unbelievable unbelief
1:10 JOURNEY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE Optional Ice-Breakers: 1 Are you more like the salesman who could sell an icebox to an Eskimo, or more like the Eskimo who buys one? (how trusting are you??) Getting Started: 2 What insight, principle, or observation from Sunday’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Explain. Digging Deeper: 3
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Sunday, April 21, 2013 • Summit Evangelical Free Church, Alta, IA • Pastor Doug Corlew Series—The Gospel of John: LIFE IN HIS NAME • Message #38
UNBELIEVABLE UNBELIEF JOHN 12:34-50 As Jesus’ public ministry comes to a close, the unbelieving crowd serves as a solemn warning to us... 1. ___________________ Scripture, they confront Jesus’ _____________________ (34-36).
Read John 12:34-36. ►
In what way had the people of Jesus’ day misunderstood Scripture (v 34)?
►
What false expectations do people today have from misinterpreting Scripture?
►
How does Jesus show grace in His response to the crowd (v 35-36)?
►
Why is there an urgency to respond to spiritual opportunities now?
►
What does it mean to be in the light rather than the darkness?
Read John 12:37-43. ►
Are you surprised Jesus’ miracles didn’t convince more people (v 37)? Why?
►
What is the point of the quotation in v 38? Compare Isaiah 53:1 and context.
►
What is the point of the quotation in v 40? Compare Isaiah 6:10 and context.
►
Read Rom. 9:10-24. How does Paul uphold divine sovereignty in salvation?
►
Read Rom. 10:8-13? How does Paul uphold human responsibility in salvation?
►
What is John saying about Jesus in v 41? Compare Isaiah 6:3 and context.
►
What inhibits the leaders in v 42-43? How does this illustrate v 25-26? Where do you find it most difficult to live out your faith?
2. __________________ Scripture, they demonstrate Jesus’ ___________________ (37-43).
Read John 12:44-50. ►
What is Jesus claiming in v 44-46? Where has He claimed this already in John?
►
What do v 47-50 teach us about the authority of God’s Word?
2. How is life without Jesus like living with lights off? 3. What does it mean to remain in darkness (vs. 46)? Read and discuss John 12:34-50 sometime this week! 4. When a person believes in Jesus, how does He The questions progress from targeting younger bring light into a life? children (#1 & 2) to targeting teens (#5 & 6). 5. What kept people from saying they believed in Jesus (vs.42-43)? 1. One night this week turn off all the lights and try to do chores, homework, or play a game. Could you 6. Do you ever keep quiet about Jesus because of do a good job without lights? Do you like light? what others might say? Why?
Family Faith Talk
3. ________________ by Scripture, they will know Jesus’ _____________________ (44-50).
Monday, April 22
Read John 12:34-36
Thursday, April 25
Read John 12:44-47
“We may learn from these verses, the duty of using present opportunities. Our time for doing good in the world is short and limited. The throne of grace will not always be standing; it will be removed one day, and the throne of judgment will be set up in its place. The door of salvation by faith in Christ will not always be open: it will be shut one day forever, and the number of God‟s elect will be completed. The fountain for all sin and uncleanness will not always be accessible: the way to it will one day be barred, and there will remain nothing but the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. These are solemn thoughts: but they are true. They cry aloud to drowsy congregations, and ought to arouse great searchings of heart. Can nothing more be done to spread the gospel at home and abroad? Has every means been tried for extending the knowledge of Christ crucified? Can we lay our hands on our hearts, and say that the churches have left nothing undone in the matter of missions?” - Ryle
