Insights from John Part 2 – Staff

John 7:18

“He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”

In what ways do you use your talents for your own glory?

(Personal Answer)

In what ways do you use your talents for God’s glory?

When we acknowledge that nothing we possess comes by our own doing, and acknowledge that everything comes from God, we are using our talents for His glory.  Whether it be intelligence, athletic ability, or a creative mind it all comes from the Lord, and those talents and gifts can be developed through our own merit and hard-work, but we should always give the glory back to God (James 1:17, John 1:3).

John 8:10 & 11

“Straightening up, Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on and sin no more.’”

What does Jesus’ conversation with the adulteress woman say to you personally?

(Personal Answer)

John 9:3

“Jesus answered, ‘it was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of the God might be displayed in him.’”

What is the purpose of Jesus’ miracles? When people see the “miracle” of God’s transformation of your life, how can you use that transformation for God’s glory?

One clear purpose of miracles was to authenticate the character of Jesus and his relationship with His heavenly Father.  Miracles manifested Jesus’ and glory, and helped display that He was who He said He was.  Miracles also helped to display His Grace and foreshadowed what He was going to do on the Cross when He would heal people.  Because God has healed you and transformed you through His work on the Cross (2 Corinthians 5:17), you can use that transformation for His glory by telling others your testimony (Revelation 12:11).

John 10:10

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

What does Jesus mean with He says to you, ‘I have come to give you life abundantly?”

It was through His death on the Cross and then defeating death through resurrecting from the dead that He gave us life.  When Jesus says He wants us to have life and have it to the full, He knows that the only way we can achieve this is through Him and what He did on that cross.

John 11: 9 & 10

“Jesus answered, ‘Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.’

How has Jesus’ life in you kept you from stumbling in recent months?

(Personal Answer)

What causes you to stumble the most and how can Jesus help you?

(Personal Answer)

APPLICATION:

How do these passages relate to me today? What changes does it bring to my life? 

LOCKER ROOM: 

What are some ways we can communicate with God regularly?

MEMORY VERSE:

John 10:10 

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

MY PRAYER

Adoration: Father, today I praise You for…

Confession: Father, please forgive me for…

Thanksgiving: Father, today I’m thankful for…

Supplication: Father, the people and things that I wish to pray for today are…

The Body is the Lord’s Part 1

Mark these Key Words: Sin, God, Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 6:19

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” 

What does the “temple of the Holy Spirit” mean?

1 Corinthians 6:20

“For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”

With what price did God purchase your body?

1 Corinthians 6:18

“Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body?”  

What is God saying when He says, “the immoral man sins against his own body?”

Why is sexual immorality worse than other sins?

John 8:34

“Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin…’”   

How does sin enslave you?

1 Corinthians 6:12

“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.”  

What is God saying in this passage?

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God.”

If sanctification means to be “set apart” for God’s honor and glory, what is this passage urging you to do with your “vessel” (your body)?

APPLICATION:

How do these passages relate to me today? What changes does it bring to my life? 

LOCKER ROOM: 

What does God’s Word say is the reason for purity?

MEMORY VERSE:

1 Corinthians 6:12

 “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.”

MY PRAYER

Adoration: Father, today I praise You for…

Confession: Father, please forgive me for…

Thanksgiving: Father, today I’m thankful for…Supplication: Father, the people and things that I wish to pray for today are…