Sermon Questions 2025-04-06
Series: The Gospel of John: Living your Best Life
Text: John 13:1-17
Title: A Life of Foot Washing
1. Opening: Share a story of how one of your dinners or parties have been disrupted by strange or surprising behaviour, positive or negative.
2. Have you literally washed someone else’s feet, or had someone do that for you? Describe the experience. Does it shape your reading of this story? If so, how?
3. Jesus told his disciples that by washing their feet he has given them an example to follow (13:15). Is there a place today in the church for actual foot washing? What does it mean for us today to follow this example of foot washing?
4. Peter initially resisted Jesus’ foot washing. Judas allowed his feet to be washed but ultimately resisted Jesus’ example when he came with guards and weapons to arrest Jesus. What makes you resist a life of foot washing, or Jesus’ call later in the chapter to love one another (13:34)? (In her sermon Pastor Cara offered three possibilities.)
5. Think about various facets of life: politics, economics, education, workplace, family, neighbourhood , etc. Imagine what would be different if people valued a life of “foot washing” or self-giving love.
6. Talk about examples you’ve experienced / witnessed of sacrificial service and love to one another. How can this sort of life be “living your best life”?