God Gives Life

  1. How many times have you thought or said, “If only…”? Give examples.

 

Read John 11:1-16

  1. While Mary and Martha watched their brother die, Jesus decided to stay another two days in the wilderness across the Jordan (10:40). How may they have felt hearing that Jesus did not come right away and heal Lazarus?

 

  1. When have you felt Jesus delaying while you were praying for help?

 

  1. What clues do v.41-42 give us regarding why Jesus did not come right away to help his friend?

 

  1. What do you think Jesus meant in his cryptic answer to the fears of the disciples (v.8-10)?

 

Read John 11:17-27

  1. How does Jesus challenge Martha to look into the future, and at the same time, bring the future into her present?

(see v.23-37)

 

  1. How do we bring God’s future into our present?

 

Read John 11:28-46

  1. If God is just like Jesus, how does the fact that ‘Jesus wept’ shape your view of God?

 

  1. When Jesus asks the people where to find Lazarus they say, “Come and see!” When Jesus called Lazarus out of the grave, He told the people around Him, “Come and see what I can do!” Where have we invited Jesus into our world?  He in turn has invited us to see what He can do!

 

  1. What is Jesus telling me through this story and what do I need to do in response?

 

God Opens Eyes

  1.  Do we have to “pay” in this life when we have done something bad? Do children have to pay for the bad choices of their parents?

 

Read John 9:1-12

  1.  How did the disciples explain the fact that this man was born blind?

 

  1.  Does this line of reasoning still exist today?

 

  1.  How does Jesus explain the situation?

 

  1.  Jesus proceeds to heal that man. What is the significance of the healing?  How does it relate to Jesus’ explanation?

 

  1.  What is the significance of the way Jesus healed the man?

 

  1.  The man does not seem to know who Jesus really is at the time of his healing. All he knows is what Jesus did for him.  Only after a second encounter with Jesus does he “see” who Jesus is (v.35-38).  How do you explain this?  What can you learn from this?

 

  1.  If you read the rest of the chapter you will notice that this healing triggers a lively dialogue between the bystanders, Pharisees, parents and Jesus. The theme: who is actually blind and who is not.  So, who is “blind” and who is it that “sees” according to this story?

 

  1.  Where are you on this spectrum?

 

 

A God Who Cares

1.  Think of a time in your life when you felt cared for. What was the occasion? How did you experience care? How did it make you feel?

Read John 6:1-12
2.  Jesus cared for the physical well-being of the people who came to listen to Him. What does it tell you about Jesus/God? How have you experienced this kind of care?

3.  What exactly did Jesus want to find out when he tested the disciples (v.5-6)? What do Philip’s and Andrew’s answer to the challenge reveal?

4.  By multiplying bread and fish Jesus provided generously for the needs of the people. What is the significance of Jesus commanding His disciples to pick up the leftovers?

5.  Do you feel God is generous in how He provides? Share and explain.

6.  The response of the people to this miracle reveals their selfishness (v.14-15). How?

7.  It says in v.15 “…and Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.” It seemed to be something Jesus did habitually. Why?

Read v.16-21
8.  The disciples are left to fend for themselves. Can you recall a time or situation in your life when you felt you had to fend for yourself and Jesus felt far away? What happened? Why did you feel that way?

9.  Jesus has many ways to get to where “I am.” All nature is at His display if He needs it. When have you experienced Jesus showing up when you least expected it?

10. Where do you sense Jesus telling you, “It is I; don’t be afraid”?

Experiencing God: There Has Got To Be More

Read John 5:1-16

1. There are three “players” in this story. As you read through the passage, write down all you can about each player. Specifically look for the “feeling” in this story.

a) Jesus
b) The lame man
c) The Jews

2. As you dig through this story, how much faith did the lame man have?

3. What does this tell us about the compassion of God?

4. What was the issue the Jews were so worked up about?

5. From what you have gathered, what is the reason John has included this story in his Gospel?

6. Read verses 17 and 18. This was a turning point in the life and ministry of Jesus!

7. Is there anyone God has placed in your path who needs the compassion of Jesus in their life this week (regardless of what their response may be)? Picture the person God may have brought to your mind and come up with a plan for action! Then go and love people as Jesus loves you!

 

Experience A Life-Giving God

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1. Share a time or situation in your life that made you pray to Jesus for help.

Read John 4:43-48

2. If you read v.44-45,48 what kind of impression do you get from the crowd welcoming Jesus in Cana? (Note: Jesus is addressing the people in v.48 not the royal official; “you” is plural)

3. What is the significance of a royal official making the effort (a daytrip) to see Jesus?

4. How does this royal official expect Jesus solve his problem?  What is he suggesting?

5. How often do you expect Jesus to help in a specific way?  What is your experience?

6. What does Jesus’ answer, “Go, your son lives” reveal about Jesus?

7. What two options did the royal official have in response to Jesus’ answer?

8. Why does the official inquire about the exact time of the healing of his son?

9. What do you learn about Jesus in this story?

10. What do you learn about the kind of faith Jesus looks for?

11. What did you learn about yourself? What do you sense Jesus is telling you?

Experiencing A Generous God

1. Describe a generous person.

2. Do you consider yourself to be generous?

Read John 2:1-11

3. Jewish weddings were joyous events with music, dancing, lots of food and drinks. They could last up to a week! What does the fact that Jesus accepted the invitation to a wedding say about him and his ministry?

4. The host family running out of wine could have brought long lasting shame on them. Why did Mary turn to Jesus for help?

5. Who do you usually turn to when you face problems?

6. Jesus answered that his time has not yet come. What time was he talking about (compare John 13:1; 17:1)? What did that have to do with Mary’s request?

7. Jesus did not use any ritual or special formula in order to make water into wine. It simply took the obedience of the servants for the miracle to happen. What can we learn from that?

8. How much wine did Jesus make?

9. What does the miracle and the amount of wine he made say about God?

10. What effect did the miracle have on the disciples?

11. What effect does the miracle have on you? What did you learn? What do you need to do?

A New Year Without Fear

1. What hopes, plans and dreams do you have for 2020?  Personally?  For your family?  This country?  Your church?

2. What are your fears?

Read Matthew 6:25-34

3. What worries do we usually carry with us?

4. Jesus suggests that we can live in this world without worries and fears. Why?

5. Did Jesus live this kind of worry-free life? Explain.

6. What does it mean to ‘seek’ the kingdom first? How did Jesus demonstrate this?

7. How will you apply v.34 in your life?

8. What does God want you to do this coming year in order to live this kind of worry-free life?