Table of Contents Week Focus Page 1 God Shows Up John 1:1-18 2 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Come and See John 1:32-51 5 Going Public John 2 10 Two Reliable Witnesses John 3 14 Life-Changing Water John 4:1-26 20 Come and See Pt. 2 John 4:27-54 25 What Matters Most John 5:1-15 30 The One John 5:16-45 35 Prayer for your Group 40
God Shows Up Week One Take a minute to connect with others in the group through these simple questions: Your story 1. Why did you decide to join the Bible study this fall? 2. What would you most like to get out of the study? 3. Do you have any concerns or hesitations about being a part of this study? Your spiritual journey Did you go to church or Sunday school growing up? If so, what do you most remember about it? If not, what was your perception of God/church/Jesus growing up? 2
The Story of Jesus This year we are going through the Gospel of John and discovering who Jesus is, what he said, how he lived and what all of that means to us today. It is always helpful to understand an author s intent for writing a book before you set out to read it. In John 20:31 the author gives us a very clear statement of his purpose in writing the gospel of John..... these [words] are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name. The gospel according to John was written so that we would learn and believe in Jesus Christ as the Chosen One, the Sent One, the Faithful One, the only Son of God Jesus is The One. John 1:1-18 contains nine different titles given for Jesus. Have someone at your table slowly read the passage below as others listen prayerfully for titles or references to Jesus. Then have a second person read it with the same goal. Record the verse, the title and their significance to you. Discussing them together will help broaden your understanding of the titles. John 1:1-18 1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. 6 God sent a man, John the Baptist, 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. 14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father s one and only Son. 15 John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, This is the one I was talking about when I said, Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me. 16 From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but God s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who himself God, is near to the Father s heart. He has revealed God to us. 3
Verse Title for Jesus Significance to you today Notes 4
Come and See Week Two Being Transformed Take a moment to consider what key truths you want to remember from last week s lesson. How have you applied these truths to your life? Encountering Jesus Read: John 1:19-51 [our primary focus is 1:32-51 but it is helpful to read the preceding verses to understand the passage]. John the Baptist developed quite a following and drew crowds who wanted to hear his message of repentance and to be baptized. When confronted by religious authorities, John states that he is not the Messiah but that Jesus is. On what basis does John the Baptist claim that Jesus is the chosen one of God [verses 32-34]? What does John the Baptist call Jesus when he introduces him to his followers [verses 36-37]? What is the response of John s two disciples when they hear this about Jesus? 5
Look up the following verses and record what they reveal about the lamb: Exodus 12:21-27 Leviticus 5:5-6 1 Peter 1:18-21 After reading these verses, why do you think John the Baptist refers to Jesus as the Lamb of God and why would this cause his followers to turn and follow Jesus? Re-read John 1:35-49 How did these men first come to follow Jesus and what did they do when they met him? What do you learn from these early followers of Jesus that you can apply to your life? 6
Jesus asks the two disciples who are following him in verses 37-38, What do you want? Take a moment and imagine Jesus asking you this question. What would you say to him? What do you want? Experiencing Jesus No one in this unfolding story except for Jesus knew for a fact that Jesus was the One [the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament]. But, slowly the men in the verses began to see the uniqueness of Jesus. John the Baptist was convinced by God who told him that he would know the Son of God when the Spirit descended upon him. The followers of John believed his testimony of Jesus and then told others. Peter believed Andrew, and Nathaniel believed Philip. The invitation to believe is expressed in verses 39 and 46: come and see Jesus. Who extended to you the invitation to come and see Jesus? Whose life influenced you to trust that Jesus was The One? When have you extended this invitation to come and see Jesus to someone? What was it like for you? How did they respond? 7
Upon finding Jesus, Andrew and Philip went to their brothers and said, We have found the Messiah who we ve been looking for. Not only were they looking for their Messiah but He was also looking for them. He knew of them before they knew of him. This is what Jesus is indicating to Nathanael when he says that he had seen him under the fig tree. In the same way, Jesus knew us long before we knew him. What does it mean to you that God has this foreknowledge of you [see also Psalm 139]? Meeting Jesus Perhaps the most compelling truth we can draw from this lesson is the invitation that Jesus extends to us every day to trust Him, to draw near to him, and to believe he give us hope, healing and purpose. Jesus invites us to come and see. When we meet Jesus we are moved to worship, and worship brings transformation. Worship is simply giving God his proper place of honor in our life. As we recognize and affirm who he is, we begin to grow and to change not based on pretending or acting, but on his grace, mercy and the work of his Holy Spirit. A helpful worship exercise is to write down all the words and phrases that come to your mind to describe Jesus and God the father. Take a moment to do this now and let this exercise lead you into prayer. 8
