BOTTOM LINE: The Kingdom is more like a party than a church service.

1. A good party is built on trust, not demands.

2. A good party repurposes old ways for new experiences.

3. A good party has an abundance of quantity and quality.

4. A good party is a reflection of the party host.

START TALKING

What is the best party you have ever been to? What made it so memorable?

If you could throw your ideal party, what would it be like? Who would be there? What would you serve? What is something unexpected or a twist on an old tradition you would want to do?

START THINKING

Read John 2:1-3. What details does John give to set up this sign that Jesus is about to give, and why are they there?

Read John 2:3-5. What do you think Mary was expecting when she told Jesus about the problem? Why do you think he responded the way he did? What do you think went through Mary's mind after Jesus responded that made her say what she did to the servants?

Read John 2:6-8. How do you think Mary helped prepare the servants to trust Jesus? What do you think the servants thought when Jesus told them what to do? What do you think the religious people were thinking when they saw it happen?

START SHARING

Mary goes from demanding Jesus to trusting Him. When have you done the same thing? How did you experience that demanding Jesus brought frustration but trusting Him brought freedom? How does demanding Jesus limit His ability to be the Lord of your life?

How have you had to trust Jesus one step at a time like the servants did? What was scary or stressful about following that step without knowing what was coming next?

Read John 2:9-10. When have you thought that you had already experienced the "best" for you or part of your life, but then Jesus transformed it and showed you that He was saving the best until now?! How does this experience build your faith for the next time you have an opportunity to trust Him?

What is your greatest experience of seeing the old ways transformed for new experiences? Maybe it was your old way of living, an old way of religious experience, or old habits being replaced with Spirit led living.

START DOING

What is one thing you sense the Holy Spirit leading you to do to trust Him one step at a time and what are you going to do about it?

What is an "abundance" that you have experienced or are experiencing that you can thank God for? How can you focus on that abundance this week when you are tempted to make demands?

START PRAYING

Pray for each other in the micro church to take the step or steps that you shared above. Pray for each other to "do whatever he tells you to do." Pray that your experience of the Kingdom will be a reflection of the true host - Jesus - and when the signs are pointing a different direction, we will adjust to follow His way instead.