Down john1aq-sbc (docx) - July 10 (Fri)

THE WORD BECAME FLESH

(Who is Jesus and why did he come to the world?)

John 1:1-18

Key Verse 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

  1. Compare John 1:1 and Genesis 1:1. What might be the author’s reason for starting his Gospel in a way so similar to the start of Genesis? Why did the author use “the Word” to describe Jesus before he came to the world? What can you learn about Jesus’ deity in this passage? (1,2,3,15)

 

  1. What difference does faith in Jesus as the Creator God make in your life? (3; Colossians 1:16-17)

Discuss: How has Jesus given you life and guided you out of darkness? (4-5)

 

  1. What does it mean to receive and believe in Jesus, and become children of God? (12) What privilege does a person have when he or she becomes a child of God? (cf. Romans 8:17, 1 Peter 2:9)

 

  1. What is involved in the Word becoming flesh? (Think about the almighty God becoming weak flesh.) Why is it necessary that Jesus became fully human? (cf. Hebrews 2:14-15) Why did he do so?

Discuss: How can we follow the example of Jesus becoming flesh and dwelling among us?

 

  1. Why is Jesus called the Son of God, or the One and Only Son (the only begotten Son)? (cf. Luke 1:35, Hebrews 1:3) What has God revealed about himself through the incarnation of Jesus? (18)

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Down john16q-revision (docx) - July 11 (Sat)

The Work of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth

(Who is the Holy Spirit and what does he do?)

John 16:5-15

Key Verse 16:13

  1. Read John 14:15-17, 14:26, 15:26. What can you learn about the Holy Spirit in these verses? Think of the significance of his names, “Advocate (Counselor), Spirit of truth.”

 

  1. Read verses 5-7. Why might the disciples be filled with grief? How is it for their good that Jesus is going away?

 

  1. What specific work of the Holy Spirit is mentioned? (8-11) How does the Holy Spirit “convict the world of guilt” (prove the world to be in the wrong)? Why is the world guilty in regard to sin, righteousness, and judgment?

 

  1. Read verses 12-15. What work of the Holy Spirit for the disciples is mentioned here? What is the ultimate purpose of the work of the Holy Spirit? (14-15)

Discuss: How has the Holy Spirit worked in your life to guide you and reveal God’s glory?

 

  1. Based on what you have learned about the Holy Spirit in this passage, how can you recognize and respond to his work?

 

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Down 2peter3-rev (docx) - July 12 (Sun)

Look Forward to The Day of the Lord

2 Peter 3:1-18

Key verse 3:12a “As you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.”

  1. Find 3 prophecies regarding the day of the Lord; each one from the holy prophet, Jesus and the apostles. (cf. Joel 2:1; Matthew 24:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:2)

 

  1. How and why do scoffers deny the day of the Lord? (3-4) How are you affected by scoffers in our time? Observe Peter’s response to scoffers? (5-7)

 

  1. Why might we feel that God is too slow in keeping his promise? Why is God’s patience good news? (8-9, 15)

 

  1. What does it mean that “the day of the Lord will come like a thief”? (10a; cf. Matthew 24:43-44) What will the day of the Lord be like? (10b,12b) Why should we live holy and godly lives? (11)

 

  1. Are you really looking forward to the day of the Lord? (12a) Why or why not? What should be our ultimate hope? (13; Revelation 21:1-4) What practical things can you do in your life today to express your hope? (14,17-18)