Windows on Worship is an online Christian worship series grounded in the Methodist tradition, but inclusive and welcoming for all.

Each video has prayers, illustrated Bible readings, a reflection and suggestions for YouTube videos to access throughout the week, to keep you going and deepen your prayer time.

Each act  of worship premieres on Sundays at 10am UK time.

Windows on Worship

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for the Third Sunday of Advent, focusing on the vision of new life and restoration throughout creation in Isaiah 35:1 - 10, and Jesus's teaching about the coming of John the Baptist in Matthew 11:2 - 11. 
 
To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20221206.pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz 
 
Questions to ponder: 
 
1) Read through Isaiah 35. Which of its many and varied images most strikes you, and why do you think that is? How would you present this text? 
 
2) Where are the wilderness places in need of the renewal of God in today’s world? What might you do to enable new fruit to grow? 
 
3) Given what John the Baptist had imagined the Messiah to be like (3:7–12), why do you think he got his disciples to ask the question of 11:3? 
 
4) What can we learn about John the Baptist from Jesus’s questions to the crowd in 11:7 – 9? Why do you think John still matters today? 
 
5) How do you feel that these two readings have influenced your Advent journey this year?

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for the Third Sunday of Advent, focusing on the vision of new life and restoration throughout creation in Isaiah 35:1 - 10, and Jesus's teaching about the coming of John the Baptist in Matthew 11:2 - 11.

To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20221206.pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz

Questions to ponder:

1) Read through Isaiah 35. Which of its many and varied images most strikes you, and why do you think that is? How would you present this text?

2) Where are the wilderness places in need of the renewal of God in today’s world? What might you do to enable new fruit to grow?

3) Given what John the Baptist had imagined the Messiah to be like (3:7–12), why do you think he got his disciples to ask the question of 11:3?

4) What can we learn about John the Baptist from Jesus’s questions to the crowd in 11:7 – 9? Why do you think John still matters today?

5) How do you feel that these two readings have influenced 

First Look Bible Study - Isaiah 35:1 - 10, Matthew 11:2 - 11 (Advent III)

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for the Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, focusing on Jesus being challenged about resurrection by the Sadducees, in Luke 20:27 - 38. 
 
To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20221101.pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz 
 
Questions to ponder: 
 
1) Jesus faced a great deal of hostility for having overturned the tables in the Temple, but what do you imagine had most offended the Sadducees? 
 
2) What does the Sadducees’ story tell us about their views towards women, and how does Jesus’ response challenge this? 
 
3) What do you make of Jesus’s argument that God is the God of the living, in 20:37 – 38? What might this imply about relationships in heaven? 
 
4) Whose bodies are undervalued today? In what ways has the Church been complicit, and in what ways has it brought about justice? 
 
5) How is this reading good news for today?

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for the Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, focusing on Jesus being challenged about resurrection by the Sadducees, in Luke 20:27 - 38.

To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20221101.pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz

Questions to ponder:

1) Jesus faced a great deal of hostility for having overturned the tables in the Temple, but what do you imagine had most offended the Sadducees?

2) What does the Sadducees’ story tell us about their views towards women, and how does Jesus’ response challenge this?

3) What do you make of Jesus’s argument that God is the God of the living, in 20:37 – 38? What might this imply about relationships in heaven?

4) Whose bodies are undervalued today? In what ways has the Church been complicit, and in what ways has it brought about justice?

5) How is this reading good news for today?

First Look Bible Study - Luke 20:27 - 38

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, focusing on Jesus teaching about hospitality, status and humility, in Luke 14:1, 7 - 14. 
 
To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20220823.pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz 
 
Questions to ponder: 
 
1) What does Jesus being invited to a meal, while also being carefully watched (14:1), tell us about his relationship with the Pharisees? 
 
2) Jesus used the image of a wedding banquet to illustrate how humility can be subversive (14:8 – 11). What do you think might be today’s equivalent? 
 
3) What might prevent us putting Jesus’s teaching in 14:12 – 14 into practice, or least make us feel reluctant to do so? 
 
