Opening question: What was the highlight of your week?
John 18:1-11
1 When Jesus had finished praying, He left with His disciples. They crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a grove of olive trees. Jesus and His disciples went into it. 2 Judas knew the place. He was going to hand Jesus over to His enemies. Jesus had often met in that place with His disciples. 3 So Judas came to the grove. He was guiding a group of soldiers and some officials. The chief priests and the Pharisees had sent them. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. 4 Jesus knew everything that was going to happen to Him. So He went out and asked them, "Who is it that you want?" 5 "Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "I am He," Jesus said. Judas, who was going to hand Jesus over, was standing there with them. 6 When Jesus said, "I am He," they moved back. Then they fell to the ground. 7 He asked them again, "Who is it that you want?" They said, "Jesus of Nazareth." 8 "I told you I am He," Jesus answered. "If you are looking for Me, then let these men go."
9 This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken would come true. He had said, "I have not lost anyone God has given Me." 10 Simon Peter had a sword and pulled it out. He struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. 11 Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shouldn't I drink the cup of suffering the Father has given Me?"
Word list:
disciples – followers of Jesus
Kidron Vally – a narrow valley outside the city walls of Jerusalem
grove – group of trees
Judas – one of the 12 followers who turned against Jesus
priests and Pharisees – religious leaders of Israel
torches & lanterns – lights
Nazareth – a small town where Jesus was raised.
drink the cup – to experience something
Discussion:
1) Try to re-tell the story in verses 1-11.
2) Who came to join Jesus and His disciples in the grove of olive trees?
3) What happened to the soldiers and officials when Jesus said, “I am He”? Explain.
4) How did Jesus know “everything that was going to happen to Him”? (verse 4)
5) Who gave Jesus His followers? What does it mean that they were “given” to Jesus?
6) What’s up with Peter?
7) What do you think was the “suffering” that Jesus referred to?
8) Who gave the “cup” to Jesus? What does this mean?
9) Who was Jesus thinking about in verses 8 and 9? What does this mean to His followers today?
Friday, March 23, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
Jesus's Prayer
Opening question: What do you pray for?
Read John 17:1-5
1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed. He said, "Father, the time has come. Bring glory to your Son. Then your Son will bring glory to you. 2 You gave him authority over all people. He gives eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 And what is eternal life? It is knowing you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth. I have finished the work you gave me to do. 5 So now, Father, give glory to me in heaven where your throne is. Give me the glory I had with you before the world began.”
Q1 How many times is the word ‘glory’ used in these verses? Define glory.
Q2 How does Jesus bring glory to the Father?
Q3 What is eternal life according to verse 3?
Read John 17:20-26
20 "I do not pray only for them [Jesus’s disciples]. I pray also for those who will believe in me because of their message. 21 Father, I pray that all of them will be one, just as you are in me and I am in you. I want them also to be in us. Then the world will believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory you gave me. I did this so they would be one, just as we are one. 23 I will be in them, just as you are in me. I want them to be brought together perfectly as one. This will let the world know that you sent me. It will also show the world that you have loved those you gave me, just as you have loved me. 24 Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am. I want them to see my glory, the glory you have given me. You gave it to me because you loved me before the world was created. 25 Father, you are holy. The world does not know you, but I know you. Those you have given me know you have sent me. 26 I have shown you to them. And I will continue to show you to them. Then the love you have for me will be in them. I myself will be in them."
Q4 Who is Jesus praying for?
Q5 What does Jesus pray for among His followers?
Q6 What does Jesus want for His followers (verse 24)?
Q7 How can we show the world God’s love? What are some specific ways we can do it this week?
Read John 17:1-5
1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed. He said, "Father, the time has come. Bring glory to your Son. Then your Son will bring glory to you. 2 You gave him authority over all people. He gives eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 And what is eternal life? It is knowing you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth. I have finished the work you gave me to do. 5 So now, Father, give glory to me in heaven where your throne is. Give me the glory I had with you before the world began.”
Q1 How many times is the word ‘glory’ used in these verses? Define glory.
Q2 How does Jesus bring glory to the Father?
Q3 What is eternal life according to verse 3?
Read John 17:20-26
20 "I do not pray only for them [Jesus’s disciples]. I pray also for those who will believe in me because of their message. 21 Father, I pray that all of them will be one, just as you are in me and I am in you. I want them also to be in us. Then the world will believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory you gave me. I did this so they would be one, just as we are one. 23 I will be in them, just as you are in me. I want them to be brought together perfectly as one. This will let the world know that you sent me. It will also show the world that you have loved those you gave me, just as you have loved me. 24 Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am. I want them to see my glory, the glory you have given me. You gave it to me because you loved me before the world was created. 25 Father, you are holy. The world does not know you, but I know you. Those you have given me know you have sent me. 26 I have shown you to them. And I will continue to show you to them. Then the love you have for me will be in them. I myself will be in them."
Q4 Who is Jesus praying for?
Q5 What does Jesus pray for among His followers?
Q6 What does Jesus want for His followers (verse 24)?
Q7 How can we show the world God’s love? What are some specific ways we can do it this week?
Friday, March 9, 2012
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?
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 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?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)