Bible ReadingJohn 6:41-66 “So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, ‘I am the bread that came down from heaven.’ They said, ‘Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, “I have come down from heaven”?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, “And they will all be taught by God.” Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.’ The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.’ Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum. When many of his disciples heard it, they said, ‘This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?’ But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, ‘Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.’ (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, ‘This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.’ After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.”
[48:41]Acts 7:51-60 “‘You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.’ Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, ‘Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’”
[57:32]Matthew 19:16-22 “And behold, a man came up to him, saying, ‘Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?’ And he said to him, ‘Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.’ He said to him, ‘Which ones?’ And Jesus said, ‘You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ The young man said to him, ‘All these I have kept. What do I still lack?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”
[01:01:38]Observation questions- In John 6, what were the people saying about Jesus’ background, and how did that become part of their rejection of what He was saying? [50:12]
- What specific moment in John 6 caused many disciples to turn back and walk with Jesus no more? [52:21]
- In Acts 7, how did the crowd respond when Stephen spoke truth that cut their hearts? [59:47]
- In Matthew 19, what did Jesus tell the rich young ruler to do, and what detail shows why the man walked away sorrowful? [01:03:05]
Interpretation questions- In John 6, many people were willing to stay around for miracles but not for hard truth. What does that reveal about the difference between being impressed by Jesus and truly believing Him? [51:52]
- Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” What does that response show about real faith, especially when a person does not fully understand everything yet? [53:06]
- Stephen’s hearers were cut to the heart, but instead of repenting they hardened themselves and became violent. What does this show about how a person can hear truth, feel conviction, and still resist the Holy Spirit? [01:00:07]
- The rich young ruler did not walk away because Jesus was against possessions, but because his heart was tied to them. How can good things become barriers when they carry more weight than obedience to Christ? [01:03:30]
Application questions- Has there been a time when truth from God’s Word felt hard, offensive, or uncomfortable? What was being touched in the heart at that moment, and how was the response handled? [55:12]
- Bad company can corrupt good habits and feed the flesh instead of the spirit. Are there any relationships, environments, or patterns right now that are pulling the heart backward instead of helping it grow in Christ? [47:56]
- Some people walk away when Jesus confronts something costly. What is one area where following Christ has felt costly lately—friendships, reputation, habits, comfort, or something else? [53:21]
- Christ is not one option among many. When other voices are loud and pressure is strong, what helps a believer keep saying, “Where else shall we go?” [54:18]
- Truth cuts before it heals. When correction comes through Scripture or from another believer, is the first response usually humility, defensiveness, anger, or avoidance? What might help the heart stay soft? [01:00:54]
- Anger at truth can become hatred in the heart. Are there any people right now whose correction, conviction, or honesty has quietly produced resentment? What would repentance look like there? [01:00:56]
- The rich young ruler walked away sorrowful because his possessions had too much of his heart. What kinds of things can become “great possessions” now—not only money, but comfort, image, relationships, or control—and how can it be recognized when those things are starting to own the heart? [01:03:40]
