^ Click Take A Note ^ Remember to write down some short notes for each of the questions below before heading to life group.

1.

Share 1 thing that stood out to you about Sunday's Message. (1 minute max please) Also press play button in image above to listen to Sundays message if you missed it or just to refresh your memory. (Each Individual)

2. What Do You Want?

John 5:5-8

5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.”

On Sunday Pastor Vaughn asked us to close our eyes and consider the desires of our hearts. He asked us whether we desired Jesus to do "things" in our lives or if we desired Jesus to change the way we "think", transforming our minds and the way we see ourselves and the world and Jesus. The man in this story had a particular "thing" that everyone thought he wanted and he probably thought he wanted it too but apparently Jesus wasn't completely convinced so Jesus asked him to clearly state what he wanted. The man's first response was actaully an excuse about why he hadn't gotten what he supposedly wanted already. This healing may be more about Jesus' ability and knowing what is best for the man than it is about confirming the true desires of this man's heart. Sometimes Jesus wants to remove things from our lives that we actually want to stay. Sometimes we know we should want things but we actually don't so effort is limited and excuses increas. And sometimes we really do want things. Let's think deeply about the difference and answer the following questions.

What is one thing you can truly say you want? How do you know you really want it? What do you think some of the fruit of receiving it will be in your life? (Each Individual)

What is one thing in your life that maybe you've convinced yourself and others that you want but the excuses and lack of effort may by proof that (so far) you don't really want it? (Each Individual)

3. How Do You Want It?

John 5:10

10 So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.”

On Sunday Pastor Vaughn talked about the Jews caring more about how the man was healed on the sabbath than they did about the fact that he was healed at all. We have a tendency to disagree with the way God is working in the lives of others that can blind us and prevent us from celebrating the fact that God is working in peopls lives. This tendancy has an even greater liklihood to be active in our own lives and perspectives on what God is doing in us. On Sunday Pastor Vaughn said that in many areas God has already given us what we want but we're so upset with the process that we don't even realize it.

How does God bring the dsires of our hearts into our lives? Simply asking? A readiness to receive? When we are worhty/ready? Through tragedy? Through Difficulty? In peaceful times. Directly from Him? Through People? How do you/most people expect or look for the desires of their hearts to arrive? (Group Discussion)

When it comes to being blinded by and frustrated with the process, can you think of one thing you've already received that prior to this message and these questions you hadn't been able to see/realize that you already had what you wanted? (Each Individual)

4. What Does Jesus Want?

John 5:16-18

16 And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” 18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

Genesis 2:3

3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

Revelation 21:5

5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”

On Sunday Pastor Vaughn said that Jesus is working (on the sabbath) rather than resting because He is making ALL things new. This includes all of creation and the one's to whom creation was given, US! If this is true, what does Jesus want for all of humanity in this life before His second coming and eternity? (Group Discussion)

What does Jesus want for you, to do in you, and to do with you before you die and are resurrected? (Each Individual)

* Remember to pray for each other before heading home from life group and to stay in communication here in the app throughout the week on your life group messaging thread!