January 10, 2016      John 12:49 – 13:11

Download discussion questions:  John 12_49-13_11 Washing Feet

This week we will look at a familiar passage, Jesus washing the feet of His disciples.  One risk we have anytime we study such a well-known story is that we can focus so much on what we already know that we might miss new insights that the Holy Spirit wants to illuminate for us.  The goal is not to make things up but to study diligently.  Remember one of my favorite quotations from an eighteenth-century German theologian, Johann, Albrecht Bengel:  “Read nothing into the Scriptures, but draw everything from them, and suffer nothing to remain hidden that is really in them.”

Download the passage and read through it several times in preparation for this week’s discussion.

January 3, 2016    John 12:35 – 50

Download discussion questions: John 12_35-50 Seeing & Believing

“Seeing is believing” according to the familiar saying.  In this passage Jesus has a lot to say about both.  John records Jesus’ repeated mention of light and darkness at the beginning of the section (v. 35-36) and again later in His teaching (v. 46).  In addition to the explicit references to light and darkness, Jesus also mentions seeing (v. 45), and John quotes the prophet Isaiah about blindness and sight (v. 40, quoting Isaiah 6:10).  Belief is the other idea stressed in this passage as Jesus exhorts His hearers to believe as a result of seeing the light (v. 36).  He returns to the theme of belief later (v. 44), again in the context as a response to light that He brought into the world (v. 46).  John also adds his comments from Isaiah about belief in the form of the question, “Who has believed?” (v. 38, quoting Isaiah 53:1).  A reasonable question from this passage would be:  What is the relationship between the two themes? Continue reading →

January 3, 2016    John 12:35 – 50

Download discussion questions: John 12_35-50 Seeing & Believing
Download additional questions: Blinded Eyes, Hardened Hearts

First, another reminder for those joining us for our discussion group on this passage.

• THIS week (January 3, 2016) we will be meeting in the Fireside Room (because of the construction going on in our usual meeting place.)
• NEXT week (January 10, 2016) we will be back in Room 107.

This passage takes us to the last public discourse by Jesus before the Passover meal with His disciples and His imminent arrest.  He will make some very provocative statements, and the reaction of those around Him will be quite mixed.  One possible theme in the passage, reinforced by powerful quotations from Isaiah, may be to help understand why the reaction to Him was (and is) so diverse.

December 20, 2015                  John 12:23 – 37

Download discussion questions: John 12_23-37 Glorify Your Name

Circumstances prevented me from attending on this date.  Since the inductive method we are using is simple, reproducible, and transferable the group continued to have lively discussions.  Even though (sadly) I was not part of the group discussion, I wanted to include a few of my own thoughts on this passage.

This passage contains a number of “if-then” type statements.  Some of these may express cause and effect, others may be expressing a correlation or link between factors.  Whatever the connections, Jesus is using those links to make His point.  Death is necessary for fruit (v. 24).  Loving life leads to loss (v. 25a), while hating life of one kind (“in this world”) preserves life of another kind (v. 25b).  Serving the Son results in honor from the Father (v. 26).  Execution by torture attracts others to Him (v. 32).  The thread through all these associations is contrast:  the honored servant, the hated life, the dying fruitfulness. Continue reading →

December 20, 2015                  John 12:23 – 37

Download discussion questions:  John 12_23-37 Glorify Your Name

First, a few reminders for those joining us for our discussion group on this passage.

• THIS week (December 20, 2015) we will be meeting in the Fireside Room (because of the construction going on in our usual meeting place.)
• NEXT week (December 27, 2015) we will not be meeting.

The passage for this week continues the comments by Jesus and the reactions of others after His sudden startling statement, “The hour has come.”  What did He mean?  How will His followers respond?  What will the crowds think?

This will be an interesting passage to consider as we are in the Christmas season.  The usual thinking at this time of the year is about a baby in a manger.  Jesus had a very concentrated focus on His hour, and maybe His focus will affect our focus at Christmas as well.

December 13, 2015  John 12:9 – 26

Download discussion questions:  John 12_9-26 Hosanna
Download “Jesus’ Hour in John”:  John 12_23 Jesus’ Hour

A few weeks ago our discussion suggested that the raising of Lazarus was a “pivotal event” in John’s story of Jesus (“John 12:1-8   The Woman With Perfume”).  This week’s passage, occurring a short time later and in the same town, marks a pivotal saying of Jesus. Continue reading →