John

The Word Became Flesh—John 1:1–18
Topics: Believe, Believers, Creation, Darkness, Glory, Grace, Jesus Christ, Law, Spiritual Rebirth

Open It
1. What are some of the slang expressions you used growing up?
2. *In what ways are words different from visual images?

Explore It
1. Who is the Word? (1:1)
2. *What is the relationship between the Word and God? (1:1–2)
3. What was the Word’s role in creation? (1:3)
4. How is the “life” the light of men? (1:4)
5. What was John’s role in relation to the light? (1:6)
6. How did the light give light to every person? (1:9)
7. Why didn’t the world recognize the light? (1:10)
8. *What is the benefit of receiving or believing in the Word? (1:12)
9. *How and why did the Word make His dwelling among us? (1:14)
10. Whose glory did the Word reveal? (1:14)
11. What did God give us through Moses? (1:17)
12. What did God give us through Jesus? (1:18)
13. Why is it significant that no one has seen God but “God the One and Only”? (1:18)

Get It
1. Why did the Word become flesh and live among us?
2. *How does a person receive the Word?
3. What happens when we receive or believe in the Word?
4. In what way can you receive or welcome Christ into your life?
5. *What insights can you gain from seeing Jesus as God’s Word?
6. How should being a child of God affect our lives?
7. In what way is John an example for us to follow?
8. How did Jesus reveal God’s glory to us?

Apply It
1. What do you need to do to be certain of your relationship with God?
2. *What will you do this week to better enjoy your status as a child of God?
3. How should the reality that God became a man affect your life today?

John the Baptist Denies Being the Christ—John 1:19–28
Topics: Attitude, Believers, Humility, Integrity, Jesus Christ, Messiah, Witnessing
Open It
1. Why do people enjoy boasting about themselves and their accomplishments?
2. Why is it hard to be humble?
3. *What are the characteristics of a humble person?

Explore It
1. What did the Jews want to know? (1:19)
2. Who did the Jews think John was? (1:20–21)
3. *What did John say about who he was? (1:20–22)
4. In what way was John a “voice of one calling in the desert”? (1:23)
5. What does the phrase “make straight the way for the Lord” mean? (1:23)
6. *How did John “make straight the way for the Lord”? (1:23)
7. Why did the Pharisees care that John was baptizing people? (1:24)
8. What did John say he was not worthy to do? (1:27)
9. *Who did John say was coming after him? (12:27)
10. Where did these events take place? (1:28)

Get It
1. *In what ways can you honor Christ with your accomplishments?
2. How can we point others to Christ?
3. In what situations is it difficult for you to be humble?
4. *If you had been John how would you have felt about your role?
5. In what ways is your life like John’s?
6. What special or unique means has God given you to share His Word?

Apply It
1. In what way can you be a voice for Jesus?
2. *What are some areas in which you struggle to be humble at this time in your life?
3. In what specific ways can you point others to Christ this week?

Jesus the Lamb of God—John 1:29–34
Topics: Forgiveness, History, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Messiah, Name, Security, Sin, World

Open It
1. What function do initiation rites serve in a club or society?
2. *What can you infer about someone from his or her title (such as Doctor, Professor, or Prince)?

Explore It
1. *Why did John call Jesus the Lamb of God? (1:29)
2. What are the sins of the world? (1:29)
3. What does Jesus do with the sins of the world? (1:29)
4. *What did John mean that Jesus surpassed him because He was before him? (1:30)
5. How was Jesus before John? (1:30)
6. Why did John say he didn’t know who Jesus was? (1:31)
7. What reason did John give for baptizing Jesus? (1:31)
8. Why did John come to baptize people? (1:31)
9. What creature represented the Spirit of God? (1:32)
10. Why did the Spirit come down upon Jesus? (1:33)
11. With what did John baptize? (1:31, 33)
12. With what will Jesus baptize? (1:33)
13. *What title did John ascribe to the person he baptized? (1:34)

Get It
1. What sin of yours has Jesus taken away?
2. *How do we receive the forgiveness that Christ bought for us?
3. In what way do you share Jesus’ identity as a child of God?
4. What role does the Holy Spirit play in your life?
5. *How does Jesus baptize us?

Apply It
1. *How can you honor Jesus’ Sonship with your life this week?
2. What steps can you take to appreciate better who Jesus is?
3. In what way can you reveal Christ to others this week?

Jesus’ First Disciples—John 1:35–42
Topics: Follow, Humility, Jesus Christ, Messiah, Name, Priorities, Witnessing

Open It
1. What gets you excited or enthusiastic?
2. *How would you feel if a good friend abandoned your friendship in favor of someone else?
3. What nicknames have you had over the years?

Explore It
1. Who besides Jesus had disciples? (1:35)
2. What did John say when he saw Jesus? (1:36)
3. How did John identify Jesus for his disciples? (1:37)
4. *What did John’s disciples do when John identified Jesus? (1:37)
5. What did Jesus ask John’s disciples? (1:38)
6. What did John’s disciples call Jesus? (1:38)
7. What did John’s disciples ask Jesus? (1:38)
8. *What was the first thing Andrew did after he had followed Jesus? (1:40)
9. Who was Andrew’s brother? (1:40)
10. *What did Andrew tell his brother about Jesus? (1:41)
11. What nickname did Jesus give to Simon? (1:42)
12. What words did the author interpret for us? (1:37, 41, 42)

Get It
1. *What does it mean to follow Jesus?
2. What hinders us from following Jesus?
3. *What must we leave to follow Jesus?
4. To what friends and relatives could you introduce Jesus?
5. How can we spend time with Jesus to get to know Him better?

Apply It
1. Whom do you want to introduce to Jesus this week?
2. How could you introduce Christ to a friend or relative?
3. *What change in your daily routine would enable you to follow Jesus better?

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael—John 1:43–51
Topics: Angels, Believe, Follow, God, Goodness, Heaven, Jesus Christ, Name, Surprises

Open It
1. How do people feel when they find something that’s been missing for a for long time?
2. What famous people would you like to meet? Why?
3. *About what things are people today skeptical?

Explore It
1. How did Jesus and Philip meet? (1:43)
2. What did Jesus say to Philip? (1:43)
3. *How did Philip respond to Jesus’ invitation? (1:44–46)
4. What did Philip do after he followed Jesus? (1:45)
5. What did Philip tell Nathanael about Jesus? (1:45)
6. *Why was Nathanael skeptical that Philip had found the Messiah? (1:46)
7. How did Nathanael respond to the fact that Jesus was from Nazareth? (1:46)
8. What did Jesus say when he saw Nathanael? (1:47)
9. *What convinced Nathanael that Jesus was the Son of God? (1:47–50)
10. What was Nathanael’s response to Jesus’ greeting? (1:48)
11. Why was Nathanael surprised? (1:48)
12. Why did Nathanael call Jesus the Son of God and the King of Israel? (1:48–49)
13. What were the greater things to which Jesus referred? (1:50)
14. What did Jesus tell Nathanael he would see? (1:51)
15. Who is the Son of Man? (1:51)

Get It
1. What about Christ stirs skepticism today?
2. *What stereotypes about Christ prevent people from trusting Him today?
3. What convinced you that Jesus was the Son of God?
4. *What makes Jesus qualified to rule our lives?
5. How is Jesus the King of your life?
6. What do you have in common with Jesus?
7. How can Jesus’ identity as the Son of God inspire your confidence in Him?

Apply It
1. How will you show your trust in the God who knows all about you this week?
2. *How would you share your faith with a skeptical person this week?
3. In what way will you recognize Jesus as the ruler of your life today?

Jesus Changes Water to Wine—John 2:1–11
Topics: Assurance, Change, Confidence, Faith, Glory, Jesus Christ, Miracles, New Life, Spiritual Rebirth

Open It
1. Why are people interested in miraculous or supernatural events?
2. *What makes an event miraculous or supernatural?
3. What supernatural or miraculous events have you witnessed?

Explore It
1. Where did the wedding take place? (2:1)
2. Who was at the wedding? (2:1–2)
3. What did Jesus’ mother say to Him? (2:3)
4. *What was Jesus’ response to His mother? (2:4)
5. How did Jesus’ mother respond to His reply? (2:5)
6. What were the water jars used for? (2:6)
7. What did Jesus tell the servants to do? (2:7)
8. To whom did the servants take the water? (2:8)
9. What happened to the water? (2:9)
10. *What was the banquet master’s response? (2:10)
11. *Why did Jesus perform this miracle? (2:11)
12. How did Jesus’ disciples respond to this miracle? (2:11)

Get It
1. How have you had faith in Jesus’ power this week?
2. *What is something you would like Jesus to change in your life?
3. *What recent miracle has Jesus done in your life?
4. How does Jesus reveal His glory to us today?
5. In what ways has Jesus transformed you into a new person?
6. How has Jesus given you a new life?
7. What things has Jesus done that have caused you to have faith in Him?

Apply It
1. *What is one specific habit or characteristic you will ask God to change in your life this week?
2. How will you enjoy today the new life Jesus has given you?

Jesus Clears the Temple—John 2:12–25
Topics: Attitude, Authority, Believe, Church, Compromise, Faith, Hypocrisy, Jesus Christ, Miracles, Money, Resurrection, Zeal

Open It
1. How do you feel after a much-needed bath or shower?
2. *Why do we put off necessary cleaning (such as the bedroom, car, or garage)?

Explore It
1. With whom did Jesus go to Capernaum? (2:12)
2. What time was it when Jesus went to Jerusalem? (2:13)
3. *What did Jesus find in the temple courts? (2:14)
4. What did Jesus do in the temple courts? (2:15)
5. *How did Jesus respond to those who were selling doves? (2:16)
6. *What did Jesus’ disciples remember? (2:17)
7. What did the Jews demand from Jesus? (2:18)
8. How did Jesus respond to the demand from the Jews? (2:19)
9. What temple did the Jews think Jesus was talking about? (2:20)
10. What temple was Jesus talking about? (2:21)
11. When did the disciples remember what Jesus had said? (2:22)
12. How did the people respond to Jesus’ miracles? (2:23)
13. What was Jesus’ response to those who believed in Him? (2:24–25)

Get It
1. *How has Jesus cleansed our lives?
2. What does Jesus still need to clear out of our lives?
3. What do we demand from Jesus?
4. *How do we attempt to use the church to our own advantage?
5. In what ways do people accuse the church or believers of being corrupt or hypocritical?
6. What sign has Jesus given us to believe in?
7. Why is it sometimes hard to recognize how God is working in our lives?

Apply It
1. *What will you ask Jesus to clear out of your life this week?
2. What demanding attitude do you need to change today?

Jesus Teaches Nicodemus—John 3:1–21
Topics: Assurance, Basics of the Faith, Believe, Darkness, Eternal Life, Faith, Gifts, God, Gospel, Heaven, Humility, Jesus Christ, Kingdom of God/Heaven, Love, New Life, Salvation, Unbelievers, Understanding, World

Open It
1. *When have you felt like you wanted to start life all over again?
2. Why do people like to get new things (such as clothes, cars, or gadgets)?
3. What is the best gift you have ever received?

Explore It
1. To what group did Nicodemus belong? (3:1)
2. At what time did Nicodemus visit Jesus? (3:2)
3. Why did Nicodemus believe Jesus was from God? (3:2)
4. What is the qualification for seeing the kingdom of God? (3:3)
5. What did Nicodemus think Jesus meant when He said that a person must be born again? (3:4)
6. *What is required to enter the kingdom of God? (3:5–6)
7. How did Jesus compare the wind to the Spirit? (3:8)
8. Why should Nicodemus have understood what Jesus said? (3:10)
9. About what category of things did Jesus say He was talking? (3:12)
10. Who did Jesus say had gone to heaven? (3:13)
11. How did Jesus compare Moses’ snake with the Son of Man? (3:14)
12. *What is the result of believing in the Son of Man? (3:15, 18)
13. How did God demonstrate His love for the world? (3:16)
14. *Why did God send His Son into the world? (3:17)
15. How does the person who lives by truth respond to the light? (3:19–21)

Get It
1. When would you say you were born again?
2. *How would you describe what it means to be born again to someone?
3. What were some of the circumstances that led you to Jesus?
4. What were some of the things that caused you to believe that Jesus is the Son of God?
5. Why are spiritual truths often hard to understand?
6. What are a few spiritual truths that you struggle to understand?
7. *How does God’s gift of His Son affect our lives?
8. How can a person live by the light?

Apply It
1. How will you change your daily routine to better appreciate and enjoy God’s gift of His Son?
2. *For what specific spiritual truths will you seek answers this week?

John the Baptist’s Testimony About Jesus—John 3:22–36
Topics: Assurance, Believe, Character, Earth, Eternal Life, Example, Faith, Gifts, God, Gospel, Heaven, Jealousy, Jesus Christ, Joy, Popularity, Rejection, Unbelievers

Open It
1. How would you feel if a friend received more recognition than you for something you both did?
2. *What makes someone’s testimony about an event seem either credible or incredible?

Explore It
1. What did Jesus do with His disciples in the Judean countryside? (3:22)
2. What was John doing at Aenon? (3:23)
3. What eventually happened to John? (3:24)
4. What took place between John’s disciples and some Jews? (3:25)
5. What news did John receive? (3:26)
6. What did John say a person can receive? (3:27)
7. *Who did John say he was, as well as who he wasn’t? (3:28)
8. How did John describe his feelings about Jesus becoming more important than him? (3:29)
9. What did John say about his future status? (3:30)
10. *What did John say about Jesus’ future status? (3:30)
11. Who is above all? (3:31)
12. What did Jesus come to say? (3:32)
13. *What did the people do who accepted Jesus’ testimony? (3:33)
14. What did the person whom God sent do? (3:34)
15. What has the Father done for the Son? (3:35)
16. What is the result of either believing or rejecting the Son? (3:36)

Get It
1. In what way do people only receive what is given to them from God?
2. *Why is it sometimes hard to give God credit?
3. How are we like John?
4. What are some areas in which you struggle with being humble?
5. *How can we certify that God is truthful in our lives?
6. How would you describe your relationship with Jesus?
7. How does a person reject the Son?
8. What are the consequences of rejecting the Son?

Apply It
1. *How can you give Jesus the place of prominence He deserves in your life today?
2. What can you do this week to show that God is truthful in your life?
3. In what area of your life will you ask God to help you to be more humble?

Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman—John 4:1–26
Topics: Evangelism, Gifts, God, Good News, Immorality, Jesus Christ, Judging Others, Marriage, Messiah, Morality, New Life, Prejudice, Salvation, Satisfaction, Spiritual Rebirth, Status, Traditions, Witnessing, Worship

Open It
1. *How do people satisfy their hungers and thirsts in life?
2. Why are the messages in TV commercials so appealing and persuasive?
3. In what ways are people you know prejudiced?