4) How do social class dynamics impact the life of the Church? What might need to change for the value of all people to God to be fully reflected? 
 
5) Do you think the Pharisee was glad he invited Jesus for a meal, or regretted it? Why is that?

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, focusing on Jesus teaching about hospitality, status and humility, in Luke 14:1, 7 - 14.

To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20220823.pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz

Questions to ponder:

1) What does Jesus being invited to a meal, while also being carefully watched (14:1), tell us about his relationship with the Pharisees?

2) Jesus used the image of a wedding banquet to illustrate how humility can be subversive (14:8 – 11). What do you think might be today’s equivalent?

3) What might prevent us putting Jesus’s teaching in 14:12 – 14 into practice, or least make us feel reluctant to do so?

4) How do social class dynamics impact the life of the Church? What might need to change for the value of all people to God to be fully reflected?

5) Do you think the Pharisee was glad he invited Jesus for a meal, or regretted it? Why is that?

First Look Bible Study - Luke 14:1, 7 - 14

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, focusing on Jesus's healing of a woman who had been afflicted for eighteen years, and subsequent conflict with a synagogue leader, in Luke 13:10 - 17. 
 
To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20220816.pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz 
 
Questions to ponder: 
 
1) Why do you think some in the crowds who followed Jesus linked suffering with sinfulness? Is this something you have encountered yourself? 
 
2) How has your experience of what is and is not ‘acceptable’ on a Sunday or Sabbath changed over time? How has this impacted on church life? 
 
3) Looking at the story from the standpoint of the woman who was healed, how do you imagine her being healed changed her life? 
 
4) Looking at the story from the standpoint of the synagogue leader, why do you think he objected? Can we tell his story without vilifying him? 
 
5) How might this text be good news for today?

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, focusing on Jesus's healing of a woman who had been afflicted for eighteen years, and subsequent conflict with a synagogue leader, in Luke 13:10 - 17.

To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20220816.pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz

Questions to ponder:

1) Why do you think some in the crowds who followed Jesus linked suffering with sinfulness? Is this something you have encountered yourself? 

2) How has your experience of what is and is not ‘acceptable’ on a Sunday or Sabbath changed over time? How has this impacted on church life?

3) Looking at the story from the standpoint of the woman who was healed, how do you imagine her being healed changed her life?

4) Looking at the story from the standpoint of the synagogue leader, why do you think he objected? Can we tell his story without vilifying him?

5) How might this text be good news for today?

First Look Bible Study - Luke 13:10 - 17

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for Trinity Sunday, based on an extract from the Farewell Discourse in which Jesus looks to the coming of the Holy Spirit, in John 16:12 - 15. 
 
To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20220607.pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz 
 
Questions to ponder: 
 
1) How do you imagine the disciples felt as they listened to Jesus say these things? Why do you think they remained confused in 16:16 – 17? 
 
2) What examples can you think of which point to the Holy Spirit revealing new things, as Jesus tells us will happen in John 16:12? 
 
3) Have you ever experienced the Holy Spirit as speaking to you? How did you discern whether what you heard was really from God? 
 
4) What can we learn from this passage about the relationship between Father, Son and Spirit? How might you make sense of this to a non-Christian? 
 
5) How is this reading good news for today?

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for Trinity Sunday, based on an extract from the Farewell Discourse in which Jesus looks to the coming of the Holy Spirit, in John 16:12 - 15.

To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20220607.pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz

Questions to ponder:

1) How do you imagine the disciples felt as they listened to Jesus say these things? Why do you think they remained confused in 16:16 – 17?

2) What examples can you think of which point to the Holy Spirit revealing new things, as Jesus tells us will happen in John 16:12?

3) Have you ever experienced the Holy Spirit as speaking to you? How did you discern whether what you heard was really from God?

4) What can we learn from this passage about the relationship between Father, Son and Spirit? How might you make sense of this to a non-Christian?

5) How is this reading good news for today?

First Look Bible Study - John 16:12 - 15 (Trinity)

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for Ascension Sunday, exploring the final resurrection appearance and the ascension of Jesus, in Luke 24:44 - 53. 
 
