SEPTEMBER 15
ALL SIGNS POINT TO JESUS
All of the signs and miracles of scripture point to Jesus.
Work through the following questions and scriptures on your own or get together with your group, spiritual running partners, or family to talk through what you are learning.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- In the message, Carlos shared about the most popular verse in the Bible (around the world) is John 3:16. Is that surprising to you? Are you familiar with this verse? If so, where have you seen or heard it and why do you think it remains the most popular and well-known?
- Read John 3:16-17 together and see what stands out to you. If you are familiar with it, try to read it as if this is the first time.
- Read John 1:1-14.
Make some observations about this passage (What does the text say?):
- What do you notice and what are you curious about?
Make some interpretations (What does the passage mean?)
- What do you learn about Jesus?
- What do you learn about humanity?
- From John 5 to John 10, we see the religious leaders grappling with who Jesus was. They made statements, had questions, and made accusations. What questions do you have (or hear from others) about the validity of Jesus’ claims?
Now make some applications (what’s my response?)
- How are you encouraged, challenged, or convicted by this passage?
- What should be our response to this passage?
4. Reread John 1:14.
- Do you tend to lean toward grace or truth when it comes to interacting with people? Why is it important that Jesus is full of both? How do you see him exhibiting both?
- Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. How does this truth impact your daily life? If it doesn’t, how should this reality that God has become one of us, change the way you view your life and relationships? If you struggle to believe this, would you consider praying for God to help you do so?
KEY SCRIPTURE
John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 1:1-14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
PRAYER
John’s gospel helps readers understand who Jesus is and how to relate to God through Him. Pray for the weeks to come that we might focus on the relationship John is enticing us to have with Jesus/God. What obstacles are you currently facing that keep Jesus at a distance?
PRACTICE
At all of our campuses we were handed a New Testament. Who could you give your copy to as part of sharing the good news?
Commit to following the gospel of John reading plan we are doing as a church. And if you want to challenge yourself even more, set aside a day to read the entire gospel of John in one sitting.
CLICK HERE FOR THE BOOK OF JOHN READING PLAN
Practice of Self Awareness – If John’s gospel emphasizes the closeness and touch of Jesus, what part(s) of our life do we need touched by Jesus but we “protect” from his healing touch? Make note of subject matter that causes us to shy away from closeness.