Explore It
1. What had the Pharisees heard about Jesus? (4:1)
2. What did Jesus do when he heard what the Pharisees were saying about Him? (4:3)
3. Through what place did Jesus have to travel? (4:4–5)
4. *Why did Jesus sit down by Jacob’s well? (4:6)
5. What did Jesus say to the Samaritan woman? (4:7)
6. Where were Jesus’ disciples? (4:8)
7. Why was the Samaritan woman surprised that Jesus spoke to her? (4:9)
8. How did Jesus answer the Samaritan woman’s question? (4:10)
9. What did the Samaritan woman think Jesus was talking about? (4:11–12,15)
10. *What did Jesus say would be the result of drinking the water He offered? (4:13–14)
11. Whom did Jesus tell the Samaritan woman to go and get? (4:15)
12. How did Jesus respond to the Samaritan woman’s answer to His request? (4:17–18)
13. How did the Samaritan woman respond to Jesus’ statements about her situation? (4:19–20)
14. *How did Jesus say people would worship God? (4:21–23)
15. What kind of worshipers does God seek? (4:23)
16. What did Jesus say about God? (4:24)
17. Who did Jesus say He was? (4:25–26)

Get It
1. What groups of people do you feel uncomfortable being around? Why?
2. How might a person feel put off by another’s background, nationality, or race?
3. How can prejudice affect a Christian’s witness?
4. *How have you responded to Jesus’ invitation to receive His living water?
5. How is Jesus’ gift of salvation different from what the world offers?
6. *How is the world’s need for salvation and eternal life like thirst?
7. In what other ways besides thirst might you describe eternal life?
8. How can we worship God in spirit and in truth?

Apply It
1. *How can you encourage others to quench their spiritual thirst this week?
2. What are some prejudices you will ask God to help you overcome?

The Disciples Rejoin Jesus—John 4:27–38
Topics: Discipline, Eternal Life, Evangelism, Jesus Christ, Judging Others, Messiah, Prejudice, Tasks, Witnessing, Work

Open It
1. *What must a farmer do in order to enjoy an abundant harvest?
2. When have you ever been so consumed with a task that you forgot to eat?

Explore It
1. How did the disciples respond when they saw Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman? (4:27)
2. What did the Samaritan woman do after she had spoken to Jesus? (4:28)
3. What did the Samaritan woman tell the townspeople? (4:29)
4. How did the townspeople respond to what the Samaritan woman said? (4:30)
5. What did the disciples urge Jesus to do? (4:31)
6. *What did Jesus tell the disciples? (4:32)
7. How did the disciples respond to what Jesus told them about food? (4:33)
8. *What did Jesus say was His food? (4:34)
9. What did Jesus say about the fields? (4:35)
10. *What kind of crop did Jesus say “the reaper” was harvesting? (4:36)
11. What did Jesus send the disciples to do? (4:38)

Get It
1. What barriers keep us from talking to other people about Christ?
2. How does spending time talking to Jesus affect your life?
3. *What tasks in life tend to consume your attention?
4. What are some of the sayings of Jesus that surprise you?
5. In what way has God surprised you by what He’s done in your life?
6. What unique work has God given you to do?
7. *How would you describe today the fields Jesus described to His disciples?
8. What role can you play in the reaping and harvesting of lives for Christ?

Apply It
1. What obstacle will you ask God to remove so you can help bring someone to Christ?
2. *In what way can you be involved in reaping and harvesting for God’s kingdom today?

Many Samaritans Believe—John 4:39–42
Topics: Beliefs, Believe, Convictions, Evangelism, Evidence, Faith, Jesus Christ, Knowledge, Salvation, Witnessing

Open It
1. What people have had the biggest influence on your life?
2. *What are some things that we have believed based on someone else’s testimony?
3. What are some things that we can trust in because of our own personal experience?

Explore It
1. *What impact did the Samaritan woman’s testimony have on the townspeople? (4:39)
2. What did the woman tell the Samaritan people Jesus told her? (4:39)
3. What did the Samaritans urge Jesus to do? (4:40)
4. What did Jesus do in response to the Samaritan’s request? (4:40)
5. *What did Jesus rely on to convince more people to believe in Him? (4:41)
6. What impact did Jesus’ words have on the Samaritan people? (4:41)
7. Why did the Samaritan people originally believe in Jesus? (4:42)
8. What new basis did the Samaritans have for their belief in Jesus? (4:42)
9. What difference did hearing Jesus for themselves make to the Samaritans? (4:42)
10. *What did the Samaritan people believe about Jesus? (4:42)

Get It
1. What impact does your testimony have on other people?
2. *What impact have other people’s testimonies had on your life?
3. Who do most people think Jesus is and what is the basis for their belief?
4. Who do you think Jesus is? Why?
5. *What led you to believe in Jesus?
6. What people were influential in leading you to believe in Jesus?
7. How has believing in Jesus changed your life?

Apply It
1. Whom can you tell about Jesus? When?
2. *In what ways could you be a better testimony for Jesus today?
3. What can you do to help clear up other people’s misconceptions about who Jesus is?

Jesus Heals the Official’s Son—John 4:43–54
Topics: Attitude, Believe, Convictions, Courage, Determination, Faith, Healing, Jesus Christ, Miracles, Motives, Sickness, Trust

Open It
1. *What are some things that people believe in that they either haven’t seen or can’t see?
2. What celebrity would you gladly welcome as a guest in your home? Why?

Explore It
1. Where did Jesus go after He left Samaria? (4:43)
2. What did Jesus say about prophets? (4:44)
3. Why did the Galileans welcome Jesus? (4:45)
4. What had Jesus done in Cana? (4:46)
5. What did the royal official ask Jesus to do? (4:47)
6. *What did Jesus say about miraculous signs? (4:48)
7. How did the royal official respond to Jesus’ comment about miraculous signs? (4:49)
8. *What did Jesus say in response to the royal official’s renewed request? (4:50)
9. What was the royal official’s response to what Jesus said? (4:50)
10. When did the royal official’s son get better? (4:51–53)
11. *What impact did Jesus’ healing have on the royal official’s household? (4:53)
12. How many miracles had Jesus performed? (4:54)

Get It
1. For what reasons are people interested in Jesus today?
2. In what ways are we typically more interested in what Jesus can do for us than what we can do for Jesus?
3. What miracles have you asked Jesus to do in your life?
4. *When do we usually find ourselves asking God to help us?
5. Why is it sometimes hard to take Jesus at His word?
6. What are some things God has told us in His Word that are hard for you to believe?
7. How have you exercised believing—sight unseen—faith in Jesus?
8. What miraculous signs are people looking for today?
9. In what ways are we demanding of God in our relationship with Him?
10. *What impact would a miraculous event have in your life?
11. What are some miracles God has worked in your life?

Apply It
1. *What is something specific you can thank God for doing in your life?
2. How do you need to trust in God this week to handle a situation you can’t control or work out on your own?

The Healing at the Pool—John 5:1–15
Topics: Attitude, Church, Depend, Healing, Jesus Christ, Law, Legalism, Miracles, New Life, Religion, Sin, Trust

Open It
1. *Why might someone prefer rules and regulations to freedom?
2. In what way are relationships more important than rules and regulations?

Explore It
1. For what event did Jesus go to Jerusalem? (5:1)
2. Who came to the pool near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem? (5:2–3)
3. How long had the one invalid man been at the pool? (5:5)
4. *What did Jesus ask the invalid man? (5:6)
5. How did the invalid man respond to Jesus’ question? (5:7)
6. What did Jesus command the invalid man to do? (5:8)
7. What happened to the invalid man after Jesus spoke to him? (5:9)
8. On what day of the week did this miracle take place? (5:9)
9. *What did the Jews say to the healed man? Why? (5:10)
10. How did the healed man respond to the Jews’ question? (5:11)
11. What did the Jews ask the healed man? (5:12)
12. Why didn’t the man know who healed him? (5:13)
13. *What did Jesus tell the man he had healed on their second encounter? (5:14)
14. What did the healed man do after he spoke with Jesus a second time? (5:15)

Get It
1. In what way do you think life is unfair?
2. When have you felt as if life has dealt you a bad hand?
3. When have you felt that God was waiting too long to do something you’d trusted Him to do?
4. When do we tend to get impatient with God’s timing in our lives?
5. On what in life, other than God, do we sometimes depend?
6. Why do we attempt to take matters into our own hands, rather than trust God to work them out?
7. *When has someone tried to squelch your freedom in Christ with religious rules or regulations?
8. *Why do some people care more about keeping certain “religious” rules than they do about developing a meaningful relationship with Jesus?
9. What rules tend to interfere with your enjoyment of your relationship with Christ?
10. In what way has Jesus made you well?

Apply It
1. What is something you need to trust God with today?
2. Who is someone you can encourage to enjoy his or her relationship with Christ this week?
3. *What “religious” rule that hinders your relationship with Christ will you make secondary to that relationship this week?

Life Through the Son—John 5:16–30
Topics: Assurance, Believe, Enemies, Eternal Life, Faith, God, Jesus Christ, Judgment, New Life, Parents, Persecution, Salvation, Security

Open It
1. What different groups of people have suffered persecution throughout history?
2. *What are some of the positive aspects of your relationship with your parents?

Explore It
1. Why did the Jews persecute Jesus? (5:16)
2. Whose work did Jesus do? (5:17)
3. Why did certain Jews want to kill Jesus? (5:18)
4. *What did Jesus say that the Son could do? (5:19)
5. What did Jesus tell the Jews that He would show them? (5:20)
6. What did Jesus say He was able to do? (5:21)
7. To whom did God entrust all judgment? (5:22)
8. *Why did God entrust judgment to Christ? (5:23)
9. How did Jesus say a person can gain eternal life? (5:24)
10. What time did Jesus say had already come? (5:25)
11. *What did Jesus say the Father has in Himself that He has granted to the Son? (5:26)
12. What time did Jesus say was coming? (5:28–29)
13. Whom did Jesus say He desires to please? (5:30)

Get It
1. In what way does the world persecute Christians today?
2. How have you been persecuted as a believer?
3. When have you experienced pressure not to practice or share your faith in Christ?
4. Why does the world persecute Christians?
5. *How can we honor the Son and the Father with our lives?
6. How can we know for sure that we have eternal life?
7. *Why should we feel secure in our relationship with God?
8. How should we prepare ourselves for Jesus’ judgment?
9. In what way are we like Jesus with respect to our relationship with God the Father?
10. In what way is Jesus an example for us to follow?

Apply It
1. *What steps can you take this week to enjoy more fully your relationship with your Heavenly Father?
2. What can you do today to bring honor to God?
3. How will you allow Jesus’ example in this passage of Scripture to influence your life this week?

Testimonies About Jesus—John 5:31–47
Topics: Assurance, Authority, Believe, Bible, Church, Eternal Life, God, Jesus Christ, Legalism, Life, Light, Popularity, Praise

Open It
1. What motivates people to want to be famous, rich, successful, or powerful?
2. *What makes someone’s testimony valid or invalid?
3. How can the details sometimes prevent us from seeing the big picture?

Explore It
1. *Whose testimony did Jesus say was valid? (5:31–32)
2. What did Jesus say John did? (5:33)
3. Why did Jesus mention John’s testimony? (5:34)
4. What did Jesus say John was? (5:35)
5. *What did Jesus say testified to the fact that the Father had sent Him? (5:36)
6. Who else did Jesus say testified about Him? (5:37)
7. *Why did the Jews study the Scriptures? (5:39)
8. What was the result of all the Jews’ study of the Scriptures? (5:40)
9. What did Jesus’ audience not have in their hearts? (5:42)
10. Whose praise did the Jews neglect to seek? (5:43–44)
11. Who was the Jews’ accuser? (5:45)
12. About whom did Moses write? (5:46)
13. What effect should Moses’ writings have had on the Jews? (5:46–47)

Get It
1. *How is your life like a lamp pointing others to Jesus?
2. Why do you believe in Jesus?
3. On what authority can we rest our belief in Jesus?
4. *How could someone study the Scriptures and still not believe in Jesus?
5. From whom do you seek praise and recognition?
6. In what do you find your significance and security in life?
7. In what way might the church sometimes prevent people from seeing and believing in Jesus?
8. What should we do to gain the praise of God?

Apply It
1. *Starting today, how can you seek greater recognition for God’s ways?
2. How can you make your study of Scripture more Christ-centered this week?
3. What step can you take to become a brighter lamp pointing to Jesus?

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand—John 6:1–15
Topics: Appreciation, Expectations, Faith, Jesus Christ, Miracles, Motives, Needs, Testing, Thankfulness

Open It
1. *What is the most difficult situation in which you have ever found yourself?
2. In what exciting events have you recently participated? What made them exciting?

Explore It
1. Where did Jesus go? (6:1)
2. Why did the crowd of people follow Jesus? (6:2)
3. Where did Jesus and His disciples go? (6:3)
4. What Jewish feast was near? (6:4)
5. *What question did Jesus ask Philip? (6:5)
6. Why did Jesus ask Philip a question? (6:6)
7. How did Philip respond to Jesus’ question? (6:7)
8. Who was Andrew? (6:8)
9. What role did Andrew play in feeding the five thousand? (6:8–9)
10. What solution did Andrew propose to Jesus’ question? (6:8–9)
11. *What miracle did Jesus perform? (6:10–11)
12. How much bread was left over? (6:12–13)
13. *How did the crowd of people respond to Jesus’ miracle? (6:14)
14. What did the crowd of people intend to do? (6:15)
15. What was Jesus’ reaction to the crowd’s intention? (6:15)

Get It
1. For what reasons do people follow Jesus today?
2. What makes you want to follow Jesus?
3. What is your typical reaction to situations that seem to present no readily available solution?
4. *With what situations in life do you have a difficult time trusting God?
5. What does God provide for us on a daily basis?
6. In what ways do people attempt to use Jesus or His name inappropriately?
7. What misconceptions have you had about Jesus or His role in your life?
8. *How and when has God miraculously provided for your needs?
9. How can we trust God with our needs?

Apply It
1. What things do you need to thank God for providing?
2. *What tough situation do you need to trust God to work out in your life this week?

Jesus Walks on the Water—John 6:16–24
Topics: Circumstances, Fear, Insecurity, Jesus Christ, Miracles, Nature, People, Power, Sovereignty

Open It
1. *What is the most frightening situation you have ever experienced?
2. What is something you feared as a child?
3. What is something you have diligently pursued in life?

