Read John 16:16-33 Good News Translation (GNT)
Sadness and Gladness
16 In a little while you will not see me any more, and then a little while later you will see me. 17 Some of his disciples asked among themselves, What does this mean? He tells us that in a little while we will not see him, and then a little while later we will see him; and he also says, It is because I am going to the Father.18 What does this a little while mean? We don't know what he is talking about!19 Jesus knew that they wanted to question him, so he said to them, I said, In a little while you will not see me, and then a little while later you will see me. Is this what you are asking about among yourselves?20 I am telling you the truth: you will cry and weep, but the world will be glad; you will be sad, but your sadness will turn into gladness.21 When a woman is about to give birth, she is sad because her hour of suffering has come; but when the baby is born, she forgets her suffering, because she is happy that a baby has been born into the world.22 That is how it is with you: now you are sad, but I will see you again, and your hearts will be filled with gladness, the kind of gladness that no one can take away from you. 23 When that day comes, you will not ask me for anything. I am telling you the truth: the Father will give you whatever you ask of him in my name.[a]24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your happiness may be complete.
Q1 What does it mean by “a little while?” (v.16)
Q2 Why is Jesus coming back important? How can the disciples or we wait patiently and correctly?
Q3 Why will the disciples be happy (i.e. turn into gladness)? (v.20)
Why will we be happy about Jesus dies?
Q4 Why do we pray in Jesus Christ name? (v.23-24)
Victory over the World
25 I have used figures of speech to tell you these things. But the time will come when I will not use figures of speech, but will speak to you plainly about the Father.26 When that day comes, you will ask him in my name; and I do not say that I will ask him on your behalf,27 for the Father himself loves you. He loves you because you love me and have believed that I came from God.28 I did come from the Father, and I came into the world; and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father. 29 Then his disciples said to him, Now you are speaking plainly, without using figures of speech.30 We know now that you know everything; you do not need to have someone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.
31 Jesus answered them, Do you believe now? 32 The time is coming, and is already here, when all of you will be scattered, each of you to your own home, and I will be left all alone. But I am not really alone, because the Father is with me.33 I have told you this so that you will have peace by being united to me. The world will make you suffer. But be brave! I have defeated the world!
Q5 How can we be confident that Jesus came from God? (v. 30)
Q6 What does this tell us about Jesus?
Q7 Do you have any experience that when the world has made you suffer but you still have peace because you know you are with God? (v. 33) Would you like to share?
Friday, March 9, 2012
Friday, March 2, 2012
the World's Hate and the Spirit's Help
Opening Question: Can you share a highlight (or lowlight) from this past week?
John 15:18-27
18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘Servants are not greater than their Master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed My teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of My name, for they do not know the One who sent Me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Those who hate Me hate My Father as well. 24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both Me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated Me without reason.’ 26 When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father -- the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father. He will testify about Me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with Me from the beginning.”
Q Have you ever hated or been hated?
Q Define: World - __________, Servants - __________, Master - __________.
Q What does it mean to be ‘chosen out of the world’?
Q Who is hated by the world, and why?
Q What does it mean to ‘testify’?
Q Who testifies -- the Spirit or the followers of Jesus?
John 16:7-15
7 “Very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 When He comes, He will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in Me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see Me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. 12 I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own. He will speak only what He hears. And He will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify Me. It is from Me that He will receive what He will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from Me what He will make known to you.”
Q What do sin, righteousness and judgment mean?
Q What are some of the ways the Spirit wants to help us the followers of Jesus?
_________________________ _________________________
_________________________ _________________________
_________________________ _________________________
Q What do you think is the Spirit’s most important job? Explain.
Q What kind of help from the Helper do you need the most?
John 15:18-27
18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘Servants are not greater than their Master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed My teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of My name, for they do not know the One who sent Me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Those who hate Me hate My Father as well. 24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both Me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated Me without reason.’ 26 When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father -- the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father. He will testify about Me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with Me from the beginning.”
Q Have you ever hated or been hated?
Q Define: World - __________, Servants - __________, Master - __________.
