Tag: Real Life

Jesus’ Impact as the Good Shepherd
John 10:7-16

JESUS SAID, “I am the Door” – (3 ways this is applied)
Presence
Provision
Protection

JESUS SAID, “I am the Good Shepherd” – (3 ways this is applied)
Physical
Relational
Spiritual

For the Church, this is vision.
For the one who is lost, this is hope.

Questions for Further Discussion:

1. What person or group did you and your friends “follow” when you were a teenager?
2. What qualities do the best friends possess?
3. Who did Jesus say was a thief and a robber? (John 10:1)
4. What kind of relationship do sheep have with their shepherd? (John 10:2-4)
5. Why won’t sheep follow a stranger? (John 10:5)
6. What effect did Jesus’ words have on His audience? (John 10:6)
7. What did Jesus say He was? (John 10:7)
8. To whom did Jesus say the sheep did not listen? (John 10:8)
9. What did Jesus say would be the result of entering through Him? (John 10:9)
10. How did Jesus contrast His coming with the coming of a thief? (John 10:10)
11. Who did Jesus claim to be? (John 10:11)
12. Why did Jesus say the hired hand would abandon his sheep? (John 10:12-13)
13. What type of relationship did Jesus say He had with His sheep? (John 10:14)
14. What did Jesus say He did for His sheep? (John 10:15)
15. What did Jesus say He had? (John 10:16)
16. Why did Jesus say the Father loved Him? (John 10:17-18)
17. What effect did Jesus’ words have on the Jews who heard Him speak? (John 10:19-21)
18. In what way is Jesus like a gate?
19. How has Jesus been a gate in your life?
20. In what way is Jesus like a shepherd?
21. How are we like sheep?
22. In what way is Jesus your shepherd?
23. How would you describe your relationship with Jesus?
24. How can we better hear the voice of Jesus?
25. What tempts people to follow a stranger? Why?
26. How has Jesus made your life full?
27. How can you develop a more intimate relationship with Jesus this week?
28. How can you be more attentive to the voice of Jesus?

Four Ways to Know the Difference between Real and Artificial Faith.
John 10:25-30

1. RELATIONSHIP – My sheep know ME, that is personal and relational. Salvation is not based on my family connection to God, or my involvement in the church, or the work of my hands.
   1. Believing (John 10:25-26)
   2. Hearing (John 10:27)
2. DISCIPLESHIP – Jesus calls us to follow him.
   1. Joining – Matthew 4:18-22 – they dropped their nets.
   2. Honoring – 2 Corinthians 4:6 – we will shine and give God glory.
   3. Following – Luke 9:23 – deny self, take up our cross, and follow.
3. KINGDOM LIFE – Jesus gives life, abundant and free, not just life in heaven but life that comes up from everywhere here on earth.
4. CONFIDENCE – no one can take us away, we are secure in Christ, we hold his hold, but more importantly, he holds OUR hand, like a father grasps the hand of his daughter, he will not let go. The security is based on the father’s ability to hold on, not the daughter’s own strength or effort.

Questions for Further Study:

1. What truths are hard for you to accept? Why?
2. How did your family typically handle conflict when you were growing up?
3. What question did the Jews ask Jesus? (John 10:22-24)
4. How did Jesus answer the Jews’ question? (John 10:25-26)
5. What did Jesus say His sheep did? (John 10:27)
6. What did Jesus say He gave to His sheep? (John 10:28)
7. What did Jesus say that no one could do to His sheep? (John 10:28-29)
8. With whom did Jesus claim to be one? (John 10:30)
9. Why do people today fail to realize that Jesus is God?
10. In what way are you Jesus’ sheep?
11. What makes you feel secure in your relationship with your friends?
12. What makes you feel secure in your relationship with God?
13. How secure is your relationship with God?
14. How will you demonstrate your thankfulness to God today for your secure relationship with Him?
15. What steps will you take to follow your Shepherd closely this week?

