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(John 4:9-15) What does the “gift of God” and the “living water” (4:9) refer to? What does receiving this gift result in (4:14)? Does this gift differ from or is another way of saying the “baptism with the Spirit” that John the Baptist spoke about in 1:33? The gift of God and living water refers to the gift of the Holy Spirit - We will never thirst in the sense that we will always be in touch with God through the Spirit, in the flow of God's eternal supply. We will have eternal life because the Holy Spirit who "seals" us, preserves us until the coming of Christ. And that eternal life begins when we receive the Holy Spirit -- everything becomes new. I believe that baptism with the Holy Spirit is similar and yet it is more than just receiving the gifts. Being filled the Spirit also gives us the power to live a victorious life that Jesus died to give us. Hallelujah! Praise God.

(John 4:9-15) Jesus’ words to the woman in verses 10-13 seem to imply that all people are spiritually thirsty. What has been your experience? Does the woman seem spiritually thirsty at this point? What caused her deep thirst to surface? What does this teach us about our own witness? I believe that we are all spiritually thirsty. It is a question of whether we know it or not and whether we want to do something about it. Sometimes, we need God to give us a prod before we can sit up and acknowledge that deep in our spirit we are yearning to know more of God. It is exactly what happened to the Samaritan woman. Jesus had to ask her questions to awaken her spiritual hunger. Similarly, when we witness, we need to ask pertinent questions that would gently point the person towards God and the things of God.

(John 4:7-9) Why do you think Jesus went against the social norms to communicate with the woman? Why do we hesitate to go against social norms to share the good news? How do we balance our need to obey God and our need to live peaceably in our culture? Jesus came to earth to save sinners. Jesus will not and cannot be constrained by social norms. Jesus had a divine appointment with the Samaritan woman and social norms will not prevent Him from speaking to the woman. On the other hand, Man is acutely aware of social norms. Often we are constrained by social norms in bringing God's word to the world. We are afraid of upsetting the social balance and the repercussions that follow. Hence, we make excuses and we make compromises. It is also for this reason that many pastors preach messages that are easy on the ears and are readily accepted by the congregation. Those pastors who preach the word of God are often seen as aggressive and insensitive. Striking a balance is not easy. May God give us the strength, the favour and the wisdom. Amen.

(John 3:36) Is it possible to believe in God’s love and God’s wrath at the same time? How does God’s justice allow salvation, when what we deserve is punishment for our sin and unbelief? (Hint: the “substitutionary atonement.”) Yes it is possible to believe both in God's love and wrath. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) But there is also that aspect that God hates sin and will pour out his wrath on sinners and unbelievers. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." (John 3:36) Jesus died on the cross to take away our sins. Christ died as a substitute for our sins and made atonement for us, so that we may live. Hallelujah!

(John 3:30) In what sense, in order to be successful in your Christian life, must you decrease and Christ increase? How can you facilitate the shift necessary for this change to occur? What steps might help you do this? Our focus must always be on Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. There is no grey about this - it is either Christ or not, there can be no straddling on the fence. Once we are able to accept this, that Christ is All in All, only then can be progress in our Christian life. It is not an easy transition. We live in a fallen world and all men are sinners. So there is always that struggle between our flesh and the still small voice of the Holy Spirit. However, if we deliberately choose to focus on Christ Jesus and ask Him for wisdom and the strength to overcome the flesh, He will answer our prayers.

(John 3:29) How does John the Baptist find joy in Jesus’ success? Do you find joy in the success of others who could be seen as competing with your ministry – in your church or in your community or in your denomination? Why do you think some pastors seem to compete with each other? John the Baptist finds joy in Jesus' success because he knows and accepts that he is only the fore-runner and one greater than he, one whose sandals he (John) is unworthy to tie, will come after him. It is humility and this contentment in knowing and accepting his purpose in life that directs John's life. Churches and ministries are made up of humans. Since the days of Adam and Eve, man has always been competitive - to be the best, to be the greatest, to be the richest, to have the largest gathering, etc. It is this spirit of competition, which in itself is not bad, but when directed at the Church and ministries, misalign and misuse God's word. And so, instead of preaching God's word, pastors preach messages which congregations want to hear. This will ultimately lead to a large congregation and give the impression of success. Let's face it, not many people want to go to Church on a Sunday to be told that they are sinners and their righteousness are like filthy rags!

