Week 54: John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John

Prepare these questions for Sunday, May 4, 2014. We will not meet April 20 due to Easter or April 27 due to Inside Out Gives Back.

All four of these books are believed to have been written by the apostle John. Not to be confused with John the Baptist, John was one of the 12 disciples and, unlike most of the others, lived to be an old man. The book of John is considered to be one of the four Gospels, the books that tell the story of Jesus. However, John's account leaves out quite of few of the stories told in the other Gospels. Instead, John focuses on Jesus's exchanges with other people and Jesus's own identity.

1. Read John 1:1-5. What do these verses tell you about Jesus's relationship to God? What do they tell you about Jesus's relationship with mankind? What hope can these verses bring if you were to memorize them and pray on them?

2. What evidence does John give for how Jesus treated people? What was important to Jesus in his interactions with others? Use examples from the stories of turning water to wine, Jesus clearing the temple courts, Jesus's relationship with Nicodemus, and Jesus with the Samaritan woman at the well.

3. There are several "I am" statements made by Jesus in this book. They are a reference to God calling Himself  "I Am" in the Old Testament and they reveal more about who Jesus is. Read the following verses and describe in our own words who Jesus said he was and how we are to relate to Him.
John 6:35; John 10:14-15; John 11:25-26; John 14:6-7; John 15:5

1 John, 2 John, and 3 John are traditionally believed to be letters written by John to the church at Ephesus. They are meant as encouragement and are not long or well organized. They are, instead, John's reminder of our personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

4. Read 1 John 5: 14-15. What is our prayer relationship with Jesus? What do you think are the key portions of these verses?

5. Read 2 John  v. 5 and 3 John v. 4.  How do these verses in these very short books offer instruction and encouragement?

No comments:

Post a Comment