Explore It
1. Where did Jesus’ disciples go? (6:16)
2. Who hadn’t joined the disciples yet? (6:17)
3. What happened to the water? (6:18)
4. *What miraculous feat did Jesus perform? (6:19)
5. *How did the disciples react to what they saw? (6:19)
6. What did Jesus do to calm His disciples’ fear? (6:20)
7. *What miraculous event took place once Jesus entered the boat? (6:21)
8. Where was the crowd? (6:22)
9. What did the crowd realize? (6:22)
10. What did the crowd do when they realized that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there? (6:24)

Get It
1. When and why have you ever been afraid for your life or personal safety?
2. *When do you feel alone and in need of God’s presence?
3. When do you tend to leave Jesus behind and out of the picture in your life?
4. *What fears has Jesus calmed in your life?
5. Under what circumstances are you often unwilling to allow Jesus to enter your problems or troubling situations?
6. What circumstances or events have caused you to search for Jesus?

Apply It
1. *How will you depend on God the next time a threatening situation confronts you?
2. What specific fears do you need to ask God to calm in your life?

Jesus the Bread of Life—John 6:25–59
Topics: Acceptance, Assurance, Attitude, Believe, Depend, Eternal Life, Faith, God, Gospel, Heaven, Insecurity, Jesus Christ, Lord’s Supper, Love, New Life, Promises, Salvation, Security, Self-esteem, Value

Open It
1. What kind of bread do you like most?
2. *How do people attempt to satisfy their need to feel secure and significant in life?
3. What needs do you spend the majority of your time trying to satisfy?

Explore It
1. *Why did the crowd seek Jesus? (6:26)
2. What did Jesus say the Son of Man would give to these people? (6:27)
3. What did Jesus say was the work of God? (6:28–29)
4. What did the crowd ask Jesus to do? (6:30–31)
5. Who did Jesus say was the true bread of life? (6:32–33)
6. *What did Jesus say would be the result of coming to Him? (6:35)
7. What did Jesus say He would never do to those who came to Him? (6:37)
8. Why did Jesus come down from heaven? (6:38)
9. What did Jesus say is the Father’s will? (6:39–40)
10. Why did the Jews begin to grumble? (6:41–42)
11. Who did Jesus say could come to Him? (6:43–44)
12. What did Jesus say would be the result of believing? (6:47)
13. *What contrast does Jesus make between manna and the bread of life? (6:48–51, 58)
14. What did Jesus say about His flesh and His blood? (6:53–57)

Get It
1. *What things do we seek from Jesus?
2. In what ways do you have a demanding attitude toward God?
3. When and why did you come to Jesus?
4. *In what way has Jesus satisfied your hunger and thirst for acceptance and meaning in life?
5. In what ways do you still feel empty?
6. What situations cause you to feel insecure?
7. When do you feel secure in your relationship with God? Why?
8. How has the Christian life turned out to be different from what you expected?
9. In what way is Jesus an example for us to follow?

Apply It
1. *What can you do today to rely on God, rather than on things or people, to satisfy your needs?
2. What demanding attitudes do you need to ask God to help you change?

Many Disciples Desert Jesus—John 6:60–71
Topics: Abandon, Believe, Confusion, Decisions, Doubt, Eternal Life, Hardheartedness, Jesus Christ, People, Questions, Rejection, Satan, Security, Understanding

Open It
1. *What is something that you enthusiastically started but were later tempted to quit?
2. For what causes have people willingly suffered and even died?

Explore It
1. *How did many of Jesus’ disciples respond to His teaching? (6:60)
2. What did Jesus ask the grumbling disciples? (6:31)
3. What kind of words did Jesus speak to His audience? (6:63)
4. *What did Jesus know? (6:64)
5. Who did Jesus say could come to Him? (6:65)
6. What did many of Jesus’ disciples do after Jesus spoke these words? (6:66)
7. What question did Jesus ask His twelve disciples? (6:67)
8. *What was Peter’s reply to Jesus’ question? (6:68–69)
9. What did Jesus say about His disciples? (6:70)
10. Whom did Jesus call a devil? (6:71)

Get It
1. *What teachings of Jesus have you found difficult to understand or accept?
2. What makes some of Jesus’ teachings difficult to understand and follow?
3. What might cause someone to stop following Jesus?
4. When have you ever felt like turning away from following Jesus?
5. *What has kept you from turning away from Christ?
6. What makes you believe that Jesus is the Son of God?

Apply It
1. *What difficult teaching of Jesus will you ask God to help you understand and apply to your life?
2. What struggling Christian could use your encouragement this week as he or she continues to follow Jesus?

Jesus Goes to the Feast of Tabernacles—John 7:1–13
Topics: Believe, Compromise, Doubt, Evil, Faith, Family, Fear, Friendship, God’s Will, Jesus Christ, Mission, Timing, Truth, Unbelievers, World

Open It
1. Who are some of today’s most controversial personalities?
2. *What dynamic figure from history do you admire? Why?

Explore It
1. Why did Jesus stay away from Judea? (7:1)
2. What feast was near? (7:2)
3. *What did Jesus’ brothers tell Him to do? (7:3–4)
4. Why did Jesus’ brothers tell Him to do this? (7:5)
5. How did Jesus respond to His brothers’ words? (7:6–8)
6. *Why did Jesus say the world hated Him? (7:7)
7. What did Jesus do when His brothers had left? (7:9)
8. What were the Jews doing at the feast? (7:11)
9. *What were people at the feast saying about Jesus? (7:12)
10. Why didn’t the people speak publicly about Jesus? (7:13)

Get It
1. What sort of things are people today saying about Jesus?
2. How would you feel if either a family member or friend doubted you or your abilities?
3. *How have you been punished or put down for speaking the truth?
4. How would you feel if you knew that someone hated you?
5. What would you do if you knew that someone hated you?
6. *In what different ways do people react to unwelcome truth?
7. When have you been afraid to openly share your beliefs about Jesus?
8. In what way is the world today evil?

Apply It
1. How will you encourage either a family member or friend today?
2. *In what area of your life do you need to ask God to help you boldly speak the truth?

Jesus Teaches at the Feast—John 7:14–24
Topics: Appearance, Assumptions, Demons, Hypocrisy, Jesus Christ, Judging Others, Law, Legalism, Traditions, Truth, Unbelievers

Open It
1. When have you gotten so caught up with rules and regulations that you missed entirely the joy of living?
2. *When have you judged someone or something on appearance alone only to find out later that you were wrong?

Explore It
1. What did Jesus do halfway through the Feast? (7:14)
2. How did the Jews respond to Jesus’ teaching? (7:15)
3. From where did Jesus’ teaching come? (7:16)
4. *How did Jesus say someone could discover whether or not His teaching came from God? (7:17)
5. What quality did Jesus say a person of truth possesses? (7:18)
6. What questions did Jesus ask the Jews? (7:19)
7. *What did the crowd accuse Jesus of being? (7:20)
8. Why did Jesus say the Jews were astonished? (7:21)
9. Why did Jesus comment on circumcision? (7:22–23)
10. What evidence did Jesus use to show that the Jews also believed in doing good on the Sabbath? (7:22–23)
11. How did Jesus compare His healing with circumcision? (7:23)
12. *What did Jesus instruct His audience to do? (7:24)

Get It
1. *How do people today respond to the teaching of Jesus?
2. What gives you the confidence to believe that what Jesus taught is true?
3. How can we become men and women of truth?
4. *What rules do we force on others while overlooking our own violations?
5. What are the important issues in today’s society about which the Church should be concerned?
6. Why do we tend to judge things and people based solely on appearances?

Apply It
1. What hypocritical standard do you need to change in your life this week?
2. *How can you put aside a prejudice in order to get to know a person you have misjudged?

Is Jesus the Christ?—John 7:25–44
Topics: Believe, Divisions, Doubt, Faith, God, Jesus Christ, Messiah, Miracles, Rejection, Religion, Satisfaction, Security, Society, Unbelievers, World

Open It
1. In what do people today put their faith?
2. *What ideas tend to cause division among the people you know?

Explore It
1. *What questions did the people begin asking about Jesus? (7:25–26)
2. Why was it significant that people knew where Jesus was from? (7:27)
3. What did Jesus cry out in the temple court? (7:28–29)
4. What did the people try to do? (7:30)
5. Why were the people unsuccessful in trying to seize Jesus? (7:30)
6. *What reason did some of the people give for putting their faith in Jesus? (7:31)
7. What did the Pharisees do when they heard the crowd talking about Jesus? (7:32)
8. How long did Jesus say He would be with His audience? (7:33)
9. What did Jesus say the people would be unable to do? (7:34)
10. How did the Jews respond to what Jesus said? (7:35–36)
11. What invitation did Jesus offer on the last day of the Feast? (7:37)
12. What result did Jesus promise for those who believed in Him? (7:38)
13. Why hadn’t the Spirit been given yet? (7:39)
14. *What conclusions did the people come to about Jesus? (7:40–41)
15. Why did the people get confused over Jesus’ identity? (7:41–42)
16. What effect did Jesus have on these people? (7:43)
17. What did some of the people want to do? (7:44)

Get It
1. What has the world as a whole concluded about Jesus?
2. What can you tell about a person from his or her hometown?
3. How has your background shaped you into the person you are today?
4. When do you feel most refreshed in your relationship with Christ?
5. *How has Jesus caused division among groups of people with whom you are associated?
6. How has Jesus satisfied your thirsts and longings in life?
7. *In what way do we attempt to satisfy our thirsts and longings in life outside of Christ?

Apply It
1. *What specific thirst or longing do you need to trust Christ to satisfy this week?
2. How can you refresh your relationship with God today?

Unbelief of the Jewish Leaders—John 7:45–52
Topics: Acceptance, Authority, Influence, Jesus Christ, Leadership, Motives, Peer Pressure, Prejudice, Society, Status, Unbelievers, World

Open It
1. Why do people join groups, clubs, and associations?
2. *To what groups do you belong? Which is your favorite?

Explore It
1. What explanation did the temple guards give for not bringing Jesus to the chief priests and Pharisees? (7:45–46)
2. *How can we infer that the temple guard recognized Jesus’ authority? (7:46)
3. Of what did the Pharisees accuse the temple guards? (7:47)
4. What groups of people had not believed in Jesus? (7:48)
5. Why did the Pharisees claim there was a curse on the mob of people who believed in Jesus? (7:49)
6. *To what group did Nicodemus belong? (7:50)
7. What question did Nicodemus ask? (7:51)
8. What question was Nicodemus asked? (7:52)
9. *What claim did the Pharisees make about Galilee? (7:52)

Get It
1. *To what groups in your church do you belong?
2. How might your membership in certain groups influence your opinions or beliefs?
3. What religious groups have power and authority in today’s society?
4. *How might today’s religious leaders react to Jesus if He came back today?
5. Why do we tend to judge others before we actually get to know them?
6. How do we sometimes abuse spiritual authority?

Apply It
1. *What groups that further the cause of Christ can you support? How?
2. How can you glorify God in the places of authority you hold?

A Woman Caught in Adultery—John 7:53–8:11
Topics: Accusation, Adultery, Failure, Faults, Forgiveness, Hypocrisy, Immorality, Jesus Christ, Judging Others, Legalism, Punishment, Self-righteousness, Sin

Open It
1. *What sins do most people think they are incapable of committing?
2. What activities or behavior do you consider to be immoral?
3. What do you think is the biggest challenge to marriages today?

Explore It
1. Where did Jesus go? (8:1)
2. What did Jesus sit down to do in the temple courts? (8:2)
3. Whom did the Pharisees bring before Jesus? (8:3–4)
4. *What did the Law of Moses say should happen to the woman caught in adultery? (8:5)
5. Why did the Pharisees bring the woman before Jesus? (8:6)
6. How did Jesus answer the Pharisees’ question? (8:6–8)
7. *Why did Jesus issue a challenge to the Pharisees? (8:7)
8. How did the Pharisees respond to Jesus’ challenge? (8:9)
9. What did Jesus ask the woman? (8:10)
10. *What did Jesus tell the woman to do? (8:11)

Get It
1. *Which sins do we tend to categorize as “big” sins (those that are worse than all others)?
2. Why do we rush to point out other people’s sin?
3. Which sins do you think God classifies as “big” sins?
4. How do we treat people who have fallen into one of the so-called “big” sins?
5. *How should we treat people who have sinned?
6. About what do you tend to be self-righteous?
7. What should we do when we’ve sinned?

Apply It
1. How can you challenge a friend or family member caught in sin to sin no more?
2. Away from what bad habit or tendency do you need to take the first step today?
3. *What self-righteous attitude will you ask God to change in your prayers this week?

The Validity of Jesus’ Testimony—John 8:12–30
Topics: Authority, Believe, Darkness, Eternal Life, Faith, God, Jesus Christ, Judgment, Knowledge, Leadership, Light, People, World

Open It
1. What kind of credentials are valued most by the people you work with?
2. *When was a time you were able to verify someone else’s testimony?

Explore It
1. Who did Jesus say that He was? (8:12)
2. What did Jesus say would be the result of following Him? (8:12)
3. How did the Pharisees challenge Jesus? (8:13)
4. *Why did Jesus say His own testimony was valid? (8:14)
5. Why did Jesus say His decisions were right? (8:15–16)
6. *What two witnesses did Jesus claim testified on His behalf? (8:17–18)
7. Why did Jesus say that the Pharisees didn’t know His Father? (8:19)
8. Why didn’t anyone seize Jesus? (8:20)
9. How did the Jews respond to Jesus’ words? (8:21–22)
10. What did Jesus say would be the consequence of not believing in Him? (8:23–24)
11. What question did the Jews ask Jesus? (8:25)
12. How did Jesus answer the Jews’ question? (8:25–26)
13. *At what point did Jesus say that the people would know who He was? (8:27–28)
14. Whom did Jesus say He pleased? (8:29)
15. How did the people respond to Jesus’ words? (8:30)

Get It
1. How do you know God the Father?
2. In what way is Jesus a “light”?
3. How is Jesus the light in your world?
4. How were you in darkness before you believed in Jesus?
5. *Why is Jesus’ testimony credible to you?
6. Why are people today confused about Jesus’ identity?
7. How is Jesus’ relationship with God an example for our relationship with God?
8. In what way has God been reliable in your life?
9. *What would people say about the validity of your testimony?

Apply It
1. How can you seek to please God with what you do today?
2. *In what way can you testify on behalf of Jesus this week?

The Children of Abraham—John 8:31–41
Topics: Believe, Children, Freedom, God, Jesus Christ, New Life, Salvation, Sin, Slavery, Unbelievers, Understanding, Words

Open It
1. *To what sort of things do people today become enslaved?
2. What does it mean to you to be free? What doesn’t it mean?

