We realize you may not be able to discuss healthy, good, competition and unhealthy all the questions. Pick the ones you like. competition? Small Group Questions Discussion Questions “I Am Second” Read John 3:22-4:3 John 3:22—4:3 2. The Apostle John gives us a good sense of time Previous message summary: A favorite Bible verse for throughout his Gospel. (In 1:35 & 43, John gives the all of us is John 3:16. This verse tells us that God so account of what happens each day.) When does this loved the world that he gave his only Son so that we could week’s passage take place in the ministry of Jesus believe and have eternal life. In God’s perfect love, he ... early or late? What do we learn about John the sent Jesus to give us what we could never obtain on our Baptist from this passage, that helps place this story own ... a way to escape from our condemnation. chronologically? Read Mark 1:14. However, God’s love demands that we respond. We can a. John is the only Gospel to talk about John the respond by believing in Jesus and choosing to walk in the Baptist and Jesus ministering at the same time. light, or we can choose to not believe and walk in What were Jesus and his disciples doing? darkness. The deeds that we do (good or evil) will bear testimony to the reality of our belief or disbelief. b. Was Jesus doing the baptizing? Read John 4:2. What we learned: Jesus Christ is God’s masterpiece. As 3. What are the disciples of John discussing with “a we gaze at his beauty we can enjoy what he has done for Jew”? What is it about baptism (purification) that us and enter into new life, or we can be critical of the causes so many people to have questions about it masterpiece and be condemned. (then and now)? Introduction a. Does John the Baptist seem to be involved in the discussion with the Jews? 1. What is it about our human nature that compels us to outperform others in most areas of life? b. What is the real issue that John’s disciples have with Jesus baptizing in verse 26? a. Tell about a time when someone you knew was doing much better than you in their career, c. Have you ever witnessed Christians who are their marriage, their finances, etc. How did that jealous of the work that God is doing through make you feel? Did you have a desire to others? Is it hard to see God working through compete with that person? other people, and not through you? b. When we compare ourselves to others it can 4. How does John the Baptist respond to his disciples have some adverse effects. What are some of when they tell him that Jesus and his disciples are the negative results that come from baptizing and people are following him? competition? a. What does John mean when he says “A c. Is competition always good or always bad? person cannot receive even one thing unless it How can we know the difference between is given him from heaven”? b. How does this verse apply to you personally? 7. What needs to change in your life, for you to really Have you ever wanted what God has given to say that you are decreasing and Jesus is someone else? What is the result of wanting increasing? what God has given to others? Challenge: Think of one way that you can decrease and c. What are some ways that you can stay focused allow Jesus to increase in your life this week. Make a on what God has given to you? commitment to build Jesus’ kingdom, not your own, as you live this week. 5. What does John say his role is in relation to the ministry of Jesus? What illustration does he use to Action: Watch the “I Am Second” video about Pete help his disciples understand his role? Brisco’s decision to make Jesus number one in his life so that he could be second. The video can be found at: a. If John is the friend of the groom, and Jesus is http://www.iamsecond.com/seconds/pete-briscoe/. Pray the bridegroom, who is the bride? that God would do whatever is necessary to make you b. What is the role of the friend (best man) in the second in life. wedding ceremony? What does this say about Next Steps: the role of John the Baptist? G I understand it is not about building “my” kingdom, c. In verse 30, John the Baptist makes a powerful but about building God’s kingdom. statement about his position in relationship to Jesus. Who must increase and who must G I will pray, “He must increase, but I must decrease” decrease? (3:30). d. Whose kingdom are you currently building? G I will live in such a way that my actions will reflect my Your own kingdom or God’s kingdom? belief in Christ (3:36). 6. Read verses 31-36 again. In what ways is Jesus G I will memorize John 3:36. superior to John the Baptist? a. Since Jesus is superior, what is John the Apostle encouraging his readers to do with Jesus? b. What is the result of believing in Jesus? How many times does the Apostle John use the words “eternal life” in chapter 3 alone? What is the key to gaining eternal life? Is this important? c. What is the opposite of believing in Jesus from verse 36? What does this verse tell about the result of not believing?