WHO DO YOU THINK HE IS?
Jonathan Falwell ↓ Matthew 16:13-25 (ESV)description
Throughout all recorded history, mankind has always been looking for a Savior, a deliverer. For some, they created saviors out of wood and gold. These carved images served as gods to provide people with something to worship and to give them hope. For others, they worshiped people who rose up from among them who had great leadership skills and abilities. For others, the search continues. Finding your Savior and hope is an important journey and it requires thought and diligence. For Simon Peter, this journey led to only one option, and his option is the only one that could ever make sense. Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Son of God and the Savior of the world.
questions
1. Who is Jesus Christ in today’s culture? Who do people make Him out to be?
2. Why is it important to know Jesus as the Savior of the world?
3. What are specific passages from the Old Testament which point to Jesus as the Messiah? How do the accounts of Jesus’ birth, life and death correspond with Old Testament prophecies?
4. If asked, how would you relay the message that Jesus is the only one who can save someone from their sin? What would be your plan for witnessing to someone in hopes they would believe in Jesus?
BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND
Beginning with the end in mind is one of the keys to success in any pursuit. While most people live haphazardly and give little thought to their eternal impact, difference-makers live on mission for the good of others and the glory of God. Nobody was more clear on that life-ordering reality than Jesus Christ. Realizing that His task was great and His time was short, Jesus declared His mission from the get-go and got right to work. Beginning with the end in mind, Jesus demonstrates in Luke 4:14-30 that He was called to live on mission regardless of public opinion or popular demands. Empowered by the Spirit and energized by the Scriptures, He shows us what the purpose-driven life is all about. He reminds us that we can make a difference or make excuses, but we cannot do both simultaneously. Everything that transpires in Jesus’ ministry can be traced to His opening salvo in Luke 4:21: “Today, this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Thus He began with the end in mind. So must we.
questions
1. Compare Jesus’ spiritual posture immediately prior to His great temptation versus His spiritual posture just before His grand mission declaration. What life lessons do you draw from this comparison?
2. Note that it was Jesus’ “custom” to be in the synagogue on the Sabbath. What does this tell you about the importance of worshiping and fellowshipping with God’s people on a regular basis? How did this practice impact His mission? How can it impact yours?
3. Based on Jesus’ declaration of His mission, how did He understand living on mission? How, then, should you understand it?
4. What did Jesus mean by “no prophet is accepted in his hometown”? Have you had similar experiences in your hometown? If so, how did you respond?
5. Why were Jesus’ hearers so fickle, first praising Him, then questioning Him, and finally becoming so furious that they drove Him out of town? How would you react if faced with the same kind of pressure for living as a champion for Christ?
JESUS THE LAMB OF GOD
Josh Rutledge ↓ John 1:19-35 (NIV)In John 1, John the Baptist is questioned by several religious leaders about his identity. Is he the Messiah, they wonder? John tells them he is not. The Messiah is coming after him, he tells them. The very next day, John sees Jesus and declares, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,” as if to say, “There is the one you are asking about. There is the Messiah.” But what is striking about John’s description is what it reveals about this promised Messiah. It is not simply that He will “take away the sins of the world.” He will do that, of course. That much is expected. But what is not expected is how He will conquer. That is the paradox that surely would have stunned John’s original audience. The one who will conquer is…the Lamb. It is hardly the picture of what was expected of the Messiah. Yet this is precisely John’s point. The Messiah will conquer not by force but through self-sacrificial love — the gift of His own life. What John’s description reveals is deeply informative to understanding Jesus’ nature and purpose. But it is equally as informative for understanding what it means to follow Jesus and to be formed into the likeness of the one who came “not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
questions
1. What does it mean to call Jesus the Lamb of God?
2. What does the title, Lamb of God, reveal about Jesus’ character and His mission?
3. How would the original audience of John the Baptist’s hearers have understood what he meant when he called Jesus the Lamb of God?
4. Why, in the Book of Revelation, is Jesus pictured as the Lamb of God? What does that portrait reveal about how Jesus currently governs and reigns in the world?
5. How does the description of Jesus as the Lamb of God change or inform what it looks like to follow Him and to be formed into his likeness?
