Week 2 – All Roads Lead to God
Leader Guide
Every religion claims to be the truth, so how do we know if belief in Jesus as the resurrected Savior of the world really is the Truth? This week, we learned about the only Way to God and how we can experience Him. We can find comfort and answers to our concerns in the compassionate Truth found in the Bible.
What you will need: A Bible or your Bible app, a notebook, pen, and highlighter. The verses highlighted below are linked so that you can easily access them during your study time.
Jump Start
Leader: This section is designed to get discussions started, examine God’s truth, and apply it to our week. Life Group leaders should not assume everyone in their group is a Christ follower. Because they are taking part in a Life Group, they must have some openness to knowing more, exploring. Pray for the Holy Spirit to work and let Him lead you as well.
1. What is the best or worst piece of advice you have been given?
2. I Am the Way. Read John 14:5-6, Acts 4:12, and 1 Timothy 2:5-6. What claim is made in all three passages? Why could your opinion of the common belief “many roads lead to God” develop or change based on these passages?
Leader’s Note: The claim in all three passages is that there is one way to God. That one way is Jesus. While it is popular to believe that all but the “worst” people will find their way to God that claim is not supported by scripture. Before Jesus there was no way to get to God. We are all lost without Jesus. The good news is anyone can come by the way that is available. We can’t make our own way. That’s not possible. If we could have made our own way, Jesus wouldn’t have had to come, live, die, and resurrect. The motivation to believe that all paths lead to God is twofold. It relieves us of the responsibility of sharing The Way, and it makes what the Bible says about Jesus seem to be a lie or at least contradictory. However, we can’t continue to believe that Jesus both tells the truth and that there are many ways to relationship with God after reading and understanding these scriptures.
3. I Am the Truth. Read Colossians 1:15-16, John 8:32. What is the implication of this verse and its description of who made everything from the microscopic to the cosmic? Why would the Bible describe Jesus as the Truth rather than a Truth (John 14:6)? How can truth set you free? How can Jesus set you free?
Leader’s Note: During the weekend message we learned that in Him all things hold together. Reality is held together by Jesus. It is hard to separate truth from reality. People have many experiences of reality but only one description of that reality can be the truth. Reality is not the same as preference. Truth is not the same as personal experience. John 7:16-18 Jesus told the truth as a representative of God not Himself. Discuss the difference between the truth in a secular sense and Jesus, The Truth. Truth sets us free if we are blameless. However, the truth can trap us if we are lying or deceiving others. The Truth in the person of Jesus always sets us free whether we have behaved rightly or not. We rely on His righteousness not our own.
4. I Am the Life. Read John 3:16-18. How could a person come to God’s presence before Jesus? In what way do you think the Old Testament instructions were easier or more difficult to follow than those in John 3:16-18?
Leaders Note: To answer the first question, we would need to do a deep dive into Levitical law. In addition, only a priest could enter the Holy of Holies – it doesn’t matter what a lay person might do to purify themselves they could not enter God’s presence without consequence (death). “Whoever believes” can come to God through Jesus. Only Jesus makes eternal life possible for “whoever.”
5. Revisit John 14:6. What part of Jesus’ claims that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life are most challenging to you and why?
Leaders Note: Answers will vary. Use this opportunity to revisit any of the passages above and discuss why we get hung up on one more than another. It might be a good time to evaluate whether culture makes one easier to accept or if all of them go against what is popular today.
6. Action Step: What will you do with the Way, the Truth, and the Life? Are you motivated to share your faith? Do you need to grapple with the idea of objective reality?
Leader’s Note: Jesus is the Way. Jesus is the Truth. Jesus is the Life. If you want a Way to God the Truth will guide you there and bring you Life that doesn’t end, wear out, or fade. It is hard to share our faith because of our own limitations, concerns and inhibitions. When we remember how crucial it is that our fellow humanity understand the truth, compassion leads us to share the only Way, Truth and Life openly. See the deeper question 9 below for further discussion on the topic of honoring God through our fears.
Deeper
Leader: This section is designed for further use in your Life Group or for personal study. These can also be used as discussion points and ways to stay connected with your group throughout the week. Encourage your group to take time daily to walk through these questions.
Read through the verses below, mentioned in the weekend message, and dive deeper into their meaning.
7. Read 1 Corinthians 15:20-22. If there wasn’t an afterlife how would our lives be different? Would our faith affect more than just our years on earth? How much of an impact can our decisions have on others? Why is Christ called the “firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep?’
Leader’s Note: If there was no possibility of eternal life, improving the quality of our few years of life would be the only benefit from following Jesus. Since He died for us, the resurrection allows us, and everyone around us, access to life after death. Jesus was raised from the dead, meaning now we can have life after death as well if we follow Him – the only Way. The firstfruits of an earned wage are those that are required in the tithe. Jesus’ life after death is the first earning of the job He finished on the cross. The rest of His earnings are the resurrection of all the saints... on that day when we will join Him in new life beyond death.
8. Read Mark 9:43. How serious is sin? Does Jesus literally mean to cut off our hands? If not, what does He mean? What other part of our routine or habits might we need to “cut off” or change to break a sin pattern? What are the consequences if we choose sin intentionally?
Leader’s Note: Sin is serious to Jesus. He chose to die for our sins, but He also wants us to know the damage that sin can cause in our lives. In this verse Jesus is saying we need to do what we can to remove ourselves from sin. He may have used humor or hyperbole to make a serious point. Maybe an activity we engage in regularly that is not a sin causes us to sin. Maybe a place we go to always results in bad choices – sin. We are called to remove sin from our lives as much as possible. It may not be a hand that needs cutting off but a path to our own sin patterns. Maybe use of a computer after 11PM or having devices in the bedroom at night results in poor choices, bad patterns and sin.
9. Read John 19:38-39. Why did Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus choose to honor Jesus? What did they have in common? Why do you think they honored Jesus after His death when it was clear they were afraid of the people who killed Him? In what way can you identify with Joseph, Nicodemus or both and why?
Leader’s Note: Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus both cared about Jesus, and they were both afraid to make a public stand of support for Him. After Jesus died on the cross His body was left where He died. Joseph chose to honor Jesus and properly burry His body. Nicodemus brought spices and embalming supplies to bury Him. They were fearful of what the Jews would do if they found out. Yet, both men showed a level of courage and honor when they buried Jesus. In some ways we are like these men who were afraid of the consequences of supporting Jesus publicly. Whenever we hesitate to do what we are called to do because of embarrassment or fear we show our lack of public support. This doesn’t mean we don’t love God, but it does mean we need to have compassion and patience when we see others responding tentatively. We can encourage and support each other as we make progress.