Do You Love Me?
Do You Love Me? John 21 GETTING STARTED 1. What are some advantages to sharing meals with others? 2. Can you list any significant events that have taken place, or usually take place, within the context of a meal? 3. Make a list of different people who have died because of what their commitment to their beliefs?
IN THE TEXT John 21:1-13 1. What occupation had several of the disciples pursued before becoming followers of Jesus? What did Peter suggest they do one evening? How successful were they in this pursuit?
2. Who did the not recognize when he first spoke to them? What did he suggest they do?
3. To whom did “the disciple Jesus loved” suggest the stranger on the shore was Jesus? (Look at Luke 5 – do you think the memory of this story had any bearing on recognizing Jesus)
4. How did Peter react when he heard the other disciple say, “It is the Lord”? What did the others do? What could this indicate about Peter’s character? How do you think you would have reacted if you had been in that same situation?
5. What did the disciples find when they made it to shore? What did Jesus invite them to do?
6. Why do you think the disciples did not dare to ask Jesus, “Who are you?”
{Theological note: Many suggest there is theological significance in John depicting Jesus cooking breakfast and sharing it with his disciples. Some early heretics said the resurrected Jesus was limited to spirit and could not be flesh – because, in their view, flesh is evil. John shows the resurrected Jesus as being flesh by sharing a time when he ate with his disciples (since spirits, by their definition wouldn’t eat). In the same way, Jesus’ followers are concerned both with the flesh and the spirit. How one lives in the flesh is a reflection of whether the Spirit lives within. Both are the creation of God and life, in spirit and flesh, finds fullness in Jesus – John 10:10}
John 21:14-25 7. Three times Jesus asked Peter what question?
8. How did Peter respond? Did his response change? How did he feel after he was asked the third time?
9. What did Jesus tell Peter to do? Who are Jesus’ lambs and/or sheep?
10. What did Jesus reveal about Peter’s future? What did he tell Peter to do? How Peter heard this at any time before this day?
11. What did Peter ask about the one identified as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”? How did Jesus respond to Peter’s question? What was Jesus saying about how Peter was to serve him?
12. What rumor began as a result of misunderstanding Jesus’ response? How was this rumor answered?
13. What did John do with his testimony concerning Jesus?
Applying all this to life 1. What do you do/what will you do to enjoy an intimate relationship with Jesus?
2. What lambs or sheep of Jesus can you serve this week? How can you serve them?
3. How will you follow Jesus this week? How can you focus your attention on bringing glory to God?
4. Please pray that God will use your Community Group and all the members of the Grand Central Church of Christ to proclaim the good news of Jesus. How can the group join together in praying for some of the opportunities you see in your life?
IN THE TEXT John 21:1-13 1. What occupation had several of the disciples pursued before becoming followers of Jesus? What did Peter suggest they do one evening? How successful were they in this pursuit?
2. Who did the not recognize when he first spoke to them? What did he suggest they do?
3. To whom did “the disciple Jesus loved” suggest the stranger on the shore was Jesus? (Look at Luke 5 – do you think the memory of this story had any bearing on recognizing Jesus)
4. How did Peter react when he heard the other disciple say, “It is the Lord”? What did the others do? What could this indicate about Peter’s character? How do you think you would have reacted if you had been in that same situation?
5. What did the disciples find when they made it to shore? What did Jesus invite them to do?
6. Why do you think the disciples did not dare to ask Jesus, “Who are you?”
{Theological note: Many suggest there is theological significance in John depicting Jesus cooking breakfast and sharing it with his disciples. Some early heretics said the resurrected Jesus was limited to spirit and could not be flesh – because, in their view, flesh is evil. John shows the resurrected Jesus as being flesh by sharing a time when he ate with his disciples (since spirits, by their definition wouldn’t eat). In the same way, Jesus’ followers are concerned both with the flesh and the spirit. How one lives in the flesh is a reflection of whether the Spirit lives within. Both are the creation of God and life, in spirit and flesh, finds fullness in Jesus – John 10:10}
John 21:14-25 7. Three times Jesus asked Peter what question?
8. How did Peter respond? Did his response change? How did he feel after he was asked the third time?
9. What did Jesus tell Peter to do? Who are Jesus’ lambs and/or sheep?
10. What did Jesus reveal about Peter’s future? What did he tell Peter to do? How Peter heard this at any time before this day?
11. What did Peter ask about the one identified as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”? How did Jesus respond to Peter’s question? What was Jesus saying about how Peter was to serve him?
12. What rumor began as a result of misunderstanding Jesus’ response? How was this rumor answered?
13. What did John do with his testimony concerning Jesus?
Applying all this to life 1. What do you do/what will you do to enjoy an intimate relationship with Jesus?
2. What lambs or sheep of Jesus can you serve this week? How can you serve them?
3. How will you follow Jesus this week? How can you focus your attention on bringing glory to God?
4. Please pray that God will use your Community Group and all the members of the Grand Central Church of Christ to proclaim the good news of Jesus. How can the group join together in praying for some of the opportunities you see in your life?