(John 3:26) Have you ever resented “larger churches” that attracted people from “your” church? What is wrong with this kind of possessiveness? Is it self-pity or something else? Personally, I take issue with larger churches when the purpose that people attend the church is based on itching ears. For example, prosperity preachers usually attract large congregations. Similarly, preachers of cheap grace, where all sin is forgiven, notwithstanding that you commit the sin over and over again, also attract large congregations. People do not go to such churches because of the message of Christ our Lord and Saviour but because they need to feel righteous while living the live they choose, which may not necessarily be according to God's standards. I also take issue with pastors who focus on the numbers in their congregation and see that as a sign that they are not "worthy" because they have not attained a certain size. This is a dangerous position for pastors, as it will cause them to deviate from the message that God gives them and instead preach a gospel to attract a larger congregation. I need to qualify myself in that I am quoting in Singapore's context which may be quite different from other countries. To many pastors, it is a numbers game, as the larger the congregation, the more love offering they collect every week. Hence in Singapore, the larger churches are able to construct multi-million dollar churches with state of the art audio-visual equipment and tout themselves as being a "successful" church. To me church success is not about the size of the congregation or the amount of money they collect. Rather, it should be based on spreading the word of God, bringing the Gospel message to the ends of world and the number of salvations made.

(John 3:22) What is the importance of Jesus spending time with his disciples? What is his strategy? How does Jesus make disciples today? Where is our time with the Discipler? How important is your time as a discipler, “hanging out” with people God puts on your heart to disciple? It was important for Jesus to spend time with his disciples so that they may observe His love for us and His ministry on earth. Jesus' strategy is - Follow me, Observe me, Learn my way, Assist me and then Go out and do as I do. Now that Jesus is at the right hand of the Father, our time with Him is during our quiet time and when we are reading God's word. It is important for the Discipler to spend time with the Disciple so that they can build a relationship and each may know the other's heart. It is critical for the Disciple to not only hear from the Discipler but also to see the Discipler in action.

(John 3:16) Why is this verse so famous? What does it teach us about God? What does it teach us about salvation? Since “entering eternal life” is a synonym for “entering the Kingdom of God,” what does this verse teach us about our destiny? This verse is often quoted by Christians and non-Christians alike. This verse teaches us about the extent of God's love that He was willing to sacrifice His only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ to die on the cross and save mankind. This verse teaches us that our salvation was bought at a very high price, a price that only God and our Saviour was willing and could afford to pay. Our destiny is to enter the Kingdom of God, where we will have eternal life, praising God forever.

(John 3:5-7) What does it mean to be “born of water and the Spirit”? What do you think “water” refers to? Why have you come to this conclusion? How, then, would you paraphrase “born of water and the Spirit” to best bring out the full meaning? To me 'born of water' refers to John the Baptist's baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 'Born of the Spirit' refers to the baptism of the Holy Spirit, just as was experienced at Pentecost following Jesus' ascension to heaven - 'They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues as the Spirit enabled them.' (Acts 2:3-4) Water refers to a symbolic death, where we die to our sins and rise again or 'born again', having been cleansed by the water. I would suppose we can describe it as being 'born again and Spirit filled'.

(John 3:3-5) What does “entering the Kingdom” have to do with being “born anew”? Which do you think is the best translation here: “born again,” “born anew,” or “born from above”? Defend your reasoning. To recap Jesus' teaching on the Kingdom of God: 1. The Kingdom is spiritually discerned, that is, you can't see it or grasp it spiritually unless you are "born from above," unless God enables you to see it. 2. The Kingdom is spiritually entered, that is, you can't enter into the Kingdom, which is a synonym for inheriting eternal life, unless you are changed spiritually. Unless we are changed spiritually, we are neither able to discern the Kingdom of God nor are we able to enter the Kingdom. To be changed spiritually, we need to be born again. How? We need to be born of water and of the Spirit. Born of water signified John the Baptist's water baptism - the cleansing, repentance and forgiveness of sins. Born of the Spirit means being imbued with the power of the Holy Spirit which gives and activates the Spiritual gifts in us. Therefore, in my opinion, "born again"/"born anew"/"born from above" all point to the same thing - being changed spiritually through the baptism of water and the Holy Spirit. It is only after these acts that we are changed spiritually and thereafter able to discern the Kingdom of God.

