THE WESLEYAN WAY | Connection Group Discussion Guide | Week Three 1 “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” — Matthew 22:37-39
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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Share about something in your life that you are really excited about or really looking forward to.
Context (30 to 40 minutes)
Dig deeper into the videos and scripture for this week through questions and discussion. •
Before watching the DVD, ask a group member to read the following quote to the whole group: “The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference. Because of indifference, one dies before one actually lives.” – Elie Wiesel
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Where do you see indifference in the world today? In the church? – How does indifference cause problems?
Elie Wiesel is a holocaust survivor and writer who received the Nobel Peace Prize. His words help us have a deeper understanding of John Wesley’s teachings and our scripture readings for today.
Watch the video for this session on your DVD or online. •
How do you respond to Arthur’s statement, “You can do all the right things and believe the right things, but if it doesn’t change your heart, you aren’t doing it right.” – When have you experienced a time in your life that this was true of your faith?
Nominal: existing or being something in name or form only
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
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Consider the definition for nominal shared here. What would you say the difference is between nominal Christianity and real Christianity? – Where do you see examples of this today? – How do you see this harming the church?
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Do you agree with Arthur and Scott that the actions of Christians are often the biggest challenges for the church today? Why or why not?
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John Wesley had specific measurements for his connection with God. What measurements would you use if you were asked to measure your faith life right now? – Do you think this is a healthy practice? Why or why not?
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? Read Matthew 22:34-40: The Greatest Commandments. Ask two group members to read the following passages which Jesus is referring to in Matthew 22. – Deuteronomy 6:4-5 – Leviticus 19:18
In this section of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus is answering questions from religious groups who are trying to test him. In this passage, a questioner tries to force him to choose from among the many commands of the Law. Listen for how Jesus responds.
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How do these Old Testament passages help you gain a deeper understanding of Jesus’ teaching?
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If you were to measure both commands that Jesus gives in your own life, how would each measure up right now? – Which do you need more practice in?
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In the book that this study is based on, Arthur and Scott write, “there is a strong modern tendency to want people to be nice to their neighbor, but to do it without believing in God.” – Do you believe this statement is true? Why or why not? – Share about a time in your life when you believed this was true. How have you grown since then? – Why do you think it matters that we have faith and love our neighbor? – What difference does one make to the other and vice versa?
The Ten Commandments are separated into two sections; these two groups of commands are separated into ways we can love God and ways we can love our neighbors.
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. John Wesley’s greatest fear for the people called Methodists was indifference. Where in your life or in the church do you need to fight indifference right now? – How can this group hold you accountable?
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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, even when we have experienced Your incredible grace and goodness, we often times fall into the “Almost Christian” category. We allow the world to numb our excitement and extinguish the fire we should have in our faith. Let us be filled with the passion of the Holy Spirit so that we allow You to do Your work within us without fear or passivity. Amen.