Who is that Guy?

Scripture Reading: John 10:11-21

Key Thought: Take some time to reflect on John 10:11-18 and the 23rd Psalm, and how it shapes your answer to the question the disciples ask in Mark 4:41, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

1. Think about a time when someone asked you what you did. How did you answer them?

2. How closely do you identify with what you do, and how does this shape who you are?

3. If someone were to ask you who Jesus Christ is, how would you answer?

4. When Jesus says in John 10:11 “I am the Good shepherd”, what do you think of and how does that shape your understanding of Christ?

5. What do you think Jesus means when he refers to himself as “Good”?

   i) How might this differ from how the world use the term “Good”?

6. Describe a time when someone made a sacrifice for your benefit.

   i) How did it make you feel?

7. What comes to mind when Jesus says he “Lays down his life”?

8. What does it mean to be known by Christ?

   i) What does it mean to know Christ?

9. In the message, Dave makes a distinction between life and death, and death and life. Do you agree/disagree with this distinction? How does this impact your understanding of who Christ is and why?

The "I Am's" of John's Gospel - Part 4 - The Door

Scripture Reading: John 10:1-10

1. How is the proverb of the sheep pen connected to the controversy over the healing of the blind man in John 9?

2. What is the larger background debate that Jesus enters into here?

3. How does this passage contribute to John’s purpose statement in John 20:30-31

4. Who does Jesus exclude or include by calling himself a door?

5. What is on the other side of “the door”?

   Notable Passages

   Psalm 118 ( especially vs 19-24 )

   Ezekiel 34 ( especially vs 11-16 )

   Ezekiel 37:15-28

   Matthew 23:13

   John 4:1-26 ( v. 21, “Are you greater than our father Jacob?” )

   John 8:30-53 ( v.53, “Are you greater than our father Abraham?” )

   Romans 9-11 ( especially 9:23-26, 11:17-32 )

   Ephesians 2:11-22

The "I Am's" of John's Gospel - Part 3 - The Light of the World

Scripture Reading: John 7:37-44, John 8:12-20

1. What is John trying to prove, and how does he try to prove it?

2. What is important to note and remember about the “I AM” statements?

3. Who are the people confused about Jesus and why?

4. Do you understand their confusion?

5. How have you misunderstood Jesus?

6. What two traditions of the Jews does Jesus use to speak of himself? What two claims does Jesus make?

7. How Does Jesus show that he is the light? What is the impact of the blind man? How have you been impacted by Jesus’ healing?

8. What were the barriers to belief for the Pharisees? What are the barriers to belief for you, friends or family who don’t know Jesus?

9. How Does one go about following Jesus, the light? Where are you at in that process?

The "I Am's" of John's Gospel - Part 2 - The Bread of Life

Scripture Reading: John 6:41-60

Key Thought: Getting Jesus into your life

1. What is the purpose of John’s gospel?

2. What is the crowd’s reaction to the miracles of Jesus?

3. What do you think you would have thought if you were there?

4. What is the ‘work’ the pleases God?

5. How would you say you are doing in that respect?

6. In what way is Jesus compared to Moses?

7. What are some of the difficulties people have when Jesus says that he is the true bread that has come down from heaven?

8. How do we understand eating Christ’s body and drinking Christ’s blood?

9. Have you ever faced confusion that made you think about giving up your faith?

10. Why do Peter and the other 10 remain with Jesus?

The "I Am's" of John's Gospel - Part 1 - I am the Son of God

Scripture Reading: John 5:1-19 and 20:30-31

Key Thought: Jesus is the Son of God

1. What is the purpose of John’s Gospel?

2. Does Jesus ever say, “I am the Son of God?”

3. Does anyone ever say that Jesus is God?

4. Does Jesus ever say he is not God?

5. Does anyone ever say Jesus claimed to be God?

6. in what ways does John seek to show that Jesus is God?

7. What do you think about Jesus being God?

8. How would you explain it so someone else?

The "I Am's" of John's Gospel - Intro

Scripture Reading: John 9:35-41, 20:30-31

Key Thought: Faith is a dynamic thing!

There is no theme in the Gospel of John that is more important than faith.

The Prologue - John 1:1-18 vs 12

The Prayer - John 17:3

The Purpose Statement - John 20:20, 31

The word “belief” is used 98 times in the Gospel!

Not all faith is true faith - John 2:23-25

1. What kind of faith would be false faith?

Some unbelief is lethal to true faith - John 12:37

2. What kind of faith would be ‘lethal’ faith?

There is a difference between ‘believing not’ and ‘not believing’

Faith is a dynamic growing thing -

a) The Disciples

b) The Woman at the well (Chapter 4)

c) The Blind Man (Chapter 9)

3. What would dynamic faith look like?

4. Do you see this dynamic in your life?

Someday or Today?

Scripture Reading: Ruth 1:1-22

Christmas Eve Service

Seeking Jesus - The Wise Men

Scripture Reading: Matt 2:1-12

Key Thought: The Wise Men brought him gifts - what will you give him?

1. Is God limited to speaking in any way? Think of some examples of how God speaks?

2. Why would Matthew Focus on the East?

3. How did the Wise Men know about Jesus?

4. What did the Wise men know about the birth of Jesus?

5. What might we say of the Wise Men’s spiritual character?

   i.) Do we have the same kind of character?

6. What do the Wise Men do for Jesus?

7. What are the gifts they bring?

8. What gift will you bring?

Seeking Jesus - The Shepherds

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:1-14

1. What is the big deal about these shepherds?

2. Why are they important?

3. What have i missed over the years by taking this story for granted?

4. What is this story asking of me?