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Q1. (John 5:19-20) Are we intended to emulate Jesus' listening to the Father, or is knowing the Bible a modern-day substitute for this? We are supposed to do what Jesus did. Knowing the bible is not enough. Even the demons know the scriptures but they don't obey God. Why don't churches teach more about hearing the voice of God? They probably didn't learn that they were supposed to. Leaders told me that I shouldn't say that God speaks. What would happen in our generation if we would learn to dynamically hear God and then obey what he is saying to us? We would see much greater results than we are now seeing. We would see this generation healed and restored.

Q3. (John 4:53) What are the factors that caused the royal official's household (immediate family, extended family, and servants) to believe? They were told that the boy was healed at the same time that Jesus said that he would be. How mature was this faith initially? I believe that our faith has to continue to grow through meditating on God's Word. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ. (Rom. 10:17) How do you think the royal official was able to nurture it beyond mere "miracles faith"? I believe he meditated on the words Jesus spoke all the way home.

. (Philippians 3:7-8) How do legalism and the resulting spiritual pride prevent us from trusting in Christ by faith, and knowing him? I noticed in John 5 that there were multitudes of sick people waiting for the water to be stirred. Jesus went up to a man who had been waiting for healing for 38 years. Jesus told him to pick up his mat and go home. He was immediately healed and picked up his mat and went home. The religious leaders were upset because he was carrying his mat on the Sabbath. They were also upset because Jesus healed on the Sabbath. They were more concerned about keeping the law than seeing people made whole. Jesus was more interested in making people whole than in keeping the law. I believe this is an excellent illustration of how we can be more concerned about keeping the law in order to look good to others (pride) than in reaching out to those in need of God's healing touch with the compassion of Jesus. How has your pride in yourself kept you from drawing closer to Jesus? I spent many years and much money in a legalistic system which looked very good outwardly but didn't have much success in the healing area. I am now coming back to Christ alone as Paul did.

(John 4:43-50) What do we learn about the royal official's faith from his actions? He had faith to travel for four days, leaving his son who was near death at home. He had to have quite a bit faith that Jesus was the answer for his son. ? Why did he travel 20 miles from Capernaum to Cana? Thjat is where Jesus was. What does this say about his faith? He not only had to travel there. He also had travel back. If Jesus wasn't there or didn't heal his son, he would have lost four days to get other help for his son. He may have tried everythnig else and Jesus was the last hope. IWhen he departs for home and "takes Jesus at his word," what does this tell us about his faith? I don't think he had much choice but to take Jesus at His Word.

(John 4:43-48) Many of the Galileans believe mainly because they have seen miracles. In what ways do miracles help build faith? They show you that miracles are possible. If you didn't have miracles you wouldn't be able to believe in them. Why does only seeing miracles not build a mature faith? Faith must be built on the Word of God not the miracle itself. People can get miracles but if they don't continue in God's Word that says they are healed they can lose the miracle. The Word of God is what we are to stand on not the miracle. Why does Jesus rebuke the Galileans in 4:48? They would only believe if they saw They would not believe unless they saw miraculous signs and wonders.

Q2. (Acts 9:10-18) Why do you think God sends Ananias to Paul rather than revealing directly? Jesus works through His Body, the church. Why does Ananias argue with God? Because Paul was persecuting Christians. Why does it take courage to obey? Because sometimes God tells us to do things that look totally wrong to us. What does Ananias do and say? Ananias went to Saul. He placed his hands on Saul and said, 'Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.' Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. After that, Ananias baptized Saul. Have you ever had God guide you to talk with someone and minister to him or her? Yes. Have you followed through? Yes. But one time after God had me give a message, I thought about what I had done and apologized for saying what God had said thorough me. It totally quenched the Holy Spirit. It was the biggest mistake I have ever made. When you think about what God has told you do, you may not do it or worse you may apologize for doing it because it looks wrong to you. The carnal mind is enmity towards God. We are not to lean on our own understanding but be led by the Holy Spirit even when we don't understand.

Q1. (Acts 9:4-5; 26:14) Why does persecuting Christ's people constitute persecuting Christ himself? Because we are the Body of Christ. He is the Head of the Body. What kinds of goads or prods have you seen God use on you to move you along Christ's path? At the moment I am trying to get back to Christ alter many years in religion. When you "kick against the goads" is it harder on you or on God? It is harder for me, but I also believe that it is hard for God to get His mission done when we are kicking against the goads.

What motives cause the woman to bring up a religious controversy to Jesus? She wanted to know the 'right' place to worship God. Why do people today try to generate religious controversies with us? They want to prove their religion is the right one. . What are their motives? They have probably been raised to believe that their religion is right and others are wrong.

