Glencairn Church

Going Deeper is designed for use with your small group, a friend, or alone. It aims to create time for you to spend with God and his word, and apply it to your life. Please feel free to use whatever questions that will help you and your group discuss.

1. Pray for each other in your group, that God would soften your hearts to hear his Spirit speaking through his Word and for a willingness to follow what God is asking of you.

2. Introduction.
Although the “religious nones” (those that don’t hold to any religion) is hovering around 23% in North America, many Scientists and those in Academia would ignore or deny the existence of God. The modern atheists would take a step further and decry that religion is responsible for much of history’s violence and oppression. Even those who are more amenable to religious ideology would bristle against anyone who would espouse exclusive claims that their truth is above all others. “All religions are equal” they would say. “What you believe is a private matter, it has no place in the public sphere.” This is in direct contradiction to Christianity. Jesus has made the most exclusive claim of all – that only He is the way, the truth and the life. And we must not be quiet about it! How do we deal with Christianity’s exclusive claims in a world that wants to remove religion, or at least privatize it?

3. Start Talking
Have you experienced a situation where your religious views were not welcome? Perhaps in your own family, religion has been divisive – what is it like to experience pushback on your beliefs?

4. Start Thinking.
It’s not hard to think of examples in history where religious fervour (including “in the name of Christianity”) has created hatred towards others and even extreme violence. Why do you think that is? Are there any differences today?

Have you ever found yourself thinking/acting in a superior manner towards those who believe differently from you? How can we protect ourselves from entering into that slippery slope?

5. Start Exploring
a) Read 1 John 4:1-3. What does John mean when he says we are to “test the spirits”? How do we do that? What is distinctive about Christianity from any other religion?

b) Read 1 John 4:4-6. Explore v4 and consider the context, then consider its implications for your life. How do you know who is “from the world”?

c) Read 1 John 4:7-10. How does the bible define love? Why is it important to talk about who is the initiator of love?

6. Start sharing.
There’s no question that the gospel message is exclusive, just like any other religious claim, and yet it is designed to include everyone. Self-righteousness and superiority will only lead to the oppression of others, so knowing our salvation is through the work of Christ and not our own is critical. How might this shape your thinking about sharing the exclusive claims of Christ with others? What prevents you from serving others who disagree with you?

7. Start praying. Be bold and pray with power.

Dear Jesus, thank you for coming to this earth in the flesh and living the life I was meant to live, and dying the death I deserved. Help me to understand that the ultimate reality is seeing a God-man hanging on a cross, loving people who don’t love Him. The fact that you forgave those who abused you, and sacrificially served those who opposed you, is at the very heart of our salvation. Your exclusive claims are neither cruel nor coercive but given as the ultimate example of love. May my heart and mind be filled with this exclusive claim that provides ultimate inclusion for all people. And may I eagerly share this news in love with others. In Jesus’ name, amen.

8. Start doing.
Pray for opportunities to share this good news in love with those in your sphere of influence.