John 4:1-42

Link to text: John 4:1-42

Crushed Ice
1. When you were growing up, what part of the city or country were you told to avoid? What would have happened if you would have gone there?

Discussion
v. 1-6
1. Why did Jesus leave Judea and head towards Galilee?
2. What is significant about going through (or avoiding) Samaria? Why did the Jews avoid this area?
3. The woman visited the well at noon which was an unconventional time of day to draw well water. Why did she go then?v. 7-10
4. Why did Jesus ask for a drink of water?
5. Why was the woman surprised that he asked her for a drink?
6. What did Jesus mean by “living water”?v. 11-15
7. The woman was talking about physical water, but this could represent anything that we seek physically to satisfy a need. What types of “water” do we use to quench our “thirsts” these days, and how long does that satisfaction last?
8. What was the “water” that Jesus offers us and how can we get that?
9. What does the “spring of water welling up” mean?
10. What was the woman thinking in v. 15?v 16-18
11. Jesus appears to change the subject when he asks about her husband, but what is he really doing in bringing up her love life?
12. What do you think the woman thought after she realized Jesus knew her history (v. 18)v 19-26
13. Now the woman appears to change the subject to “where to worship.” Why?
14. How does “you worship what you do not know” apply to many religious people today? (v 22)
15. What did Jesus mean when he said “salvation is from the Jews?” (v 22)
16. What is Jesus saying about where to worship? (see 1 Corinthians 3:16)
17. What does it mean to worship in “spirit and truth”?v 27-42
18. The woman leaves the scene and her jar and goes to town and tells people about Jesus, many of whom believed in him. What are some overall lessons of this story?
a. about how to have a conversation with someone we might want to help spiritually?
b. about how the woman left her jar (both literally and symbolically)? (v 28)
c. about who can be an effective witness with regard to knowledge? with regard to reputation?
19. Compare/contrast the interaction with the woman at the well with that of Nicodemus.

Bottom Line Point(s):
1. Jesus offers us living water which will quench our spiritual thirst.
2. Jesus can work through anyone to spread his message.

How can you apply what you’ve learned here?
1. What are you thirsting for in life right now?

Bibliography
1. Barton & others, "Life Application Bible Commentary: John"
2. MacArthur, "John – Jesus, the Word, the Messiah, the Son of God"
3. "Serendipity Study Bible for Groups"
4. “Life Application Study Bible, NIV”
5. Bible Study Fellowship International, “The Gospel of John”

John 3:1-21

Link to text: John 3:1-21

Crushed Ice
1. What interesting stories have you heard about your birth?

Discussion
1. To see all the Nicodemus sightings, check out John 19:39-40, then work backwards, to 7:50-52, then to John 3. For each passage, what relationship does it seem Nicodemus has in relation to Jesus?
2. Why did Nicodemus come at night? (v 2, v 19-20)
3. What is your understanding of “kingdom of God”? (v 3)
4. Compare/contrast citizenship in a world’s kingdom versus the kingdom of God.
5. What is the significance, if any, of the difference in v 1:12-13 (“..born of God”) and 3:5 (“…born of water and the Spirit”)
6. What does it mean that “spirit gives birth to spirit” (v 6)?
7. What does Jesus have to do with Moses’ snake? (v 14, Numbers 21:5-9) What are the parallels in the Old Testament scene in the dessert and what Jesus is talking about here?
8. What point is Jesus making in comparing spiritual birth to the wind? (ie. What is wind like?)
9. How does Jesus account for Nicodemus’ lack of understanding?
10. Compare/contrast a newborn baby to a newborn Christian.
11. What does Jesus claim about himself in v 13-15?
12. From v 16-18, what stands out to you about God? About what he wants to do? About how a person is condemned? How will belief show itself (v 15-21)?
13. How is Jesus’ use of the words “born again” similar to and different from the way it is used today?
14. How would you define “born again” in your own words?
15. What is “eternal life”? (v 16)
16. Why did God send Jesus into the world? (v 17)
17. What does “believe in him” mean? (v 16, 17)
18. Before talking to Jesus, what was Nicodemus’ likely understanding of who would see the kingdom of God? Who does Jesus say has the opportunity to see the kingdom of God?
19. What are the practical truths in v 19-21? Ie. Are there real world examples of this?
20. Given the other two passages about Nicodemus later in the New Testament, what practical insights do you gather regarding evangelism?
21. If there are other ways to see the kingdom of God, then is Jesus lying?

