1. A. Have you ever felt that God was withholding something from you?
B. What was the hardest part of dealing with that?
C. Are there lessons you have learned from that experience?
2. A. Is there a particular promise of God (not yet fulfilled) that is especially important to you?
B. Do you ever struggle with impatience as you wait for the fulfillment? What have you found that helps you?
3. A. Will you share a time when someone encouraged you and changed your outlook?/p>
B. How can one become a better encourager of others?
4. A. Self-centeredness is a continual snare to us; what do you see in our culture that promotes it?
>B. What have you found that helps you resist it?
5. A. What is one thing you admire about Elizabeth
B. Why do you think Mary was chosen to be the mother of Jesus?
1. A. What is one fact from the accounts of Jesus’ birth that is especially meaningful to
you?
B. What other details do you wish had been recorded?
C. The familiarity of the story and the distortions of our culture can rob us of our
wonder and joy; what might help us resist this?
2. A. What lesson can you learn from the shepherds?
B. How do you think you would behave if you saw an angel?
3. A. Merely listening to the news is a reminder of how much darkness there is in our
world; what is one way you are taking the light into the darkness?
B. Read II Samuel 22:29. What is one specific way the Lord has illuminated your
darkness?
4. A. How are you encouraged by the lives of Simeon and Anna?
B. What do you want to be like when you are near the end of your life? What are you
doing now to make that happen?
5. What is one thing you learned about God from these chapters?
1. A. Read Luke 3:2-6, 15-17. What motivated John to do this work?
B. How is such motivation applicable in your life?
C. What impresses you about John’s obedience?
2. A. In what way is Jesus’ baptism an example and an encouragement to you?
B. How are all three persons of the Trinity involved in this event?
3. A. Have you ever been led by the Holy Spirit to do something you would not have
chosen to do on your own?
B. What was the outcome?
4. A. Is there any particular area of your life that is frequently targeted by the enemy?
B. What specific help would you ask of Jesus for this?
C. Have you seen any benefit that has come to you from times of struggling with
temptation?
5. What is one thing you learned about Jesus from this lesson?
1. From what you know of the apostles:
A. Which of their strengths would you like to acquire?
B. Are there flaws with which you identify?
2. A. Have you ever spent a time of prolonged prayer?
B. What was the biggest challenge in doing that?
C. What was one benefit you received?
3. A. How did you decide to follow Jesus?
B. Was there someone like Andrew that especially encouraged you in that decision?
C. To whom have you been an Andrew?
4. Read John 17:13-21, which is part of Jesus’ prayer for His disciples at the last
Passover.
A. What are some of the requests Jesus makes on behalf of the disciples?
B. What does verse 20 mean to you?
5. What is one thing you appreciated about Jesus in this lesson?
1. A. It is easy to just take for granted that the New Testament is about Jesus, but why do
you think He wants you to know Him?
B. Could you share a time in your life when you experienced a new understanding of
Him?
C. What advice would you give to a person who wanted to know Jesus?
2. Regarding the seven “I Ams” of our lesson:
A. Which one is especially meaningful to you?
B. Which one is especially challenging to you?
3. A. If you had been present when Jesus made these statements, are there questions you
might have asked, to know more about any one of them?
B. Which saying do you think is particularly resisted by our culture?
4. Read Matthew 16:13-17. How does this passage add to your knowledge of Jesus?
5. What is one response you will make to this lesson?
1. A. How do the parables in Matthew 13:44-46 characterize our value to God?
B. Has your understanding of this been changed in any way?
C. Why do you think it is important to have a right perspective on our worth?
2. A. What do the words of Jesus in Matthew 18:1-6 contribute to your understanding
of true self-image?
B. What is the most challenging aspect of what He says?
3. A. How do the invited guests of Matthew 22 reveal their scornful evaluation of the
king?
B. What is the most challenging aspect of what Jesus says?
4. A. Do you ever struggle with feeling better or more spiritual than some others?
B. How are you helped by the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector?
5. What is one thing you’ve learned about God from this lesson?
1. A. When you consider the Beatitudes, which one do you most recognize in
your life?
B. What is one that seems foreign to your idea of happiness?
C. In one specific way, how do you want your life to look more like these
truths?