WE NEED A KING
Troy Temple ↓
Luke 8:22-56 (ESV)
description
So much can be said about Jesus’ ministry as we see it accounted for in the Gospels. We see His miracles. We watch His great care for the needy. We can almost hear His teachings while He sits on the hillside along the Sea of Galilee. Throughout every episode in Jesus’ life, as witnessed by the Gospel writers, we are amazed by His willingness to serve, His compassion for everyone, and His deep wisdom. But we have seen these before in other parts of the Bible, specifically in the Old Testament. We saw miracles as part of Elijah’s ministry. We watched Boaz’s redemptive compassion. We benefited from Solomon’s profound wisdom. But we need more than miracles, more than compassion, and more than a wise teacher. In chapter 8, Luke peels back the current on a King! And we need a King! Jesus the King has authority over nature. Jesus the King has authority over spiritual forces. Jesus the King has authority over sickness and death.
questions
1. Have there been times in your life when you knew that God had given you direction, and you knew that it would involve great struggle? How did your faith support or sustain your obedience?
2. Why would the people of Gerasenes ask Jesus to leave after He freed the demon-possessed man? Why didn’t they line up to be touched by Jesus?
3. Are there real ways that you can reach out to Jesus as this woman did?
4. How does Jesus’ power over death affect your calling to follow Him?
THE LIVING WATER
John 4:1-30 (ESV)description
Jesus Christ, the living water, had a divine encounter with a Samaritan woman who was in a dry place spiritually. The unnamed woman came to the well upon which Jesus was sitting, hoping to draw water to quench her physical thirst. However, in the midst of what many would call a forbidden conversation, Jesus offers her “living water” to quench her spiritual thirst. Confused by this invitation, the woman continues to speak on a physical level, but Jesus, little by little, continues to reveal himself to her. Finally, when Jesus told the woman everything she ever did, she realized He was indeed the Messiah. This encounter changed her life forever. That day, she sipped from the eternal spring of living water and went on to share that water with everyone.
questions
1. Have you ever been in a dry place spiritually? How did Jesus reveal Himself to you during that season?
2. Have you ever had an unexpected encounter with Jesus? Explain what that looked like (time, place, person, etc.).
3. Have you ever been confronted with your sin? How did you respond?
4. How does Jesus, the living water, impact you personally?
5. Knowing that Jesus is the Messiah, what is our responsibility in sharing that truth with others?
JESUS IS FOR ME AND NOT AGAINST ME
description
Christians often fall short in their faith and trust in God and His Word. But what does Scripture teach us about how Jesus views and treats His disciples when this happens? Many of His followers missed the mark, as recorded in the Gospels, but it is interesting to see how Jesus responds to them each time. From John the Baptist to Peter to Thomas, over and over again, Jesus responds to those struggling with their faith by responding with love and grace. What we learn from these examples is the affirmation of the truth that Jesus really was sent into this world not to condemn us but to save us. Furthermore, this salvation is not just a one-time experience but an invitation to a daily walk of faith for the entirety of our lives.
questions
1. What is a disciple of Jesus Christ?
2. How do you view yourself as a disciple of Jesus Christ when you fail to trust God and His word?
3. How do you think Jesus views us when we struggle with our faith?
4. How did Jesus treat the disciples when they struggled with their faith?
5. What can we do to trust Jesus and His word daily?
WHAT’S THE LEAST I CAN DO?
Dane Ortlund ↓
Matthew 20:1-16 (ESV)
description
The parable of the workers in the vineyard, found in Matthew 20:1-16, is a story shared by Jesus that highlights the grace of God. In the parable, the landowner goes out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. As the day goes on, he hires more workers, promising to pay them all a fair wage. However, when it is time for the wages to be distributed, the landowner pays all the workers the same amount, regardless of how long they worked. Naturally, this causes those who worked longer to feel resentful, as they expected to get paid more than those who started later in the day. The landowner emphasizes that he fulfilled his promise and questions their complaints, stating he has the right to do what he wishes with his own money. Jesus concludes this parable by explaining that God’s kingdom operates on a different economy than the world’s standards. Much like the workers in the field, however, believers are hard-wired to resist God’s grace. But the Christian life is deeply a life of living in this very grace.
questions
1. Which of the servants in the parable do you identify with the most?
2. Do you find yourself “grumbling” these days? What do you think—based on this parable—is at the root of that grumbling?