Notes 9
Going Public Week three Being Transformed Take a moment to consider what key truths you want to remember from last week s lesson. How have you applied these truths to your life? Encountering Jesus John 2 presents us with two dynamic encounters with Jesus. As you read the passage, circle words or phrases that reflect the character and ministry of Jesus. Also, underline the responses of people to their encounter with Jesus. Read: John 2:1-25 Jesus Character/Ministry Wedding at Cana (v. 1-11) Peoples Response to Jesus Clearing the Temple (vs. 12-25) 10
What similar patterns do you see in these two events? What surprises you about Jesus? What questions arise as you mediate on these events in Jesus life? Experiencing Jesus From each of the two stories choose one word or phrase from the passage that would be your take away [the theme or message you get from this encounter with Jesus]. Wedding at Cana: Clearing the Temple: Why did you choose each of these particular words or phrases? How will you apply these passages to your life today? How will you live differently? 11
Meeting Jesus When we meet Jesus we are moved to worship, and worship brings transformation. Worship is simply giving God his proper place of honor in our life. As we recognize and affirm who he is, we begin to grow and to change not based on pretending or acting, but on his grace, mercy and the work of his Holy Spirit. Take a moment to record how the events you just read (the wedding and the cleansing of the temple) show Jesus to be The One the Messiah, the Christ, the true Son of God? [Let your response to this question lead you into worship and prayer]. 12
Notes 13
Two Reliable Witnesses Week Four Being Transformed Take a moment to consider what key truths you want to remember from last week s lesson. How have you applied these truths to your life? Encountering Jesus John 3 provides two stories that present two very reliable witnesses as to who Jesus is. This is significant because in Jewish culture for something to be considered true there needed to be at least two witnesses. In this case, Jesus testifies to his unique position as the Son of Man (3:13-15) and then John the Baptist also testifies that Jesus is the Son of God (3:22-36). In this midst of discovering who Jesus is we also discover the truth about salvation, the work of the Holy Spirit and the purposes of God the Father (note the trinity in these passages!!). Read: John 3:1-21 Record what you learn about these key figures: Nicodemus Jesus (the Son of Man) 14
Record what Jesus teaches about the following concepts: Salvation (seeing and entering the Kingdom of God/eternal life) The consequences of belief and unbelief (3:16-21) People s Response to Jesus (3:10-11) In John 3:14-15 Jesus references an event in the Old Testament that describes how people were saved from deadly snakes. Read this account Numbers 21:4-9 and record what insight it gives to Jesus understanding of salvation and belief. What did they have to do to be saved? What do we have to do? 15
What did you find disturbing or troubling in John 3:1-21? Jot down a few notes here so that you can bring this up during discussion time with your Bible Study Group. What truths or statements did you find to be especially meaningful? Why do you think those particular ideas are significant to you? Read: John 3:22-36 When Jesus disciples were upset that John the Baptist was losing followers, what was his reply (in your own words)? In 3:31-36, John the Baptist presents a significant argument for Jesus role and ministry. How does John distinguish between his ministry and the ministry/purpose of Jesus? In week 1 we looked at John s purpose in writing this gospel. Read John 20:31 again. How does this week s lesson focusing on these two important witnesses support John s goal in writing this book? 16
Experiencing Jesus John 3:16 is a very well known and oft quoted verse. Sometimes when things are too well known they can lose some of their impact. Write out John 3:16-17 in your own words. As you look at what you ve written, how does it impact you? If this is really true, what does that mean for you? For your family? For your enemies? For how you live? John the Baptist was fairly well known in his time. When asked about Jesus growing popularity he could have gotten defensive or divisive. But he didn t. Take a moment to meditate on John s words in 3:30. What jumps off the page at you? What might God be inviting you to on a daily basis? (See Luke 9:23-24 for helpful insight). 17
Meeting Jesus When we meet Jesus we are moved to worship, and worship brings transformation. Worship is simply giving God his proper place of honor in our life. As we recognize and affirm who he is, we begin to grow and to change not based on pretending or acting, but on his grace, mercy and the work of his Holy Spirit. Meditate on the following two verses and let them guide you into prayer: For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. John 3:17 There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus... Romans 8:1 18
Notes 19
Life-Changing Water Week Five Being Transformed Take a moment to consider what key truths you want to remember from last week s lesson. How have you applied these truths to your life? Encountering Jesus This week we read of another encounter Jesus had with an individual (like Nicodemus) where they ask an earthly question and Jesus responds with a spiritual answer. Sometimes these exchanges can seem confusing, but John s purpose for telling the story is so that we will see Jesus and come to believe in him. Read: John 4:1-26 In the space below record the questioner, the question and the response. Sometimes there may not be a direct question but there is an implied challenge or statement. Questioner Question Response Jesus to Woman Will you give me a drink? You are a Jew and I m a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink? Woman to Jesus How can you ask me for a drink? In verse 9, why was the woman surprised that Jesus would ask her for a drink? 20
