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    John
    John
    John
    Ebook163 pages3 hours

    John

    By Laurie Polich

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    About this ebook

    Creative, engaging Bible study questions are hard to come by … without rewriting questions for yourself. Each book of questions leads a small group through a book (or combination of books) in the Bible—helping students become more biblically literate, and allowing them to come face-to-face with God’s Word. Students will be pushed, encouraged, and challenged by these studies. But more than all this, they will be changed. Each passage of Scripture sets the topic—and the questions are constructed to help students think deeply, talk openly, and apply what they are learning to their lives. Leaders will be able to pick it up and use it immediately with kids. Volunteers are looking for good “book of the Bible studies” they can pick up and use in their groups. Grab it and go, these studies will meet your students where they are and help them see how God’s Word can speak to their world.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherZondervan
    Release dateJul 18, 2013
    ISBN9780310516798
    John
    Author

    Laurie Polich

    With 15 years of youth ministry experience, Laurie Polich serves as pastor of small groups and discipleship at Ocean Hills Covenant Church, in Santa Barbara. She¹s the author of several books including Help! I'm a Small-Group Leader training curriculum and book, Studies on the Go: John, and Small Group Qs, and she speaks frequently to students and youth workers across the country.

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      Book preview

      John - Laurie Polich

      1. LETTING GOD SHINE

      John 1:1-34

      Overview: The first 18 verses of the Gospel of John are a bit like the beginning of a musical, where the orchestra plays an overture of the songs will be heard throughout the show. Here John introduces the themes of his Gospel, and he will explain and emphasize each theme as the Gospel progresses. The first theme to unfold is the role of John the Baptist.

      We find perhaps the best synopsis of John’s ministry in verse 7: "He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe" (emphasis added). Many Israelites believed in John and his ministry, but instead he led them to believe through him—so that they directed their belief toward Christ.

      John the Baptist is the prime model of a witness to all believers—setting the example that through us we always point people to Jesus. This session will reveal how.

      SHARE

      Warm-Up Qs (use one or more as needed depending on your group)

      1. What do an understudy, best man, and maid of honor have in common?

      2. Have you ever been second place? Was the experience good or bad? Why?

      3. Have you ever had a good friend who was better than you at something? Without naming names, how did (does) it affect your friendship?

      OBSERVE

      Observation Qs

      4. Read John 1:1-9. How is Jesus introduced in this passage? How is John introduced? What is the difference between them?

      5. What was John’s purpose for coming to this earth? (v. 7) Who sent him? (v. 6)

      6. Read vv. 15-28. What does John say about Jesus in v. 15? What does he say about himself?

      7. What does John the Baptist say to the priests and Levites in v. 20? What do they ask him next? How does John finally respond in v. 23?

      THINK

      Interpretation Qs

      8. Read vv. 8, 15, and 20. Based on these verses, do you think people believe that John is greater than Jesus? Why or why not?

      9. Look at vv. 19-27. Which of the following words best describes John the Baptist? Strong Weak Humble Conceited Strange Insecure What ideas in the passage led you to choose the word(s) you did?

      10. Look ahead at John 3:28-30. Based on what you’ve read in chapter 1 so far, why do you think John uses the illustration in this passage to describe his relationship to Jesus and role in the gospel story?

      11. How do you think John felt about his role? Do you think he envied Jesus? Why or why not?

      APPLY

      Application Qs

      12. How is John the Baptist a role model for us? What do we learn from him?

      13. On a scale of 1–10, how good are you at letting other people shine? Can you be happy for others, or are you bothered when others get attention?

       1        2        3        4        5        6        7        8        9        10

      Bothered by others’ success               Happy for others’ success

      14. How good are you at letting God shine? Do you feel like you point people to God with the things you say and do? Why or why not?

      15. What’s one thing you can do this week to point someone to God?

      DO

      Optional Activity: In this session John the Baptist is a signpost, pointing people to God. While he attracts attention with his words and life, he leads people to turn their attention to Jesus. If you made a sign that represented you as a Christian, what would it look like? Would it be big and obvious? Small and subtle? What words would be on it? Any pictures? Draw a sign that best describes you as a Christian and share it with your group.