Q What does it mean to be ‘chosen out of the world’?
Q Who is hated by the world, and why?
Q What does it mean to ‘testify’?
Q Who testifies -- the Spirit or the followers of Jesus?
John 16:7-15
7 “Very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 When He comes, He will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in Me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see Me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. 12 I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own. He will speak only what He hears. And He will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify Me. It is from Me that He will receive what He will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from Me what He will make known to you.”
Q What do sin, righteousness and judgment mean?
Q What are some of the ways the Spirit wants to help us the followers of Jesus?
_________________________ _________________________
_________________________ _________________________
_________________________ _________________________
Q What do you think is the Spirit’s most important job? Explain.
Q What kind of help from the Helper do you need the most?
Friday, February 24, 2012
The Vine and the Branches
Opening Question: What kind of fruit do you like?
John 15:1-8 (NIRV)
1 "I am the true vine. My Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch joined to me that does not bear fruit. He trims every branch that does bear fruit. Then it will bear even more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain joined to me, and I will remain joined to you. No branch can bear fruit by itself. It must remain joined to the vine. In the same way, you can’t bear fruit unless you remain joined to me.”
5 "I am the vine. You are the branches. If anyone remains joined to me, and I to him, he will bear a lot of fruit. You can’t do anything without me. 6 If anyone does not remain joined to me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and dries up. Branches like those are picked up. They are thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain joined to me and my words remain in you, ask for anything you wish. And it will be given to you. 8 When you bear a lot of fruit, it brings glory to my Father. It shows that you are my disciples.”
Q 1: Who is the vine, gardener and branch? What is the role of each?
Q 2: What does it mean to be trimmed (pruned)? Give an example
Q 3: What does it mean to bear much fruit? How does bearing fruit bring glory to God?
Q 4: What do you think Jesus means by the promise in verse 7?
John 15:9-17 (NIRV)
9 "Just as the Father has loved me, I have loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love. In the same way, I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy will be in you. I also want your joy to be complete. 12 Here is my command. Love each other, just as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than the one who gives his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I do not call you servants anymore. Servants do not know their master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends. I have told you everything I learned from my Father. 16 You did not choose me. Instead, I chose you. I appointed you to go and bear fruit. It is fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you anything you ask for in my name. 17 Here is my command: Love each other.”
Q 5: What does “my joy” mean in verse 11? What was Jesus’ joy?
Q 6: What does it mean to be a friend in these verses? What is the difference between a servant and a friend?
Q 7: How can we love each other?
John 15:1-8 (NIRV)
1 "I am the true vine. My Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch joined to me that does not bear fruit. He trims every branch that does bear fruit. Then it will bear even more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain joined to me, and I will remain joined to you. No branch can bear fruit by itself. It must remain joined to the vine. In the same way, you can’t bear fruit unless you remain joined to me.”
5 "I am the vine. You are the branches. If anyone remains joined to me, and I to him, he will bear a lot of fruit. You can’t do anything without me. 6 If anyone does not remain joined to me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and dries up. Branches like those are picked up. They are thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain joined to me and my words remain in you, ask for anything you wish. And it will be given to you. 8 When you bear a lot of fruit, it brings glory to my Father. It shows that you are my disciples.”
Q 1: Who is the vine, gardener and branch? What is the role of each?
Q 2: What does it mean to be trimmed (pruned)? Give an example
Q 3: What does it mean to bear much fruit? How does bearing fruit bring glory to God?
Q 4: What do you think Jesus means by the promise in verse 7?
John 15:9-17 (NIRV)
9 "Just as the Father has loved me, I have loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love. In the same way, I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy will be in you. I also want your joy to be complete. 12 Here is my command. Love each other, just as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than the one who gives his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I do not call you servants anymore. Servants do not know their master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends. I have told you everything I learned from my Father. 16 You did not choose me. Instead, I chose you. I appointed you to go and bear fruit. It is fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you anything you ask for in my name. 17 Here is my command: Love each other.”