To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20220524.pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz 
 
Questions to ponder: 
 
1) Why do you think the Ascension has frequently been neglected in the Christian tradition? What comes into your mind when you think of it? 
 
2) If you had to select a handful of biblical texts that point to who Jesus is and why he matters, which would you choose and why? 
 
3) The disciples were commissioned to witness to the truths Jesus revealed to them. In what way(s) can we best carry on this witness today? 
 
4) What does the reaction of the disciples to the Ascension in 24:51 – 53 tell us about how their understanding of God was developing? 
 
5) How is this reading good news for us today?

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for Ascension Sunday, exploring the final resurrection appearance and the ascension of Jesus, in Luke 24:44 - 53.

To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20220524.pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz

Questions to ponder:

1) Why do you think the Ascension has frequently been neglected in the Christian tradition? What comes into your mind when you think of it?

2) If you had to select a handful of biblical texts that point to who Jesus is and why he matters, which would you choose and why?

3) The disciples were commissioned to witness to the truths Jesus revealed to them. In what way(s) can we best carry on this witness today?

4) What does the reaction of the disciples to the Ascension in 24:51 – 53 tell us about how their understanding of God was developing?

5) How is this reading good news for us today?

First Look Bible Study - Luke 24:44 - 53

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for Palm Sunday, exploring the triumphal arrival of Jesus into Jerusalem, in Luke 19:28 - 40. 
 
To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20220405.pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz 
 
Questions to ponder: 
 
1) How do you imagine the disciples felt as they approached Jerusalem, given what Jesus had said repeatedly about his own death? 
 
2) Jesus’s entrance into the city was loaded with clear Messianic symbolism. Why do you imagine this might have made the Pharisees nervous? 
 
3) What is significant about the crowd modifying Psalm 118:26 to add in ‘the king’ in 19:38? What does it tell us about how Luke views Jesus? 
 
4) What is it about human nature that means we celebrate and cheer a person one minute, but turn on them and seek to tear them down the next? 
 
5) How is this story good news for today?

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for Palm Sunday, exploring the triumphal arrival of Jesus into Jerusalem, in Luke 19:28 - 40.

To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20220405.pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz

Questions to ponder:

1) How do you imagine the disciples felt as they approached Jerusalem, given what Jesus had said repeatedly about his own death?

2) Jesus’s entrance into the city was loaded with clear Messianic symbolism. Why do you imagine this might have made the Pharisees nervous?

3) What is significant about the crowd modifying Psalm 118:26 to add in ‘the king’ in 19:38? What does it tell us about how Luke views Jesus?

4) What is it about human nature that means we celebrate and cheer a person one minute, but turn on them and seek to tear them down the next?

5) How is this story good news for today?

First Look Bible Study - Luke 19:28 - 40

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for the Fourth Sunday of Ordinary, looking at Jesus being rejected in his hometown of Nazareth after proclaiming his manifesto, in Luke 4:21 - 30. 
 
To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20220125.pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz 
 
Questions to ponder: 
 
1) What might we learn about the nature of God’s grace from how Luke 4:18 – 22 reveals Jesus as both prophetic and gracious? 
 
2) Why do you think the crowd in the synagogue in Nazareth focused on Jesus being Joseph’s son in 4:22? What does this tell us about them? 
 
3) Why do you think the examples Jesus cited in 4:25 – 27 enraged the crowds? 
 
4) Have you ever experienced hostility or rejection when returning to your hometown? What form did this take, and how did it affect you? 
 
5) How is this story good news for today?

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for the Fourth Sunday of Ordinary, looking at Jesus being rejected in his hometown of Nazareth after proclaiming his manifesto, in Luke 4:21 - 30. 

To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20220125.pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz

Questions to ponder:

1) What might we learn about the nature of God’s grace from how Luke 4:18 – 22 reveals Jesus as both prophetic and gracious?

2) Why do you think the crowd in the synagogue in Nazareth focused on Jesus being Joseph’s son in 4:22? What does this tell us about them?

