God’s remedy for a troubled heart: The promise of a place! He has to go to prepare that place for us. He will come again to get us. He will be our dwelling. The way to that place! The way The truth The life A resource along the way! Questions: Did the Holy Spirit speak to you about anything today? Read verses 1-4. Why were the disciples troubled in heart? (13:33,36) What did Jesus tell them to do to overcome anxiety? What does this suggest about their fundamental problem? What does it mean to trust in God and to trust in Jesus? Read verses 2-3. What did Jesus mean by “my Father’s house”? What did he promise the disciples? What hope does this promise plant? (See also 2 Cor 5:1; 1 Pe 1:3) What difference does it make to believe this promise? (Heb 11:9-10) What kind of lives do those live who don't believe this promise? Read verses 5-7. How did Thomas respond? Why didn’t he know where Jesus was going? What did Jesus teach him and us about the way to God? Why is Jesus the only way? (Jn 1:18; Acts 4:12; 1 Ti 2:5,6) Why is Jesus the truth? (Jn 18:37; Jn 1:14; Ro 1:18-20, 25) What are some characteristics of truth? What does it mean that Jesus is the life? (See 1:4; 5:24; 20:31) Read verses 8-11. How did Philip respond? What do you think was his problem? What did Jesus teach him about the relationship of the Father and the Son? What evidence does he give Philip to lead him to believe? What can we learn here about belief? How is the God the Father revealed in the person and works of Jesus? Why is this important? Jesus tells the disciples that they should at least believe in Him because of His works (v. 11). How would you address someone who says they will only believe in God if they can see Him do something miraculous? How is it that a person truly comes to know God?

Grace Community Church-Loveland CO

He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life

2nd Corinthians 4:1-15

Scripture: John 11:11-43 Main Point: Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. Through faith in him, we have new life and the hope of eternal life. Questions: What challenged you or encouraged you from the message this week? Read John 11:1-43. What do you notice about these verses? Who are the people who are involved in this passage? What emotions does John record? What questions do you have after reading this passage? Read John 11:11-16. In this section, we are introduced to Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Mary and Martha are talked about in Luke 10:38-42 and in John 12:1-8. What does Jesus say about Lazarus’ sickness? If Jesus loved Lazarus, why did he stay two more days before going to see him? Jesus lets the disciples know that Lazarus is sleeping (dead), and he intended to wake him up. Why would this have been confusing for them? Read John 11:17-37. What is happening when Jesus and his disciples arrive. What does Martha say to Jesus? How is her response a mixture of grief and faith? Read John 11:25-26. What is Jesus telling Martha about who he is? What is he asking her to believe in? These verses are a powerful disclosure of Jesus’ identity. What does his statement mean for all those who believe? Why is this so important to our understanding of life and death? Jesus expresses strong emotions. He is deeply moved, troubled, and he weeps. Jesus knows that he will raise Lazarus from the dead in just a few minutes. What do you think is causing these emotions? How is Jesus’ emotions a comfort to us when we experience grief? In verse 11:33, “deeply moved” means that Jesus was angry. What would he have been angry about? Read John 11:38-43. What do we know about the condition of Lazarus’ body? How does Jesus’ resurrection of Lazarus display the glory of God? What did you learn about God in these verses? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?

He Is the Resurrection and the Life

2 Corinthians 3:7-18

Main Point: Jesus provides life through his sacrifice Questions: What challenged you or encouraged you from the message this week? Read John 10:11-21. What do you notice about these verses? What metaphor does Jesus use to describe himself in these verses? What questions do you have after reading this passage? How do the verses you just read connected to the previous section (John 10:1-10)? What common themes connect these sections? Read John 10:11-13. What is the difference between the good shepherd and the hired hand? What does Jesus mean when he says, “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep”? How does this relate to the Jesus death and resurrection? Read John 10:14-16. What does Jesus mean when he says, “I know my sheep and my sheep know me”? What kind of knowledge is he talking about? Jesus compares his relationship with his sheep to his relationship with God the Father. How does this comparison help you understand the kind of relationship Jesus desires? What keeps people from having this relationship with Jesus? In verse 16, Jesus mentions have sheep in other sheep pens. Who is he talking about? How does this relate to our understanding of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20)? Read John 10:17-18. Jesus is talking about sacrificing himself to save his sheep. What does he say about laying his life down? Why is it significant that no one can take Jesus’ life from him? (See John 18:4-7 and John 19:10-11) Read John 10:19-21. How did the Jews respond to what Jesus said? Why do you think there was so much confusion? How is this similar or different to the confusion about Jesus currently? What did you learn about God in these verses? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?

