Scottsdale Bible Church For the weekend of March 2 – 3, 2019 Sermon Guide Curriculum
Sermon Topic: Remember – John 16: 1 – 4
Read: John 16:1 – 4
Questions
1. We live in a fast-paced culture that is always moving. What do you do to keep your mind focused on the things that matter and not get swept up by cultural currents? 2. What are your core values in life? How do core values keep you on track to reach your goals and ambitions? 3. Jesus is giving His followers a warning for the future. How does faith in Jesus affect your ability to embrace what He taught? 4. Discuss ways in which a follower of Christ can be sure they are doing what Jesus wants them to do. 5. How can people become deceived about who or what they are really following? In what ways can they get back on track? 6. According to Jesus, persecution of Christians is a promise and not a possibility. In what ways should this truth affect your daily life? 7. Since Christians are to live a life of love not fear (2 Tim. 1:7), how can you live free from fear even with this warning from Jesus? 8. Read John 15:26-27. How does the Holy Spirit help followers of Jesus persevere through their sufferings? 9. What are some things you can do this week to remember Jesus’ promises about the Holy Spirit related to His warning about suffering? How do you think that remembering His promises will be beneficial to you? Share your thoughts with the group. 10. Take time to pray, asking the Holy Spirit to help you embrace Him and His promises daily. Take time to encourage one another with the promises of the Holy Spirit in the midst of your adversity.
Scottsdale Bible Church For the weekend of March 9 – 10, 2019 Sermon Guide Curriculum
Sermon Topic: Remember – John 16: 5 – 11
Read: John 16:5 - 11
Questions
1. The disciples, understandably, were sad to see Jesus leave, but Jesus said they should not be. What did they think they were “losing” with Jesus physically leaving? 2. Jesus said that it was better for him to leave so he could send the Helper. How is that true? Why do you think that He said that? 3. What does it mean to you that Jesus calls the Holy Spirit “the Helper?” In what ways does the Holy Spirit help you? 4. The Holy Spirit’s job (as described in this passage) is to convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment; yet, so often He is not viewed that way. How does your understanding of the Holy Spirit either meet or fall short of this description? 5. Concerning sin, where is the Holy Spirit convicting you in regard to your belief (or lack of) in Jesus? 6. Concerning righteousness, where is the Holy Spirit showing you new areas where you are being called to be righteous? 7. Concerning judgment, where is the Holy Spirit breaking your heart for the lost world and the hopeless state it is in without the Gospel? What is He calling you to do about it? 8. Close your time with group prayer; ask the Holy Spirit to convict you of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and that you will each and all be receptive to help offered by and in the Holy Spirit.
Scottsdale Bible Church For the weekend of March 16 – 17, 2019 Sermon Guide Curriculum
Sermon Topic: John 16: 12 – 15
Read: John 16:12 – 15
Questions
1. Jesus said He would continue to speak to His disciples through the Holy Spirit after He left. What did the Holy Spirit reveal to the disciples after Jesus left?
2. What were the “things that are to come” that the Holy Spirit revealed?
3. How do you think of the Holy Spirit? How have you seen Him work in your life?
4. If we are called to walk by the Spirit, and the Holy Spirit points us to Jesus who points us to the Father, are you currently finding yourself being pointed to the Father in your walk with Jesus? If not, why do you think that is the case?
5. Jesus said that He spoke what the Father gave Him to speak, and now with the Holy Spirit we are shown truth from Jesus. What does it mean to you to have a direct line to the Father and what He desires to show us?
6. Do you often listen for the Holy Spirit to speak truth to you? If you do, what does that look like?
Scottsdale Bible Church For the weekend of March 23 – 24, 2019 Sermon Guide Curriculum
Sermon Topic: John 16: 16 – 22
Read: John 16:16 - 22 16 “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.”17 So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” 18 So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. (ESV)
Questions
1. The Disciples were unclear about Jesus’s words of promise. When have you been confused or unclear about a promise of God? How did you address it?
2. What do you think Jesus was talking about in this passage?
3. Jesus didn’t tell them specifically what was about to unfold but instead prepared them by explaining their impending emotions in terms of sorrow and joy (when a woman begins birth labor being sorrowful and changing to joy at the child’s birth). When in your life have you experienced a time of sorrow giving way to a time of joy? What brought you the initial sorrow? What caused it to give way to joy?
4. Why do you think Jesus said the world would rejoice but the Disciples will weep and lament?
5. How do you think the Disciples felt upon hearing the news that Jesus will see them again (What do you imagine were their emotions and their thoughts)?
6. Why was Jesus able to say “no one will take your joy from you?”
7. What are some ways the world tries to “take your joy” of the Lord in these days?
8. What are some things to remember or to do that will help you keep possession of your joy?
9. We are in a time of waiting until we see the Lord again. What role do you see the Holy Spirit contributing in this “little while” time we await seeing Him again?
Scottsdale Bible Church For the weekend of March 30 – 31, 2019 Sermon Guide Curriculum
Sermon Topic: John 16:23-33
Read: John 16:23-33 23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. 25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.[a] 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” 29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech!30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Questions 1. What does it mean to you to “ask of the Father in my name” (the name of Jesus)? How do you make sense (or reconcile) when you ask for things in Jesus’s name, but do not receive (see James 4:3 for an explanation to consider)? 2. Jesus taught using figures of speech and parables, but here forward, transitioned to plain speech about God. Why did he earlier teach in parables (see Matthew 13:13, 34)? What about his teaching in parables is helpful to you as a Christ-follower? What about his teaching in parables is difficult? 3. Why do you think it is important that Jesus had to return to the Father? 4. The disciples declared that Jesus knows all things, which is evidence of his coming from God. What are some ways you have seen in the Scriptures that Jesus is omniscient? How does the omniscience of Jesus strengthen your faith? 5. In the “shadow” of their declaration that Jesus knows all things, he reports to them that they are about to scatter from him. What does this statement indicate to you about God when he may feel distant from you? 6. What does peace mean to you? How do you have peace? When does peace seem absent? 7. Jesus’s promise of peace is given in the context of the affirmation that you will have tribulation. What is tribulation? How do you have peace in the face of tribulation? Scottsdale Bible Church For the weekend of March 30 – 31, 2019 Sermon Guide Curriculum
8. What does it mean to you that Jesus has overcome the world? How does this statement help you “take heart?” 9. Jesus made the statement that he has overcome the world before he went to the cross. What does this tell you about Jesus, who knows all things? What effect does this have on your thoughts of Jesus, and of his power over you and over the world? 10. What is the Spirit saying to you as a result of exploring this passage?