Sermon Based Small Group Lessons

God, My Judge

Series Title is I-Am Tunes (The logo used in worship let you know that this is a knockoff of Apple’s Itunes)

2008 May 18

Dr. Les Hughes, Senior Pastor

Focus Scripture: John 8:1-11

Meeting Schedule

1. Fellowship time & snacks

2. Share prayer requests

3. Pray (taking turns with short sentence prayers is good if group members are comfortable).

4. Begin the lesson.

a. Share the title (above)

b. Ask the Opening Question

c. Follow the guide, reading the Scripture and asking the questions.

Opening Question

Have you ever met someone who felt God could not or would not forgive them? What can we tell someone in that situation?

(New groups: Share your name and….question above.)

Focus Passage: John 8:1-11

1But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

11"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

Digging for Truth

1. Read the Scripture above. What do you like about that passage?

2. Quite likely, Jesus wrote the secret sins of the accusers in the dirt. Don’t answer out loud, but If you were one of the accusers, what would Jesus write in the dirt about you? Spend a minute thinking about that and how acceptance is available in Jesus.

It’s probably good that none of us is God. Those of us who are parents have caught ourselves in anger over our children. When we think about how much God forgives us, it helps us be patient with others.

3. Distribute copies of the song, “Just As I Am”. Ask group members to read over the song silently and then share which part of the song is most meaningful to them and why.

4. Life-Changing Lesson #1: Jesus didn’t come to condemn, but to save.

The Ten Commandments serve to reveal our sin, so we didn’t need condemnation. As sin is revealed, we need a Savior. Read John 3:16-17.

5. Life-Changing Lesson #2: Jesus never taught that our sin doesn’t matter. Sin separates us from God. Even one sin separates someone from God for all eternity, outside of Christ. Sin also has consequences for the believer. Discuss some of the possible consequences of sin in the life of the believer.

6. Life-Changing Lesson #3: Jesus is the only one worthy to judge someone’s eternal destination. Why do you think so many people judge others?

The Bible says in Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, lest you be judged.” It also talks about getting the log out of your own eye before helping your brother get the speck out of someone else’s eye. Pastor Les pointed out the differences in judging someone and calling them to repentance. In Christ, we ARE our brother’s keeper and have responsibility for one another. How should this look in the body of Christ? Have you ever been called to repentance or “challenged” someone else to live a godly life?

7. Pastor Les shared the biography of “Pistol Pete” Maravich, former NBA star. Pete found Jesus after trying everything else. He found peace and forgiveness. (Romans 5:1)

Closing Thought

Maybe there is something in your life that keeps replying in your mind. Just as the adulteress woman received the acceptance of Christ, so can you. Don’t let Satan use that past mistake to cripple you in the future. Accept God’s forgiveness and live.

You might consider symbolically writing that sin on a piece of paper and then disposing it in a permanent way, indicating God’s forgiveness.

God is waiting on you to come… just as you are!

Handout: Feature Song

1. Just as I am, without one plea,

but that thy blood was shed for me,

and that thou bidst me come to thee,