Small Group Notes for 25th January 2026
N.B. Sermon can be heard via our website and YouTube channel and the Paper Service version is on our website: https://parishofmedsteadandfourmarks.co.uk/online-church/paper-services/
Read and Reflect: Revelation chapters 8 to 11:18!
Questions:
This ‘scene’ from heaven repeats the record of suffering through-out history but this time emphasises the role of the people of God as witnesses. In the context of suffering – which is still limited (notice the thirds and the ‘five months’) – the church is to be a witness.
- What our experience of witnessing to the person of Christ?
- What would we like this experience to be like?
- There has been a shift in our society, previously and still a little today people wanted a rational argument to be convinced. Increasingly people are seeking an experience of God, much as ‘experiences’ have become the new pursuit. God in his graciousness condescends to us, how can we witness to, and help people receive an encounter with God?
- It is tough in our society to share Jesus, but there is a move among the younger generations to seek a truth which can provide a foundation for their lives, providing values, community, and experience.
- How can we, in our witness as a group, individuals, or church, be even more a beacon for truth – that is Jesus – who provides values, community, and an encounter with God?
- Who do we want to witness to this week – pray and plan how we might be that witness?
- The two witnesses (Old and New Testament people of God) are martyred in the Revelation account.
- How can we encourage and support each other when it is tough?
- Remember in your prayers the huge number of Christians suffering for their faith throughout the world.
- The scene finishes – the seventh trumpet, as with the sixth seal – with the judgement and rewards of God.
- How can we hold to the certainty of our future destiny (See Hebrews 11:13-16)?