2. Read Matthew 5:13-16.
A. How do you understand this in relation to the words of Jesus in
Matthew 6:1?
B. Share an experience of seeing someone’s light shine in a way that
resulted in God being glorified.
3. Read Ephesians 4:22-24.
A. What is your understanding of laying aside the old self?
B. What is your understanding of putting on the new self?
C. How would you encourage someone who feels defeated in the growing
process?
4. Is anxiety a problem for you? What will you choose to do today to resist
it?
5. What did you learn about Jesus from this lesson?
1. A. Is there some aspect of the work of the Holy Spirit for which you have
increased your understanding after this lesson?
B. What remains a mystery to you?
2. A. How have you seen the Holy Spirit working in your life this past
week?
B. How are you encouraged by this?
3. A. Which of these names for the Spirit is the most meaningful to you:
Comforter, Helper, Advocate?
B. What is your personal experience with the promise of John 7:38 that out
of your being will flow rivers of living water?
4. A. Read Ephesians 4:30 and I Thessalonians 5:19. How do you think this
is done?
B. Can you name one way you are going to guard against it?
5. What did you learn about Jesus from this lesson?
1. Read II Corinthians 3:17-18.
A. How is this related to Jesus’ first miracle?
B. What is your understanding of how this works in your own life?
C. Is there a particular area in yourself that needs transformation?
2. A. What does it mean to you to read that Jesus was moved with
compassion?
B. Where do you need to show compassion to others?
3. A. Have you ever had an experience where you believe the Lord
“multiplied” insufficient food to cover a need?
B. How have you seen the Lord use you in a task that was beyond your
ability?
4. A. Why do you think the disciples were so afraid when they saw Jesus
walking on the water?
B. How can hard circumstances distort your perception of what Jesus is
doing?
5. A. What do you learn about Peter in the account of his walk on water?
B. What do you appreciate about Jesus in His rescue of Peter?
C. Do you see any application for yourself in this story?
1. From the healing accounts in this week’s reading:
A. Which one is especially interesting to you?
B. Is there a part that is hard to understand?
C. Which one gives you encouragement?
2. A. What have you learned about Jesus from reviewing His miracles?
B. How can that make a difference in the way you relate to suffering
people?
3. A. Is there a way that this lesson might impact your prayers for healing?
B. How would you encourage a person who is struggling with disappoint-
ment over lack of healing?
4. A. Many healings Jesus did involve giving sight to the blind; why do you
think that might have been?
B. What is one way He has opened your eyes?
1. A. What lesson did you learn from the conflict about washings?
B. How might one be guilty today of this misplaced focus on tradition?
2. Read Romans 14:17 and Philippians 4:8-9.
A. How do these words of Paul relate to the words of Jesus concerning
defilement?
B. Is there one aspect of your inner life that you want to be more
surrendered to Christ?
3. A. In the John 9 account of healing the blind man, what fact about the
Pharisees stands out to you?
B. What impresses you about the healed man?
C. Is there something about Jesus’ behavior that especially blesses you?
4. A. What application to your life do you make from Jesus cleansing
the temple?
B. Why do you think the praises of the children were so important
to Jesus?
5. Read Luke 19:41-44. What does this tell you about Jesus?
1. Read II Corinthians 11:14.
A. How might people be deceived in this way?
B. What do you think motivates Satan to work at tempting people to sin?
2. A. From the story of the violently demon-possessed man, list the various
ways his life had been ruined.
B. How do you see the possibility of ruin in those same areas today, even
if less dramatically evident?
3. A. What especially impresses you about the man after his healing?
B. Considering the people’s reaction upon seeing him, what lesson
do you take for your life?
4. A. Do you ever struggle with believing Jesus will help you in a hard
situation?
B. What have you learned that encourages you in that area?
5. Read Ephesians 4:27 and James 4:7.
A. How is it that a person gives the devil an opportunity?
B. What specific actions would you include in resisting the devil?
1. A. What is one change you have observed in the way our culture views
women?
B. Are there positive aspects to that change? Negative aspects?
2. A. How has your view of self been influenced by understanding
Christ’s attitude toward women?
B. