fellowship and sharing about this week’s worship. •
Take a few minutes to share your thoughts about worship this week. – What aspects of worship did or did not connect with you? – What story or illustration made an impact on you?
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What is one of your favorite stories that you have heard recently (a book, movie, conversation, etc.)? What got your attention?
Context (30 to 40 minutes)
Dig deeper into the videos and scripture for this week through questions and discussion. •
Before watching the DVD, go around the circle and ask that everyone give a brief response to the following question: What does salvation mean to you?
Watch the video for this session on your DVD or online. •
Do you agree that it is more intrusive to talk about salvation instead of faith as a whole? Why or why not? – What challenges do you find in explaining why salvation matters to others?
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What do you think God saves us from? What do you think we are saved for?
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Scott asked how we can tell if a person has chosen to become a disciple of Christ. List out different ways that you can identify if someone has truly entered into a relationship with Jesus. – Do you find these same qualities reflected in your own life? Why or why not?
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How do you respond to the advice that Scott and Arthur gave about how we are called to approach others in talking about salvation? – How does the idea of being witnesses affect this? – Do you agree that we are not responsible for others’ salvation? Why or why not?
Some questions and content are from Scripture and the Wesleyan Way: A Bible Study on Real Christianity, Scott J. Jones and Arthur D. Jones (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2018). 1
If a volunteer has read John Wesley’s sermon for this week, ask them to give a report on the sermon for the group. – What was Wesley’s central point? – What were the highlights of the sermon for you? Ask four group members to read the following passages to the group. – Luke 7:36-50 (the woman anointing Jesus’ feet) – Luke 19:1-10 (Jesus and Zacchaeus) – Luke 18:35-43 (the healing of a blind man) – John 3:16-17 (“God so loved the world…”)
As each passage is read, listen for what it says about salvation. Some translations may use a word other than salvation or save, but many times as Jesus is teaching about salvation he is asking for some kind of change to take place.
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Which of these stories resonates with you the most, and why? – Which person in the story do you identify with most?
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What kind of change do you hear Jesus asking for in each of these different passages? – Where do you see a need for one of these changes in your own life? – What challenges do you think will come if you enact this change in your life?
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Last week, Scott and Arthur shared that different passages of scripture can mean different things for us depending on our life stage. How are you hearing one of these passages differently today than earlier in your life?
Read Ephesians 2:8-10: Saved through faith. •
What do you hear about salvation in this passage? – What are we saved from? What are we saved for? – How would you describe the relationship between faith and good works in this passage?
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Do you agree with the different teachings of John Wesley which are shared in the informational box above? Why or why not? – Share about an experience you have had that proved one of these teachings to be true.
Call (10 minutes)
We believe that God not only shows us who God is but invites us to participate in God’s ministry by answering unique calls in our own lives. Join together in discovering how we can actively respond to scripture and God’s presence.
This scripture, which seems to hold two opposite ideas together (faith and good works), forms the basis of John Wesley’s sermon, “The Scripture Way of Salvation.” In this sermon, Wesley holds together several ideas which seem to be opposites. He teaches that salvation is: (1) a present and future reality; (2) not based in works, but good works are necessary to continue the life of faith; (3) affecting our relationship with God and with all of creation.
Which good works are lacking in your life right now? (This can include missional activities, taking communion, participating in worship, personal Bible study, etc. Good works include personal faith practices as well as community activities) – How can this group help hold you accountable to more dedication in this area of your life?
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Closing (5 minutes)
God calls us into community by sharing our joys and concerns together in prayer and supporting one another in our walks with Christ. As we share testimony and stories of our lives, let us listen to where God is working within our community and how we can build each other up in Christian love. • •
Share joys and concerns with one another. Close in prayer, either by inviting a group member to pray or by using the prayer provided below.
Closing Prayer Loving God, we confess that while we like to discuss faith with our friends and family, it can often be very challenging to talk about the importance of salvation. We shy away from these discussions out of fear, and we are sorry. Help us to realize we are called to be your witnesses, not Biblical experts. Help us have confidence in the story You have given us to share. Amen.