During the season of Lent, we encourage you to join a Delta Group. Delta Groups are one way that we can come together centered on the one thing that we share as brothers and sisters in Christ: the call to follow Jesus together.
What is a Delta Group?
A Delta Group is simply a group of three individuals (or two couples) who commit to reading the Bible and praying daily, and meeting together at least once every two weeks. The three persons in the group can be long-time friends or brand new acquaintances. What matters is a desire to grow as disciples of Jesus together.
The groups are called “Delta” groups for a few reasons. First, the Greek letter delta (𝚫) looks like a triangle, evoking both the 3 members of the group and also the Trinity — the presence of God in the midst of those gathered in His name. Second, as you may remember from your math or science classes, 𝚫 is used to denote a change in something. That is our prayer for Delta Groups — that as we follow Jesus together, he would work to change our hearts to be more like him.
What do I have to do?
As noted above, the three commitments we ask in joining a Delta Group are:
- Commit to reading the Bible every day. We will provide a reading guide to help, but you are free to use your own.
- Commit to spending time in prayer every day. You can do this at the same time as your Bible reading, or you can set aside a separate time for prayer. You can pray as your heart leads, or you can use some of the pre-written prayers we will provide.
- Commit to meeting at least every two weeks with your group for a time of sharing and prayer together. Spaces will be provided for meeting in Delta Groups before and after the Sunday service, as well as on Wednesday evenings. However, you can also meet with your group at your home, a coffee shop, or even online.
The goal with these groups is to commit during the season of Lent to growing together in discipleship. We commit to spending time reading the Bible and praying because discipleship is first and foremost about listening and responding to Jesus. We meet in groups together because God calls us to discipleship together — for accountability, encouragement, and to practice His love.
How do I join a group?
There are two ways.
- Fill out the sign-up form and we will work to prayerfully place you in a group and connect you.
- You can make your own group. Simply find a group of 3 people and let the pastors know that you are setting up a group together. You can register your group using the sign-up form.
Resources
This year, our Bible Reading Schedule focuses on the final chapters in the Gospel of John, to go along with our Lenten Sermon Series. The readings will take you slowly through these chapters, and even provide opportunities for meditating on a particular more than once. With this in mind, we have also prepared a Lectio Divina guide that you can use both individually and when you meet with your Delta Group.
In addition to the Bible Reading, we will provide discussion questions each week related to the sermon. These questions are designed to help you dig into the scripture readings when you meet with your Delta Group.
🙏 2023 Lectio Divina – Guide for Reading and Reflecting on Scripture
Discussion Questions – Week 1
- In v8, Jesus says, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” What does Jesus mean by this? How is this significant for Peter?
- In v12, Jesus asks: “Do you understand what I have done for you?” What has Jesus done for you? Do you understand it?
- What are some ways we can wash the feet of others?
Discussion Questions – Week 2
- Jesus says that he is “the way, the truth, and the life.” How do you understand Jesus to be each of these three things?
- How would you rephrase verses 6-7 in your own words?
- In v12, Jesus says that those who believe in him “will do even greater things…” What “greater things” do you think Jesus is talking about? Is he talking about us? What “greater things” do you expect God to do in and through you?
Discussion Questions – Week 3
- In v18 Jesus says, “I will not leave you as orphans…” The implication is that without Jesus we are left as orphans. In what way do you think this is true? How do we experience this?
- Jesus’ disciple asks him in v22: “But Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” This is a question we might have, too: Why does the Lord show himself to the church, to me, but not to the whole world?
- Why do you think Jesus limits revealing himself to the world in this way? Another way of asking this: Why does Jesus leave the work of evangelism to the church?
- How does Jesus answer the disciple’s question?
- Jesus says in v21: “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me.”
- What commands does Jesus mean?
- Do you think this makes Jesus’ love conditional?
Discussion Questions – Week 4
- Jesus begins his prayer in John 17 by praying for himself. Does this surprise you? What might this teach us about our own prayer life?
- There are at least 3 key themes running throughout Jesus’ prayer. As you look through the passage, how do you see these themes connected?
- Glory
- Knowledge
- Unity
- In the sermon on Sunday, Pastor Brian said that unity was hard to define, but disunity was easy to see and feel. Do you agree? How would you define the unity that Jesus prays for us in verse 20ff?
Discussion Questions – Week 5
The sermon this week was on John 12:12-33. This was not part of the Lenten reading, but is still in line with our reflection on the Gospel of John’s account of the passion week.
- The crowds celebrated Jesus’ arrival to Jerusalem, shouting “Hosanna!” and “Blessed is the king of Israel!” And yet, their understanding of Jesus’ kingship wasn’t quite right. Does this diminish the truth of their proclamation to you? Or, even if they don’t understand it completely, is their proclamation that “Jesus is King” still a proper and effective one?
- As the church, we proclaim that “Jesus is Lord” (Phil 2:11). Do we suffer the same challenges as the crowd in our proclamation? How or how not? Does our failure to fully embody Jesus’ Lordship affect our witness to the world?
- The Gospel of John makes note that there were Greeks who sought to meet with Jesus (12:20f). Why do you think the Greeks wanted to meet with Jesus? Why do you think John included this detail in his account?
- Looking at verses 23-33, Pastor Shawn described Jesus’ kingship and the community of the church as a “cross-shaped community.” What does this mean? Do you agree?
- In verse 31, Jesus declares, “Now is the time for judgment on this world…” What judgment is Jesus talking about? How does this relate to our own judgment?