Explore It
1. What did Jesus say to the Jews who had believed in Him? (8:31)
2. *What did Jesus say the truth would do for those who knew it? (8:32)
3. How did the Jews respond to Jesus’ statement about freedom? (8:33)
4. *Who did Jesus say is a slave to sin? (8:34)
5. How does Jesus distinguish a slave from a son? (8:35)
6. *What is the result of being freed by the Son? (8:36)
7. What did Jesus say the Jews were ready to do? (8:37)
8. Who did the Jews say was their father? (8:39)
9. In what way were the Jews mistaken about Abraham? (8:39)
10. What did Abraham not do? (8:40)
11. What claim did Jesus’ accusers make? (8:41)

Get It
1. How are you like your mother or father?
2. To what sin are you a slave?
3. *From what sin have you been set free?
4. *How does truth set someone free?
5. How has the Son set you free?
6. In what way are we like God our Father?
7. When do we act like illegitimate children?

Apply It
1. *How can you better enjoy your freedom in the Son?
2. From what enslaving sin will you ask God to set you free?
3. What action will you take in order to act more like a child of God?

The Children of the Devil—John 8:42–47
Topics: Believe, Children, God, Heresy, Jesus Christ, Love, Parents, Satan, Sin, Truth, Understanding, Words

Open It
1. What languages other than English have you learned or would you like to learn?
2. *What makes mastering a second language so difficult?

Explore It
1. What did Jesus say the Jews would do if God were their Father? (8:42)
2. Who sent Jesus? (8:42)
3. *Why did Jesus say that His language was unclear to His audience? (8:43)
4. What shocking fact did Jesus reveal about His audience? (8:44)
5. What did Jesus say was not in the devil? (8:44)
6. *What is the devil’s native language? (8:44)
7. Of what did Jesus say the devil was the father? (8:44)
8. Why did Jesus’ audience not believe Him? (8:45)
9. What did Jesus ask His audience to prove? (8:46)
10. *What did Jesus say that the person who belonged to God heard? (8:47)
11. What reason did Jesus give for these people’s lack of hearing? (8:47)

Get It
1. In what way are you like your parents?
2. What points to the fact that you belong to God?
3. How does a person show love for Jesus?
4. *What truths do you have a difficult time accepting?
5. How is our love for God reflected in our love for Christ?
6. *What does your speech reveal about you?
7. What is your native language: truth, lies, or another language?
8. How can we learn a new language?

Apply It
1. What truth that is difficult for you to face will you ask God to help you confront today?
2. What change in your speech can you make this week to reflect your status as a child of God?

The Claims of Jesus About Himself—John 8:48–59
Topics: Accusation, Authority, Believe, Death, Demons, Glory, God, Hardheartedness, Heresy, Jesus Christ, Motives, Truth, Unbelievers, Understanding, Words

Open It
1. Over what area of your life do you feel you have the least amount of control?
2. *How would you respond if you were falsely accused of doing something you hadn’t done?

Explore It
1. *Of what did the Jews accuse Jesus? (8:48)
2. How did Jesus respond to the accusation against Him? (8:49)
3. What did Jesus say He wasn’t seeking? (8:50)
4. What did Jesus say would be the result of keeping His word? (8:51)
5. How did the Jews respond to Jesus’ claim? (8:52)
6. What question did the Jews ask Jesus? (8:53)
7. Who glorifies Jesus? (8:54)
8. *Whom did Jesus claim to know? (8:55)
9. What made Abraham rejoice? (8:56)
10. *Why were the Jews so astonished by what Jesus said? (8:57)
11. Before whom did Jesus claim He had existed? (8:58)
12. What did the Jews attempt to do to Jesus? Why? (8:58–59)

Get It
1. How do you usually respond to things you don’t understand or can’t explain?
2. How do you respond to situations that you can’t control?
3. *How do you respond when your authority is being challenged?
4. To what authorities in life do you appeal for truth?
5. Whose glory do you seek?
6. *How can you honor God with your life?
7. How does a person keep Jesus’ word?
8. How well do you keep Jesus’ word?
9. How do you know that you know God?

Apply It
1. What is one way that you can honor God with your life today?
2. *How can you seek God’s glory rather than your own in your work this week?
3. What do you need to do in order to keep Jesus’ word?

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind—John 9:1–12
Topics: Abilities, Circumstances, Glory, God, Healing, Jesus Christ, Light, Miracles, New Life, Parents, Sin, World

Open It
1. What goes through your mind when you see a disabled person?
2. *In what way would being blind change your life?

Explore It
1. How long had the man Jesus saw been blind? (9:1)
2. *What question did Jesus’ disciples ask Him about the blind man’s condition? (9:2)
3. *Why had this man been born blind? (9:3)
4. What did Jesus say that they should be doing as long as it is day? (9:4)
5. What did Jesus claim to be? (9:5)
6. What did Jesus put on the blind man’s eyes? (9:6)
7. What happened to the blind man? (9:7)
8. How did the blind man’s neighbors respond to his new condition? (9:9)
9. What question did the blind man’s neighbors ask him? (9:10)
10. *How did the blind man answer his neighbors’ question? (9:11)
11. What did the man’s neighbors want to know? (9:12)

Get It
1. How do our sins affect us physically or emotionally?
2. How do our sins affect others?
3. With what condition were you born so that God might be glorified?
4. Through what disability or weakness can you glorify God?
5. What work has God given you to do while you still have time?
6. *In what way has God healed you?
7. *In what ways are we spiritually blind?
8. From what “blindness” has God healed you?
9. How did your family and friends respond when you put your faith in Christ?

Apply It
1. *Through what shortcoming in your life will you ask God to glorify Himself today?
2. For what healing in your life will you praise God today?

The Pharisees Investigate the Healing—John 9:13–34
Topics: Believe, Challenge, Church, Comfortable, Complacency, God, Hardheartedness, Healing, Heresy, Hypocrisy, Jesus Christ, Leadership, Miracles, Parents, Sin, Status, Traditions, Unbelievers

Open It
1. *Who do you know who has challenged “the establishment” or “the system”?
2. About what do you tend to get complacent?

Explore It
1. To whom was the blind man taken? (9:13)
2. On what day did Jesus heal the blind man? (9:14)
3. What did the Pharisees ask the blind man? (9:15)
4. Over what were the Pharisees divided? (9:16)
5. Who did the blind man think Jesus was? (9:17)
6. Why did the Pharisees send for the blind man’s parents? (9:18)
7. *How did the blind man’s parents answer the Pharisees’ questions? (9:19–21)
8. What did the blind man’s parents fear? (9:22–23)
9. What did the Pharisees ask the blind man to do? (9:24)
10. *How did the blind man respond to the Pharisees? (9:25)
11. What question did the blind man ask the Pharisees? (9:27)
12. Whose disciples did the Pharisees claim to be? (9:28)
13. What did the blind man say was remarkable? (9:29–30)
14. What did the blind man say nobody had ever done? (9:31–32)
15. *What convinced the blind man that Jesus was from God? (9:33)
16. What did the Pharisees do to the man who was born blind? (9:34)

Get It
1. What divides Christian leaders today?
2. How would you react to a miraculous healing?
3. Why do you believe Jesus is from God?
4. When have your parents disappointed you?
5. How do you respond when your authority is challenged?
6. *What authority have you ever challenged?
7. How do people respond when the status quo is disturbed?
8. *In what way has Jesus upset the status quo in your life?
9. When have you allowed fear to control your behavior?
10. In what way are Christians today complacent?
11. In what way has Jesus opened your once-blind eyes?

Apply It
1. What area of your life about which you have become complacent do you need to allow Jesus to revitalize? How?
2. What program in your church about which people have become complacent can you help revitalize?
3. *How would you challenge someone this week who disputed the authority of God?

Spiritual Blindness—John 9:35–41
Topics: Acceptance, Believe, Faith, Jesus Christ, Judgment, Religion, Sin, World, Worship

Open It
1. What is one cause or person for which you would risk being disowned by your family and all your friends?
2. *What person outside your family has had the biggest impact on your life?

Explore It
1. What had Jesus heard? (9:35)
2. *What did Jesus ask the man who had been blind? (9:35)
3. Why did the blind man ask Jesus to identify the Son of Man? (9:36)
4. *Who did Jesus claim to be? (9:37)
5. *What did the blind man do when Jesus told him who He was? (9:38)
6. According to Jesus, why had He come into the world? (9:39)
7. What people expressed shock at what Jesus said? (9:40)
8. What did the Pharisees ask Jesus? (9:40)
9. What did Jesus mean by saying “but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains”? (9:41)
10. Why did Jesus say that the Pharisees’ guilt would remain? (9:41)

Get It
1. When have you felt unaccepted by other believers?
2. *In what circumstances do you usually worship Jesus?
3. *In what way are people today spiritually blind?
4. How has Jesus healed you of your spiritual blindness?
5. How has Jesus’ healing of your spiritual blindness changed your life?

Apply It
1. For what do you need to worship Jesus and God today?
2. *For what person who is spiritually blind will you pray that God would open his or her eyes?

The Shepherd and His Flock—John 10:1–21
Topics: Eternal Life, Follow, God, Jesus Christ, Life, Listening, Love, New Life, Obedience, Relationships, Sacrifice, Salvation

Open It
1. *What person or group did you and your friends “follow” when you were a teenager?
2. What qualities do the best friends possess?

Explore It
1. Who did Jesus say was a thief and a robber? (10:1)
2. What kind of relationship do sheep have with their shepherd? (10:2–4)
3. *Why won’t sheep follow a stranger? (10:5)
4. What effect did Jesus’ words have on His audience? (10:6)
5. What did Jesus say He was? (10:7)
6. To whom did Jesus say the sheep did not listen? (10:8)
7. What did Jesus say would be the result of entering through Him? (10:9)
8. *How did Jesus contrast His coming with the coming of a thief? (10:10)
9. Who did Jesus claim to be? (10:11)
10. Why did Jesus say the hired hand would abandon his sheep? (10:12–13)
11. What type of relationship did Jesus say He had with His sheep? (10:14)
12. *What did Jesus say He did for His sheep? (10:15)
13. What did Jesus say He had? (10:16)
14. Why did Jesus say the Father loved Him? (10:17–18)
15. What effect did Jesus’ words have on the Jews who heard Him speak? (10:19–21)

Get It
1. In what way is Jesus like a gate?
2. How has Jesus been a gate in your life?
3. *In what way is Jesus like a shepherd?
4. How are we like sheep?
5. In what way is Jesus your shepherd?
6. How would you describe your relationship with Jesus?
7. *How can we better hear the voice of Jesus?
8. What tempts people to follow a stranger? Why?
9. How has Jesus made your life full?

Apply It
1. How can you develop a more intimate relationship with Jesus this week?
2. *How can you be more attentive to the voice of Jesus?

The Unbelief of the Jews—John 10:22–42
Topics: Assurance, Believe, Blasphemy, Doubt, Eternal Life, God, Hardheartedness, Jesus Christ, Messiah, Miracles, Rejection, Relationships, Sin, Unbelievers

Open It
1. What truths are hard for you to accept? Why?
2. *How did your family typically handle conflict when you were growing up?

Explore It
1. *What question did the Jews ask Jesus? (10:22–24)
2. How did Jesus answer the Jews’ question? (10:25–26)
3. What did Jesus say His sheep did? (10:27)
4. What did Jesus say He gave to His sheep? (10:28)
5. What did Jesus say that no one could do to His sheep? (10:28–29)
6. With whom did Jesus claim to be one? (10:30)
7. *How did the Jews respond to Jesus’ claim? (10:31)
8. Why did the Jews want to kill Jesus? (10:33) How?
9. How did Jesus respond to the Jews’ accusation of blasphemy? (10:34–36)
10. Under what circumstance did Jesus say that the Jews should believe in Him? (10:37)
11. *Why did Jesus say that the Jews should believe in His miracles? (10:38)
12. What did the Jews try to do to Jesus? (10:39)
13. Where did Jesus go after He escaped from the Jews? (10:40)
14. Why did the people across the Jordan believe in Jesus? (10:41–42)

Get It
1. Why do people today fail to realize that Jesus is God?
2. In what way are you Jesus’ sheep?
3. What makes you feel secure in your relationship with your friends?
4. *What makes you feel secure in your relationship with God?
5. How secure is your relationship with God?
6. *Why does Jesus’ claim to be God cause people to oppose Him?
7. Who today would find Jesus’ claim to be God offensive?
8. In what way is Jesus’ relationship with God significant for your relationship with God?
9. Why should people believe in Jesus?

Apply It
1. How will you demonstrate your thankfulness to God today for your secure relationship with Him?
2. *What steps will you take to follow your Shepherd closely this week?

The Death of Lazarus—John 11:1–16
Topics: Believe, Challenge, Circumstances, Darkness, Death, Glory, God, God’s Will, Jesus Christ, Light, Mission, Mourning, Sickness, Sin

Open It
1. What polite phrases do we use to describe death?
2. *When has someone you’ve known died unexpectedly?

Explore It
1. What was wrong with Lazarus? (11:1)
2. To whom was Lazarus related? (11:2)
3. How did Jesus get word about Lazarus? (11:3)
4. *Why did Jesus say Lazarus was sick? (11:4)
5. What did Jesus do when He heard about Lazarus? (11:6)
6. Why did Jesus’ disciples respond negatively to Jesus’ plan to return to Judea? (11:7–8)
7. How did Jesus answer His disciples’ hesitancy about returning to Judea? (11:9–10)
8. What did Jesus say had happened to Lazarus? (11:11)
9. *How did the disciples misunderstand Jesus? (11:12)
10. What did Jesus mean when he used the word “sleeping”? (11:13–14)
11. *Why did Jesus say that He was glad He wasn’t with Lazarus? (11:15)
12. What melancholic suggestion did Thomas make? (11:16)

Get It
1. How would you respond if you heard that a good friend was very sick?
2. *When have you thought you had a better plan for your life than the one God was working out?
3. In what way has God used sickness in your life or the life of another to bring someone to Himself?
4. Why would God choose to use sickness to bring someone to Himself?
5. What shortcoming or disability in your life has God chosen to use to draw others to Himself?
6. *How would you respond differently from the way Jesus did if you heard that a good friend had died?
7. When have you felt that you had to perform a task regardless of the obstacles in your path?
8. What gave you the confidence to pursue a hard task that others strongly opposed?
9. When have you felt misunderstood by your friends or family?

