We realize you may not be able to discuss b. Do you intentionally put yourself in places all the questions. Pick the ones you like. where you can be comforted during times of Small Group Questions anguish? Where are a few of those places for “Help for a Troubled Soul” you? a John 12:27-36 c. How does knowing that God is with you during times of trouble or anguish, help you have Previous message summary: As Jesus rides into Jerusalem, peace? Read John 14:1-6. people come out to greet him by waving palm branches and shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of Discussion Questions the Lord, even the King of Israel!” It is clear that the people Read John 12:27-36 expected Jesus to be a conquering king who would sit on a throne in Jerusalem and establish the greatness of Israel. But 2. Jesus says in verse 27 that his soul is troubled. Why Jesus came to be a new kind of King. He came to be a different is Jesus troubled? When Jesus says his soul is kind of King who would conquer by giving his life as a ransom troubled, is he experiencing a sense of anguish and for all. In response to the crowd and the kind of king they sorrow that is similar to anything that you have ever expected, Jesus rides on a donkey, not a mighty stallion. In experienced? response to the crowd and the kind of king they expected, Jesus welcomes some Greeks (Gentiles) who have come to a. Are there other places in the New Testament see him, making it clear that his Kingdom is for all people. In where we see Jesus troubled? Read John response to the crowd and the kind of king they expected, 11:33; 13:21; Matthew 26:36-46. Jesus says that his followers must lose their life and follow him. b. Was the source of Jesus’ anguish and sorrow Jesus is the kind of king who promises his followers that he will always be with them and that the Father will honor them as only because of the physical punishment that they surrender and follow this new king. he would endure by being crucified? What did Jesus endure on the cross that he had never What we learned: The world has seen all kinds of kings over experienced before? Read Mark 15:34; 2 the years, but never a king like Jesus. He came to establish a Corinthians 5:21; and Hebrews 12:2. new Kingdom that would be for all people. Jesus came to establish a Kingdom that would endure forever. Jesus came to c. How does understanding the great sorrow that establish a Kingdom that would be built on the blood of his own Jesus had leading up to the cross, help you life. Jesus is a new kind of king, and following him is much realize the price that Jesus paid to forgive your different than following any other king this world has ever seen. sin? Following King Jesus requires that we lose our life and give everything we are to him. d. What can you do to show your appreciation for the price Jesus paid to forgive you? Introduction 3. What does Jesus say about the purpose for which 1. Has your soul ever been troubled? What kinds of he came into the world? things trouble the soul? a. When Jesus talks about his “hour,” what is he a. When your soul is troubled, what (if anything) always referring to? Read John 12:23 & 17:1. helps bring peace and comfort into your life? b. How does knowing that Jesus came to give his life help you in your resolve to follow Him? 4. When God speaks in verse 28, what does he say? b. How can walking in the light help in times of Is this the only time that God has spoken audibly great sorrow and anguish? Have you ever during the life of Jesus? Read Matt 3:16-17, and experienced this kind of real help in your life? Mark 9:1-7. c. What would you tell someone who is a. When God speaks audibly during the life of experiencing a time of great trouble and sorrow Jesus, what is the purpose? What does Jesus about the importance of walking with Jesus say in John 12:29 specifically about the through difficult times? purpose of God’s statement here? Challenge: There is a big difference between doing what b. How does the crowd respond to the voice of is easy and doing what is right. In this passage we see God? What are some explanations they give that Jesus resolved to do what is right because he was for the voice of God? committed to accomplishing the will or purpose of his c. Do people today struggle to hear God? What Father. This week you will have the opportunity to choose are some ways that people today explain away to do the easy thing or the right thing. Be resolved to do the truth of God and miss his message to the the right thing, knowing that you are living for the purpose world? of glorifying God. 5. What does Jesus say about the judgement of this world? Who will be cast out? Who will be lifted up? Action: This week, I will choose to walk in the light and How are the two events (casting out, and lifted up) glorify God with my life. I will commit to doing the right connected? thing, especially when doing the easy thing is so tempting. I will listen to God’s Word and do what he says is right for a. What will happen to people as Jesus is lifted my life. up? Read John 12:32. How is this statement similar to what Jesus says in John 3:14-15? Next Steps: b. When Jesus says he will be lifted up, does the G I will choose what is right, rather than what is easy. crowd understand what he is talking about? G I will start asking to know God’s will, rather than Read John 12:34. What is the source of their asking God to do my will. confusion? G I will try to really listen to what God would have me c. In your own words, explain how Jesus being do. lifted up means victory for you and defeat for Satan. Is this a message that someone you know needs to hear? 6. How does Jesus answer the crowd’s question about who the “Son of Man” is? a. When Jesus tells people to “walk while you have the light,” what is he saying about himself and how people should respond to him?