He Is the Good Shepherd

2nd Corinthians 2:12-3:6

Main Point: When we follow Jesus, he leads us into the fullness of life. Questions: 1. What challenged you or encouraged you from the message this week? 2. The events in John chapter 10 are connected to the previous chapter. Read John chapter 9. What is going in in this chapter? How does Jesus use the blind man’s healing to teach about spiritual blindness? (Note especially John 9:35-41) 3. Read John 10:1-10. What do you notice about these verses? Who are the major characters in this analogy? Who do these characters represent? How does this relate to the Pharisee’s spiritual blindness in John chapter 9? What questions do you have after reading these verses? 4. Read John 10:1-6. What characters are contrasted in these verses? What is the intent of those who enter the sheep pen without using the gate? What are the differences between the thieves and robbers and the shepherd? 5. Can you think of any other people in the Bible who were shepherds? Is there a connection between the analogy of shepherding and leading people? 6. How do the sheep respond to the Shepherd’s voice? What does it mean that the Shepherd calls them by name? Why do the Pharisees not understand what Jesus means? 7. Read John 10:7-10. How does Jesus change the analogy in these verses? What does it mean that Jesus is the gate? What spiritual truths about Jesus’ identity are revealed in his statement, “I am the gate”? 8. Read John 10:10. What does it mean to have life to the full? How is life to the full found in Jesus? 9. What did you learn about God in these verses? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? 10. By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?

He Is: The Gate

2nd Corinthians 1:12-2:11

Main Point: When we follow Jesus we walk in light. Questions: What challenged you or encouraged you from the message this week? Read John 8:12-20. What do you notice about these verses? What words stuck out to you? What questions do you have after reading these verses? What Jewish festival is Jesus teaching at in this passage? (See John 7 for reference.) What do you know about the Feast of Tabernacles? (The Feast of Tabernacles is a week-long fall festival commemorating the 40-year journey of the Israelites in the wilderness. It contains a water ceremony and light ceremony. Jesus uses both symbols in John 7and 8.) Read John 8:12. What is Jesus communicating in the verse? What does the analogy of light reveal the identity of God? How is Jesus the light of the world? Jesus says, “Follow me.” What is Jesus calling people to do? What does it look like to follow Jesus? What does it mean to walk in darkness as opposed to walking in the light? (See Ephesians 5:8-11, 1 John 1:5-6) Read John 8:13-18. What are the Pharisees arguing with Jesus about? Why doesn’t Jesus need a witness? Why is it significant that God the Father is Jesus’ witness? Read John 8:19-20. Why do the Pharisees ask about Jesus’ father? What does this reveal about their understanding of the identity of Jesus? Read John 8:58-59. After a longer exchange between Jesus and the Pharisees, Jesus states, “Very truly I tell you before Abraham was born, I am!” How do the Pharisees react? Why do they react this way? What does it mean to follow Jesus and walk in the light? How can you experience more of God and follow him more closely this week? What is one thing God is calling you to do in response to what you have learned today? By God’s grace, how can you apply this to your life this week?

He Is: The Light of the World

2nd Corinthians 1:1-11

Main Point: Our souls are hungry until they are satisfied in Jesus. Questions: What challenged you or encouraged you from the message this week? Read John 6:25-40. What do you notice about these verses? What words stuck out to you? What questions do you have after reading these verses? Read John 6:1-15. Why is this large crowd following Jesus? How does this miracle set the stage for Jesus’ discussion in later verses? How does this miracle connect with the Moses and Elisha in the Old Testament? Do the people gathered make this connection? What do they want to do with Jesus? Why does Jesus leave? Read John 6:16-21. What is going on in this section of Scripture? What do we learn about Jesus in these verses? Look over John 6:25-40 again. Describe what is going on in this conversation. What are the people looking for? What do they ask Jesus for? What is his response? In verses 6:28-29. What work is Jesus describing? What does Jesus want the crowd to do? In verses 6:32-33. Who does Jesus say is the one who gives the bread from heaven? How does Jesus use the miracle of mana to clarify his own identity? In verse 6:35, Jesus makes his first “I am” statement. What does it mean that Jesus is the bread of life? What need within humans is Jesus offering to meet? How does this I am statement relate to the gospel message? What is one thing God is calling you to do in response to what you have learned today? By God’s grace, how can you apply this to your life this week?