Apply It
1. To what unfulfilled task that God has given you will you recommit yourself today?
2. *What shortcomings or weaknesses in your life will you give to God in prayer, that He may use them to bring glory to Himself?

Jesus Comforts the Sisters—John 11:17–37
Topics: Anger, Believe, Circumstances, Comfortable, Confidence, Death, Delay, Discouragement, Eternal Life, Example, Faith, God, Jesus Christ, Ministry, Mourning, Resurrection, Salvation, Sorrow

Open It
1. *What is one of your greatest disappointments in life?
2. In what different ways do people respond when a loved one dies?

Explore It
1. What did Jesus find when He arrived at Bethany? (11:17)
2. What did Mary and Martha do when they heard that Jesus was coming? (11:20)
3. *What did Martha say to Jesus about His having come after Lazarus had died? (11:21–22)
4. What did Jesus tell Martha Lazarus would do? (11:23)
5. How did Martha misunderstand Jesus? (11:24)
6. What did Martha and the others learn about Jesus’ identity? (11:25)
7. *What did Jesus say would happen to those who believed in Him? (11:26)
8. What belief did Martha express to Jesus? (11:27)
9. What did Martha tell Mary? (11:28)
10. What did Mary do after Martha told her Jesus was asking for her? (11:29)
11. Where did the Jews think Mary was going? (11:30–31)
12. How did Mary respond when she saw Jesus? (11:32)
13. What did Mary say to Jesus when He finally arrived? (11:32)
14. *How did Jesus respond to the weeping by Mary and the others? (11:33–35)
15. What question did some people have about what Jesus could have done? (11:37)

Get It
1. When has God’s response to your situation in life seemed untimely?
2. In what way do we sometimes second-guess God?
3. *When do we tend to second-guess God?
4. How and when has God disappointed you?
5. Why are we sometimes disappointed by God?
6. *How should we respond to disappointment?
7. When has God given you comfort in the middle of a sad time of life?
8. In what way is Jesus’ response to Lazarus’s death a model for us to follow?

Apply It
1. *What attitude of disappointment do you need to confess to God and change to trust in His sovereign control?
2. How can you be a comfort to a struggling or hurting believer this week?

Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead—John 11:38–44
Topics: Believe, Death, Doubt, Glory, God, God’s Will, Jesus Christ, Miracles, Mourning, New Life, Resurrection, Sorrow

Open It
1. What do the people you know fear most in life?
2. *What sort of miracle would be the most spectacular to witness?

Explore It
1. How did Jesus feel when He went to Lazarus’s tomb? (11:38)
2. In what type of tomb was Lazarus buried? (11:38)
3. *What did Jesus tell the others to do? (11:39)
4. How did Martha respond to Jesus’ request? (11:39)
5. *How did Jesus show Martha the importance of her belief? (11:40)
6. What did Jesus do before He called to Lazarus? (11:41–42)
7. What did Jesus say to the Father? Why? (11:41–42)
8. *How did Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead? (11:43–44)
9. What did Lazarus do when Jesus called to him? (11:44)
10. What did Jesus tell the people to do? (11:44)

Get It
1. When have you been deeply moved?
2. Under what circumstances have you doubted the power of God?
3. *When have you had faith in God’s ability to work out an impossible situation?
4. *What is one miracle God has done in your life?
5. How does God show His glory to us?
6. In what way has God shown His glory to you?
7. In what way has God “raised you from the dead”?
8. If you had been there when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, how do you think you might have responded?

Apply It
1. *What specific situation do you need to trust God to work out in your life?
2. For what “miracle” do you want to thank God today?
3. What can you do today so that others might believe in Jesus?

The Plot to Kill Jesus—John 11:45–57
Topics: Ambition, Believe, Christianity, Church, Deceit, Hypocrisy, Jesus Christ, Leadership, Ministry, Miracles, Motives, Power, Prophecy, Religion, Self-centeredness, Self-righteousness, Unbelievers

Open It
1. Without naming names, who is the most dishonest and self-serving person you’ve ever known?
2. *What examples of selfishness do you see in a typical day?
3. How do you deal with problem people in your life?

Explore It
1. How did many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary respond to Jesus’ miracle? (11:45)
2. Who was told about Jesus’ miracle? (11:46)
3. *What did the Sanhedrin fear? (11:47–48)
4. What did Caiaphas say about Jesus? (11:49–50)
5. *How did Caiaphas prophesy? (11:51–52)
6. What did the Jewish leaders of the Sanhedrin plot to do? (11:53)
7. How did Jesus respond to the Sanhedrin’s plot? (11:54)
8. Why did many people go to Jerusalem? (11:55)
9. For whom did the people in Jerusalem look? (11:56)
10. *What orders had the chief priests and Pharisees given to the people? (11:57)

Get It
1. *What motive other than ministry might people have for engaging in Christian service?
2. What personal ambitions might subvert the goal of serving God and others in Christian organizations?
3. When have you intentionally or unintentionally used the church to pursue your own agenda?
4. *Why is it so difficult to have pure and selfless motives in life?
5. How do you respond when your goals and your motives conflict with one another?
6. How might Christianity be challenged or threatened by Jesus if He were to come back today?

Apply It
1. How would you tell a self-centered person the gospel message?
2. *What self-centered motive will you ask God to help you change?

Jesus Anointed at Bethany—John 12:1–11
Topics: Devotion, Dishonesty, Faith, Honor, Hypocrisy, Jesus Christ, Loyalty, Money, Plans, Poor, Possessions, Preparation, Value, Worship

Open It
1. *When have you indulged another person with an expensive gift?
2. How do you deal with the tension of helping people in need while enjoying your wealth and possessions?

Explore It
1. When did Jesus arrive in Bethany? (12:1)
2. *What was done in honor of Jesus in Bethany? (12:2)
3. What did Mary do to Jesus? (12:3)
4. *How did Judas respond to Mary’s act? (12:4–5)
5. What motivated Judas’s response to Mary’s act? (12:6)
6. *Why did Jesus say that Mary had anointed Him with perfume? (12:7)
7. What did Jesus say about the poor? (12:8)
8. Why did the large crowd come to Mary and Martha’s home? (12:9)
9. What did the chief priests plan to do? (12:10)
10. What motive did the chief priests have? (12:11)

Get It
1. How do you worship Jesus with your resources?
2. *What concern should we have for the poor among us?
3. In what way can we help those less fortunate than ourselves?
4. Why are there poor people?
5. *How do we selfishly use God’s resources for our own pleasure?
6. When have we masked our own selfishness with the appearance of concern for others?

Apply It
1. *How can you worship and honor God with your resources today?
2. How can you help someone less fortunate than yourself this week?
3. What impure motives do you need to confess to God and ask Him to purify?

The Triumphal Entry—John 12:12–19
Topics: Enthusiasm, Evangelism, Expectations, Glory, Good News, Honor, Jesus Christ, Miracles, Praise, Prophecy, Worship

Open It
1. *How do people usually react when they meet a celebrity? Why?
2. Who are today’s religious celebrities?

Explore It
1. What had the crowd heard about Jesus? (12:12)
2. *How did the crowd greet Jesus when He arrived in Jerusalem? (12:13)
3. What title did the crowd ascribe to Jesus? (12:13)
4. What prophetic event took place? (12:14–15)
5. What had been written about this event? (12:15)
6. When did Jesus’ disciples realize the significance of these events? (12:16)
7. *What did the crowd that was with Jesus do when He raised Lazarus? (12:17)
8. *Why did many of the people go out to meet Jesus? (12:18)
9. How did the Pharisees react to this event? (12:19)

Get It
1. *What did you hear about Jesus that led you to seek Him?
2. How should Jesus be the ruler in our lives?
3. When are you reluctant to allow Jesus to take His rightful place as King in your life?
4. What area of your life is difficult for you to surrender to Christ’s authority?
5. How should we honor and worship Jesus as King?
6. *How should we spread the Word about Jesus?

Apply It
1. What specific area of your life do you need to submit more consistently to the authority of Jesus? How?
2. With whom do you need to share the good news about Jesus Christ? How can you?
3. *How will you honor and worship Jesus with your life today?

Jesus Predicts His Death—John 12:20–36
Topics: Commitment, Darkness, Death, Discipline, Faith, Follow, Glory, God, Heaven, Honor, Jesus Christ, Judgment, Life, Life-style, Light, Satan, Self-centeredness, Selfishness

Open It
1. *Who or what in life encourages you to be self-centered?
2. When have you set aside your own needs temporarily to meet the needs of other people?

Explore It
1. What did the group of Greeks ask Philip? (12:20–22)
2. What did Jesus say had come? (12:23)
3. What did Jesus say about a kernel of wheat? (12:24)
4. *What did Jesus say about loving and hating life? (12:25)
5. What did Jesus say about the person who wants to serve Him? (12:26)
6. How did Jesus feel? (12:27)
7. What was Jesus’ attitude? (12:27)
8. *Why didn’t Jesus ask the Father to save Him? (12:27)
9. What did Jesus ask the Father to do? (12:28)
10. How did the crowd react to God’s voice? (12:29)
11. What time did Jesus say it was? (12:31)
12. *What did Jesus say would happen when He was lifted up? (12:32)
13. How did the crowd respond to Jesus’ words? (12:34)
14. In what way was Jesus’ audience running out of time? (12:35)
15. What did Jesus tell the crowd to do? (12:36)

Get It
1. *How do we love our own lives?
2. How does Jesus want us to hate our lives?
3. When and why is it difficult for you to serve and follow Jesus?
4. *What does it mean for us to “walk in the light”?
5. What tempts you to wander in the darkness rather than walk in the light?
6. What example has Jesus set for us to follow?
7. How can a group of people all have the same experience but interpret it differently?

Apply It
1. *What is one change you can make in your life to become more attentive to the needs of others over your own?
2. To whom can you be helpful today? How?

The Jews Continue in Their Unbelief—John 12:37–50
Topics: Acceptance, Believe, Complacency, Darkness, Eternal Life, Faith, Fear, Follow, God, Hardheartedness, Jesus Christ, Judgment, Life, Light, Love, Miracles, Peer Pressure, Prophecy, Rejection, Salvation, Unbelievers, Words

Open It
1. *Why do people seek fame and the acceptance of others?
2. Aside from God’s, whose love and acceptance have you tried to get?

Explore It
1. What effect did Jesus’ miracles have on the unbelieving Jews? (12:37)
2. What was significant about the response of the Jews to Jesus’ ministry? (12:38)
3. *Why couldn’t the Jews of Jesus’ day believe in Him? (12:39–40)
4. What did Isaiah say about the Jews of Jesus’ day? (12:41)
5. *Why didn’t the leaders who did believe in Jesus admit their faith? (12:42–43)
6. What is true about any person who believes in Christ? (12:44–45)
7. Why did Jesus come into the world? (12:46)
8. What did Jesus say about the person who hears His words, but does not keep them? (12:47)
9. *What did Jesus say would condemn the person who did not accept His words? (12:48)
10. What kind of teaching did Jesus give us? (12:49)
11. Why are Jesus’ words important? (12:50)

Get It
1. How can people see the work of Jesus in others’ lives and still not believe in Him?
2. *What blinds us to spiritual truth?
3. When and why have you been afraid to admit your faith in Jesus?
4. *What consequences might a Christian face for publicly admitting faith in Jesus?
5. Why do we want to pursue the praise and acceptance of other people rather than the praise and acceptance of God?
6. Out of what kind of darkness has Jesus taken you?
7. How can we accept and keep the words of Jesus?

Apply It
1. *To whom do you need to admit your faith in Jesus, regardless of the consequences? When can you?
2. In what personal circumstance do you want to seek God’s acceptance over the praise and acceptance of others?

Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet—John 13:1–17
Topics: Ambition, Attitude, Example, Forgiveness, Glory, Greatness, Help, Honor, Humility, Jesus Christ, Life-style, Love, Ministry, Motives, Pride, Self-centeredness, Serving

Open It
1. *What is your idea of great customer service?
2. In what way does our society instill in us the desire to be served?
3. What do your neighbors consider to be signs of high position or status?

Explore It
1. What did Jesus know it was time to do? (13:1)
2. What had the devil prompted Judas to do? (13:2)
3. What did Jesus know that the Father had done? (13:3)
4. What did Jesus do when He got up from His meal with the disciples? (13:4–5)
5. Why did Peter express shock? (13:6)
6. How did Jesus respond to Peter’s amazement? (13:7)
7. *What did Peter declare he would never allow? (13:8)
8. Why was it important for Jesus to wash the disciples’ feet? (13:8)
9. What did Peter want Jesus to do? (13:9)
10. Why did Peter need only his feet washed? (13:10)
11. Why did Jesus qualify His statements? (13:11)
12. *What did Jesus tell His disciples they should do? (13:12–15)
13. *What is the difference between servants and masters? (13:16)
14. How did Jesus say that His disciples would be blessed? (13:17)

Get It
1. When and why do you find it difficult to allow others to serve you?
2. *When and why is it difficult for you to serve others?
3. How has Jesus cleansed us?
4. *In what way does Jesus wash our feet today?
5. In what way are we to wash the feet of others?
6. What example did Jesus set for us to follow?
7. In what areas do you struggle with being humble?
8. What makes being humble so difficult?
9. When and why do you feel in competition with other believers?

Apply It
1. Who is someone you can serve today? How?
2. *Whose service do you need to accept the next time he or she offers?
3. What proud attitude do you still exhibit that could benefit from Jesus’ example?

Jesus Predicts His Betrayal—John 13:18–30
Topics: Acceptance, Affections, Character, Choices, Evil, Fellowship, Friendship, Hardheartedness, Hypocrisy, Jesus Christ, Life-style, Love, Motives, Relationships, Satan

Open It
1. What persons in history or literature are known as traitors?
2. *Why is trust important to a friendship?

Explore It
1. What did Jesus say about the person who shared His bread? (13:18)
2. Why did Jesus tell His disciples He would be betrayed? (13:19)
3. What did Jesus say about His disciples? (13:20)
4. *Why was Jesus troubled? (13:21)
5. How did Jesus’ disciples respond when He said one of them would betray Him? (13:22)
6. What did Peter do? (13:23–24)
7. *How did Jesus answer the beloved disciple’s question? (13:26)
8. What happened to Judas when he took the bread? (13:27)
9. What did Jesus say to Judas? (13:27)
10. *What did the other disciples think Jesus was telling Judas to do? (13:28–29)
11. What did Judas do? (13:30)

Get It
1. Why is it hard to maintain an intimate and growing relationship with another person?
2. *How would it feel to be betrayed by a close friend?
3. Whom do you know who has been hurt by betrayal?
4. *What can you do to build trust in all your friendships?
5. How do we betray Jesus with our words or by our life-style?
6. Why and how are we tempted to betray Jesus?
7. What are the consequences of betraying Jesus?