Q4. (John 4:16-19) What was the effect of Jesus' special knowledge of the woman's history with men? She realized that he was a prophet. What effect did it have on her faith? It made her believe that Jesus was from God and made her wonder if He was the Messiah. How can such gifts of the Spirit work today to bring people to faith or deepen their faith? They can help people know that God knows who they are and cares for them. They can cause them to believe that Jesus is the Christ and lead others to Him.

Q3. (John 4:9-15) What does the "gift of God" and the "living water" (4:9) refer to? It refers to the Holy Spirit. What does receiving this gift result in (4:14)? A spring within us welling up to eternal life. But I also believe that it should result in us being witnesses of Jesus just as the woman at the well was. 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? No. Both gifts are the Holy Spirit which resulted in being witnesses of Jesus.

Q2. (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? I believe all people are spiritually thirsty but are satisfying their thirst with things that don't satisfy, just as the woman at the well was. Does the woman seem spiritually thirsty at this point? Yes. As the song says she's been looking for love in all the wrong places. What caused her deep thirst to surface? Jesus showing up. The thirst has always been there, but when He shows up, He has what she has needed. What does this teach us about our own witness? We need to lead people to Jesus who can give them living water. That is their greatest need.

Q1. (John 4:7-9) Why do you think Jesus went against the social norms to communicate with the woman? He was totally obedient to His Father and did only what He saw His Father do. Jesus wasn't influenced by the social norm but by His Father. Why do we hesitate to go against social norms to share the good news? We worry more about what people think about us than what God thinks about us. We fear people more than God. How do we balance our need to obey God and our need to live peaceably in our culture? We need to be at peace with all people as much as possible, but when God tells us to do something we must obey Him even if it offends people. If we are told we are wrong for obeying God we need to not let that stop us from being obedient, but we must also respond in love to those who accuse us.

Q2. (John 3:3-5) What does "entering the Kingdom" have to do with being "born anew"? We cannot enter the kingdom unless we are born again by the Spirit. We enter the kingdom when we are born again by the Spirit. Which do you think is the best translation here: "born again," "born anew," or "born from above"? Defend your reasoning. I think both 'born again' and 'born from above' are important. It almost seems we need both to get a clear meaning. I am not as familiar with 'born anew.'

What does Jesus teach here about the nature of the Kingdom of God? No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Jesus is teacing Nicodemus that the kingdom of God is spirotual and we must be born again by the Spirit to see it or enter it. Do you think Nicodemus understands him? No. Why or why not? Because of John 3:9-10 9 'How can this be?' Nicodemus asked. 10 'You are Israel's teacher,' said Jesus, 'and do you not understand these things?

Q3. (John 2:23-25) What is the problem with faith that rests solely on miracles? Faith that rests on miracles alone, and doesn't mature to embrace Jesus and follow him, is shallow and fickle. Is it true faith? No. What is necessary for it to develop into true faith? It must mature to embrace Jesus and follow Him. I think of the seeds sown in bad soil and good soil. One produces fruit. One doesn't. Did Jesus see these problems as a reason not to perform miracles? No.

Q2 (John 2:11-17) Apparently, Jesus was angry. Was his anger justified? Yes. WYes.hy? God's house had become perverted from its main function as a house of prayer, and turned into something resembling a marke5. Is anger good or bad? According to this lesson, I don't think it is either good or bad. It is what we do with it that is good or bad. But in real life I think anger is usually bad. What about anger gets us into trouble? That is bad.

Q1. (John 2:14-17) What was going on in the temple? They were selling cattle, sheep and doves. Others were sitting at tables exchanging money. Why was Jesus offended by it? They had turned His Father's house which should have been a house of prayer into a market place. What action did Jesus take? He made a whip out of cords and drove the sheep and goats out from the Temple area. He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He told those who sold doves, 'Get those out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house ubti a market!'

Q5. (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? 'one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven.' When will the Son of Man complete his ministry? When He comes again in His glory.

Q4. (John 1:45-50) How does Jesus deal with Nathanael's skepticism? Jesus used the gift of the word of knowledge to tell Nathaniel something that Jesus couldn't have known unless it was revealed to him by the Spirit. What was the nature of the miracle? Jesus knew about Nathaniel. This led to Nathaniel believing. Upon coming to faith, what title does Nathanael bestow upon Jesus? The Son of God, the King of Israel.

