EXTRA! Ideas for Adults – All Signs Point to Jesus – Session 2

1 month ago 21

Date: March 9, 2025

The Sign of His Grace

The Point: Jesus works on behalf of all who come to Him.

Get Into the Study

Use the following information to introduce Question #1.

When Hurricane Helene intensified before hitting Florida, it soon became the deadliest hurricane to strike the U.S. since 2017. What had begun as a few thunderstorms over warm waters became a category 4 hurricane. Along the southern part of America’s east coast, unexpected consequences soon became evident as, “record rainfall caused rivers to overflow and produced flash flooding, road washouts, and even landslides in some areas.”

The work of recovery from a storm like Helene is never a streamlined, quick effort. “Send Relief,” the disaster relief service arm for Southern Baptists soon began its work on the ground. Volunteers went out with chainsaws to begin recovery work in Florida, as shower and laundry trailers were delivered to key locations in Georgia. North Carolina feeding sites were established, as teams headed out in Tennessee, Virginia, and South Carolina. As of January 30, more than half a million hot meals have been provided, and over “5,000 recovery jobs on homes have been completed.” The work of rebuilding homes, and completing essential repairs, continues today so that residents can return to their homes in these winter months.

Say: “We all recognize the challenge it would be to need, and have to wait for, help after a natural disaster, and we don’t feel shame or judgment toward those who need assistance. We all have experienced instances though, where we are the ones who need help and yet feel a sense of embarrassment or are slow to ask for the help we need.”

Then ask Question #1.

Information for this post was gleaned from:

Get Into the Study (Option from Adult Leader Guide)

In advance, play a video clip of someone asking for help. Then ask Question #1.

Study the Bible

Begin by sharing this news item:

Since President Teddy Roosevelt oversaw the project of connecting two oceans by a 51-mile waterway more than a century ago, “the Panama Canal has sat at the center of global trade.” In recent weeks, government leaders have brought this piece of real estate to the forefront of negotiations between Panama and America.

It is alleged that, “the presence of a Chinese company in the Canal Zone violates the neutrality clause of the 1977 Treaty” negotiated between the two nations. The BBC reported last week that while the United States is still the primary user of the canal, “Chinese involvement in infrastructure projects around the waterway- which is operated directly by Panama- has grown in recent years.” American officials have indicated their concern that Chinese interests could “block” American use of the canal.

Meanwhile, however, “Panamanian authorities have discontinued or suspended other Chinese-led projects,” and one authority in these discussions told the BBC that, “Beijing’s influence in Panama may well be on the decline.” Recent discussions seem to indicate that Panama is determinedly moving away from Chinese influence, toward a more favorable stasis in its relationship with the U.S.

Say: “Relationships between countries can be fraught with misunderstandings. Communication can break down when there is uncertainty about whether or not one can take the other at its word. But at many points in history, the world is strengthened when leaders and nations develop relationships of trust.”

Proceed with asking Question #4.

Information for this post was gleaned from:

Additional Questions

Ice Breaker

In what situations are you most likely to ask for help?
Growing up, when were you least likely to ask for help? LP
What are some tasks you always seem to need help with
How do our actions demonstrate our faith in God’s word?

John 4:46-47

What emotions do you typically feel when you come to God with a need or request?
Why do we often seek or ask for a ‘sign’?
What is it about Jesus that motivates you to take your needs to Him?
What barriers have you had to break through in order to take needs to Jesus?
Why might people hesitate to take their needs to Jesus?

John 4:48-50

What’s the difference between believing in God and believing God?
How does action demonstrate our faith in God’s word?
When have you seen someone trust God with a big problem?
How might our lives be different if we took Jesus at His word as the centurion did?
How would you describe what Jesus meant by the word “believe”?
How has “taking Jesus at His word” grown your faith?

John 4:51-54

How does knowing that God is not limited by time or distance strengthen your faith?
What circumstances in your life might God be using to increase your faith?
What do we learn about faith from this official?
What has been a powerful sign of Jesus’s grace in your life?