In John 3 Jesus uses the metaphor of being born again when talking to Nicodemus about faith and salvation. What is the metaphor Jesus uses here with the woman at the well? Why do you think Jesus used the different metaphors to make his point when speaking with Nicodemus and then the women at the well? The picture of water is used several times throughout the Bible. In each of the verses below, what do you learn about the life-giving water of which Jesus spoke? John 7:37-39 Revelation 7:17 Revelation 22:17 How do these verses change the way you understand Jesus conversation with the woman at the well? 21
Experiencing Jesus In John 4 we see Jesus pursuing the woman at the well and then entering into a conversation about worship. When Jesus left Judea to go back to Galilee it says in verse 4 that he had to go through Samaria. In reality, most Jews would never go through Samaria. Instead they would cross the Jordan River and travel on its eastern side just to avoid Samaria because of the animosity between the two cultures. So it seems that the necessary reason for Jesus to go through Samaria had more to do with his mission than local geography. What does it say about Jesus and his mission that he would defy both cultural and religious norms to encounter this woman? How does this story touch your story? There is an interesting exchange between Jesus and the Samaritan woman regarding worship. They both worshipped the God of Israel, though differently. She wanted to talk about where they worship and Jesus wanted to talk about how they worship. What is the significance of Jesus words in 4:23-24? 22
Meeting Jesus When we meet Jesus we are moved to worship, and worship brings transformation. Worship is simply giving God his proper place of honor in our life. As we recognize and affirm who he is, we begin to grow and to change not based on our pretending or acting, but because of his grace, mercy and the work of his Holy Spirit in us. Take a moment to meditate on John 4:13-14. Let this passage lead you into worship and prayer. 23
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Come and See Pt. 2 Week Six Being Transformed Take a moment to consider what key truths you want to remember from last week s lesson. How have you applied these truths to your life? Encountering Jesus This week s scripture is a continuation of last week s study. Jesus had a conversation with a Samaritan woman at high noon at a well. They talked about life-giving water and about worship. Verse 27 picks up with the return of the disciples from their shopping trip. Read: John 4:27-42 As we have discovered, the primary purpose of the gospel of John is to come to know Jesus and by faith to believe in him. As you consider each of the people (or groups of people) in John 4:27-42, record what they teach you about Jesus through their words, actions and responses. Person/Group The Disciples Why do I learn of Jesus through their actions/words/responses? The Samaritan Woman The Samaritan Towns People 25
Jesus spoke to Nicodemus about re-birth, he spoke to the Samaritan woman about lifechanging water and now he engages in an unusual conversation with his disciples about food and farming. Look again at John 4:31-38. While the disciples were speaking literally, Jesus was speaking spiritually. What conclusions or challenges arise for you from this exchange between Jesus and his disciples? As Jesus is talking to his disciples about a harvest that is ready for picking, what is happening with the Samaritan woman? How does her story fit into Jesus illustration of a harvest? Read: John 4:43-54 Record your general observations of this event (note that Jesus is returning to Cana where he turned the water to wine): What is most significant to you about the response of the royal official in 4:49-51? 26
Experiencing Jesus There are three very important truths for us in this week s study as we look at Jesus and his encounters: mission, invitation and faith. Mission: The disciples went into town to buy something for lunch. Jesus was tired so he didn t go with them. When they returned he is talking with a Samaritan woman (shocking!) but they don t mention it. They offer Jesus lunch and he starts talking about how he has food they don t know about and then he starts talking about a harvest that is ready to be reaped. All of this had to be pretty confusing to the disciples. Look again at John 3:34-38. What do you learn about Jesus? What does it mean for you today to participate in God s harvest? Invitation: When the disciples returned the woman left and went back to town. She told everyone what had happened to her at the well. According to 4:39, why did the people believe? After meeting Jesus, what changed according to 4:42? 27
The Samaritan woman did not save anyone. All she did was share her story of encountering Jesus and then she invited them to meet him. What opportunities do you have to share your story and invite others to meet Jesus? Faith: Imagine the terror and desperation of a father whose child is dying. You ve tried everything every doctor and every treatment. Your last hope is a rabbi who you ve heard can do miracles. You plead for your child s life. He says to you, Go home, it will be okay. What do you do? The father believed Jesus words. The father believed Jesus words. Yes, his son was healed right at that moment. The father didn t see a miracle but he believed for one. Is there a place in your life where you are trusting God s word even without yet seeing results? Describe what that is like for you right now. Meeting Jesus When we meet Jesus we are moved to worship, and worship brings transformation. Worship is simply giving God his proper place of honor in our life. As we recognize and affirm who he is, we begin to grow and to change not based on our pretending or acting, but because of his grace, mercy and the work of his Holy Spirit in us. Meditate upon John 4:39-42 and let this time lead you into worship and prayer. 28
