John 9:13-34
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. Read through John 9 and identify some of the different descriptions used for Jesus. Would you agree that Jesus was a prophet of God? Why or why not? What is the significance of Jesus being called the one sent from God (cf. John 1)?
3. Describe the Pharisee’s concern with regard to Jesus healing the blind man. In what way(s) might the Pharisees have had their priorities mixed up? In what way does legalism conflict with the principles of grace, mercy, and the work of God? Do you ever struggle with legalism? How does God view legalistic religion?
4. What makes the healing of a blind man so significant that John spends a whole chapter on the topic? How does the blind man’s testimony help us understand the significance of the event? Read Isaiah 35:1-4; 42:1-6; Matthew 11:1-5.
5. Judging from the passage, do you think the Pharisees eventually believed that Jesus had actually healed the man? Why do you believe they had such a hard time accepting the man’s testimony? Have you ever been frustrated by people who did not believe your testimony about God’s work in your life? What can we learn from the man about handling such situations?
6. Describe the parents of the man healed. What stands out to you about them? Do you think they failed their son? Why or why not? What might have been a better way for the parents to respond in this situation? What application do you see for parents here; how can this passage help parents?
7. Describe the strengths of the healed man’s testimony. In what way does he serve as a good example of boldness? What were some obstacles that he had to overcome in the process of giving his testimony? Have you ever faced some of these obstacles? How did you overcome the obstacles? Explain.
8. Do you believe God hears sinners (cf. John 9:31; Psalm 18:41; Proverbs 15:29)? Explain? What theological implications result from this thought?
9. What does it mean to give God the glory (cf. vs. 24)? Do you believe the man gave glory to God by exalting Jesus? In what areas of life do you need to improve with giving God glory?