(John 3:3, 5) What does Jesus teach here about the nature of the Kingdom of God? Do you think Nicodemus understands him? Why or why not? The nature of the Kingdom of God: 1. The Kingdom is spiritually discerned, that is, you can't see it or grasp it spiritually unless you are "born from above," unless God enables you to see it. 2. The Kingdom is spiritually entered, that is, you can't enter into the Kingdom, which is a synonym for inheriting eternal life, unless you are changed spiritually. The Kingdom of God is hidden from unbelievers. Unbelievers can see that the Kingdom might be present from the signs or miracles that result, and this may cause them, like Nicodemus, to search further. But unaided, they can't see or discern the Kingdom, much less enter it. It is God's prerogative to reveal. We are blind, unless God graciously rescues us, saves us. I think Nicodemus didn't quite understand the nature of the Kingdom of God as he thought that Jesus was referring to a physical re-birth but instead Jesus was referring to a spiritual re-birth.

(John 2:23-25) What is the problem with faith that rests solely on miracles? Is it true faith? What is necessary for it to develop into true faith? Did Jesus see these problems as a reason not to perform miracles? Faith based on miracles is treating God like an ATM machine. Faith based on miracles is based on the physical. Faith like this is not sustainable and cannot last. Jesus says in John 20:29 "... Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." From this we know that we can always rely on miracles to build up our faith or indeed to have faith. To develop true faith, we must accept Jesus as He is - our Lord and Saviour. Our faith in Jesus cannot be based on the miracles that He performs but rather on His love for us and His teachings. Nonetheless, Jesus does not see this as a problem as He still does perform miracles. In Romans 12:3, Paul wrote that God has given to each one of us a measure of faith. So, if Jesus thinks that our faith can only be built up by seeing miracles, He will do it. Indeed, Jesus has performed many miracles when He was on earth and continues to perform miracles. Amen!

(John 2:11-17) Apparently, Jesus was angry. Was his anger justified? Why? Is anger good or bad? What about anger gets us into trouble? Yes, Jesus was justified as the people had turned the Temple, a peaceful place where people can seek God, into a marketplace. God's house had become perverted from its main function as a house of prayer, and turned into something resembling a market, at which everyone brought their produce, set up stalls, and crowds came to do their shopping. "... Zeal for your house consumes me,..." (Psalm 69:9) Jesus has so identified with his Father, that he sees the merchandising as an insult to his Father, and thus to him. He takes it personally! I would suppose that there is such a thing as righteous anger - anger at injustice and sin. However, the important issue is whether we can control that anger or do we let that anger control us. If we let anger control us, it will dictate our actions, which could result in dire consequences.

(John 2:14-17) What was going on in the temple? Why was Jesus offended by it? What action did Jesus take? Business was taking place in the Temple. People were exchanging their currency for Tyrian coins to pay the Temple tax. People were also buying sacrificial animals. The Temple had become a marketplace instead of a place of peace where people can seek God. Jesus was offended, not that pilgrims needed to purchase sacrificial animals -- cattle, sheep, goats, doves/pigeons, etc. -- but that God's house had become perverted from its main function as a house of prayer, and turned into something resembling a market, at which everyone brought their produce, set up stalls, and crowds came to do their shopping.Jesus made a whip out of cords and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, 'Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!'

(John 2:6-10) Why did Jesus perform this miracle behind-the-scenes? Who was he trying to protect? What does the quantity of the wine tell us about Jesus’ glory? What does the quality of the wine tell us about Jesus’ glory? I am not sure that Jesus was trying to protect anyone except that, like He said to Mary, my time has not come. God's timing is perfect, He is never early or late. As such, since it was not time for Jesus to show Himself to the world, he performed the wine miracle behind the scenes. When Jesus performs a miracle, it is to give glory to God the Father. As such, the miracles will exceed all human expectations, hence - "You have saved the best till now". All glory to God! Hallelujah.

(John 2:6-10) Why do you think alcoholics are quick to point out this miracle? Which is wrong: drinking wine or drunkenness? How can we avoid excesses and still enjoy God’s good gifts? Alcoholics are quick to point out that drinking is not an issue and that even Jesus turned water into more wine, which meant that He condoned drinking. Drinking alcohol is not wrong but drunkenness is "Wine is a mocker, intoxicating drink arouses brawling and whoever is led astray by it is not wise." (Proverbs 20:1) Moderation is the key and so is listening to the small still voice telling us "it is time to stop".