Bottom Line Point(s):
1. God loved. God gave. We believe. We receive.
2. Faith is a journey.

How can you apply what you’ve learned here?
1. Live in the light – above reproach.
2. Don’t rush pre-Christians.
3. Believe in Jesus and you will be born again, and will see the kingdom of God.

Bibliography
1. Barton & others, "Life Application Bible Commentary: John"
2. MacArthur, "John – Jesus, the Word, the Messiah, the Son of God"
3. "Serendipity Study Bible for Groups"
4. “Life Application Study Bible, NIV”
5. Mears, “What the Bible is All About – Bible Handbook”
6. Bible Study Fellowship International, “The Gospel of John”
7. Grudem, “Systematic Theology”

John 1:1-18

Link to text: John 1:1-18

Crushed Ice
1. What was your nickname growing up? How did you get that name? Did it stick?

Discussion
1. Take a look at the first few verses of the other gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) and contrast to how John begins.
2. Compare to beginning of Genesis. Which sounds like it came first, chronologically, John 1:1 or Genesis 1:1? Or were they simultaneous?
3. Why did John write his book and why did he start differently than the other gospels and similar to Genesis? (hint 1: John was written a generation after the other gospels, after many false teachers had denied Jesus was the Son of God)(hint 2: John 20:31)
4. Just reading verses 1-5, what or who is “the Word”? What can you conclude about “the Word” in v 1-5?
5. Who or what fails to comprehend the light? Why? (v5, 10-11)
6. John the Baptist (not John the disciple, & author) is mentioned in v. 6. What was his purpose?
7. How does being “born of God” relate to or differ from being “born of natural descent” in v. 12-13?
8. Read v 14 in the context of v 1-5. What or who is “the Word”?
9. Read v 17 in the context of v 14, and v 1-5. What or who is “the Word”?
10. Read Colossians 1:15-17. What additional information do you find in Col 1:16 that you do not find in John 1:3?
11. Read Genesis 1:26 in the context of this passage. Who is “us” and “our” referring to?
12. Sometimes “the Word” is used to describe the Bible. Is that the intent here? What is the Bible about?
13. Respond to the C.S. Lewis excerpt below. Do you agree or disagree?

Bottom Line Point(s):
1. As the Word, the Son of God - Jesus Christ, fully conveys and communicates God.

How can you apply what you’ve learned here?
1. If you want to know God – know Jesus.

From “Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis…
I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: “I am ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God.” That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the devil of hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon; or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.

Bibliography
1. Barton & others, "Life Application Bible Commentary: John"
2. MacArthur, "John – Jesus, the Word, the Messiah, the Son of God"
3. "Serendipity Study Bible for Groups"
4. “Life Application Study Bible, NIV”
5. Mears, “What the Bible is All About – Bible Handbook”
6. Bible Study Fellowship International, “The Gospel of John”
7. C.S. Lewis, “Mere Christianity”
8. Grudem, “Systematic Theology”

James 4:1-10

Link to text: James 4:1-10

Crushed Ice

1. Whom did you quarrel with most while growing up?
2. What purchase is highest on your “wish list”?

Discussion

v 1-3
1. What is the root of fights and quarrels?
2. What are 3 problems with prayer that James refers to? Or reasons for unanswered prayer…
3. What are some examples of wrong/right motives when praying?
4. Is it wrong to seek influence, or a good standard of living?

v 4-6
5. Why does James use such a strong word as “adulterous”?
6. In John 3:16 what does God say about the world? What is different?
7. What desires seem to drive the world around us?
8. How does God “oppose the proud?”
9. What’s God’s purpose in this?
10. What’s so wrong with pride?
11. What does true humility look like in our lives?
12. What is a pitfall of complimenting humility?
13. How can you encourage humility?

v 7-10
14. What does “submit” mean and what does it look like today?
15. Is that a hurdle for you?
16. What things in life are easier/harder to submit than others?
17. How do we come near to God? What are some ways?
18. How does God come near to us?
19. What is double-minded?
20. What are we grieving, mourning, and wailing about in v9? Where’s the joy and laughter?
21. What does Luke 18:9-14 tell us about our prayers and humility?