3. Do you view God as “generous”? Do you really view him as generous?
4. What comfort does “the last will be first, and the first last” give you in your life today?
JESUS AND THE GLORY OF GOD
description
The night before His death, Jesus spoke of that decisive moment as the hour of His own glorification. “Father, the hour has come,” He prayed. “Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.” In many Christian circles, this idea of glory, or the “glory of God,” is used almost to the point of cliché. This is hardly surprising, however, because all throughout Scripture, the notion of God and His glory is widespread. “So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God,” the Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians. “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power,” writes the Apostle John in the Book of Revelation. Indeed, both in Scripture and throughout church history, the very purpose of the Christian life is often described as being to glorify God. But if God is worthy of glory, and humans are created for His glory, then what does it actually mean? What is the glory of God? And what does it mean for a person to glorify God?
A right understanding of Jesus and how He understood His mission and purpose holds the answer.
questions
1. How would you answer the question, “What is the glory of God?”
2. What do you think most people mean when they use the phrase “the glory of God?”
3. Why did Jesus say that His own death was the hour of His glorification?
4. What do you think Paul meant when he wrote in 2 Corinthians that “the knowledge of God’s glory is displayed in the face of Christ?”
5. What would it look like practically for a human to glorify God?
JESUS THE HUMBLE SERVANT
David Wheeler ↓ John 13:1-5; 12-17; 34-35 (HCSB)description
In Philippians 2:5-7, Paul states, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation . . .” At first glance, this phrase, “no reputation,” seems odd in reference to the creator of the universe. That is until you understand what Paul revealed to us about the nature of Christ. In John 13, when Jesus and the disciples arrived at the upper room, no one was waiting to fulfill the lowly task of foot washing. After all, washing feet was reserved for the lowest people in society. A self-respecting Jewish male would never volunteer to wash feet, especially if He were the long-awaited Messiah. Yet, much to our surprise, and the disciples, Jesus took the role of a humble servant and one of “no reputation”, in order to reveal who He was to His disciples and to us. Contrary to what the world values, Jesus is most exalted in His divine role as a humble servant, and He invites us to become the same.
questions
1. If Jesus’ nature is to be a servant, how are you currently doing as His follower?
2. Discuss the statement, “You should not merely desire to do service events as your religious duty. Rather you must become a servant.”
3. Consider your required Christian service hours. How does this attitude relate to the dilemma of completing these hours because it is required by the university, as opposed to living out what it means to become a Christ like servant every day?
4. What does it look like for you to model Jesus and become a person of “no reputation”? What must change in your life and your daily walk with Christ for this to happen?
5. What are 3-4 things that you can do this week to model what it means to serve others for the sake of the Gospel? Start now by committing these things to prayer!
SEEING THE SAVIOR
Brandon Read ↓
John 9:1-41 (ESV)
description
John 9 highlights the intentionality of Christ. Christ sees the man who is blind and goes to him. He even seeks out the man again after he is cast out of the synagogue. In the same way, God sees us. He saw our helpless and desperate state, and He came to us through His Son, Jesus. For all believers, if our eyes are now opened, and we’ve been given sight to see Jesus in all of His glory, it is not of our own doing. God has graciously gifted us the ability to see Jesus as Lord and Savior. In this text, we see the loving character of Christ on display. We also learn that as our eyes are opened to see Christ for who He is, we must see Him as the one to be worshiped. The blind man demonstrates a beautiful progression. He goes from seeing Jesus as a man to seeing Him as a prophet to, finally, seeing Him as the Lord to be worshiped. When we truly see Jesus for who He is, there is only one appropriate response: worship.
questions
1. It’s really easy to look at the story in John 9 and be encouraged by what Jesus does for the blind man. But do you believe that Jesus sees you, even in times of great despair? And do you believe that He is a loving Savior that cares for you even if your circumstances don’t change?
2. The blind man’s parents are an example of people who know the truth but refused to speak out publicly for fear of consequences. Have there been times in your own life when you should have been a courageous witness for Christ but chose to remain silent? If so, why? What kept you from speaking up?
3. Like the blind man who was graciously gifted his sight, has the Lord given you eyes to see Jesus in all of His glory? Are you consistently praying for God to show you more clearly the glory and majesty of Christ?
4. When Jesus comes to the man for a second time, he designates Christ as Lord and worships (v.38). What does this teach us about how we should respond to Jesus when we finally see Him for who He is?