      Day 1: John 1:1-5

      1. What word or phrase stands out to you from this passage? Why?

      2. How is this passage similar to Genesis 1:1? How is it different?

      3. Spend time today thinking about how you have experienced life and/or light in your relationship with Christ.

      Day 2: John 1:6-9

      1. What word or phrase stands out to you from this passage? Why?

      2. What was John’s purpose here on earth? How is it similar to ours?

      3. Spend time today thinking about how you have been a witness to the light of Christ.

      Day 3: John 1:10-14

      1. What word or phrase stands out to you from this passage? Why?

      2. According to this passage, how do we become children of God? Have you become a child of God?

      3. Spend time today thinking about being God’s child and what it means to you.

      Day 4: John 1:15-18

      1. What word or phrase stands out to you from this passage? Why?

      2. How could Jesus have come before John if Jesus was born after John? What do you think this means?

      3. Spend time today thinking about what we learn about God (and how we view God) through Jesus.

      Day 5: John 1:19-28

      1. What word or phrase stands out to you from this passage? Why?

      2. Who do people think John is? Who does John say he is?

      3. Spend time today thinking about John’s resolve to carry out his mission, and how it’s an example to us.

      Day 6: John 1:29-34

      1. What word or phrase stands out to you from this passage? Why?

      2. What does John call Jesus? Why do you think he refers to Jesus in this way?

      3. Spend time today thinking about how Jesus takes away your sin and gives you new life.

      Day 7: John 1:1-34

      Read through the whole passage and write out the verse that spoke to you the most this week. Meditate on that verse today—and for an extra challenge, memorize it!

      2. FOLLOW ME

      John 1:35-51

      Overview: In this passage Jesus meets his disciples for the first time. He tells them, Follow me. He doesn’t give them a map or a schedule. He doesn’t consult them about their plans. Instead he invites them to become a part of his schedule and conform themselves to his plans. That’s what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ.

      The disciples in this passage come to Jesus in different ways. Andrew had been a follower of John the Baptist, but John points Andrew toward Jesus. Andrew brings his brother Simon (Peter). Philip meets Jesus and decides to follow him on the spot. Nathanael is drawn by Jesus’ personal touch. Looking at these stories, your students will recount their own stories of how they came to know Jesus. And it will help them consider how closely they are following him now. When Jesus says, Follow me, he’s telling us to put our lives in his hands. Those willing to take this risk will lose their lives. But that’s ultimately how they’ll find their lives.

      SHARE

      Warm-Up Qs

      1. Have you ever met someone you felt a connection with immediately? What was it that made you feel that connection? Did you end up becoming friends?

      2. Would you consider yourself more of a leader or a follower? Why?

      3. Have you ever given up something you had once joined because it got too hard (e.g., sports team, health club, accountability group, etc.)? What made you quit? Do you ever regret it?

      OBSERVE

      Observation Qs

      4. Read John 1:35-39. Who were the first two disciples of Jesus originally following? Why do they decide to follow Jesus instead?

      5. What does Jesus ask the first two followers? What does he eventually invite them to do? (v. 39)

      6. How does Simon Peter end up following Jesus? (vv. 40-42) What does Jesus say to him? (v. 42)

      7. Read vv. 43-49. What’s the difference between how Jesus approaches Philip and Nathanael? What does Jesus say that convinces Nathanael to follow him?

      THINK

      Interpretation Qs

      8. Why do you suppose Jesus asks the first two disciples what they want? (v. 38) Does that seem like a cold thing to say? Why or why not?

      9. How do you think Simon Peter felt when Jesus gave him a new name? (v. 42) Why do you think Jesus did this?

      10. Look at what Jesus says to Nathanael in v. 47. Why does Jesus say this? (vv. 45-46) Based on Nathanael’s response in v. 48, how do you think this made Nathanael feel?

      11. Look at what Nathanael says in v. 49. Does it seem like an extreme thing to say? Why or why not?

      APPLY

      Application Qs

      12. Of all the disciples who decide to follow Jesus in John 1:35-49, to whom do you relate the most—and why?

      A. Andrew, who was following someone else before Jesus (v. 40)

      B. Simon Peter, who was brought by his brother to follow Jesus (vv. 41-42)

      C. Philip, who decides to follow Jesus on the spot (v. 43)

      D. Nathanael, who was skeptical at first, but was soon convinced (vv. 46-49)

      13. What does it mean to follow Jesus today? Is it the same now as it was then? Do you consider yourself a follower of Jesus?

      14. As you look at Jesus’ words in vv. 50-51, what are the greater things Jesus is talking about? Can you think of things that are greater than what the disciples saw here?

      15. If you are a follower of Jesus, how do you follow him? Are you right behind him? Far behind him? Do you ever try to be in front of him (so you can have control)?

      DO

      Optional Activity: On a piece of paper, draw a cross. Put an X on the page where you see yourself in your walk with Jesus (ahead of him, next to him, behind him,

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