Bottom Line Point(s):
1. Humility unlocks the door to effective prayer.

How can you apply what you’ve learned here?
1. Check your motives when you pray.
2. Seek ways to replace pride with humility in everyday interactions.
3. Seek ways to draw near to God.

Bibliography
1. Barton & others, "Life Application Bible Commentary: James"
2. MacArthur, "Guidelines for a Happy Christian Life"
3. "Serendipity Study Bible for Groups"
4. “Life Application Study Bible, NIV”

Notes: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 (for 12/04 home group)

Discussion

1. Before reading this passage in 1 Corinthians 5, what was your opinion about or experience with judging others? What is the typical public opinion on judging others? (Matthew 7:1-5)
2. From your recollection of Jesus’ encounters with people during his ministry, who did he typically spend time judging? …not judging?
3. How is the church today perceived with respect to judging people outside and inside the church?
4. What happens when a church is more concerned with judging those outside the church than evaluating and dealing with their own behavior?
5. Do you think that believers today typically give one another a “pass” when it comes to calling out sin in their lives? Why or why not?
6. What wrong attitude toward the problem in their church did the Corinthians have? (v 2)
7. What does “hand this man over to Satan” mean and how could that be good for the man? (v 5)
8. From the yeast metaphor (v 6-8) what would have been the result if the church had continued to ignore this man's behavior?
9. What are the goals of the action of expelling the immoral brother as described in this passage?
10. What two conditions should be present before you are ready to judge another believer? (v2, Matthew 7:5)
11. What is the benefit of removing the plank from your own eye before judging another believer?
12. Why are there two different standards for judging - one for Christians and one for those who are not Christians?
13. When we judge people outside the church, who are we acting like? (v 13)
14. How different would the worldview of Christianity be if we got this right?
15. As a believer, and given the understanding of the intent of the passage, do you accept that someday a brother or sister in Christ may judge you? How does that make you feel?

Bottom Line Point(s):

1. Sometimes judging is the loving thing to do.
2. To refuse to judge is to fail to love.

How can you apply what you’ve learned here?

1. How does your attitude towards those outside the church need to be adjusted?
2. How does your attitude towards those inside the church need to be adjusted?
3. Who is a Christian in your life headed in the wrong direction? What is your responsibility to him or her? What will you do to help this person get back on the right track?

Biliography

1. Barton & others, "Life Application Bible Commentary: 1&2 Corinthians"
2. MacArthur, "1 Corinthians: Godly Solutions for Church Problems"
3. "Serendipity Study Bible for Groups"
4. “Life Application Study Bible, NIV”
5. Tyler Jones, Vintage21 Church, Sermon on same topic 11/18/07
6. Andy Stanley, North Point Community Church, “Judgment Call: Double Standard,” 10/27/07
7. Mark Driscoll, Mars Hill Church, “Judging Like Jesus,” 2006
   

Notes: 1 Corinthians 4:14-17 (for 11/13 home group)

Men: Husband and Father

Men are:

• 5 times more likely to commit violent crimes
• More likely to be Imprisoned –90% of prisoners
• Murdered –79% of murder victims
• Commit Suicide –4 times more likely
• Illegal Drugs –3 times more likely
• Drinking problem –5 times more likely an alcoholic

40% of 25 million children grow up without a father. Fatherless homes account for:

• 90% of runaway children
• 71% of high school dropouts
• 85% of youths in prison
• More than half of teen mothers
• 70% of prisoners