Apply It
1. What behavior that betrays your relationship with Jesus will you ask God to help you change?
2. *What is the first step you can take toward building trust in one personal relationship this week?

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial—John 13:31–38
Topics: Basics of the Faith, Character, Choices, Denial, Follow, Glory, God, Jesus Christ, Life, Life-style, Love, Loyalty, Sacrifice

Open It
1. What can you learn about a person from the way he or she dresses?
2. How do people reveal their convictions through their life-style?
3. *What does it mean to love someone?

Explore It
1. What did Jesus say when Judas had gone? (13:31)
2. What did God do through Jesus? (13:32)
3. How much longer did Jesus say He would be with His disciples? (13:33)
4. Why was Jesus saying farewell? (13:33)
5. What was Jesus giving to His disciples? (13:34)
6. *What did Jesus command His disciples to do? (13:34)
7. *How did Jesus say people would know His disciples? (13:35)
8. What question did Peter ask Jesus? (13:36)
9. What did Jesus tell Peter? (13:36)
10. *What did Peter pledge to do? (13:37)
11. What blunt statement did Jesus make about Peter? (13:38)

Get It
1. How is God glorified by our behavior?
2. *What does it mean for you to love people as Jesus has loved them?
3. What kind of love was Jesus talking about?
4. *How is love a sign that someone is a disciple of Christ?
5. How do we deny Christ with our words or life-style?
6. When and why are we tempted to deny Jesus?
7. How does our denying Christ affect our relationship with Him as well as our relationships with other Christians?

Apply It
1. *Who is someone you need to love as Christ has loved you? How?
2. What can you do to stay loyal to Christ this week with either your words or your life-style?
3. How can you show Christ’s love to others at your place of work, at home, or in your neighborhood?
4. What steps can you take to become more loving to others?

Jesus Comforts His Disciples—John 14:1–4
Topics: Assurance, Confidence, Eternal Life, Feelings, God, Heart, Home, Hope, Jesus Christ, Security, Trust, Worry
Open It
1. What is it about your home that makes it feel like home to you?
2. *In what way do you sometimes feel that this world is not your home?
3. Who or what is most comforting to you when you are upset?

Explore It
1. *How didn’t Jesus want His disciples to respond to His departure? (14:1)
2. How did Jesus want His disciples to respond to His departure? (14:1)
3. In what did Jesus want His disciples to trust? (14:1)
4. Where did Jesus say He was going? (14:2)
5. What assurance did Jesus give His disciples that what He said was true? (14:2)
6. *What is in God’s house? (14:2)
7. What did Jesus say He was going to do in His Father’s house? (14:2)
8. *What did Jesus tell His disciples that He would do for them? (14:3)
9. What promise did Jesus make? (14:3)
10. What did Jesus’ disciples know? (14:4)

Get It
1. What troubles your heart?
2. How do you usually handle worries that trouble you?
3. Why is it sometimes hard to trust God with our problems?
4. *How does it make you feel to know that Jesus is preparing a place for you in His Father’s house?
5. In what way is Jesus preparing you to be with Him?
6. *How are you preparing to be with Jesus?

Apply It
1. What troubles do you need to entrust to God today?
2. *What can you do today to prepare yourself for an eternity with Jesus?

Jesus the Way to the Father—John 14:5–14
Topics: Answers, Basics of the Faith, Beliefs, Believe, Evidence, Faith, Fellowship, Glory, God, God’s Will, Gospel, Jesus Christ, Knowledge, Life, Mediator, Miracles, Name, Truth, Words

Open It
1. What are some widely accepted “truths” that you believe to be false?
2. *In what ways do you resemble your parents?

Explore It
1. What did Thomas ask Jesus? (14:5)
2. *What did Jesus tell Thomas that He was? (14:6)
3. Whom did Jesus say that His disciples would know if they really knew Him? (14:7)
4. Whom did Philip ask Jesus to show them? (14:8)
5. *What did Jesus ask Philip in response to Philip’s request to be shown the Father? (14:9)
6. How did Jesus characterize His relationship with the Father? (14:10–11)
7. *What evidence did Jesus use to prove that He is in the Father and the Father is in Him? (14:11)
8. What did Jesus say that those who had faith in Him would do? (14:12)
9. Why did Jesus say that anyone who had faith would do greater things? (14:12)
10. Why did Jesus say that He would do whatever His believers asked in His name? (14:13)
11. What did Jesus say that He would do for His followers? (14:14)

Get It
1. *In what way is faith in Jesus Christ exclusive or narrow?
2. In what way is Christianity an exclusive belief system?
3. *How is Jesus the way, the truth, and the life in your life?
4. How are we related to Jesus Christ and God the Father?
5. What does it mean to know someone?
6. What does it mean to know Jesus and God?
7. What “greater things” are we doing today?
8. What can we ask Jesus to do?
9. What should our motivation be when we make requests of Jesus?
10. How can we bring glory to the Father?

Apply It
1. What can you do this week to deepen your relationship with Christ?
2. What can you do today to bring glory to God?
3. *Whom do you need to tell about the way Jesus offers a relationship with God?

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit—John 14:15–31
Topics: Assurance, Encouragement, Faithfulness, Fellowship, Help, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Knowledge, Learning, Love, Obedience, Peace, Relationships, Security, Words, Work, World, Worry

Open It
1. *What people, things, or experiences in life bring you comfort and peace of mind?
2. How do the people you love (whether close friends, spouse, or family members) know that you love them?
3. What relationship in life brings you the most satisfaction? Why?

Explore It
1. What did Jesus say His disciples would do if they loved Him? (14:15)
2. *What did Jesus say He would ask God to give His disciples? (14:16)
3. Why could the world not accept the Spirit of Truth? (14:17)
4. What did Jesus promise the disciples? (14:18)
5. Why did Jesus tell His disciples that they would live? (14:19)
6. How is Jesus related to the Father and to His disciples? (14:20)
7. What is the result of obeying Jesus’ commands and loving Him? (14:21–23)
8. *What did Jesus say the Counselor would do? (14:25–26)
9. What did Jesus leave with His disciples? (14:27)
10. *Why were the disciples to be glad that Jesus was leaving them? (14:28)
11. Why did Jesus tell His disciples about the future? (14:29)
12. Why did Jesus say He wouldn’t speak much longer? (14:30)
13. What did Jesus intend to show the world? (14:31)

Get It
1. How can we show Jesus that we love Him?
2. What are the commands of Jesus that we should obey?
3. *How are we taught by the Holy Spirit?
4. When have you been comforted by the Holy Spirit?
5. *What is the peace that Jesus has given us?
6. How can we experience the peace Jesus has given us?
7. What concerns trouble you or cause you to fear?
8. How should we deal with the fear in our lives?
9. What example has Jesus set for us in His relationship with God?

Apply It
1. In what specific way can you show Jesus that you love Him today?
2. *What can you do today to experience and enjoy the peace Jesus has given you?
3. What troubling problem or fear do you need to turn over to God?

The Vine and the Branches—John 15:1–17
Topics: Failure, Faithfulness, Fellowship, Friendship, Fruit, Glory, God, Jesus Christ, Joy, Love, Relationships, Rewards, Work

Open It
1. What are the marks of a true friendship?
2. *What do you do to maintain your friendships?

Explore It
1. How are Jesus and the Father related? (15:1)
2. What is Jesus and who is the Father? (15:1)
3. How does the gardener tend to the branches that bear fruit and the branches that do not? (15:2)
4. What did Jesus say the branches must do in order to bear fruit? (15:4)
5. Who are the branches? (15:5)
6. What did Jesus say would happen to the branches that did not remain in Him? (15:6)
7. What privilege was given to the branches that remained in the vine? (15:7)
8. What would be demonstrated by the disciples’ bearing much fruit? (15:8)
9. *What did Jesus urge His disciples to do? (15:9)
10. How were Jesus’ disciples to remain in His love? (15:10)
11. Why did Jesus talk with His disciples about vines and branches? (15:11)
12. What command did Jesus give His disciples? (15:12)
13. *What is the greatest manifestation of love? (15:13)
14. Who did Jesus say were His friends? (15:14)
15. *Why did Jesus call His disciples friends? (15:15)
16. Why did Jesus choose His disciples? (15:16)
17. What was Jesus’ command? (15:17)

Get It
1. How are we to remain in Jesus? Why?
2. What does it mean to bear fruit as a Christian?
3. How are we to bear fruit?
4. *When is it difficult to develop and maintain a personal relationship with Jesus?
5. In what way has God been removing “dead” or useless pieces from your character?
6. In what way is your joy complete?
7. When do you struggle with loving others the way Jesus has loved you?
8. *What kind of friend are you to Jesus?
9. Why is it hard to be Jesus’ friend?

Apply It
1. What steps can you take to develop a more intimate relationship with Christ?
2. *How can you be a better friend to Jesus beginning today?

The World Hates the Disciples—John 15:18–16:4
Topics: Christianity, God, Guilt, Hatred, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Love, Miracles, Obedience, Persecution, Sin, Truth, Unbelievers, Witnessing, World

Open It
1. *What are some things that you hate or dislike?
2. Why are some non-Christians antagonistic toward Christianity?
3. What causes people to hate each other?

Explore It
1. *What did Jesus want His disciples to keep in mind? (15:18)
2. Whom does the world love? (15:19)
3. Why does the world hate Jesus’ disciples? (15:19)
4. What did Jesus want His disciples to remember? (15:20)
5. What difference does it make that the world does not know God? (15:21)
6. Why do the people of the world have no excuse for their sin? (15:22)
7. What is the significance of hating Jesus? (15:23)
8. What has made the world fully accountable for its sin? (15:24)
9. *What did the world’s hatred fulfill? (15:25)
10. What would the Counselor do when He came? (15:26)
11. Why did Jesus say that His disciples must testify about Him? (15:27)
12. For what reason did Jesus tell the disciples these things? (16:1,4)
13. *What was going to happen to the disciples for following Christ? (16:2–3)

Get It
1. What is “the world”?
2. *If you were one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, how would you have responded to His warning about the world’s hatred?
3. *How does the world today hate the followers of Jesus?
4. When have you experienced the hatred of the world?
5. How does the world today display its hatred for Jesus and God?
6. How has God chosen you out of the world?
7. How and when do you still feel a part of the world?
8. Who is “the Counselor”?
9. How does the Holy Spirit testify about Jesus to the world?
10. How are you a testimony for Jesus?

Apply It
1. How can you be a testimony for Jesus today? To whom?
2. *How should you adjust your expectations of being accepted by non-Christians?

The Work of the Holy Spirit—John 16:5–16
Topics: Believers, Convictions, Doctrine, God, Guidance, Guilt, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Judgment, Knowledge, Righteousness, Sin, Teaching, Truth, Unbelievers, Wisdom, World

Open It
1. How did you feel the last time you were separated from a friend by a move?
2. *In what way can a conscience be both good and frustrating?

Explore It
1. Where did Jesus tell His disciples He was going? (16:5)
2. What hadn’t the disciples asked Jesus? (16:5)
3. How did Jesus’ disciples feel about His leaving? (16:6)
4. Why was it for His disciples’ benefit that Jesus was leaving? (16:7)
5. *What would the Counselor do for the world? (16:8)
6. What would the Counselor do for the world when He came? (16:8–11)
7. *What did Jesus say about the prince of this world? (16:11)
8. *What would the Spirit of truth do for Jesus’ disciples when He came? (16:12–14)
9. In what way would the Spirit bring Jesus glory? (16:14–15)
10. When would the disciples see Jesus? (16:16)

Get It
1. Why do most people feel guilty when they commit a sin?
2. If you had been one of Jesus’ disciples, how would you have felt about His leaving?
3. How is the Holy Spirit convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment?
4. Of what sins is the world guilty?
5. *What role do Christians and the church play in prodding the conscience of the world?
6. *How does the Holy Spirit teach believers?
7. About what truth is the Holy Spirit presently teaching you?
8. How has the Holy Spirit used you to bring glory to Jesus Christ?

Apply It
1. *How can you seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance in reaching people who are dead in their sins?
2. About what spiritual truths will you ask the Holy Spirit to teach you?

The Disciples’ Grief Will Turn to Joy—John 16:17–33
Topics: Assurance, Believe, Encouragement, God, Grief, Hope, Jesus Christ, Joy, Love, Mourning, Pain, Peace, Prayer, Questions, Truth, Understanding, Words, World

Open It
1. When might you use a figure of speech to explain something? Why?
2. What painful experiences in your life have resulted in joy?
3. *When have you enthusiastically anticipated someone’s return or arrival?

Explore It
1. How did the disciples react to Jesus’ “in a little while” statement? (16:17–18)
2. *What did Jesus tell His disciples would happen to them? (16:19–20)
3. To what did Jesus compare His disciples’ response to His departure and return? (16:21–22)
4. What did Jesus tell His disciples they would do when they saw Him again? (16:23)
5. What hadn’t the disciples done up until this point? (16:24)
6. What kind of language did Jesus use to speak to His disciples? (16:25)
7. Why did the Father love the disciples? (16:26–27)
8. *From where did Jesus come and to where was He going? (16:28)
9. Why did the disciples say that they believed Jesus had come from God? (16:29–30)
10. What did Jesus predict the disciples would do? (16:31–32)
11. What did Jesus want for His disciples? (16:33)
12. *Why did Jesus tell the disciples to take heart? (16:33)

Get It
1. How would you have responded to Jesus’ words had you been there with His disciples?
2. *What grief or sorrow in your life has God turned to joy?
3. For what can we ask the Father?
4. How has God made your joy complete?
5. *How does the knowledge of Jesus’ return make you joyful?
6. What figures of speech have helped you better understand spiritual truths?
7. What relationship do we have with the Father today?
8. What trouble do we have in the world as followers of Christ?
9. How does the fact that Jesus has overcome the world encourage you?

Apply It
1. *In the midst of trouble, on what encouraging truth from this passage will you rely?
2. Because of your restored relationship with the Father, what can you ask Him to give to you in Jesus’ name?
3. What grief or sorrow do you need to entrust to God?

Jesus Prays for Himself—John 17:1–5
Topics: Authority, Depend, Eternal Life, Fellowship, Glory, God, Honor, Jesus Christ, Knowledge, People, Prayer, Work

Open It
1. *How do people try to bring recognition to themselves?
2. What sort of relationship do you have with your parents?
3. How would you describe “eternal life” to someone?

