The discussion, from 8:30 to 8:50

The Bible bit gives us an introduction to what the Bible claims. But they're not going to believe it just because the Bible says it! So we need to have some time for discussing the implications of it all. Here we need somebody (or even better, a couple of people) who will show their group three simple diagrams (could be on a laptop, or on paper, or if we do this bit as one large group, on the plasma TV) and explain what they mean.

For example, on the first evening ("Jesus - who was he?"), there's a diagram which points out some of the things we can definitely say about Jesus: his teaching was original and brilliant; his subject was honesty; his moral standards were unbelievably high; his lifestyle was all about helping others at his own expense; and his claim was that he was equal with God. So you just make these points and ask the group: which of these facts doesn't seem to fit with the others?

Diagram 2 contrasts Jesus with the founders of other great religions, and makes the simple point: nobody else ever made such a staggering claim as Jesus did!

Then diagram 3 points out the options this leaves us with. Jesus might have been mad to make a claim like that. Or he might have been bad. Or perhaps he might just have been God.

Your group may already have started to argue about this by now! But if not, you'll also have three questions to start discussion:

Can you think of any reasons why Jesus couldn't have been mad or evil?

Would Jesus have been more effective if he'd just done some teaching, performed a few miracles when nobody was looking, and kept quiet about his identity?

Do you think it was easier or more difficult in those days for people to swallow the idea that a person could be God?

As with the Bible study, you'll find this time slot simply flies by. Most people have lots of theories, ideas, and questions they've never understood, to try out on you, and this is a great chance to do it! You'll find yourself having conversations about really important things that you never thought you could have with your friends. The "Just Looking" discussion format does the work for you. You don't need to know everything either - we won't be pretending that you're some sort of theological expert, with glib answers to everything - but it will help to have two "tag-team" leaders again, so that you can cover one another's back.

HERE IS THE DISCUSSION STUFF FOR WEEK 2

As ever, it's based on three diagrams, which will be on a Powerpoint. But unlike this week, maybe we'll show all three diagrams first, then have one longer discussion...

The first diagram shows God and us, with a thick black cloud between. It's about the problem we all have: We are created in God's image, but cut off from God by sin. That means we're guilty, needing forgiveness; lost, needing to be found; dissatisfied, needing to find a purpose; and helpless, needing power.

The second diagram shows the human still under the cloud... but now there's another figure standing next to him, and he isn't under it. He's the same shape as humans, but the same colour as God - and as most people will guess, that figure represents Jesus, a human like us in every way but one. He was sinless. There was no barrier between him and God. So he was able to claim, as we saw in the last session, that he had a close relationship with the Father and knew his will better than anyone else living.

The third diagram make a switch! Now the cloud is over Jesus, as he dies on the cross... and there's no more cloud for the human being. What is this saying? That when Jesus died, a great transfer took place. The sins which separated us from God were laid on him, and he took our place so that we could go free. You could quote 1 Peter 2:24 or 2 Corinthians 8:9 here. (We'll probably put them on the PowerPoint.) Stress that this diagram isn't the end of the story. Jesus rose from death and went back to the Father. His separation from God is now over because everything has been settled - Colossians 2:13-15.

Back in the groups, here are the discussion questions:

• Isn't this unfair? Shouldn't we pay for our own misdeeds?
• Many people still assume that we have to live a good life in order to earn God's approval. Can you see why people might find that an attractive idea?
• If Jesus did all this for us, does that mean we're automatically forgiven, off the hook?
• Or do we have to do something about it too?

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