November 8, 2015         John 11:14 – 37

Download discussion questions:  John 11_14-37 Jesus wept

Jesus had to be blunt to make the disciples understand:  “Lazarus is dead.”  Then He starts the fifteen mile journey back to Bethany on the outskirts of hostile Jerusalem.  Thomas says what the other eleven are most likely thinking:  going with Jesus into Judea meant facing death.  And they did, but not in the way they expected.  They faced the reality of Lazarus’ death and they saw the response of Jesus to death. Continue reading →

November 1, 2015   John 10:37 – 11:16

Download discussion questions: John 10_37 – 11_16 Lazarus is dead

Jesus insists on bringing almost every conversation back to His intimate relationship with the Father.  The tension between Jesus and the hostile Jews escalates.  He and His disciples leave the city of Jerusalem and the area of Judea for safer, familiar territory “beyond the Jordan.”  John includes several geographic details in the passage.  A reasonable question (always good Bible study method) is, Why?  What was important about the geography for John to include the information? Continue reading →

October 18, 2015 John 10:17 – 39

Download discussion questions:  John 10_17-39 Father’s Hand

This passage begins with Jesus making some definitive statements about His ministry.  Laying down His life (a polite way of saying death by torture) is His idea, His initiative, His volition.  He is not being coerced (not by the Jews, not by the Romans, and not even by God) – He is acting on His own authority.  And having the authority to give up His life in a most horrific way, He also has the authority to take it up again, to be restored to life in a most glorious way.  He is the Lord of Life. Continue reading →

October 11, 2015 John 10:1 – 20

Download discussion questions:  John 10_1-18 Good Shepherd

Circumstances prevented me from attending the group for several weeks.  The blog entries for these weeks are minimal to non-existent.  Since the inductive method used in the group is simple, reproducible, and transferable the group continued to have lively discussions.  The handout and discussion questions are available for those weeks and can be downloaded from the link above. Continue reading →

October 4, 2015   John 9:30 – 10:8

Download discussion questions: John 9_30 – 10_8 seeing & shepherds

Circumstances prevented me from attending the group for several weeks.  The blog entries for these weeks are minimal to non-existent.  Since the inductive method used in the group is simple, reproducible, and transferable the group continued to have lively discussions.  The handout and discussion questions are available for those weeks and can be downloaded from the link above. Continue reading →

September 27, 2015 John 9:16 – 34

Download discussion questions:  John 9_16-34 man born blind 2

Circumstances prevented me from attending the group for several weeks.  The blog entries for these weeks are minimal to non-existent.  Since the inductive method used in the group is simple, reproducible, and transferable the group continued to have lively discussions.  The handout and discussion questions are available for those weeks and can be downloaded from the link above.

September 20, 2015 John 8:58 – 9:18a

Download discussion questions:  John 8_58-9_18a man born blind

Circumstances prevented me from attending the group for several weeks.  The blog entries for these weeks are minimal to non-existent.  Since the inductive method used in the group is simple, reproducible, and transferable the group continued to have lively discussions.  The handout and discussion questions are available for those weeks and can be downloaded from the link above.

September 13, 2015              John 8:42-59

Download discussion questions:  John 8_42-59 before Abraham (email, no text)
Download passage text: John 8_42-59 before Abraham

It has taken us several weeks (since August 9 or so) but this passage brings us to a climactic moment in the ongoing (and escalating) controversy between Jesus and various groups.  Throughout the eight-day celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles, or Booths (John 7:2), Jesus had what appears to be a continual encounter with various groups.  Continue reading →

September 6, 2015         John 8:28 – 47

Download discussion questions:  John 8_28-47 Freedom

Perhaps the most important key to good inductive Bible study is the question.  Often the first time someone is introduced to the idea of seriously studying the Bible on their own, they read a passage and then don’t know where to start.  Start with questions – when you read the passage, don’t focus on the knowledge you already have.  Instead, start with what questions the passage raises in your mind.  Then begin the process of seeing what kind of answers you are able to find in the passage.

That was the starting point of our discussion this week.  After spending ten minutes or so quietly looking at the text individually, we began responding to, “What question from your reading would you most like answered?”  Continue reading →