Q 5: What does “my joy” mean in verse 11? What was Jesus’ joy?
Q 6: What does it mean to be a friend in these verses? What is the difference between a servant and a friend?
Q 7: How can we love each other?
Friday, February 17, 2012
Another Friend
Opening question: Can you share a highlight (or lowlight) of your week?
Read John 14:16-31
16 "I will ask the Father. And He will give you another Friend to help you and to be with you forever. 17The Friend is the Spirit of truth. The world can't accept Him. That is because the world does not see Him or know Him. But you know Him. He lives with you, and He will be in you. 18 I will not leave you like children who don't have parents.
I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see Me anymore. But you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father. You will know that you are in Me, and I am in you. 21 Anyone who has My commands and obeys them loves Me. My Father will love the one who loves Me. I too will love him. And I will show myself to him."
22 Then Judas spoke. "Lord," he said, "why do you plan to show Yourself only to us? Why not also to the world?" The Judas who spoke those words was not Judas Iscariot.
23 Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves Me will obey My teaching. My Father will love Him. We will come to Him and make Our home with Him. 24 Anyone who does not love Me will not obey My teaching. The words you hear Me say are not My own. They belong to the Father who sent Me. 25 I have spoken all these things while I am still with you. 26 But the Father will send the Friend in My name to help you. The Friend is the Holy Spirit. He will teach you all things. He will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 I leave My peace with you. I give My peace to you. I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be troubled. And do not be afraid. 28 You heard me say, 'I am going away. And I am coming back to you.' If you loved Me, you would be glad I am going to the Father. The Father is greater than I am. 29 I have told you now before it happens. Then when it does happen, you will believe. 30 I will not speak with you much longer. The prince of this world is coming. He has no power over Me. 31 But the world must learn that I love the Father. They must also learn that I do exactly what My Father has commanded Me to do.
Discussion questions:
1) Which words of Jesus do you like the most?
2) Which words are a little difficult to understand?
3) What are the qualities of a good friend?
4) How does Jesus describe the Holy Spirit?
5) Christians believe in the ‘Trinity.’ What does this word mean, and where can we see it in the verses above?
6) Based on the verses above, what is the Christian life all about?
Read John 14:16-31
16 "I will ask the Father. And He will give you another Friend to help you and to be with you forever. 17The Friend is the Spirit of truth. The world can't accept Him. That is because the world does not see Him or know Him. But you know Him. He lives with you, and He will be in you. 18 I will not leave you like children who don't have parents.
I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see Me anymore. But you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father. You will know that you are in Me, and I am in you. 21 Anyone who has My commands and obeys them loves Me. My Father will love the one who loves Me. I too will love him. And I will show myself to him."
22 Then Judas spoke. "Lord," he said, "why do you plan to show Yourself only to us? Why not also to the world?" The Judas who spoke those words was not Judas Iscariot.
23 Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves Me will obey My teaching. My Father will love Him. We will come to Him and make Our home with Him. 24 Anyone who does not love Me will not obey My teaching. The words you hear Me say are not My own. They belong to the Father who sent Me. 25 I have spoken all these things while I am still with you. 26 But the Father will send the Friend in My name to help you. The Friend is the Holy Spirit. He will teach you all things. He will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 I leave My peace with you. I give My peace to you. I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be troubled. And do not be afraid. 28 You heard me say, 'I am going away. And I am coming back to you.' If you loved Me, you would be glad I am going to the Father. The Father is greater than I am. 29 I have told you now before it happens. Then when it does happen, you will believe. 30 I will not speak with you much longer. The prince of this world is coming. He has no power over Me. 31 But the world must learn that I love the Father. They must also learn that I do exactly what My Father has commanded Me to do.
Discussion questions:
1) Which words of Jesus do you like the most?
2) Which words are a little difficult to understand?
3) What are the qualities of a good friend?
4) How does Jesus describe the Holy Spirit?
5) Christians believe in the ‘Trinity.’ What does this word mean, and where can we see it in the verses above?
6) Based on the verses above, what is the Christian life all about?
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