Greetings! Below you will find questions which reference the sermon preached on Sunday, July 20th, 2014 at The Park. This week we studied Chapter 13:1-20. Have someone in your group read this section of scripture.
Each week new questions are posted to track along with the sermons. Work hard to facilitate discussion. Listen to the hearts around the room and close with prayer.
Intro to Gospel of John:
This Gospel is unique with regard to the 4 first-hand accounts of the life of Jesus. It was likely the last of the 4 written and focuses much of it’s view on the deity of Jesus. Like today, the question of Jesus’ nature and source of power is constantly being debated and the heart of John’s gospel is to give us a clear, concise, unashamed view of the Son of God. It is here in John that Jesus makes claims like, “I am the Bread of Life”, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life”, and “I am the Light of the world”. Reading the Gospel of John will provide you with an exalted view of Jesus as God in the flesh, sent to proclaim the good news.
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- What are some observations you had from this section of scripture?
- Were there any new insights you learned about the passage from the sermon?
- What did you learn about God from reading this section of scripture?
- What is the significance of the statement in verse 1 that Jesus loved His own to the end?
- We see in verse 3 that Jesus knew that the Father had given all things into His hands, that He had come from God and was going back to God. What He does next should astound us: He serves. He takes the role of a slave and washes His disciples’ feet. What does it look like today for the church to follow Jesus’ model in this verse?
- Peter tells Jesus that he can’t wash his feet, to which he is met by a rebuke from Jesus. Peter’s sin here is self-reliance. Have you or do you have a self-reliant attitude toward God or his people? Will you allow others to serve you?
- Jesus washes the feet of Judas, the one who would betray Him. This can be hard for us to understand as our first response is to be angry towards Judas. Jesus didn’t simply cover his anger; anger was not in Him here. How does Jesus’ absence of hate towards Judas challenge you in how you handle hate/dislike towards others?
- What is your response to the reality that on the outside Judas looked like everyone else but was bankrupt inside?
- “A servant is no greater than his master”. If Jesus loved this way, sacrificed this way, and led this way, how can you embody his message? What characteristics seem to define the ministry of Jesus in this passage?
- What was it about the idea of communion/union with Christ that stood out to you most as it correlates with Jesus’ response to Peter in verses 8-10? (We have union with Christ in salvation, yet communion with Christ can be broken due to sin in the life of the believer)
- Close by praying for those you know who need to receive Jesus (v. 20) as Lord and Savior.