Whoever Serves

DOWNLOAD 'Depths of Love' Small Group Resources (PDF)

Fellowship – Snacks or a Meal (10 minutes with snacks; longer, obviously, if there is a meal).

Gathering Time (5-10 minutes). In pairs or groups of three, have participants discuss,

“Who is someone you have never met but are curious to meet?”

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes). Read John 12:20-33.

• John 12:12–19 describes Jesus’ “triumphal entry” into Jerusalem and says the crowd went to meet him. John 12:19 says, “The Pharisees then said to one another, ‘You see, you can do nothing. Look the world has gone after him.’” The passage we are studying today opens with “Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Phillip…and said to him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus’” (John 12:20-21). Why do you suppose John makes a point of telling his readers that “some Greeks” sought out Jesus? (One possible answer is to illustrate that Gentiles were turning to Jesus also.)
• John doesn’t tell us why “the Greeks” wanted to see Jesus or anything about their conversation with Jesus. But we can use our imagination to fill in the gaps. Why do you imagine “the Greeks” wanted to see Jesus and what might their conversation with him have been like?
• How can our church be more welcoming to those who are curious about Jesus but don’t fit in with our typical demographic?
• Just after John tells his readers that some Greeks came to see Jesus, Jesus says in John 12:23, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” What does he mean by this? Do you have a footnote in your study Bible that offers some information? (A footnote in The New Interpreter’s Study Bible, NRSV, says, “The arrival of Greeks points to the fulfillment of the eschatological promises of universal salvation and marks the beginning of a new age.”)
• In John 12:26, Jesus says, “Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am there will my servant be also.” What does it mean for us to serve and follow Jesus today?
• In John 12:27-28, Jesus says that his soul is troubled and asks that his Father, “glorify your name.” A heavenly voice responds and says, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.” What might this heavenly affirmation have meant to Jesus as he was anticipating his crucifixion? Where do you find comfort and strength during difficult times?

Prayer (10 minutes). Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes). End with the following prayer, a similar prayer, or the Lord’s Prayer:

O God of love, thank you for sending your son Jesus for all people. May all those who are curious find a warm welcome in our church. Help us to grow stronger in our desire to serve and follow Jesus in our community and our world today. Amen.

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Rev. Alecia Curtis Glaize is a United Methodist minister specializing in Christian education. She was educated at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama, and Claremont School of Theology in Claremont, California. She currently serves as Interim Director of Field Education at Claremont School of Theology and is a volunteer adult Bible study teacher at her church.