Bible ReadingJohn 12:20-36 “Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘we would like to see Jesus.’ Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. Jesus replied, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? “Father, save me from this hour”? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.’ The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. Jesus said, ‘This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’ He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. The crowd spoke up, ‘We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, “The Son of Man must be lifted up”? Who is this “Son of Man”?’ Then Jesus told them, ‘You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.’ When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.”
[38:37]1 Corinthians 15:31 “I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
[46:38]Ephesians 1:1-23 “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”
Observation questions- In John 12, what request do the Greeks make, and how does Jesus answer them? What does he start talking about right away? [42:59]
- What images and phrases in John 12 describe surrender and loss—such as the kernel of wheat, losing life, serving, following, and being lifted up?
- What different reactions does the crowd have when the Father speaks from heaven, and what do they think they are hearing? [53:55]
- What are some concrete examples of going where lost kids are instead of waiting for them to come into church spaces? [28:11]
Interpretation questions- Jesus answers “we would like to see Jesus” by talking about his death. Why does truly seeing Jesus mean seeing both his glory and his cross? [43:25]
- Jesus says that the seed must die to bear fruit. What does that help explain about why self-protection and spiritual fruitfulness often do not go together? [43:44]
- Jesus says his soul is troubled, yet he still says, “Father, glorify your name.” What does that show about surrender when obedience is painful and not emotionally easy? [51:03]
- Some people heard the Father’s voice, while others only heard thunder. What does that suggest about why a person can be close to holy things and still miss what God is saying? [54:16]
Application questions- “You do you,” “live your best life,” and “look out for number one” sound normal in everyday life. Where do those ideas most strongly show up in this group’s daily decisions, habits, or goals? [44:50]
- Everyone tends to have one area of life they most want to keep hold of. Is it marriage, money, health, work, family, reputation, or something else? What is hardest to place fully in Christ’s hands right now? [48:27]
- Paul says, “I face death every day.” What might “dying daily” look like in a normal week for a parent, student, retiree, or worker? Where is that choice showing up lately? [46:38]
- Jesus was troubled and still obeyed. Where is obedience costly right now—not just inconvenient, but honestly painful? What would it look like to say, “Father, glorify your name,” in that place? [52:29]
- God’s voice can sound like thunder to people who are not used to hearing him. What practices help a person recognize his voice more clearly—Scripture, prayer, quiet, repentance, wise counsel? Which of those has been neglected? [54:20]
- Christ does not belong in the passenger seat or even the copilot seat. In what part of life is there still a tight grip on the wheel? What would letting go look like in practical terms this month? [01:02:19]
- Jesus calls people to walk while they have the light and become children of light. In a dark world, what would it look like to reflect his light more clearly in one relationship or setting this week? [01:04:25]