Verses

1 Corinthians 4:14-17, 1 Peter 3:7, Ephesians 5:25-33, Ephesians 6:4, Colossians 3:21, Proverbs 4, Proverbs 13:24, Deuteronomy 6:6-9, Genesis 18:18-19

Discussion

1. The husband is to treat his wife in a certain way (Eph. 5: 25-31, I Pet. 3: 7).
2. There is more to fatherhood than just being responsible for conception. The father is presented in the scriptures as also the leader in the training of the children (Eph. 6: 4, 1, Prov. 4: 1-13).
3. The father should be an example regarding leadership and headship (Eph. 5: 22).
4. The father should be a disciplinarian (Eph. 6: 4, Prov. 13: 24).
5. The father should take a leadership role in teaching his children about God, the plan of salvation, the church, conviction and morals, and living the life of the Christian and general character development (cp. Deut. 6: 6-9).
6. What are the qualities of fatherhood evident in God? How can we model these to the children we care for?
7. Is it necessary to be a biological father, in order to take on the role of a father? Are there any children or young people in our community who lack fathers? How can we help them?
8. What is the role of a father in training a child? What responsibilities does a father have to a child? Do these include spiritual responsibilities? (Consider Genesis 18:18-19, Deuteronomy 6:6-7.)
9. Colossians 3:21 says ‘Fathers, do not embitter (provoke, irritate) your children, or they become discouraged.’ What do you think is meant by this? How can a father create the atmosphere in which a child will flourish into maturity?
10. Sixty-one percent of the people in churches are women. Often, wives are more spiritually engaged (church attendance, prayer, bible reading, etc) than their husbands. Why is that?
11. Women: How important is it to you to have a husband who is growing in spiritual maturity & living out God's commands?

Bottom Line Point(s):

1. God wants men to be men.

How can you apply what you’ve learned here?

1. Men: Man-up
2. Women: Pray for your husbands.

Bibliography

1. “The Bible and Fatherhood,” bibletruths.net.
2. “Bible study: Fatherhood,” by Rev Joe M Kapolyo.
3. Tyler Jones, Sermon on 1 Cor 4:14-21, Nov 11, 2007

Notes: 1 Corinthians 4:1-14 (for 11/06 home group)

Discussion

1. What is the most menial job you ever had? What did you like or dislike about it?
2. How does knowing that God will “bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose he motives of men’s hearts” (v 5) make you feel?
3. Corinthian factions judged one another by the reputation of the leader they followed. What does Paul mean by the saying he quotes in verse 6? (“Do not go beyond what is written?”) How does this apply today?
4. Of everything God has given you, what do you tend to take credit for yourself?
5. How does knowing that our talents are from God keep us from thinking that we are better than others?
6. Is there anything wrong with taking credit for our accomplishments?
7. How would Paul respond to the phrase “God wants you to be happy, healthy, and successful”?
8. In verses 8-13, Paul rather sarcastically compares his situation with the Corinthians’, who have a mistaken idea of wisdom and power. If there were a line between Corinthians (prideful, self-centered, power-oriented) on one end, and Paul (humble, persecuted, slandered, scum of the earth) on the other end, where on the line would you characterize your Christian life? Would you like to be in a different place than you actually are?

Bottom Line Point(s):

1. Don’t judge yourself or others based on who they follow, what they do, or why they do it.
2. Paul wanted Corinthians to turn from their sin and use their talents and resources in service and obedience to Christ.

How can you apply what you’ve learned here?

1. Ask God to reveal your pride and give you a servant’s heart.

Bibliography

1. Barton & others, "Life Application Bible Commentary: 1&2 Corinthians"
2. MacArthur, "1 Corinthians: Godly Solutions for Church Problems"
3. Lucado, “Life Lessons with Max Lucado – Book of 1 Corinthians”
4. "Serendipity Study Bible for Groups"
5. “Life Application Study Bible, NIV”
6. Tyler Jones, Vintage21, Sermon on same topic 11/4/07