3) Why do you think the examples Jesus cited in 4:25 – 27 enraged the crowds?

4) Have you ever experienced hostility or rejection when returning to your hometown? What form did this take, and how did it affect you? 

5) How is this story good news for today?

First Look Bible Study - Luke 4:21 - 30

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for Covenant Sunday, looking at the baptism of Jesus in Luke 3:15 - 17, 21 - 22. 
 
To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20220104pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz 
 
Questions to ponder: 
 
1) How does reading Luke 3:15 – 17 feel different, if it does at all, when we do so outside the context of Advent and in the light of the baptism of Jesus? 
 
2) Why do you think Jesus chose to be baptised by John, despite being both greater than him and without sin? 
 
3) If Jesus’s baptism relates to the new covenant breaking in, what does that imply about how we might understand baptism today? 
 
4) Why is it often so difficult to hear God saying to us that we are God’s beloved child, with whom God is well pleased? 
 
5) How is this story good news for today?

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for Covenant Sunday, looking at the baptism of Jesus in Luke 3:15 - 17, 21 - 22.

To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20220104pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz

Questions to ponder:

1) How does reading Luke 3:15 – 17 feel different, if it does at all, when we do so outside the context of Advent and in the light of the baptism of Jesus?

2) Why do you think Jesus chose to be baptised by John, despite being both greater than him and without sin?

3) If Jesus’s baptism relates to the new covenant breaking in, what does that imply about how we might understand baptism today?

4) Why is it often so difficult to hear God saying to us that we are God’s beloved child, with whom God is well pleased?

5) How is this story good news for today?

First Look Bible Study - Luke 3:15 - 17, 21 - 22

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for the Second Sunday of Advent, based on prophetic warnings around the need for true and life-changing repentance, in Micah 3:1 - 4 and Luke 3:1 - 6. 
 
To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20211130.pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz 
 
Questions to ponder: 
 
1) What comes to mind when you hear the ‘Day of the Lord’ (Malachi 3:2)? How does the ‘white hot and searing deliverance’ of this text strike you? 
 
2) Do you think the same criticisms levelled at the worship and injustices of Israel could be made of the Church today? If so, what needs to change? 
 
3) Does it matter if Luke got some of the historical details in 3:1 – 2 incorrect? How does your view impact your view of biblical authority? 
 
4) If sin is primarily about injustice and the impact on corporate living/relationships, how might this perspective shape our view of John the Baptist? 
 
5) How might these two passages deepen our understanding of Advent hope?

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for the Second Sunday of Advent, based on prophetic warnings around the need for true and life-changing repentance, in Micah 3:1 - 4 and Luke 3:1 - 6. 

To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20211130.pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz

Questions to ponder:

1) What comes to mind when you hear the ‘Day of the Lord’ (Malachi 3:2)? How does the ‘white hot and searing deliverance’ of this text strike you?

2) Do you think the same criticisms levelled at the worship and injustices of Israel could be made of the Church today? If so, what needs to change?

3) Does it matter if Luke got some of the historical details in 3:1 – 2 incorrect? How does your view impact your view of biblical authority?

4) If sin is primarily about injustice and the impact on corporate living/relationships, how might this perspective shape our view of John the Baptist?

5) How might these two passages deepen our understanding of Advent hope?

First Look Bible Study - Malachi 3:1 - 4 and Luke 3:1 - 6

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for the Twenty-Fifth Week of Ordinary Time, based on Jesus teaching his disciples about his being the Messiah and the need to be the servant of all, in Mark 9:30 - 37. 
 
To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20210914.pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz 
 
Questions to ponder: 
 
1) Why do you think the disciples were scared to ask Jesus what his teaching meant (Mark 9:32)? Are you ever scared to approach God today? 
 
2) Have you ever come across status-seeking in the life of the Church? How can we guard against doing this ourselves? 
3) What do you understand by Jesus’s calling the disciples to be the servants of all? Can you offer an example of when you have done this? 
 
