John 10:22-42
Life Group Questions:
1. If you were not able to hear this week’s sermon, consider going to the church website and listening to it. What are some main ideas that you gathered from the sermon? What, if any, questions did the sermon cause for you or do you desire to have additional clarification?
2. This passage is often considered John’s last account of Jesus’ offer of salvation to the Jews. Even though Jesus knows that these people are not His “sheep” (cf. 10:37), He encourages them to believe. How can we apply this to our own evangelism practices and beliefs?
3. What does it mean, theologically and practically, that God takes no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies (cf. Ezekiel 18:32)? If God takes no pleasure in this, why does He allow people to die? How should this impact our attitude toward people?
4. Read the following passages and describe some of the blessings associated with being one of God’s sheep (i.e. people): Psalm 46:1; 121; Isaiah 54;17; Romans 8:35-39; Job 19:25-27; 1 Peter 1-3.
5. Look up the meaning of the Feast of Dedication. Why is this celebration important with respect to Jesus at this time? Why do you think John provided the reader information about the feast and time of year (cf. John 2:19)?
6. According to Jesus, what are some of the blessings God provides for His sheep (cf. 10:26-29)? In what way should these blessings encourage and comfort us?
7. Describe what Jesus meant when He said, “I and the Father are one.” Does this statement conflict with the Christian doctrine of the Trinity? Why or why not? What similarities, if any, does this relationship of Jesus and Father have with that between a man and woman where the “two shall be one flesh” (cf. Genesis 2:25)?
8. How did the works of Jesus demonstrate that He was sent by God? How did His works demonstrate that He was the Christ? Describe some ways in which John has already shown us the identity of Jesus in his Gospel (cf. John 1, 3, 4, 9). How does this all fit in with his purpose in writing the book (cf. John 20:30-31)?
9. Describe some ways in which Jesus was greater than John the Baptist (cf. 10:41). What are the implications of Jesus being the Son of God; what does it say about His nature and being? Do you think the Jews understood who Jesus claimed to be (cf. 10:36)? But, did the Jews know the true identity of Jesus? Why or why not?