W e realize you may not be able to discuss d.
Do you sometimes get impatient with people
all the questions. Pick the ones you like.
Small Group Questions
“That All Might Believe”
John 1:6-13
Previous message summary: In the first verse of John’s
gospel, we get a powerful statement about Jesus. Before
getting into the narrative about Jesus’ life and teaching,
John tells us that Jesus is the Word that was in the
beginning with God and was God. John wants us to know
that Jesus predates time and creation, that he existed
with God, and that He is God, which speaks to Jesus’
equality with God. John goes on to tell us that in Jesus we
have life which is the light of men.
What we learned: Life is hard and our struggles are real.
In the midst of our struggle, Jesus gives us life and light
that fills us with purpose and meaning that cannot be
overcome by the darkness of this world.
Introduction
1. Share about a time when you had an opportunity to
be a witness for Christ.
a. Did you have the chance to give your
testimony? What did your testimony include?
b. When John the Baptist was testifying about the
coming Messiah, he was calling people to
repent and be baptized. What are some ways
that you can use your actions, as well as your
words, to testify about Jesus?
c. Sometimes when we are a witness for Christ
we are planting seeds in the hearts of those
who hear us, only to be harvested later by
someone else. How many times did you hear
the Gospel before you received it?
who have heard the message of Jesus more
than once and still do not receive it? What
should our response be to people who
continue to wrestle with belief in Jesus?
Discussion Questions
Read John 1:6-13
2. In verse 6, we are introduced to a man named John.
Who is this John? How can we know that this is not
the Apostle John who wrote this gospel?
a. What do we know about John the Baptist from
the other gospels? (Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:4-
8; Luke 1:5-17)
b. What do we know about John the Baptist from
John’s Gospel? (John 1:6-8)
c. Verse 6 says that he was sent from God. What
was John sent to do? Read Isaiah 40:3-5 &
Malachi 3:1.
d. What does Jesus tell us about the importance
of John the Baptist in Luke 7:24-28?
3. In verse 7, we are told that John “came as a witness
to bear witness about the light.” Why did Jesus need
a witness? What did Jesus say concerning his need
for a witness? (John 5:31-33)
a. The Gospel of John gives us several witnesses
that bear testimony about Jesus. What are
some of these witnesses? (John 5:32, 37, 39;
4:39; 14:26; 15:27)
b. What is the purpose of John’s witness? (1:7)
Does this sound similar to the purpose of the
entire Gospel of John found in John 20:31?
c. John 1:7 is the first of many times that we see
the word “believe” in John. What is the total
number of times John uses the word “believe”?
4. What was John the Baptist’s witness, or testimony a. Read John 3:1-7. What did Jesus say about
about Jesus? (John 1:9, 15, 23, 29, 30, 34, 36) spiritual re-birth?
a. What is the specific message about the light in b. What are the benefits of becoming a child of
verse 9? What does this communicate about God?
who Jesus is and his mission?
b. How has Jesus’ light impacted your life and
Challenge: A good witness with an honest testimony is
your mission as a Christian?
powerful in a court of law. John the Baptist is a powerful
5. Read verses 10 & 11. What kind of welcome did witness for the truth of who Jesus is and what he has
Jesus experience when he came into the world? come to accomplish. As you think about your Christian
What kind of reception did Jesus experience when life, make a commitment to be a witness, like John, to the
he came to his own people? people you come into contact with this week.
a. Can you think of times when people have Action: Write down a few things that you would include in
rejected God? (Genesis 3:6-7; 6:5-6; 18:20; your testimony about Jesus if you were called to be a
Judges 2:11; Romans 1:18-22) witness for Christ. Make a commitment to share your
testimony with ____________________ (name of person)
b. Do you know people who choose to reject
this week.
Jesus in spite of the evidence and the
testimony that supports the truth of who he is
and what he came to do? Next Steps:
c. What should we do when people choose to not G I am so thankful that Jesus came to be the true light
believe, and reject Jesus? for everyone (1:9).
6. Read verses 12 & 13. What is the result of receiving G I want my life to be a witness to the light of Christ so
and believing in Jesus? others might believe (1:7).
a. What does it mean to believe in his name? Is G Lord, help me be the light of Christ to
this more than just facts about Jesus? ____________________.
b. What does John mean when he says, “he gave
the right to become children of God”?
c. Read Revelation 22:14. John also wrote
Revelation, and he uses the same word in
reference to becoming “children of God” and
partaking from the “tree of life.” In both
passages, where does the right come from?
7. John contrasts physical birth with being born of God.
What spiritual truth is John trying to communicate to
his readers about their birth-right?