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LESSON SUMMARY:

The Light came to shine light in the darkness. The way came to lead the lost. The truth was sent to confront the lie. The life was sent not only to overcome death but to die to conquer it. However, our eyes see so dimly that we are unable to see the light for who He is. We need the Lord to touch our hearts and give us a new desire to walk in the light He shines on our path. When we ask, He will answer. He will open our eyes, and He will give us light to see. As we respond to that light, He will give us more light. The Light of life will dawn anew in our hearts and we will be filled to overflowing with the light of life himself

DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL USE

Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for this time you have provided for us to come together to hear from you and have fellowship in your Word and to learn and apply your Word to our hearts. We need you, Lord. We need your grace all the time. We praise you for your goodness and your love and mercy. Please open our hearts to you and to one another and lead our discussion. Help us not to fear, but to put all of our hope in Christ. Help us to remember there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. May you be glorified in all our thoughts and words and deeds. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

I. LECTURE

Will someone share how the Lord used the lecture to speak to your heart? Did anyone have any questions or concerns about the lecture? If you ever have a question or something is unclear, please let us know. We want to serve you in any way we can!

II. QUESTIONS FROM THE HOMEWORK
Go through the homework, occasionally calling on women. Read scriptures aloud. After asking a question, remember to allow a brief period of quiet “wait-time” to give women a chance to think before answering. After pausing, if no one shares, go ahead with your answer, rephrase question, and/or move on.

DAY ONE Devotion: The Light Dawns

1. How do we come to the point, as an old hymn says, where the “things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace?” What is our role? What is our responsibility?

DAY TWO

2. Please read Matthew 4:12-16. What do you fear? What do you need to do to overcome the darkness?

3. What do you believe Jesus is asking you to lay down?

4. Where does your life seem most out of control, out of balance, or out of sync?

DAY THREE

5. What are your regular, customary spiritual disciplines? If you do not have any, what is the first thing you want to get into place?

6. What was Christ sent to do according to Luke 4:18-19?

7. What goes through your heart and mind as you read Luke 4:23-26?

8. What kind of attitudes do you encounter at church? Have you been measured by some human standard? Do you measure others by the same?

9. How do you respond to the sermon preached on Sunday morning? What do you do with it?

DAY FOUR

10. From reading Luke 5:4-11, what did Jesus ask Simon Peter to do? What was Peter’s response to Jesus?

11. Would someone share their thoughts and observations from reading Revelation 4:8-11

12. Would someone share their thoughts and feelings when you were instructed to imagine yourself in Peter’s shoes?

13. Will someone share a time when you saw God so clearly that it caused you to worship?

DAY FIVE

14. What have you witnessed Jesus doing in the lives of those around you, even in the past few weeks?

15. What do you think true faith is? What does it look like? When do you find it most difficult to walk by faith?

16. Are you living as though you were saved from eternal destruction by your Lord? What do you need to do to more brightly shine the light of Christ in your world?

III. PLEASE FILL OUT YOUR HOMEWORK ACCOUNTABILITY CARDS

IV. PLEASE RECITE YOUR SCRIPTURE MEMORY VERSES TOGETHER

V. TAKING THE TRUTH TO HEART TIME

We will now focus on taking God’s truth to our hearts and bringing it to life. James 5:16a states; “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” And 1 Peter 2:24 says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”

Please turn to your Taking the Truth to Heart Review page. We will each have 3 minutes so that every woman will have a chance to share. Please record one another’s confessions on the Taking the Truth to Heart Guide on the following page so you can pray for one another throughout the week. Leaders please set the example by going first.

VI. PLEASE CLOSE IN PRAYER