WHO IS THIS, WHO EVEN FORGIVES SIN?
description
The story recorded in Luke 7:36-50 is a rich text, offering theological, cultural, and sociological examination into the inclusive and radical nature of Jesus. In the passage, the author tells of a transformative encounter between Jesus, a sinful woman, and a Pharisee named Simon that explores themes of forgiveness, grace, and the authority of Jesus to forgive sins. In emphasizing the woman’s faith as the basis for her forgiveness, Luke reveals Jesus’ authority to forgive. This act, however, challenges societal norms and reveals Jesus’ ability to extend grace beyond cultural barriers. In this passage, we will explore these themes: the nature of forgiveness, societal expectations, the role of faith in receiving forgiveness, and the transformative power of encountering Jesus.
questions
1. Jesus dines with a Pharisee named Simon and a woman known as a sinner. What does this passage reveal about Jesus’ attitude towards sinners and the Pharisees? How does Jesus challenge societal expectations and religious norms through His actions?
2. The woman expresses deep love and gratitude towards Jesus by washing His feet with her tears and anointing them with perfume. What can we learn from her act of devotion? How does her response contrast with Simon’s lack of hospitality and judgmental attitude?
3. What is the main message conveyed by Jesus in His parable of the two debtors? How does this parable challenge our understanding of forgiveness and our attitudes toward our sin?
4. Reflecting on the woman’s repentance and Jesus’ forgiveness, what does this teach us regarding the nature of grace and salvation? How does this passage encourage us to approach our own sins and seek forgiveness?
JESUS AND THE AUTHORITY OF GOD
The story of Jesus sleeping on a boat during a storm on the Sea of Galilee is one of the most well-known stories about Jesus in all of Scripture. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all share the same episode in their Gospel accounts. This is surely because the story is so compelling, revealing in a powerful way the nature of Jesus and raising important questions about what it means to have faith in Him. First and foremost, the story illustrates the authority of Jesus. The Apostle Paul wrote later to the Ephesians that “all rule and authority, power and dominion” belong to Jesus. Stories like this prove His point. On that night in the storm, the disciples certainly recognized that something was altogether different about Jesus. “Who is this?” they wondered, “Even the winds and the waves obey him.” More than simply establishing Jesus as having authority over the created order, what makes the story so convicting is the questions it raises for those who claim to follow Jesus. What does it look like to walk by faith in the storms of life? If Jesus really does possess this kind of authority, then “Why are you afraid? Where is your faith?” These were the questions asked of the disciples that night, and they are the questions that are still asked of everyone who seeks to follow Jesus today.
questions
1. What does the story of Jesus asleep on the boat reveal about His nature?
2. Jesus rebuked His disciples for their fear and lack of faith, but what would have been the right response by the disciples in the storm?
3. How was the disciple’s fear evidence of their lack of faith?
4. What is a situation in your life where fear might be holding you back from deeper faith in Jesus? In that situation, what would look different if you were not afraid?
JESUS IS OUR ONLY HOPE
Jonathan Falwell ↓ Matthew 16:13-25 (ESV)description
This Fall, we have spent a great deal of time talking about the person of Jesus Christ. We’ve described Him as Messiah and Savior, our Living Water, a Humble Servant, and a Friend of Sinners. We’ve seen Him as our King and as the Lamb of God who reveals the glory of God. In all of these statements and descriptions, there is one concept that must be realized, and it is this: Jesus is our only hope! Throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry, He made it clear He had come to give hope, to free the bound, set captives free, and to invite sinners (all of us) into the throne room of God for all eternity. In John 14, Jesus gives the thesis statement for what His purpose on earth is all about. He came to “seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). Tonight, we will spend some time focusing on the result of His purpose – HOPE!
questions
1. How does Thomas’ doubt revealed in John 14:5 relate to our doubts?
2. Tonight, we spent some time discussing the “place” Jesus has prepared for us from the book of Revelation. What are some of the key passages in Revelation which help us understand Jesus’ promise from John 14?
3. Why is it important to understand the hope of things to come in order to live the victorious Christian life today?
4. What are some key takeaways from Jesus’ promise in John 14 and His promise in Revelation which we can lean on in difficult times? How do we guarantee these encouragements for everyday life?