The Truth of Jesus Proven Through a Life Restored
John 9:1-41

First Observation. What Jesus did. (John 9:1-7)
Jesus brought the needs and inabilities of the blind man into the realm of God’s Work.

Second Observation. What the blind man did. (John 9:8-12)
The blind man responded to Jesus reordering His steps.

Third Observation. What the culture did. (John 9:13-34)
The culture was skeptical of the supernatural change Jesus brought to the blind man.

Fourth Observation. What change does. (John 9:35-41)
The blind man believed and worshipped.

Questions for Further Study:

1. Who do you know who has challenged “the establishment” or “the system”?
2. About what do you tend to get complacent?
3. To whom was the blind man taken? (John 9:13)
4. On what day did Jesus heal the blind man? (John 9:14)
5. What did the Pharisees ask the blind man? (John 9:15)
6. Over what were the Pharisees divided? (John 9:16)
7. Who did the blind man think Jesus was? (John 9:17)
8. Why did the Pharisees send for the blind man’s parents? (John 9:18)
9. How did the blind man’s parents answer the Pharisees’ questions? (John 9:19-21)
10. What did the blind man’s parents fear? (John 9:22-23)
11. What did the Pharisees ask the blind man to do? (John 9:24)
12. How did the blind man respond to the Pharisees? (John 9:25)
13. What question did the blind man ask the Pharisees? (John 9:27)
14. Whose disciples did the Pharisees claim to be? (John 9:28)
15. What did the blind man say was remarkable? (John 9:29-30)
16. What did the blind man say nobody had ever done? (John 9:31-32)
17. What convinced the blind man that Jesus was from God? (John 9:33)
18. What did the Pharisees do to the man who was born blind? (John 9:34)
19. What divides Christian leaders today?
20. How would you react to a miraculous healing?
21. Why do you believe Jesus is from God?
22. When have your parents disappointed you?
23. How do you respond when your authority is challenged?
24. What authority have you ever challenged?
25. How do people respond when the status quo is disturbed?
26. In what way has Jesus upset the status quo in your life?
27. When have you allowed fear to control your behavior?
28. In what way are Christians today complacent?
29. In what way has Jesus opened your once-blind eyes?
30. What area of your life about which you have become complacent do you need to allow Jesus to revitalize? How?
31. What program in your church about which people have become complacent can you help revitalize?
32. How would you challenge someone this week who disputed the authority of God?

Jesus Argues Against the Traps of Religion / John 8:12-59
(4 Ways to know the Difference between Religion and a Relationship with Jesus…)

1. Religion: obligation; Relationship: encounter.
   1. Do you follow Jesus out of obligation or habit rather than because you have had an encounter with the living God?
   2. Do you believe what others have said about Jesus rather than discovering Jesus through his Word?
2. Religion: association; Relationship: change.
   1. Are you a part of the church because of the relationships here, or because your family is connected to the church rather than being here due to an encounter with Jesus producing a changed mind and heart and habits?
   2. Are you happy and content with personal preferences at church or open to change than might bring in new people and expressions of worship?
3. Religion: claims; Relationship: devotion.
   1. Do you make claims over the church rather than recognize that the church belongs to Christ?
   2. Are you able to express your devotion to Jesus in all circumstances and methods without making claims and objections that uphold personal preferences in worship?
4. Religion: institutionalism; Relationship: Christ-centered.
   1. Is your focus really on Christ and his mission at church or do earthly methods prevent you from encountering and enjoying the worship of God and the fellowship of other believers?
   2. Have you embraced the institution of the church tighter than the Lord over the church?
   3. In what ways have you sought to build your own kingdom rather than allowing Christ to build his kingdom here at King’s Grant?