“The importance of the deity of Jesus Christ is that we know God only in Him; and if the Lord Jesus Christ is not God, then we do not know what God is like because we have no basis for saying anything about Him… What is God like? The answer is that God is like Jesus… Do you think that God is love? You know that God is love because Jesus Christ is love and showed it by dying for us. Do you think that God is holy and righteous and good? Do you want to know that God is filled with wisdom, that He understands you, that He is able to help you in any extremity? You know that because of Jesus. Therefore we, as Christians, are not left in the dark as to what God is; we do not find ourselves saying, „Oh, I wish I knew what He is like! If only I could know Him, that would certainly be satisfying!‟ We are not in the position of those who make that kind of statement. Rather we are those who turn our eyes to the Jesus we find in the Scriptures and say, „There is our God revealed.‟ And we love Him and worship Him because of it.” - Boice
John 1:4-9 3:17-20 8:12; 9:39-41
John 5:19-24; 8:16-19 10:30, 37-38 14:6-11, 23-24 20:26-28
Matthew 5:14-16
Ephesians 5:1-21
Tuesday, April 23
1 Thess. 5:1-11
Read John 12:37-40
Colossians 1:13-17 2:8-10
Friday, April 26
Hebrews 1:1-4
Read John 12:48-50
“We may learn from these verses, the desperate hardness of the human heart. We err greatly if we suppose that seeing wonderful things will ever convert souls. Thousands live and die in this delusion. They fancy if they saw some miraculous sight, or witnessed some supernatural exercise of divine grace, they would lay aside their doubts, and at once become decided Christians. It is a total mistake. Nothing short of a new heart and a new nature implanted in us by the Holy Ghost, will ever make us real disciples of Christ. Without this, a miracle might raise within us a little temporary excitement; but, the novelty once gone, we should find ourselves just as cold and unbelieving as the Jews. The prevalence of unbelief and indifference in the present day ought not to surprise us. It is just one of the evidences of that mighty foundation doctrine, the total corruption and fall of man… If even the hearers of Christ did not believe, how much more should we expect to find unbelief among the hearers of His ministers?” - Ryle
“There is a last day! The world shall not always go on as it does now… There is a time appointed by the Father when the whole machinery of creation shall stop, and the present dispensation shall be changed for another. It had a beginning, and it shall have an end… Well would it be if we thought more of this day! There is a judgment coming!… Yet the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ has no cause to be afraid. For him there is no condemnation… It is the man who rejects Christ, and will not hear His call to repentance— he is the man who in the judgment day will have reason to be cast down and afraid. Let us live like those who believe in the truth of judgment, heaven, and hell. So living we shall be Christians in deed and in truth, and have boldness in the day of Christ‟s appearing… He who believes that he must give account to the Judge of the living and the dead will never be content with an ungodly life. He will say, „There is a judgment. I can never serve God too much. Christ died for me. I can never do too much for Him.‟” - Ryle
Isaiah 6:1-10
Matthew 24:29-51
Isaiah 52:13—53:3
Wednesday, April 24
Romans 9-11
Read John 12:41-43
Saturday, April 27
Acts 17:30-31 24:24-25
2 Peter 3:1-15
Read John 13:1-17
“John tells us that these rulers had a scale of values into which, on the one side, they put the praise of men and, on the other, the praise of God... In this balance the praise of men predominated; and the rulers concluded, to their eternal hurt, that it was better to be thought well of by men than to be accepted by almighty God. How sad this all is, and how tragic! No doubt these rulers thought themselves wise and prudent men; no doubt they thought that they were playing safe. But their wisdom did not extend to remembering that the opinion of men might matter for the few years in which they lived upon this earth; but the judgment of God matters for all eternity. Ultimately only God‟s approval matters. Who cares if men should mock us? Who cares if we should lose the esteem of this world? What matters if we lose everything, so long as we have God‟s approval? Do we have these values? Do we think in these terms? God grant that we might and that, as a result, we might be bold to confess Christ openly.” - Boice
As you prepare for tomorrow’s message, meditate on the humble service of Jesus Christ, our King.