Explore It
1. What did Jesus do when He had finished speaking to His disciples? (17:1)
2. What did Jesus announce to the Father? (17:1)
3. *Why did Jesus want the Father to glorify the Son? (17:1)
4. *For what purpose did God grant Jesus authority over all people? (17:2)
5. Whom were those given eternal life to know? (17:3)
6. What is eternal life? (17:3)
7. What had Jesus done by completing the work the Father had given him? (17:4)
8. *How did Jesus bring God glory on earth? (17:4)
9. How did Jesus ask to be glorified? (17:5)
10. With what glory did Jesus ask the Father to glorify Him? (17:5)

Get It
1. When do we turn to God in prayer?
2. About what sort of things do we usually pray?
3. *What example with regard to prayer did Jesus give us?
4. How can we experience the eternal life of which Jesus spoke?
5. What does it mean to know God?
6. *How can we bring glory to God?

Apply It
1. What do you need to do to prepare for the joy of eternal life?
2. *What can you do today to bring God glory?

Jesus Prays for His Disciples—John 17:6–19
Topics: Glory, God, Hatred, Jesus Christ, Joy, Knowledge, Life-style, Obedience, Prayer, Protection, Satan, World

Open It
1. What do you like and dislike about living in this country?
2. What do you think is most challenging for a Christian living in today’s society?
3. *In what way might you say the world is a dangerous place for a Christian to live?

Explore It
1. What did Jesus tell the Father He had done? (17:6)
2. What did Jesus say His disciples knew? (17:7–8)
3. *Why did Jesus pray for His disciples? (17:9)
4. What did Jesus ask His Father to do for His disciples? (17:11)
5. What did Jesus pray His disciples would become? (17:11)
6. Who did Jesus say was lost? (17:12)
7. Why did Jesus say these things while He was still in the world? (17:13)
8. *Why did the world hate Jesus’ disciples? (17:14)
9. What was Jesus’ prayer concerning His disciples? (17:15)
10. *What relationship did Jesus’ disciples have with the world? (17:16)
11. How would Jesus’ disciples be set aside for God’s use? (17:17)
12. Where did Jesus send His disciples? (17:18)
13. Why did Jesus set Himself apart for God’s use? (17:19)

Get It
1. *As believers, what is our relationship to the world?
2. What does your life-style indicate about your relationship to the world?
3. *Why is it so easy for us to become closely involved in the world?
4. Why do you think believers are still in the world?
5. When and from what has God protected you?
6. Where would you say you were in the process of being set apart for God’s use?
7. How does God’s truth sanctify us or make us holy?

Apply It
1. *What change in your life-style do you need to make to distinguish your identity from that of the world?
2. What can you do today to set yourself apart to God’s use?

Jesus Prays for All Believers—John 17:20–26
Topics: Believers, Creation, Divisions, Doctrine, Example, Fellowship, Glory, God, Jesus Christ, Love, People, Prayer, Unity, World

Open It
1. *When have you longed for unity in your family, church, or community?
2. With what things or traditions do you identify?
3. Why are religious beliefs divisive?

Explore It
1. For whom did Jesus pray? (17:20)
2. *Why did Jesus want all believers to be one? (17:21)
3. What had Jesus given the disciples? (17:22)
4. How did Jesus want believers to be unified? (17:22)
5. *What did Jesus want the world to know? (17:23)
6. Why had the Father given glory to Jesus? (17:24)
7. What did Jesus want for those the Father had given Him? (17:24)
8. When did the Father love the Son? (17:24)
9. What did Jesus say that the world did and did not know? (17:25)
10. *Why was Jesus going to continue to make the Father known? (17:26)

Get It
1. In what way are all Christians one?
2. *How are Christians today divided? Why?
3. Why is unity so difficult for Christians to achieve?
4. What does the world today know about the Father?
5. *How is the Father’s relationship with the Son an example for us to follow in our relationships with other Christians?
6. What relationship do you have with the Father and the Son?

Apply It
1. *What can you do to promote unity among fellow Christians?
2. How can you be a testimony of God’s love to the world?
3. What is one thing you can do this week to strengthen your bond with other Christians?

Jesus Arrested—John 18:1–11
Topics: Awe, Character, Denial, Doubt, Enemies, Fear, Friendship, God’s Will, Hardheartedness, Intentions, Jesus Christ, Life-style, Opposition, Protection

Open It
1. *Why might a person betray a cause he or she had actively participated in?
2. When have you ever felt betrayed by a person or a cause that you believed in?

Explore It
1. Where did Jesus and His disciples go when Jesus had finished praying? (18:1)
2. *How did Judas know about the place where Jesus and His disciples had gone? (18:2)
3. Whom did Judas guide into the grove? (18:3)
4. What question did Jesus ask Judas and the others with him? (18:4)
5. How did Jesus identify Himself? (18:5)
6. *How did people react when Jesus identified Himself? (18:6–7)
7. *What did Jesus tell the soldiers and officials to do? (18:8)
8. Why did Jesus tell the soldiers to release His disciples? (18:9)
9. How did Peter respond to the threat to Jesus? (18:10)
10. How did Jesus correct Peter? (18:11)

Get It
1. If you had been with Jesus the night He was arrested, how do you think you would have responded?
2. *How have you been betrayed by a friend?
3. How would you respond if someone betrayed your best friend?
4. In what way are you like Peter?
5. *How is Jesus’ response to His betrayal an example for us to follow?
6. How do we betray Jesus with our words and conduct?

Apply It
1. *What do you want to remember about Christ the next time someone lets you down?
2. What aspect of your life-style should you change so that you don’t betray Jesus with either your words or deeds?

Jesus Taken to Annas—John 18:12–14
Topics: Atonement, Authority, Hardheartedness, Humiliation, Jesus Christ, Persecution, Unbelievers

Open It
1. About which modern leaders might it be said that they sacrificed their life for their duty?
2. *Who are today’s recognized religious authorities?

Explore It
1. What authorities participated in Jesus’ arrest? (18:12)
2. Who arrested Jesus? (18:12)
3. What did the soldiers and Jewish officials do to Jesus? (18:12)
4. How was Jesus treated by His captors? (18:12–13)
5. *To whom was Jesus taken first? (18:13)
6. What was Annas’ relationship to Caiaphas? (18:13)
7. *What duty was Caiaphas fulfilling that year? (18:13)
8. *About what had Caiaphas advised the Jews? (18:14)
9. Why did Caiaphas think it good that one man die for the people? (18:14)
10. What was ironic about Caiaphas’ remarks about Jesus? (18:14)

Get It
1. How do you think Jesus felt when He was arrested?
2. When have you ever felt humiliated for being a Christian?
3. *How would you feel if you were falsely arrested? What would you do?
4. What religious authorities do you respect?
5. *If Jesus were arrested today, to what religious authority might He be taken?

Apply It
1. Following Jesus’ example, how will you respond when you are wrongly mistreated?
2. *How should you pray for the religious authorities in your church or denomination this week?

Peter’s First Denial—John 18:15–18
Topics: Denial, Disobedience, Doubt, Enemies, Forsake, Hypocrisy, Jesus Christ, Loyalty, Privilege

Open It
1. Who is someone you would say is “well connected with the right people”?
2. *Who is someone you would describe as being loyal?
3. When was a time you got caught lying as a child?

Explore It
1. Who followed Jesus? (18:15)
2. How did Peter’s companion get into the high priest’s courtyard? (18:15)
3. How did the unnamed disciple manage to follow Jesus into the courtyard? (18:15)
4. Why did Peter have to wait outside? (18:16)
5. Where did Peter have to wait? (18:16)
6. *How did Peter get into the courtyard? (18:16)
7. What did the girl at the door of the courtyard ask Peter? (18:17)
8. *How did Peter reply to the question about his association with Jesus? (18:17)
9. Why was Peter standing around with the servants and officials? (18:18)
10. *With whom did Peter warm himself inside the courtyard? (18:18)

Get It
1. What inside connections do you have in the church?
2. How do you use your inside connections in the church and elsewhere?
3. Into what potentially dangerous situations has your faith gotten you?
4. *Under what circumstances might you be tempted to deny knowing Jesus?
5. When and why have you denied knowing Jesus by either your words or your life-style?
6. *With what enemies of Christ do we sometimes associate?

Apply It
1. How can you use your inside connections to benefit others this week?
2. *What can you do to affirm your relationship with Jesus Christ before others?
3. In what areas of your life do you want to express your loyalty to Jesus more openly?

The High Priest Questions Jesus—John 18:19–24
Topics: Authority, Challenge, Church, Consequences, Convictions, Courage, Discipline, Disobedience, Enemies, Hardheartedness, Hatred, Injustice, Jesus Christ, Persecution, Punishment, Self-righteousness, Unbelievers

Open It
1. *Who is someone who has been harassed for speaking the truth?
2. When do you think it would be necessary to challenge an established authority?

Explore It
1. About what did the high priest question Jesus? (18:19)
2. Who questioned Jesus about His teaching? (18:19)
3. In what way did Jesus say that He had always spoken? (18:20)
4. Where did Jesus say that He had always spoken? (18:20)
5. Why did Jesus advise the high priest to ask those who heard Him? (18:21)
6. *To whom did Jesus tell the high priest he should ask his questions? (18:21)
7. *Why did one of the officials strike Jesus? (18:22)
8. *What did Jesus say in response to being hit? (18:23)
9. To whom did Annas send Jesus? (18:24)
10. How was Jesus sent to Caiaphas? (18:24)

Get It
1. What thoughts do you think were running through Jesus’ mind while He was being interrogated?
2. *When have you felt as if you were being interrogated because of your faith?
3. Who are the respected authorities in the church today?
4. When have you found it necessary to challenge a respected authority or belief?
5. What effect do you think Jesus’ reply had on the official who hit him?
6. *What would the people with whom you talk on a regular basis say about your “teachings”?
7. When have you been punished or disciplined for speaking the truth?

Apply It
1. *What is one truth you need to speak today regardless of the consequences?
2. What can you change about your speech in order to be a more open and consistent follower of Jesus?

Peter’s Second and Third Denials—John 18:25–27
Topics: Backslide, Christianity, Circumstances, Commitment, Compromise, Denial, Enemies, Failure, Jesus Christ, Life-style, Peer Pressure, Persecution, Self-centeredness, Temptation

Open It
1. *Why are people sometimes tempted to compromise their beliefs, principles, or standards?
2. When have you told a lie that caused you pain later?

Explore It
1. What was Peter doing? (18:25)
2. What question was Peter asked as he tried to keep warm? (18:25)
3. *How did Peter respond to the question about his association with Jesus? (18:25)
4. *Who challenged Peter’s statement? (18:25)
5. What did the people around the fire believe to be true about Peter? (18:25–26)
6. To whom was one of the high priest’s servants related? (18:26)
7. Where had the high priest’s servant seen Peter? (18:26)
8. What did the high priest’s servant ask Peter? (18:26)
9. How did Peter respond to the question asked by the high priest’s servant? (18:26–27)
10. *What happened the moment Peter denied knowing Christ a third time? (18:27)

Get It
1. What thoughts do you think were running through Peter’s mind?
2. *Had you been in Peter’s shoes, what reasons might you have had for denying that you were a disciple of Christ?
3. When have you found yourself in a situation that was hostile to Jesus Christ?
4. What self-protective reasons might tempt us to deny that we are followers of Christ?
5. *When and where is it hardest for you to openly acknowledge your relationship with Christ?

Apply It
1. *Under what circumstances do you need to determine to live openly as a follower of Christ?
2. What pressure should you ask God to help you resist?
3. What self-centered attitude will you ask God to help you change?

Jesus Before Pilate—John 18:28–40
Topics: Acceptance, Ambition, Consequences, Fear, Jesus Christ, Justice, Kingdom of God/Heaven, Law, Legalism, Obedience, Opposition, Peer Pressure, Position, Priorities, Rationalizing, Rules, Status, Truth

Open It
1. *How might a politician rationalize his or her bending of the rules in order to please a group of concerned citizens?
2. When have you been tempted to do what works rather than what’s right?

Explore It
1. Why didn’t the Jews who lead Jesus to the Roman governor enter the palace? (18:28)
2. How did the Jews introduce Jesus to the governor Pilate? (18:28–30)
3. *What did Pilate want the Jews to do with Jesus? (18:31)
4. How was prophecy fulfilled by this event? (18:32)
5. What question did Pilate ask Jesus? (18:33)
6. What question did Jesus ask Pilate in reply? (18:34)
7. What did Jesus tell Pilate about His kingdom? (18:36)
8. *How did Jesus affirm Pilate? (18:37)
9. What last question did Pilate have for Jesus? (18:38)
10. *What choice did Pilate present to the Jews? (18:38–39)
11. What choice did the Jews make? (18:40)

Get It
1. Why is it easier to observe religious traditions than to love other people?
2. *When have you felt betrayed or used by people hiding behind religious motives?
3. *When, like Jesus, have you been willing to stand your ground regardless of the consequences?
4. When, like Pilate, have you been willing to sacrifice your principles in order to do something self-serving?
5. How would you answer the question, “What is truth?”
6. How is Jesus the King in your life?

Apply It
1. *In what settings might you need to stand up for the truth this week regardless of the consequences?
2. What is one way you can rearrange your priorities this week in honor of God as King over you?

Jesus Sentenced to be Crucified—John 19:1–16
Topics: Beliefs, Character, Circumstances, Convictions, Fear, Hardheartedness, Hypocrisy, Jesus Christ, Peer Pressure, Power, Self-centeredness, Status, Truth

Open It
1. *What pressure tactics do special interest groups use on politicians?
2. In what ways do people sometimes compromise what’s important in order to advance their career or status?

Explore It
1. What did Pilate and the soldiers do to Jesus? (19:1–3)
2. To what conclusion had Pilate come concerning Jesus? (19:4–5)
3. How did the Jews react when Pilate presented Jesus to them? (19:6)
4. What did Pilate want the Jews to do with Jesus? (19:6)
5. *Why did the Jews insist that Jesus had to die? (19:7)
6. How did Pilate respond to the Jews’ demands? (19:8–9)
7. What authority did Pilate claim to have? (19:10)
8. What authority did Pilate really have? (19:11)
9. What did Pilate try to do for Jesus? (19:12)
10. *How did the Jews pressure Pilate to give in to their demand to crucify Jesus? (19:12)
11. *How did Pilate respond to the Jews’ pressure tactics? (19:13–16)
12. Whom did the crowd claim as their king? (19:15)

Get It
1. What would you have done had you been in Pilate’s situation?
2. *What position or possession might you be tempted to preserve at the expense of doing the right thing?
3. *When and why might we allow the pressures of the moment to compromise our beliefs or standards?
4. Who or what are the “kings” that people worship today?
5. What person or thing often competes with God for rule of your life?

