Sermon Based Small Group Lessons

Time Left on the Clock

 

2008 June 15

Dr. Les Hughes

 

Opening Question

(New groups:  Share your name and the answer to the following question.)

 

Burger King started us in the wrong direction with the slogan “Have it Your Way.”  Consumerism is now very prominent in our society.  How do you think people have brought this in to the church?  (and what is wrong with that?)

 

Read the focal passage.

 

Focus Passage

 

John 14:1-6 (New International Version)

 

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

 

Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"

 

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

 

Digging for Truth

 

1.  Christ was talking about his departure when He said, “Do not let your heart be troubled.”  How can we keep from being troubled by the departure of a loved one?

 

            Life-lesson number one:  Do not fear.

 

2.  Pastor Les stated that we have choices about how we live our lives.  What is there in the past that you’d have done differently?  What keeps us from doing all the right things now?

 

3.  Death is a part of God’s overall plan.  Pastor Les shared about tombstones with funny comments.  Seriously, what would you like your tombstone to say if you could sum it up in one short phrase?

 

            Psalm 90:10  the length of our days is 70 or 80 years.

 

4.  Life-Lesson Number Two said, “Ease the minds of the people closest to me.”  What are some ways we can do this?

 

5.  Life-Lesson Number Three is “Make the wisest investments.”  What are the things that we need to invest in?

            (spiritual life, family, friends, etc.)

 

6.  Life-Lesson Number Four is “Make attempts to reconcile fragmented relationships.   What relationships in your life need repair now?  What are some good first steps to reconcile relationships?

 

7.  Life-Lesson Number Five is “Emulate the character of our Jesus Christ every day.”  What are the benefits of doing this?  How can we do this?

            a.  Make certain of your own salvation

            b.  Serve your family and others.

 

8.  Life-Lesson Number Six is “Honor your earthly father with gratitude and respect. How can we do this? 

 

            Eph. 6:1  says Children obey your parents in the Lord.

 

9.  Tell the group about your dad.

 

 

Closing Thought

 

We need to live our lives with the end in mind.  What are some things we can do this week to begin living a life with no regrets?