Questions for Further Discussion:

1. To what sort of things do people today become enslaved?
2. What does it mean to you to be free? What doesn’t it mean?
3. What did Jesus say to the Jews who had believed in Him? (John 8:31)
4. What did Jesus say the truth would do for those who knew it? (John 8:32)
5. How did the Jews respond to Jesus’ statement about freedom? (John 8:33)
6. Who did Jesus say is a slave to sin? (John 8:34)
7. How does Jesus distinguish a slave from a son? (John 8:35)
8. What is the result of being freed by the Son? (John 8:36)
9. What did Jesus say the Jews were ready to do? (John 8:37)
10. Who did the Jews say was their father? (John 8:39)
11. In what way were the Jews mistaken about Abraham? (John 8:39)
12. What did Abraham not do? (John 8:40)
13. What claim did Jesus’ accusers make? (John 8:41)
14. Of what did the Jews accuse Jesus? (John 8:48)
15. How did Jesus respond to the accusation against Him? (John 8:49)
16. What did Jesus say He wasn’t seeking? (John 8:50)
17. What did Jesus say would be the result of keeping His word? (John 8:51)
18. How did the Jews respond to Jesus’ claim? (John 8:52)
19. What question did the Jews ask Jesus? (John 8:53)
20. Who glorifies Jesus? (John 8:54)
21. Whom did Jesus claim to know? (John 8:55)
22. What made Abraham rejoice? (John 8:56)
23. Why were the Jews so astonished by what Jesus said? (John 8:57)
24. Before whom did Jesus claim He had existed? (John 8:58)
25. What did the Jews attempt to do to Jesus? Why? (John 8:58-59)
26. How are you like your mother or father?
27. To what sin are you a slave?
28. From what sin have you been set free?
29. How does truth set someone free?
30. How has the Son set you free?
31. In what way are we like God our Father?
32. When do we act like illegitimate children?
33. How can you better enjoy your freedom in the Son?
34. How do you usually respond to things you don’t understand or can’t explain?
35. How do you respond to situations that you can’t control?
36. How do you respond when your authority is being challenged?
37. To what authorities in life do you appeal for truth?
38. Whose glory do you seek?
39. How can you honor God with your life?
40. How does a person keep Jesus’ word?
41. How well do you keep Jesus’ word?
42. How do you know that you know God?
43. From what enslaving sin will you ask God to set you free?
44. What action will you take in order to act more like a child of God?
45. What is one way that you can honor God with your life today?
46. How can you seek God’s glory rather than your own in your work this week?
47. What do you need to do in order to keep Jesus’ word?

If Anyone is Thirsty, Come to Me
John 7:1-53
Why do we tend to doubt?

1. The Disciples – John 7:1-11 – We don’t fully understand the mission of Jesus.
2. The Crowd – John 7:12-31 – Fear can paralyze us – like the loss of comfort or change.
3. The Religious Leaders – John 7:32-53 – Our hearts become hardened toward a downward spiral of unbelief.

Questions for Further Study:

1. In what do people today put their faith?
2. What ideas tend to cause division among the people you know?
3. What questions did the people begin asking about Jesus? (John 7:25-26)
4. Why was it significant that people knew where Jesus was from? (John 7:27)
5. What did Jesus cry out in the temple court? (John 7:28-29)
6. What did the people try to do? (John 7:30)
7. Why were the people unsuccessful in trying to seize Jesus? (John 7:30)
8. What reason did some of the people give for putting their faith in Jesus? (John 7:31)
9. What did the Pharisees do when they heard the crowd talking about Jesus? (John 7:32)
10. How long did Jesus say He would be with His audience? (John 7:33)
11. What did Jesus say the people would be unable to do? (John 7:34)
12. How did the Jews respond to what Jesus said? (John 7:35-36)
13. What invitation did Jesus offer on the last day of the Feast? (John 7:37)
14. What result did Jesus promise for those who believed in Him? (John 7:38)
15. Why hadn’t the Spirit been given yet? (John 7:39)
16. What conclusions did the people come to about Jesus? (John 7:40-41)
17. Why did the people get confused over Jesus’ identity? (John 7:41-42)
18. What effect did Jesus have on these people? (John 7:43)
19. What did some of the people want to do? (John 7:44)
20. What has the world as a whole concluded about Jesus?
21. What can you tell about a person from his or her hometown?
22. How has your background shaped you into the person you are today?
23. When do you feel most refreshed in your relationship with Christ?
24. How has Jesus caused division among groups of people with whom you are associated?
25. How has Jesus satisfied your thirsts and longings in life?
26. In what way do we attempt to satisfy our thirsts and longings in life outside of Christ?
27. What specific thirst or longing do you need to trust Christ to satisfy this week?
28. How can you refresh your relationship with God today?

