March 17th // Ryan MacDonald // John 6
Learning to Feast on Jesus: John 6
March 10 // Alan Frow // John 5:16-29
1. In this passage Jesus calls God “My Father” which is a statement that would eventually get him crucified as a blasphemer. Jesus is not just an important religious leader, a great healer, a moral teacher, or a prophet, he is God and must be honored as God. How does this change the way you see Jesus? How does this make him distinct from all other religions? We don’t want anyone to be forced to choose Jesus, so how would you describe Jesus to a world of tolerance?
Feb 25 // Kevin M //John 4:1-26, 28-30, 39-42 – True Life for All
Feb 18 // Alan Frow // The Cure for Insecurity John 3:22-36
1. John’s disciples were insecure because they saw Jesus’ ministry as competition to John’s ministry. They showed their insecurity in exaggeration, dehumanization and envy. (V 26) When do you feel most insecure and how do you show it?
2. John was remarkably secure in the face of his declining success. A large part of this was that he lived from his received identity, as a ‘friend of the bridegroom’ rather than his achieved identity as ‘John the Baptist.’ What achieved identity are you tempted to live from? Remind one another of the identities you have received from above, that give us deeper security (v26)
3. John was also aware of his limits. He knew who he was and who he was not. “I am not the Christ.” He had dealt with his Messiah complex. In what area of concern do you feel tempted to take on a Messiah complex? Instead turn your acceptance of limits into prayer for that area of concern.
4. We can get secure, like John, when we recognize Jesus authority, realizing that He is from above and we are from below. (V 31) He sees our circumstances with greater clarity than we do, and can therefore speaks the words of God to them. What is a teaching of Jesus that is difficult to accept from below, that we are still called to obey as those who are from below?
5. Finally, there is great security in knowing that “Jesus gives the Spirit without measure.” (V 33) This means that we can celebrate his blessing upon others, knowing that there is immeasurable grace to go around! Celebrate by name, someone in the group whom God is blessing and pray for one another to be filled with the Spirit.
Feb 11// Joel Baker // John 2-3
January 28 // Alan Frow // John 2:1-12 Lord of the Feast
1. Jesus’ first miracle is a sign of his kingdom which would come with abundant joy. Isaiah 26:3 and Joel 3:18
What does it mean to you that Jesus is not just serious about your sin, he is serious about your joy?
2. In this miracle, Jesus saves the groom from the shame of running out of wine. But the miracle speaks to a deeper removal of shame. Discuss.
3. Jesus does all the work and the groom gets all the credit. What does that tells us about the gospel and why is that good news for us. What does is it mean to be credited with Jesus’ righteousness?
4. Why would Jesus have to go to the cross to have his own wedding? What does it mean that he drank the cup of God’s wrath so that we could drink the cup of God’s joy. The word propitiation in 1Jon 2:2 gives clarity – to absorbing wrath and turn it to favor.
5. ‘Do whatever he tells you’ was what Mary said to the servants. Because they obeyed they had a front row seat to Jesus’ power. What is Jesus telling you to do that requires faith and obedience?
6. What relevance does this miracle have for both singles and those who are married?
January 21 // Kevin M // John 1:35-51
1. When Jesus first notices Andrew and the other disciple following him, he asks them, “What are you looking for?” The same question is asked of us today and the answer to whatever we’re looking for can be found in Jesus. How would you describe what you’re currently looking for in this season of your life?
January 14, 2024 // Alan Frow // John 1:19:34
1. John the Baptist’s humility was remarkable. “I am a voice crying in the wilderness…I am not worthy to untie the sandals of the One coming after me.” In fact, Jesus view of John was greater than John’s view of himself. How does this challenge you when we are told we will never do great things unless we grasp our own greatness?
2. While John spoke truth to power, calling tax collectors, soldiers and Herod to repent, he also spoke truth to his own tribe- calling the Jewish crowds to repent. (Luke 3:7) Why is it that we tend to get so outraged by other people’s sin yet struggle to recognize our own sin? What does bearing fruit in keeping with repentance mean?
3. In calling people to repentance, John was preparing them to recognize Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. What are the implications of Jesus coming as a Lamb? What does it mean to appropriate the blood of the Lamb by faith?
3. John said he would not have recognized Jesus as the Lamb of God unless he had seen the Spirit descend and remain upon Him. He also says that Jesus would baptize people with that same Spirit. This is a promise for all believers. Avoid getting into disputes about definitions of Spirit baptism, but pray for one another for the Spirit to fill you again. (Ephesians 5: 17)