Destination-Truth

If you had to pick one word to describe who Jesus is for you, what word would you choose? 

So we said that Jesus is either a Liar, a Lunatic, or Lord. What does it mean to you if you say that Jesus is Lord of YOUR life?

Jesus said that he is “The way, the truth, and the life.” What does it mean to you if Jesus is the “truth.”

 The Apostle Paul shared this is his letter to the church at Rome: 

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Romans 10:9 (New Living Translation or NLT)

What does this mean to you? If you believe this, how does it affect how you will live your life? How does it affect your relationship with other people? 

During this season of Lent, as we prepare for Jesus to go to the cross, as we prepare for his resurrection on Easter, have you truly confessed to and repented of your sin, have you recognized your inability to save yourself, and have you realized your need for Christ to be your Savior? Have you invited Jesus into your life and asked Him to be in charge? If not, what are you waiting for? What will it take? 

Destination-Trust

Is it easy for you to trust other people? If not, why not? 

Is it easy for others to trust you? If not, why not?

Would you want to walk on water if you could? What would keep you from doing it? What would it take for you to get out of the boat?

Are you willing to follow Jesus wherever he leads you? If not, what would your limits be? What would it take to follow wherever he leads?

Jesus gave his life for you. Are you willing to give your life for him? What would it take? 

Destination-Identity

Many people in Jesus’ hometown had difficulty seeing him as someone other than the carpenter…Mary’s boy. Do you live in the town you grew up in? Do people have trouble seeing you as an adult? If you aren’t living in your hometown, what happens when you go home? Do old friends and acquaintances hold onto the “old” you? How does that make you feel? 

How about your family? Are your parents, your brothers and sisters able to see you as an adult, or do they still treat you as though you are a kid growing up? How do you handle that? When you are around them, do you find yourself slipping back into the role of a kid, or are you able to be an adult around your family?

Are you a different person than you were five, ten years ago? Are there habits, or possibly even addictions that you’ve let go of? Are there people in your life who have trouble seeing the new you, who want to remind you of who you were? How do you handle that? Do you turn to God for help?

Do you have difficulty seeing some of your friends and acquaintances in a new light? Do you have trouble letting go of the person they once were, reminding them of the past? Can you let that go and see their new identity? Do you need God’s help with this?

Are you still seeing yourself as the person YOU used to be? Can you let go of the old person and see the new person that you are thanks to Jesus? What will it take for you to let go of the past? Maybe some prayer will help. Why not try? 

Destination-Desire

If Jesus asked you, ”What do you want me to do for you?” what would your answer be? What do you think Jesus’ response would be to your request? 

Have you ever played the If Only game? You know, like when someone says If only I had a better job, then everything would be better. What’s the downside of the If Only game? Is there an upside? 

Jesus gave Bartimaeus what he asked for. Jesus doesn’t always give you what you ask for, does He? Why not? Do you honestly wish He did?     

James and John asked Jesus to let them sit at His right and at His left in His glory. Bartimaeus asked for his sight? Is there a difference in these two requests? What is it? Does that difference influence how Jesus responds to the requests? 

What is the one thing that Jesus wishes you would request of Him? Will you do it? If not, why not? 

Destination-Reality

What was your last mountaintop experience? When was it? What made it so good? What brought it to an end?

What has been your GREATEST mountaintop experience? Did you wish it could have lasted longer? What brought it to an end?

We said that we couldn’t stay on the mountaintop because it is in the valleys that our mission and ministry takes place. What is your mission and ministry? What does the valley look like where it takes place?

Would you say that the mountaintop or the valley is generally reality for you? Do you feel closer to God when you are on the mountaintop or in the valley. Why? 

When you feel close to God, what do you do? When you feel distant from God, what do you do? Is there any correlation between these two answers?