Knowing Jesus, Knowing Real Life:
I am the Bread of Life.
John 6:26-71

1. Three Life-problems Jesus Exposed (John 6:26-34)
   1. A superficial commitment (John 6:26) What’s in it for me?
   2. An ignorance of the spiritual (John 6:27-29) A love for the material where faith is devalued.
   3. An attitude of entitlement (John 6:30-34) Wow me or else I’m out of here.
2. Three Reasons Jesus Referred to Himself as the Bread of Life (John 6:35-59)
   1. Jesus is Essential (John 6:35-40) Both are essential for life.
   2. Jesus fulfills the “I Am.” (John 6:41-51) “Flesh” here means “flesh,” not “soma” (body).
   3. Jesus Satisfies (John 6:52-59) Living bread will provide lasting satisfaction.
3. Three Ways This Truth Affects My Life (John 6:60-71)
   1. A challenge to our basic knowledge of Jesus and our idea of following Him (John 6:60-61) The gospel is offensive, scandalon.
   2. An openness to the spiritual work of God through Christ in our lives (John 6:62-65)
   3. The resolve the Jesus is the absolute and only answer for my life (John 6:68-71)

Questions for Further Study:

1. What kind of bread do you like most?
2. How do people attempt to satisfy their need to feel secure and significant in life?
3. What needs do you spend the majority of your time trying to satisfy?
4. Why did the crowd seek Jesus? (John 6:26)
5. What did Jesus say the Son of Man would give to these people? (John 6:27)
6. What did Jesus say was the work of God? (John 6:28-29)
7. What did the crowd ask Jesus to do? (John 6:30-31)
8. Who did Jesus say was the true bread of life? (John 6:32-33)
9. What did Jesus say would be the result of coming to Him? (John 6:35)
10. What did Jesus say He would never do to those who came to Him? (John 6:37)
11. Why did Jesus come down from heaven? (John 6:38)
12. What did Jesus say is the Father’s will? (John 6:39-40)
13. Why did the Jews begin to grumble? (John 6:41-42)
14. Who did Jesus say could come to Him? (John 6:43-44)
15. What did Jesus say would be the result of believing? (John 6:47)
16. What contrast does Jesus make between manna and the bread of life? (John 6:48-51, 58)
17. What did Jesus say about His flesh and His blood? (John 6:53-57)
18. What things do we seek from Jesus?
19. In what ways do you have a demanding attitude toward God?
20. When and why did you come to Jesus?
21. In what way has Jesus satisfied your hunger and thirst for acceptance and meaning in life?
22. In what ways do you still feel empty?
23. What situations cause you to feel insecure?
24. When do you feel secure in your relationship with God? Why?
25. How has the Christian life turned out to be different from what you expected?
26. In what way is Jesus an example for us to follow?
27. What can you do today to rely on God, rather than on things or people, to satisfy your needs?
28. What demanding attitudes do you need to ask God to help you change?

The Miracle and “Me”
John 6:1-25
5 Ways Jesus Impacted His Disciples
in the Feeding of the 5,000
and Walking on Water.