(John 2:3-5) Why do you think Mary pushes Jesus to solve the wedding host’s problem? Are her words to Jesus appropriate? Would you categorize Jesus’ reply as a rebuke? If so, why does he go ahead with the miracle? There are several possible reasons why Mary pushes Jesus to solve the "wine" problem. One could be that she was close to the groom and knew what an insult it would be to the groom and his family if there was not enough wine for the festivities. Another could be that she knows Jesus' capabilities and may be seen Him performing miracles. The bible does not specifically state the reasons. Mary's words to Jesus leaves no doubt that she expects Him to do something about the shortage of wine. I would suppose that it is appropriate if a mother expects her son to obey and do her bidding. In a way, yes, Jesus' reply could be seen as a rebuke. However, as an obedient son and out of respect for His mother, Jesus goes ahead with the miracle.

(John 2:1-2) Why are we sometimes "too busy" to spend time with friends and relatives? What does Jesus' attendance at this wedding tell us about him? How can we apply that learning in our own personal lives? We often take friendships for granted. I know I am certainly very guilty of that myself! We take for granted that the friendship will always remain and that we can pick up where we left off. Unfortunately, it does not work that way. Friendship, like everything in life, has to be carefully and painstakingly nurtured and grown. Jesus' attendance at the wedding tells us that He did not take His earthly family ties for granted and where He was able to, Jesus would attend family events. Perhaps this is also a good way for us to evangelise, albeit ever so subtly!

(John 1:50-51) Which aspects of Daniel's prophecy in Daniel 7:13-14 does Jesus apply to his title as Son of Man? When will the Son of Man complete his ministry? "He (Jesus) was given authority, glory and sovereign power..." was applied to Jesus' title as Son of Man. The Son of Man will complete His ministry at His second coming.

(John 1:45-50) How does Jesus deal with Nathanael’s skepticism? What was the nature of the miracle? Upon coming to faith, what title does Nathanael bestow upon Jesus? Jesus performs a miracle to convince Nathaniel - 'I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.' (John 1:48) - probably referring to some incident that Nathaniel experienced under a fig tree. Upon coming to faith, Nathaniel declared "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel." (John 1:49) which meant the Messiah, the promised son of David who would restore the throne of Israel once again.

(John 1:40-42) What role does Andrew play in Simon Peter’s conversion? Today, why do so many Christians substitute bringing a person to Jesus with bringing them to church? What might be the similarities? What might be the differences? Andrew played a very significant part in Simon Peter's conversion. After Andrew had followed Jesus, he was excited and wanted his brother to share in his excitement. Accordingly, Andrew brought Simon Peter to see Jesus. Today, Christianity is associated with going to church. Many Christians have this believe that God and Jesus is only in church. As such, they bring pre-believers to church to meet God and Jesus. While this act is not dissimilar to Andrew bringing Simon Peter to meet Jesus, it is also dissimilar in the sense that we need not only meet God in Church. When we are accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we accept Jesus into our lives and into our hearts. With this in mind, whenever we call on Jesus, He hears us. It does not mean that we have to be in Church to meet Jesus and for Him to hear us. We can call on Jesus anywhere and any time and we can be assured that He hears us... and will answer us. Amen.

(John 1:38-39) Why doesn’t Jesus tell his inquirers where he is staying? Why was it important for disciples to “be with” Jesus? What does “being with” Jesus mean today? Jesus does not tell his inquirers where He is staying because He wanted them to go with Him and see for themselves and more importantly to spend time with Him. It is important for disciples to be with Jesus so that they could see the things He did, how He did it and why He did it. We need to spend time with the Master in order to truly know Him and understand Him. More than that, we need to spend time in His presence so that we can experience His grace and love and peace.

(John 1:35-37) Upon whose recommendation did Andrew and another person start following Jesus? What did this recommendation cost the recommender in this case? Andrew and another person started following Jesus when they heard John the Baptist proclaimed "Look, the Lamb of God" upon seeing Jesus pass by. The cost to John the Baptist was losing two disciples.

(John 1:33) How does John the Baptist's baptism differ from the baptism that Jesus brings? Baptism is a word that means "immerse, plunge under water." What does a "baptism of the Holy Spirit" imply about this event? John the Baptist's baptism was by water which signifies the repentance and forgiveness of sins. Jesus' baptism of the Holy Spirit is for the Holy Spirit to come upon us and give us the power to exercise God's gifts for us.