4) As Western European views on the status of children are very different from those in Jesus’s time, how might we update 9:36 – 37 for today? 
 
5) How is this reading good news for today?

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for the Twenty-Fifth Week of Ordinary Time, based on Jesus teaching his disciples about his being the Messiah and the need to be the servant of all, in Mark 9:30 - 37.

To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20210914.pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz

Questions to ponder:

1) Why do you think the disciples were scared to ask Jesus what his teaching meant (Mark 9:32)? Are you ever scared to approach God today?

2) Have you ever come across status-seeking in the life of the Church? How can we guard against doing this ourselves?
3) What do you understand by Jesus’s calling the disciples to be the servants of all? Can you offer an example of when you have done this?

4) As Western European views on the status of children are very different from those in Jesus’s time, how might we update 9:36 – 37 for today?

5) How is this reading good news for today?

First Look Bible Study - Mark 9:30 - 37

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for the Twenty-Second Week of Ordinary Time, based on Jesus being confronted by the Pharisees and Scribes about hand-washing rituals, in Mark 7:1 - 23. 
 
To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20210824.pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz 
 
Questions to ponder: 
 
1) Have you ever fallen foul of expectations which come from ‘the way we do things here’ rather than from God? How did you respond? 
 
2) Why do think Jesus called the Pharisees and Scribes hypocrites (Mark 7:6)? What was it about their question that caused this reaction? 
 
3) In 7:15, Jesus talks about what comes from the heart of a person being what defiles. How do the list of things in 7:21 – 22 harm relationships? 
 
4) Are there traditions in the Church that get in the way of being faithful to God? How can we decide what traditions are helpful and which are not? 
 
5) How is this reading good news for today?

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for the Twenty-Second Week of Ordinary Time, based on Jesus being confronted by the Pharisees and Scribes about hand-washing rituals, in Mark 7:1 - 23.

To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20210824.pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz

Questions to ponder:

1) Have you ever fallen foul of expectations which come from ‘the way we do things here’ rather than from God? How did you respond?

2) Why do think Jesus called the Pharisees and Scribes hypocrites (Mark 7:6)? What was it about their question that caused this reaction?

3) In 7:15, Jesus talks about what comes from the heart of a person being what defiles. How do the list of things in 7:21 – 22 harm relationships?

4) Are there traditions in the Church that get in the way of being faithful to God? How can we decide what traditions are helpful and which are not?

5) How is this reading good news for today?

First Look Bible Study - Mark 7:1 - 23

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for the Twenty-First Week of Ordinary Time, based on Jesus being rejected by some of his early disciples, in John 6:56 - 69. 
 
To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20210817.pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz 
 
Questions to ponder: 
 
1) What can we learn from John 6:56 – 58 about what intimacy with Jesus looks like, and how all this builds on the story of the Exodus? 
 
2) Why do you think some of the disciples who’d followed Jesus that far rejected him (6:60)? Have you ever walked away from God for a season? 
 
3) Jesus contrasts the descending of manna with the ascending of the Son of Man. How does this help us understand the events described here? 
 
4) What does it mean to you to speak of Jesus as having the words of eternal life (6:68)? Who are the people who have helped you hear them? 
 
5) How is this reading good news for today?

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for the Twenty-First Week of Ordinary Time, based on Jesus being rejected by some of his early disciples, in John 6:56 - 69.

To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20210817.pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz

Questions to ponder:

1) What can we learn from John 6:56 – 58 about what intimacy with Jesus looks like, and how all this builds on the story of the Exodus?

2) Why do you think some of the disciples who’d followed Jesus that far rejected him (6:60)? Have you ever walked away from God for a season?

3) Jesus contrasts the descending of manna with the ascending of the Son of Man. How does this help us understand the events described here?

4) What does it mean to you to speak of Jesus as having the words of eternal life (6:68)? Who are the people who have helped you hear them?

5) How is this reading good news for today?

First Look Bible Study - John 6:56 - 69

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for the Tenth Week of Ordinary Time, based on Jesus facing hostility from his family and Scribes, who were all in a spin, in Mark 3:20 - 35. 
 