Q3. (John 1:40-42) What role does Andrew play in Simon Peter's conversion? Andrew told Simon Peter that they had found the Messiah and brought him to Jesus. T Today, why do so many Christians substitute bringing a person to Jesus with bringing them to church? That is what we have been taught to do. What might be the similarities? The similarities are that we know Jesus is 'at church.' We hopefully learn about Him at church and worship Him at church. We have people who will hopefully help us grow in the Lord. What might be the differences? Church is only a day or two a week. Our walk with Jesus is to be a life style all the time. People may learn more about the church's doctrine than the doctrine of Christ if we lead people to church. If we lead people to church rather than Jesus they may think that they can't know Jesus themselves. Jesus called us to make disciples who obey His teaching. I have found there is much difference between Jesus' words in the gospels and what we learn in many churches. When I was young I would always want to invite people to church because I thought that is where God was. Now I would lead people to Jesus rather than church because I now know that Jesus lives in our hearts not in a building and wants to live in our hearts 24 hours a day. He doesn't want to live in a building where we meet with Him only once a week for an hour and live our lives on our own the rest of the week. I have also found there is much discrepancy what many churches teach and the pure words of Jesus in the bible. I have also found that people tend to look to the pastor raether than Jesus if you take them to church rather than to Jesus. The bottom line is I spent many years in the church getting much of man's teaching rather than Jesus' teaching. Personally, there is only one church I would invite people to now. It is the church whowe pastor focused totally on Christ and taught me not to listen to any person including him unless it confirmed with what God was speaking to me through His Word and Spirit. He taught me to focus on Christ.

Q2. (John 1:38-39) Why doesn't Jesus tell his inquirers where he is staying? Matthew 8:18-21 is titled 'The Cost of Following Jesus.' A teacher of the law said that he would follow Jesus wherever He went. Jesus said, 'Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.' Jesus didn't have a place where He stayued. He was always on the move. When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 21Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 22But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” When the crowds tried to get Jesus to dtay with them, He said He couldn't stay with them because He had to preach the good news of the Kingdom in other towns. That was why He was sent. At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. 43But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” 44And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea. Why was it important for disciples to "be with" Jesus? They had to learn to do the things He did. What does "being with" Jesus mean today? It means being led by the Holy Spirit.

Q1. (John 1:35-37) Upon whose recommendation did Andrew and another person start following Jesus? John the Baptist What did this recommendation cost the recommender in this case? They no longer followed him.

Q5. (John 1:33) How does John the Baptist's baptism differ from the baptism that Jesus brings? John baptizes with water. Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit. The thought comes to me about the woman at the well. Jesus told her that if she drank of the water from the earthly well that she would thirst again. But if she drank of the water Jesus offered her she wouldn't thirst again. The water Jesus gave would become a spring in her welling up to eternal life. There is physical water and spiritual water. Jesus called all those who were thirsty to come to Him to drink spiritual water, referring to the Holy Spirit. God said in Jeremiah that His people had committed two sins. They had forsaken Him the fountain of living water and dug broken cisterns that could hold no water. Baptism is a word that means "immerse, plunge under water." What does a "baptism of the Holy Spirit" imply about this event? It implies that we are immersed into the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that rivers of living water would flow out of our bellies. We are temples of teh Holy Spirit. Those rivers are the rivers of the Holy Spirit. In Ezekiel 47, water flowed out of the Temple. When the waters reached the place of a river that couldn't be crossed, there was healing. When there is immersion in the river of the Holy Spirit there is healing. Where the river flowed there was life and healing. Where it didn't flow there were swamps and marshes and no healing. The river of the Holy Spirit brings healing if we allow Him to flow and don't put dams up to stop Him.

Q4. (John 1:29) What does the title "Lamb of God" tell us about Jesus' ministry? Jesus came to take away the sin of the world. According to 1:29, whose sins did he come to take away? The sins of the world. But I find it interesting that John 1:29 has a single 'sin' not plural 'sins.' There was one sin in the beginning - eating of the tree of knowledge. That separated us from God and brought death. Jesus reconciled us to God through His cross and brought life. Eternal life is knowing God and Jesus whom He sent. We know Him in the breaking of the bread, the breaking of His flesh, the tearing of the veil. The veil, His flesh, was torn in two on the cross so that we can know God. I went through Restoring the Foundations. God pulled the tree of knowledge ou t of my heart and showed me that He sees every person perfectly and beautiful because of the blood of Jesus. God created Adam and Eve and said they were very good. They were very good because God created them and covered them with the blood of the Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world. All God told them not to do was eat of the tree of knowledge. When they did, they no longer saw themselves as good and hid in shame and fear from God. They were separated from God which is death. They believed the lie of the enemy not the truth of God. The same is true today. Many do not see themselves as God does - very good. They act as they see themselves. In what ways did Jesus fulfill Isaiah 53? He fulfilled it completely. On the cross, He said, It is finished. He left nothing undone.

Q3. (John 1:19-27) How does John the Baptist show humility? How can a person see himself as the fulfillment of a passage from Isaiah and still be humble about it? How does John see himself in relation to the coming Messiah? How can a person be such a strong revivalist preacher and still remain humble? Can humility and powerful, confident speech co-exist? Phil. 2:8-11 comes to mind. Jesus humbled Himself by being obedient to the point of death. John the Baptist humbled Himself in the same way. We humble ourselves by being obedient to God rather than man just as Jesus and John the Baptist did. "And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross! Therefore, God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father." (Phil. 2:8-11)