He Must Increase/ I Must Decrease
He Must Increase/ I Must Decrease John 3:22-36 After an over one year hiatus, we are back into a study of the Gospel of John. These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:31) Getting Started 1. Can you think of a time when you observed someone “step aside” for another person? Perhaps it was the result of a retirement, an election, or someone to whom they had been a mentor began to receive greater recognition for her/his accomplishments. How did the person who was replaced respond? 2. Who has helped prepare “the way” for you in your: Marriage? Parenting? Studies? Career? Faith? How do you think they react when they observe you? For whom are you helping to prepare the way?
In the Text (John 1:1-42; John 3; John 20:30-31) 1. We're being “re-introduced” to the Gospel of John. To help with that process, skim through John 1 and take note of any mention of John the Baptist. What was his mission? 2. What did John the Baptist say about Jesus? What did he say about his relationship to Jesus? (John 1) 3. Who did John (not the Baptist) reveal Jesus to be? How was this claim about Jesus received? (John 1) 4. Why was the Gospel of John written (John 20:30-31)? Do you think the book was meant to build up the faith of those who already believed? Do you think it could have been designed to produce faith in those who were learning about Jesus? 5. Why did John the Baptist baptize (John 1:31)? Who was baptizing at Aenon near Salim (John 3)? What was argument that developed? 6. Do you think John the Baptist's disciples were upset because “everyone” was going to Jesus? Why would this have upset them? 7. Why did this not upset John? (What is your mission? What gives you “joy”?)
In the Text (John 1:1-42; John 3; John 20:30-31) 1. We're being “re-introduced” to the Gospel of John. To help with that process, skim through John 1 and take note of any mention of John the Baptist. What was his mission? 2. What did John the Baptist say about Jesus? What did he say about his relationship to Jesus? (John 1) 3. Who did John (not the Baptist) reveal Jesus to be? How was this claim about Jesus received? (John 1) 4. Why was the Gospel of John written (John 20:30-31)? Do you think the book was meant to build up the faith of those who already believed? Do you think it could have been designed to produce faith in those who were learning about Jesus? 5. Why did John the Baptist baptize (John 1:31)? Who was baptizing at Aenon near Salim (John 3)? What was argument that developed? 6. Do you think John the Baptist's disciples were upset because “everyone” was going to Jesus? Why would this have upset them? 7. Why did this not upset John? (What is your mission? What gives you “joy”?)