He Is: The Bread of Life

Main Point: Sanctification is a life-long process rooted in God’s word and the work of the Holy Spirit. Questions: 1. What challenged you or encouraged you from the message this week? 2. Read Philippians 2:12-13. What do you notice about these verses? What words stuck out to you? What questions do you have after reading these verses? How do these verses connect with Romans 12:1-2? 3. What is the “Therefore” there for? Read Philippians 2:5-11. What connections do these verses have to Philippians 2:12-13? 4. Paul commands the Philippians to work out their salvation. What does he mean? How does a Christian work our his or her salvation with “fear and trembling”? 5. Read Philippians 2:13. What does it mean that God “works in you to will and to act”? How does God create within Christians the desire and ability live transformed lives? 6. What “good purpose” are we working on cooperation with God to accomplish? 7. What tools does God give Christians to transform their hearts? How does meditation on the Bible affect transformation? How do life circumstances affect transformation? Can you think of a time that God used his word or life circumstances to deep your faith? 8. What is one thing God is calling you to do in response to what you have learned today? By God’s grace, how can you apply this to your life this week?

Growing In Grace

Main Point: A life devoted to God is a life of transformation. Questions: What challenged you or encouraged you from the message this week? Read Romans 12:1-2. What do you notice about these verses? What words stuck out to you? What questions do you have after reading these verses? How does verse two connect to the study of verse one last week? What does it mean to “conform to the pattern of this world”? Give some specific examples. How is the pattern of this world different from the way of living prescribed for a follower of Christ? Instead of being conformed to the pattern of this world, Paul commands follower of Christ to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” What does this mean? The word “transformed” in the Greek means metamorphosis. It is the idea of changing from one from into another. (The same word was used in Matt 17:2 and Mark 9:2 of Jesus’ transfiguration.) What are our minds being transformed FROM, and what are they being transformed TO? What does the Holy Spirit use to renew the mind so that Christians are transformed? Read Romans 12:2b. What is the result of a mind that is transformed by God’s truth? How does a transformed mind allow followers of Christ to know by experience that God’s will is “good, pleasing, and perfect”? How has your growing understanding of God allowed you to trust that God’s will is good? How does this understanding provide hope? What is one thing God is calling you to do in response to what you have learned today? By God’s grace, how can you apply this to your life this week?

Romans 12:2

Main Point: Worship is living for God in response to his amazing grace! Questions: 1. What challenged you or encouraged you from the message this week? 2. Read Romans 12:1. What do you notice about this verse? What words stuck out to you? What questions do you have after reading this passage? 3. What is the “Therefore” there for? (Most believe that Paul is referring to the previous 12 chapters of Romans.) 4. How would you define God’s mercy? How is it shown in the work of Jesus? 5. What does it mean to “offer your bodies as a living sacrifice”? How does this relate to worship? 6. How do you define worship? Give examples of what worship looks like? 7. The English words related to worship in this passage come from the Greek word logikos. This word means logical or rational. How is offering our whole selves to God a logical response to God’s mercy? 8. Paul is saying considering the amazing mercy we have been given by God, we should fully give ourselves to God. This is the logical and rational response. To response to God in this way is worship. How does this thinking challenge your understanding of the Christian life? What keeps Christians from directing all that they do to God as worship? 9. How can we worship God in our relationships, in our work, and in our play? Give examples. How can our actions in these areas be understood as worship to God? 10. What is one thing God is calling you to do in response to what you have learned today? By God’s grace, how can you apply this to your life this week?

Romans 12:1

Outline: How to deal with anxiety and fear? Replace worry with prayer! Accompany prayer with thanksgiving! Remember the promises of a truth-telling father! The result: Your heart will be guarded… By the sounding of alarm – be focused! By the weapon of trust in God’s goodness! Questions: 1. Did the Holy Spirit speak to you about anything today? 2. What is worry? What do you think about this definition: Worry is the preoccupation of life without taking God’s constant love and power into consideration. 3. Do you tend to worry? What about? What exceptions do you make for your worries? How does Augustine’s thought about anxieties stemming from our own idols fit in with what you worry about? 4. What happens when you bathe your prayers in thanksgiving? 5. How have you experienced your mind being your worst enemy when it comes to worry? 6. Have you experienced transcending peace? How would you describe it?

Dealing with Anxiety and Fear

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