To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20210601.pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz 
 
Questions to ponder: 
 
1) Why do you think Jesus’s family were hostile to him at this stage of his ministry? 
 
2) Have you experienced rejection and/or hostile reactions from those close to you because of your faith? If so, how did you handle this? 
 
3) Which of the two metaphors Jesus uses, in response to the Scribes in 3:24 – 27, makes most sense to you, and why? 
 
4) Jesus condemns those who see good and call it evil. Can you think of examples of this (or of the reverse) happening today? 
 
5) How is this reading good news for today?

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for the Tenth Week of Ordinary Time, based on Jesus facing hostility from his family and Scribes, who were all in a spin, in Mark 3:20 - 35.

To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20210601.pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz

Questions to ponder:

1) Why do you think Jesus’s family were hostile to him at this stage of his ministry?

2) Have you experienced rejection and/or hostile reactions from those close to you because of your faith? If so, how did you handle this?

3) Which of the two metaphors Jesus uses, in response to the Scribes in 3:24 – 27, makes most sense to you, and why?

4) Jesus condemns those who see good and call it evil. Can you think of examples of this (or of the reverse) happening today?

5) How is this reading good news for today?

First Look Bible Study - Mark 3:20 - 35

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for the Seventh Week of Easter, based on the selection of a replacement for Judas Iscariot, in Acts 1:15 - 17, 21 - 26. 
 
To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20210511.pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz 
 
Questions to ponder: 
 
1) Why do you think Luke goes to the bother of telling us about replacing Judas, when we hear nothing else at all about Matthias? 
 
2) Do you think the disciples used the correct criteria when choosing Judas’s replacement, or should they have considered others? 
 
3) How can we deal with betrayal and being let down by others in our own lives, in a way which acknowledges (and does not ignore) the pain caused? 
 
4) What can we learn from this text about handling decisions and making choices under pressure? 
 
5) How is this reading good news for today?

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for the Seventh Week of Easter, based on the selection of a replacement for Judas Iscariot, in Acts 1:15 - 17, 21 - 26.

To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20210511.pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz

Questions to ponder:

1) Why do you think Luke goes to the bother of telling us about replacing Judas, when we hear nothing else at all about Matthias?

2) Do you think the disciples used the correct criteria when choosing Judas’s replacement, or should they have considered others?

3) How can we deal with betrayal and being let down by others in our own lives, in a way which acknowledges (and does not ignore) the pain caused?

4) What can we learn from this text about handling decisions and making choices under pressure?

5) How is this reading good news for today?

First Look Bible Study - Acts 1:15 - 17, 21 - 26 (Easter VII)

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for the Sixth Week of Easter, based on Jesus commanding his disciples to love as they have been loved, in John 15:9 - 17. 
 
To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20210504.pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz 
 
Questions to ponder: 
 
1) How do you feel about being commanded to love by Jesus? What do you think gives him the authority to do this? 
 
2) Can you give examples of when churches have failed to be communities of reciprocal love? What would need to change to remedy this? 
 
3) What does it mean to you to put everything on the line for the sake of the other (John 15:13)? Are there situations in which we need to receive instead? 
 
4) Do you find the image of being friends with Jesus helpful? If so, why? If not, why not? 
 
5) How is this reading good news for today?

An LGBT+ friendly Bible study for the Sixth Week of Easter, based on Jesus commanding his disciples to love as they have been loved, in John 15:9 - 17.

To get the most out of this Bible study, download the sheet (First Look Sheet 20210504.pdf) from here: http://tiny.cc/29pysz

Questions to ponder:

1) How do you feel about being commanded to love by Jesus? What do you think gives him the authority to do this?

2) Can you give examples of when churches have failed to be communities of reciprocal love? What would need to change to remedy this?

3) What does it mean to you to put everything on the line for the sake of the other (John 15:13)? Are there situations in which we need to receive instead?

4) Do you find the image of being friends with Jesus helpful? If so, why? If not, why not?

5) How is this reading good news for today?

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