John 2:23-25; 5:44 6:60-71; 8:30-31
Devotional Thoughts by:
Matthew 10:26-33
Hebrews 11:24-27 1 John 2:15-17
J.C. Ryle (1816-1900), John, Vol 1: Expository Thoughts on the Gospels; first pub.1869; repub. by The Banner of Truth Trust, 2012 James Montgomery Boice (1938-2000), The Gospel of John, Volume 2: Christ and Judaism, Baker Books, Grand Rapids MI, 1999
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Sunday, April 21, 2013 • Summit Evangelical Free Church, Alta, IA • Pastor Doug Corlew Series—The Gospel of John: LIFE IN HIS NAME • Message #38
UNBELIEVABLE UNBELIEF JOHN 12:34-50 As Jesus’ public ministry comes to a close, the unbelieving crowd serves as a solemn warning to us... 1. ___________________ Scripture, they confront Jesus’ _____________________ (34-36).
Read John 12:34-36. ►
In what way had the people of Jesus’ day misunderstood Scripture (v 34)?
►
What false expectations do people today have from misinterpreting Scripture?
►
How does Jesus show grace in His response to the crowd (v 35-36)?
►
Why is there an urgency to respond to spiritual opportunities now?
►
What does it mean to be in the light rather than the darkness?
Read John 12:37-43. ►
Are you surprised Jesus’ miracles didn’t convince more people (v 37)? Why?
►
What is the point of the quotation in v 38? Compare Isaiah 53:1 and context.
►
What is the point of the quotation in v 40? Compare Isaiah 6:10 and context.
►
Read Rom. 9:10-24. How does Paul uphold divine sovereignty in salvation?
►
Read Rom. 10:8-13? How does Paul uphold human responsibility in salvation?
►
What is John saying about Jesus in v 41? Compare Isaiah 6:3 and context.
►
What inhibits the leaders in v 42-43? How does this illustrate v 25-26? Where do you find it most difficult to live out your faith?
2. __________________ Scripture, they demonstrate Jesus’ ___________________ (37-43).
Read John 12:44-50. ►
What is Jesus claiming in v 44-46? Where has He claimed this already in John?
►
What do v 47-50 teach us about the authority of God’s Word?
2. How is life without Jesus like living with lights off? 3. What does it mean to remain in darkness (vs. 46)? Read and discuss John 12:34-50 sometime this week! 4. When a person believes in Jesus, how does He The questions progress from targeting younger bring light into a life? children (#1 & 2) to targeting teens (#5 & 6). 5. What kept people from saying they believed in Jesus (vs.42-43)? 1. One night this week turn off all the lights and try to do chores, homework, or play a game. Could you 6. Do you ever keep quiet about Jesus because of do a good job without lights? Do you like light? what others might say? Why?
Family Faith Talk
3. ________________ by Scripture, they will know Jesus’ _____________________ (44-50).
Monday, April 22
Read John 12:34-36
Thursday, April 25
Read John 12:44-47
“We may learn from these verses, the duty of using present opportunities. Our time for doing good in the world is short and limited. The throne of grace will not always be standing; it will be removed one day, and the throne of judgment will be set up in its place. The door of salvation by faith in Christ will not always be open: it will be shut one day forever, and the number of God‟s elect will be completed. The fountain for all sin and uncleanness will not always be accessible: the way to it will one day be barred, and there will remain nothing but the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. These are solemn thoughts: but they are true. They cry aloud to drowsy congregations, and ought to arouse great searchings of heart. Can nothing more be done to spread the gospel at home and abroad? Has every means been tried for extending the knowledge of Christ crucified? Can we lay our hands on our hearts, and say that the churches have left nothing undone in the matter of missions?” - Ryle
“The importance of the deity of Jesus Christ is that we know God only in Him; and if the Lord Jesus Christ is not God, then we do not know what God is like because we have no basis for saying anything about Him… What is God like? The answer is that God is like Jesus… Do you think that God is love? You know that God is love because Jesus Christ is love and showed it by dying for us. Do you think that God is holy and righteous and good? Do you want to know that God is filled with wisdom, that He understands you, that He is able to help you in any extremity? You know that because of Jesus. Therefore we, as Christians, are not left in the dark as to what God is; we do not find ourselves saying, „Oh, I wish I knew what He is like! If only I could know Him, that would certainly be satisfying!‟ We are not in the position of those who make that kind of statement. Rather we are those who turn our eyes to the Jesus we find in the Scriptures and say, „There is our God revealed.‟ And we love Him and worship Him because of it.” - Boice