1. He centered their focus on the spiritual impact of the moment. (John 6:1-4)
   1. The reason people were following Jesus. (John 6:2)
   2. The how – Jesus sat and taught his disciples. (John 6:3)
2. He built their faith. (John 6:6-9)
   1. The why – Jesus was going to test them. (John 6:6)
   2. Jesus’ question showed how differently people can think about life.
      1. Managerial.
      2. Missional.
3. He involved them personally in His work. (John 6:10-13)
   1. The disciples are involved. (John 6:10)
   2. The Father is involved. (John 6:11a)
   3. The Savior is involved. (John 6:11b)
4. He proved His presence with them in the storm. (John 6:14-18)
5. He settled their fears. (John 6:19-21)
   1. Storms = struggles
      1. Soul care (John 6:20) – his care for us, our care for others.
      2. Jesus stands above that which brings us fear. (John 6:19)
   2. They were WILLING to let Jesus in the boat? (John 6:21)
   3. How often are people unwilling to let Jesus into their lives?

Questions for Further Study:

1. What is the most difficult situation in which you have ever found yourself?
2. In what exciting events have you recently participated? What made them exciting?
3. Where did Jesus go? (John 6:1)
4. Why did the crowd of people follow Jesus? (John 6:2)
5. Where did Jesus and His disciples go? (John 6:3)
6. What Jewish feast was near? (John 6:4)
7. What question did Jesus ask Philip? (John 6:5)
8. Why did Jesus ask Philip a question? (John 6:6)
9. How did Philip respond to Jesus’ question? (John 6:7)
10. Who was Andrew? (John 6:8)
11. What role did Andrew play in feeding the five thousand? (John 6:8-9)
12. What solution did Andrew propose to Jesus’ question? (John 6:8-9)
13. What miracle did Jesus perform? (John 6:10-11)
14. How much bread was left over? (John 6:12-13)
15. How did the crowd of people respond to Jesus’ miracle? (John 6:14)
16. What did the crowd of people intend to do? (John 6:15)
17. What was Jesus’ reaction to the crowd’s intention? (John 6:15)
18. For what reasons do people follow Jesus today?
19. What makes you want to follow Jesus?
20. What is your typical reaction to situations that seem to present no readily available solution?
21. With what situations in life do you have a difficult time trusting God?
22. What does God provide for us on a daily basis?
23. In what ways do people attempt to use Jesus or His name inappropriately?
24. What misconceptions have you had about Jesus or His role in your life?
25. How and when has God miraculously provided for your needs?
26. How can we trust God with our needs?
27. What things do you need to thank God for providing?
28. What tough situation do you need to trust God to work out in your life this week?

PROVEN BY JESUS
What is the Real Truth of Christianity?
John 5:18-47 reveals two responses to the volatile attacks against the truth of Jesus.

1. The First Response: the Self-Disclosure of Christ (John 5:18-30)
   1. Jesus: the fulfillment of God’s Word, Work, and Will (John 5:19)
   2. Jesus: God’s Only Son (John 5:20)
   3. Jesus: the Only Source of Life (John 5:21)
   4. Jesus: the Highest Place of Honor (John 5:22-23)
   5. Jesus: God’s truth and the Object of Our faith (John 5:24)
   6. Jesus: Relevance for every life (John 5:25-27)
   7. Jesus: The One Who Holds Eternal Life (John 5:28-30)
2. The Second Response: The Testimonies of Heaven and History (5:31-47)
   1. God testifies (John 5:32, 37).
   2. John the Baptist Testifies (John 5:33-35).
   3. The Works of Christ Testify (John 5:36).
   4. The Scriptures Testify (John 5:38-40).

Questions for Further Study:

1. What different groups of people have suffered persecution throughout history?
2. What are some of the positive aspects of your relationship with your parents?
3. Why did the Jews persecute Jesus? (John 5:16)
4. Whose work did Jesus do? (John 5:17)
5. Why did certain Jews want to kill Jesus? (John 5:18)
6. What did Jesus say that the Son could do? (John 5:19)
7. What did Jesus tell the Jews that He would show them? (John 5:20)
8. What did Jesus say He was able to do? (John 5:21)
9. To whom did God entrust all judgment? (John 5:22)
10. Why did God entrust judgment to Christ? (John 5:23)
11. How did Jesus say a person can gain eternal life? (John 5:24)
12. What time did Jesus say had already come? (John 5:25)
13. What did Jesus say the Father has in Himself that He has granted to the Son? (John 5:26)
14. What time did Jesus say was coming? (John 5:28-29)
15. Whom did Jesus say He desires to please? (John 5:30)
16. In what way does the world persecute Christians today?
17. How have you been persecuted as a believer?
18. When have you experienced pressure not to practice or share your faith in Christ?
19. Why does the world persecute Christians?
20. How can we honor the Son and the Father with our lives?
21. How can we know for sure that we have eternal life?
22. Why should we feel secure in our relationship with God?
23. How should we prepare ourselves for Jesus’ judgment?
24. In what way are we like Jesus with respect to our relationship with God the Father?
25. In what way is Jesus an example for us to follow?
26. What steps can you take this week to enjoy more fully your relationship with your Heavenly Father?
27. What can you do today to bring honor to God?
28. How will you allow Jesus’ example in this passage of Scripture to influence your life this week?

Dangerous Substitutes for the Real Truth…
(and how Jesus corrected each)
John 5:1-17

1. Substitute #1: culture.
   1. Three false conclusions: the lame man’s culture said,
      1. this is as good as it gets
      2. there is nothing you can do
      3. this is your normal. (John 5:5)
   2. One powerful truth: Jesus said, do you want to get well? (John 5:6)
2. Substitute #2: limitations.
   1. Limitations bring helplessness and hopelessness. (John 5:7)
   2. Jesus brings restoration to your lost years. (John 5:8)
   3. Your mat: you carry IT, no longer let it carry YOU.
3. Substitute #3: legalism.
   1. Jesus restores and frees: walk by My restoration in your life. (John 5:8-9)
   2. Legalism confines and restricts: walk by our rules. (John 5:10)
4. Substitute #4: the status quo.
   1. The status quo always seeks a human standard of blessing.
      1. Don’t walk around like everyone else.
      2. Don’t sin any more; new life is now yours.
   2. Jesus always offers an eternal blessing. (John 5:14, 17)

Questions for Further Study:

1. Why might someone prefer rules and regulations to freedom?
2. In what way are relationships more important than rules and regulations?
3. For what event did Jesus go to Jerusalem? (John 5:1)
4. Who came to the pool near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem? (John 5:2-3)
5. How long had the one invalid man been at the pool? (John 5:5)
6. What did Jesus ask the invalid man? (John 5:6)
7. How did the invalid man respond to Jesus’ question? (John 5:7)
8. What did Jesus command the invalid man to do? (John 5:8)
9. What happened to the invalid man after Jesus spoke to him? (John 5:9)
10. On what day of the week did this miracle take place? (John 5:9)
11. What did the Jews say to the healed man? Why? (John 5:10)
12. How did the healed man respond to the Jews’ question? (John 5:11)
13. What did the Jews ask the healed man? (John 5:12)
14. Why didn’t the man know who healed him? (John 5:13)
15. What did Jesus tell the man he had healed on their second encounter? (John 5:14)
16. What did the healed man do after he spoke with Jesus a second time? (John 5:15)
17. In what way do you think life is unfair?
18. When have you felt as if life has dealt you a bad hand?
19. When have you felt that God was waiting too long to do something you’d trusted Him to do?
20. When do we tend to get impatient with God’s timing in our lives?
21. On what in life, other than God, do we sometimes depend?
22. Why do we attempt to take matters into our own hands, rather than trust God to work them out?
23. When has someone tried to squelch your freedom in Christ with religious rules or regulations?
24. Why do some people care more about keeping certain “religious” rules than they do about developing a meaningful relationship with Jesus?
25. What rules tend to interfere with your enjoyment of your relationship with Christ?
26. In what way has Jesus made you well?
27. What is something you need to trust God with today?
28. Who is someone you can encourage to enjoy his or her relationship with Christ this week?
29. What “religious” rule that hinders your relationship with Christ will you make secondary to that relationship this week?