Apply It
1. How can you make Jesus the King of your life?
2. *What pressure to compromise your principles will you determine to resist this week?
3. How can you use your status or position of power to do right and help others?

The Crucifixion—John 19:17–27
Topics: Atonement, Believers, Caring, Enemies, Family, Humiliation, Jesus Christ, Love, Sacrifice, Suffering, Unbelievers

Open It
1. *What sort of sacrifices did your parents make for you?
2. What to you is the most humiliating situation you can imagine?

Explore It
1. To where was Jesus forced to take His own cross? (19:17)
2. *What did the soldiers do to Jesus? (19:18)
3. Who was crucified with Jesus? (19:18)
4. What notice did Pilate have fastened to Jesus’ cross? (19:19)
5. *How did the chief priests want Pilate to change the sign over Jesus’ head? (19:21)
6. What did Pilate tell the chief priests? (19:22)
7. *What happened to Jesus’ clothes? (19:23–24)
8. Why were Jesus’ clothes divided among the soldiers? (19:24)
9. Who stood near the cross of Jesus? (19:25)
10. What did Jesus say to His mother and the disciple with her? (19:26–27)

Get It
1. Why do you think Pilate had the notice placed on the cross?
2. *If you had been a member of Jesus’ family or one of His disciples, how do you think you would have reacted to His crucifixion?
3. How was Jesus humiliated?
4. What sort of humiliation did Jesus suffer?
5. *What humiliation have you suffered for being a Christian?
6. How can we sacrifice our wants and desires so that others might benefit?
7. In what way has God’s family become your family?
8. To what degree are we responsible for caring for the needs of other believers?

Apply It
1. *What want or desire can you sacrifice so that someone else might benefit? How?
2. How can you care for another Christian’s needs this week?

The Death of Jesus—John 19:28–37
Topics: Atonement, Beliefs, Believe, Bible, Body, Death, Faith, Jesus Christ, Prophecy, Sacrifice

Open It
1. What is one important event you have witnessed?
2. What is your idea of “expensive”?
3. *What is one project of yours that is still unfinished?

Explore It
1. *What did Jesus know during His last moments on the cross? (19:28)
2. What did Jesus ask for during His last minutes of life? (19:28)
3. What was Jesus given to drink? (19:29)
4. *What did Jesus do once He had received the drink? (19:30)
5. Why didn’t the Jews want the bodies of those crucified left on the cross? (19:31)
6. What did the soldiers do to the men who had been crucified with Jesus? (19:32)
7. What did the soldiers discover when they came to Jesus? (19:33)
8. What did the soldiers do to Jesus? (19:34)
9. Why did John record the details of Jesus’ death? (19:35)
10. *What was fulfilled by the circumstances of Jesus’ death? (19:36–37)

Get It
1. How important are the historical eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection to your faith in Him?
2. *What did Jesus mean when He said, “It is finished”?
3. How does this account of Jesus’ crucifixion make you feel?
4. What does Jesus’ death mean to us?
5. *What is significant about Jesus’ death on the cross?
6. What price did Jesus pay for our sins?
7. How was Jesus able to endure the suffering of the Cross?
8. What significance does the fulfillment of Scripture in the Gospels have for your belief in Jesus today?
9. Whose testimony persuaded you to believe in Jesus?
10. How has your testimony influenced others to believe in Jesus?

Apply It
1. *How can you thank Jesus today for His sacrifice on the cross?
2. How can you use the testimony of Christ’s crucifixion in telling others about Christ?

The Burial of Jesus—John 19:38–42
Topics: Believe, Christianity, Courage, Death, Faith, Fear, Jesus Christ, Loyalty, Peer Pressure, Sorrow, Traditions

Open It
1. What is one misdeed or truth that you kept secret when you were growing up?
2. *What is one fact about you that most of your friends don’t know?
3. In what way do some Christians try to keep their faith hidden or secret? Why?

Explore It
1. How did Joseph ask Pilate for Jesus’ body? (19:38)
2. Who went to get Jesus’ body? (19:38)
3. *Why did Joseph go to see Pilate? (19:38)
4. *Why was Joseph a secret disciple? (19:38)
5. *What was significant about the person who went with Joseph to take away Jesus’ body? (19:39)
6. How did Joseph and Nicodemus prepare Jesus’ body for burial? (19:40)
7. Where was the tomb in which Jesus was buried? (19:41)
8. In what kind of tomb was Jesus buried? (19:41)
9. Why did Joseph and Nicodemus put Jesus in the particular tomb they chose? (19:42)
10. What holiday affected the preparations for Jesus’ burial? How? (19:42)
11. How did the “Day of Preparation” affect the way in which Jesus was buried? (19:42)

Get It
1. *When and why have you been a secret disciple of Jesus?
2. When have you recently revealed your faith in Christ either by your words or actions?
3. *When have you taken a stand that you were previously afraid to take?
4. When have you been willing to go out of your way to serve Jesus?
5. When are you most tempted to do only what is convenient?

Apply It
1. *To whom do you want to reveal openly that you are a disciple of Jesus?
2. How can you serve Christ this week regardless of the inconvenience you expect it to involve?

The Empty Tomb—John 20:1–9
Topics: Basics of the Faith, Believe, Death, Doctrine, Doubt, Expectations, Fear, Jesus Christ, Prophecy, Resurrection, Running, Sorrow, Surprises, Understanding

Open It
1. What is one dark moment of your life that ended happily?
2. *Why do people visit the grave sites of close friends and family members?
3. About what sort of news would you get excited right now?

Explore It
1. *What did Mary Magdalene discover when she went to Jesus’ tomb? (20:1)
2. What did Mary Magdalene tell Peter? When? (20:2)
3. Who responded to the news Mary brought? (20:3)
4. *How did Peter respond to what Mary told him? (20:3)
5. Who examined Jesus’ tomb? (20:4–5)
6. What did John discover when he arrived at the tomb? (20:4–5)
7. What did Peter discover when he arrived at the tomb? (20:6–7)
8. What did John do after he looked in the tomb? (20:8)
9. *How did John respond to what he found in the tomb? (20:8)
10. What did Peter and John not understand even after they visited Jesus’ empty tomb? (20:9)

Get It
1. Why do you think Mary went to the tomb?
2. *If you had been either Mary, Peter, or John, what thoughts would have run through your mind when you discovered the empty tomb?
3. When have you made an exciting, unexpected discovery?
4. How do you usually respond to life’s unexpected events?
5. *What motivates us to share our surprises (both pleasant and unpleasant) with other people?
6. When has a positive happening in your life appeared at first to be a confusing, unfortunate, or tragic event?

Apply It
1. What truths of the gospel do you want to investigate more closely over the next few weeks? How can you?
2. *Whom do you need to tell about the empty tomb of Christ? How?
3. How can you celebrate the resurrection of Christ next Easter?

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene—John 20:10–18
Topics: Affections, Angels, Death, Devotion, Discouragement, Emotions, Encouragement, God, Jesus Christ, Joy, Love, Relationships, Resurrection, Surprises

Open It
1. How has someone recently surprised you with what he or she did or said?
2. *What is the most exciting news you’ve heard this week?

Explore It
1. What did Mary and the disciples do after seeing that Jesus’ body was gone? (20:10–11)
2. What did Mary see where Jesus’ body had been? (20:12)
3. *What did the angels ask Mary? (20:13)
4. How did Mary answer the angels’ question? (20:13)
5. Who tried to comfort Mary? (20:14–15)
6. What question did Jesus ask Mary? (20:15)
7. How did Mary respond to Jesus’ question? (20:15)
8. *What happened when Mary realized who was talking to her? (20:16)
9. Why did Jesus tell Mary not to hold on to Him? (20:17)
10. *What did Jesus tell Mary to tell His brothers? (20:17)
11. What did Mary do? (20:18)

Get It
1. How would you respond if you met someone you had presumed to be dead?
2. What would you do if you saw an angel?
3. Over what loss have you recently shed tears?
4. How do you think Mary felt when she realized she was talking to Jesus?
5. When is it tempting to hold on to something good rather than share it with others?
6. *If you had been one of the disciples who had heard Mary’s exciting news, how do you think you would have reacted?
7. *When have you been exceptionally thrilled about your relationship with Christ?
8. How can you demonstrate your devotion to Jesus?

Apply It
1. Who is someone you want to tell about the news of Jesus’ resurrection? How can you?
2. *How can you celebrate your relationship with the living Christ this week?

Jesus Appears to His Disciples—John 20:19–23
Topics: Evidence, Fear, Forgiveness, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Joy, Peace, Resurrection, Sin

Open It
1. Where is it dangerous to openly follow Christ today?
2. What hideaways did you have when you were growing up?
3. *What friend or relative that you haven’t seen for a while would you be overjoyed to see again?

Explore It
1. What day of the week was it when the disciples were together? (20:19)
2. Why did the disciples have the doors locked? (20:19)
3. Who surprised the disciples in their hideaway? (20:19)
4. *What did Jesus say to the disciples? When? (20:19)
5. What did Jesus show His disciples? Why? (20:20)
6. *How did the disciples respond to seeing Jesus? (20:20)
7. What greeting did Jesus repeat? (20:21)
8. What did Jesus tell His disciples about their future? (20:21)
9. Why did Jesus breathe on His disciples? (20:22)
10. What did Jesus tell the disciples to receive? (20:22)
11. *What did Jesus tell His disciples about forgiving sins? (20:23)

Get It
1. When have you been afraid to follow Jesus openly?
2. *If you had been in that room with the disciples, how might you have reacted when Jesus appeared?
3. *When have you been overjoyed to see someone?
4. To whom has Jesus sent us?
5. To whom has Jesus sent you?
6. Why is it important for us to forgive others?
7. When is it most difficult for you to forgive?
8. What can we do to become forgiving of others?

Apply It
1. Whom do you need to forgive?
2. Whose forgiveness do you need to seek? How can you?
3. *With whom do you want to share your joy in Christ?

Jesus Appears to Thomas—John 20:24–31
Topics: Believe, Bible, Christianity, Confession, Doubt, Eternal Life, Evidence, God, Jesus Christ, Life, Miracles, Peace, Resurrection, Salvation

Open It
1. Why do people write books?
2. *What book (besides the Bible) have you enjoyed most?
3. When have you doubted a story from a reliable source?

Explore It
1. What disciple was not with the others when Jesus appeared to them? (20:24)
2. What had the other disciples told Thomas? (20:24)
3. *What did Thomas say he needed in order to believe that Jesus was raised from the dead? (20:25)
4. How did Jesus restore Thomas’s faith? (20:26)
5. *What did Jesus say to Thomas? (20:27)
6. What did Thomas say in response to Jesus’ words? (20:28)
7. *What did Jesus say about seeing and believing? (20:29)
8. What did John leave out of his Gospel? (20:30)
9. Why was the book of John written? (20:31)
10. What results from believing that Jesus is the Son of God? (20:31)

Get It
1. When have you had doubts about your faith in Christ?
2. How should we deal with our doubts about Christianity?
3. *Why is it difficult to believe in Christ?
4. In what ways do we need to trust Christ?
5. On what evidence do you rely for your belief that Jesus rose from the dead?
6. *What sort of evidence for the truth of Christianity has John given us?

Apply It
1. What doubts concerning your faith in Christ do you want to discuss with a knowledgeable believer?
2. How can you use the Gospel of John to tell others about Jesus?

Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish—John 21:1–14
Topics: Abundance, Devotion, Fellowship, Jesus Christ, Miracles, Needs

Open It
1. What are some of your hobbies or favorite pastimes?
2. Why do people enjoy eating together?
3. What kind of foods do you like to prepare when you have people over for dinner?
4. *With whom have you recently shared a meal?

Explore It
1. When did Jesus appear to His disciples? (21:1)
2. What familiar activity did several of Jesus’ disciples do together? (21:2–3)
3. Who had gone out to fish? (21:2–3)
4. How successful had Peter and the others been at fishing that night? (21:3)
5. What did Jesus ask His disciples? (21:5)
6. What did Jesus tell His disciples to do? (21:6)
7. *What happened when the disciples did what Jesus had told them to do? (21:6)
8. What did Peter do when he realized that it was the Lord who was talking? (21:7)
9. *What did Jesus ask His disciples to do once they were on shore? (21:8–10)
10. Why didn’t the disciples ask Jesus who He was? (21:12)
11. *What did Jesus do with the bread and fish? (21:13)
12. How many times had Jesus appeared to His disciples? (21:14)

Get It
1. Why do you think several of Jesus’ disciples went fishing?
2. How has God brought you together with other Christians?
3. *When have you been so glad to see someone that you just had to run out to meet that person?
4. Why is it hard for us to see God working in our lives?
5. Through what ordinary events in life have you encountered Jesus?
6. When has God miraculously and abundantly provided for your needs?
7. *When do you experience fellowship with Jesus?

Apply It
1. *What steps can you take to have fellowship with God today?
2. For what specific need that God has met in your life will you thank Him today?

Jesus Reinstates Peter—John 21:15–25
Topics: Caring, Death, Glory, God, Jesus Christ, Love, Serving, Witnessing

Open It
1. *Who are some people who have died for their beliefs?
2. When did you ever have to restore a broken relationship?
3. When have you taken care of another person?

Explore It
1. What did Jesus ask Peter three times? (21:15–17)
2. What did Jesus tell Peter to do? (21:15–17)
3. How did Peter feel after Jesus had asked him the same question three times? (21:17)
4. What did Jesus predict about Peter’s future? (21:18–19)
5. What command did Jesus give to Peter? (21:19)
6. *What concern did Peter raise? (21:20–21)
7. *With what did Jesus want Peter to concern himself? (21:22)
8. How did Jesus want Peter to serve Him? (21:22)
9. What rumor spread as the result of Jesus’ talk with Peter? (21:23)
10. *How did John serve Christ after Jesus left earth? (21:24)
11. What did John do with the testimony he had concerning Jesus? (21:24)
12. How many of Jesus’ deeds did John leave out of his Gospel? (21:25)

Get It
1. How should we demonstrate our love for Jesus?
2. Who are Jesus’ sheep?
3. How are we to serve and care for other Christians?
4. *How do we each serve God in a unique way?
5. *How can you bring glory to God through your life and the unique opportunities God has given you?
6. What might cause us to be more concerned about someone else’s relationship with Christ than our own?

Apply It
1. *How can you focus your attention solely on your service to God this week?
2. How can you serve or care for a fellow Christian?

Adult Questions for LESSONmaker (2024). Bellingham, WA: Logos, p. Jn 1:1–21:25.