John 1:4-9 3:17-20 8:12; 9:39-41
John 5:19-24; 8:16-19 10:30, 37-38 14:6-11, 23-24 20:26-28
Matthew 5:14-16
Ephesians 5:1-21
Tuesday, April 23
1 Thess. 5:1-11
Read John 12:37-40
Colossians 1:13-17 2:8-10
Friday, April 26
Hebrews 1:1-4
Read John 12:48-50
“We may learn from these verses, the desperate hardness of the human heart. We err greatly if we suppose that seeing wonderful things will ever convert souls. Thousands live and die in this delusion. They fancy if they saw some miraculous sight, or witnessed some supernatural exercise of divine grace, they would lay aside their doubts, and at once become decided Christians. It is a total mistake. Nothing short of a new heart and a new nature implanted in us by the Holy Ghost, will ever make us real disciples of Christ. Without this, a miracle might raise within us a little temporary excitement; but, the novelty once gone, we should find ourselves just as cold and unbelieving as the Jews. The prevalence of unbelief and indifference in the present day ought not to surprise us. It is just one of the evidences of that mighty foundation doctrine, the total corruption and fall of man… If even the hearers of Christ did not believe, how much more should we expect to find unbelief among the hearers of His ministers?” - Ryle
“There is a last day! The world shall not always go on as it does now… There is a time appointed by the Father when the whole machinery of creation shall stop, and the present dispensation shall be changed for another. It had a beginning, and it shall have an end… Well would it be if we thought more of this day! There is a judgment coming!… Yet the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ has no cause to be afraid. For him there is no condemnation… It is the man who rejects Christ, and will not hear His call to repentance— he is the man who in the judgment day will have reason to be cast down and afraid. Let us live like those who believe in the truth of judgment, heaven, and hell. So living we shall be Christians in deed and in truth, and have boldness in the day of Christ‟s appearing… He who believes that he must give account to the Judge of the living and the dead will never be content with an ungodly life. He will say, „There is a judgment. I can never serve God too much. Christ died for me. I can never do too much for Him.‟” - Ryle
Isaiah 6:1-10
Matthew 24:29-51
Isaiah 52:13—53:3
Wednesday, April 24
Romans 9-11
Read John 12:41-43
Saturday, April 27
Acts 17:30-31 24:24-25
2 Peter 3:1-15
Read John 13:1-17
“John tells us that these rulers had a scale of values into which, on the one side, they put the praise of men and, on the other, the praise of God... In this balance the praise of men predominated; and the rulers concluded, to their eternal hurt, that it was better to be thought well of by men than to be accepted by almighty God. How sad this all is, and how tragic! No doubt these rulers thought themselves wise and prudent men; no doubt they thought that they were playing safe. But their wisdom did not extend to remembering that the opinion of men might matter for the few years in which they lived upon this earth; but the judgment of God matters for all eternity. Ultimately only God‟s approval matters. Who cares if men should mock us? Who cares if we should lose the esteem of this world? What matters if we lose everything, so long as we have God‟s approval? Do we have these values? Do we think in these terms? God grant that we might and that, as a result, we might be bold to confess Christ openly.” - Boice
As you prepare for tomorrow’s message, meditate on the humble service of Jesus Christ, our King.
John 2:23-25; 5:44 6:60-71; 8:30-31
Devotional Thoughts by:
Matthew 10:26-33
Hebrews 11:24-27 1 John 2:15-17
J.C. Ryle (1816-1900), John, Vol 1: Expository Thoughts on the Gospels; first pub.1869; repub. by The Banner of Truth Trust, 2012 James Montgomery Boice (1938-2000), The Gospel of John, Volume 2: Christ and Judaism, Baker Books, Grand Rapids MI, 1999