Notes 29
What Matters Most Week Seven Being Transformed Take a moment to consider what key truths you want to remember from last week s lesson. How have you applied these truths to your life? Encountering Jesus In this week s scripture we find two startling examples of Jesus confronting people s expectations and their misguided understanding of what is most important. Read: John 5:1-15 Briefly note the key people and factors involved in this story. What did Jesus ask the lame man in 5:6? How does the man avoid answering Jesus question? 30
What do you see as the lame man s response as missing what is most important? After Jesus heals the man and he goes on his way, the man is confronted by a group of Jews (probably religious leaders). What are they upset about (5:10)? Exodus 20:1-17 is a record of The Ten Commandments life instruction given by God to Moses for Israel to live by. Exodus 20:8 is the commandment upon which these Jewish leaders made their charge against the healed man. What do you read as the essence of this commandment in Exodus 20:8? The Jews had added hundreds of sub-commandments to help people understand and so not violate the Ten Commandments. How were they misunderstanding the spirit of the commandments in this story? In this story, what were the two areas where people were sidetracked by what was secondary and missed what was most important? 31
Experiencing Jesus In 5:6 Jesus asked the lame man if he wanted to get well. Instead of answering this question the lame man seemed to be telling Jesus why he hadn t been healed. If you consider healing in terms of physical, emotional, relational, financial, and psychological needs, what is an area of your life where Jesus is asking you, do you want to get well? Is there any reason you might be resistant? A man was lame for 38 years and then stands up, walks, and even carries his own bedding! You d think that there would be great celebration. But, instead there is a challenge and animosity. What is the most important thing, the thing that the Jews missed or ignored? Where do you think you may have missed the most important thing in terms of God s love and grace extended to people? Where have you perhaps held to the letter of the law instead of the spirit of grace? (Note that Jesus did not disobey the Law as given by God but rather disobeyed the religious rulers additions to that Law.) Prayerfully consider areas where you may be prone to judge harshly where God does not. 32
Meeting Jesus Just like the lame man we are often distracted by circumstances and what it would take to be well or whole. We forget what is most important: the love, grace and power of God in Jesus. His question to us is not why aren t you whole, but rather Do you want to get well? Meditate on this truth as you enter into worship and prayer. 33
Notes 34
The One Week Eight Being Transformed Take a moment to consider what key truths you want to remember from last week s lesson. How have you applied these truths to your life? Encountering Jesus Throughout this study we see Jesus talking, teaching and relating on a whole different plain than those he meets. They ask him about life, worship, food, and healing and his answers seem mystifying. But, Jesus is introducing something brand new. He s revealing himself as the Messiah and inviting people to eternal life that is found in him. Initially many people are drawn to Jesus because of the miracles he performs but ultimately they are won over by the truth and grace they encounter. But, this week we will see lines drawn between Jesus and the religious leaders. Jesus is clear that he is The One, the Son of God, the Christ, the Messiah and they don t like what they hear. Read: John 5:16-47 Why were the Jews so angry with Jesus (5:16-18)? Jesus responds to them with some very direct claims. Looking at John 5:19-30, what claims does Jesus make about himself? 35
In every claim Jesus makes, where does his authority and power come from? In Jewish law and culture, a person could not be the sole witness in their own defense or claim. At least two witnesses were required. Knowing this, Jesus, in verses 31-47, presents five witnesses to his claims. Who or what are the witnesses and how do they bear witness that what Jesus says of himself is true? Verse Witness How do they (or how does it) witness to Jesus claims? 33 36 37 39 46 Why do you think it is so important that Jesus have such strong witnesses to his claims to be the Messiah? 36
Experiencing Jesus Jesus adamantly affirmed that he is THE Son of God, THE giver of life, THE judge of the earth. He is THE ONE. What does it mean to your daily life to believe that Jesus is all He claims to be? Look again at John 20:31 and write it out in your own words, personalizing it for yourself. How do the stories, encounters and miracles you ve read over this study impact your belief that Jesus is the Son of God and the source of our life forever? What encounter with Jesus spoke most to you in the past eight weeks? Why? How has your faith grown or been challenged? 37
Meeting Jesus Jesus is the Son of God. When we meet Jesus we are moved to worship, and worship brings transformation. Worship is simply giving God his proper place of honor in our life. As we recognize and affirm who he is, we begin to grow and to change not based on our pretending or acting, but because of his grace, mercy and the work of his Holy Spirit in us. Take a moment to meditate on John 5:24. Let this meditation lead you to worship and prayer. 38
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Praying for Each Other 40
Praying for Each Other 41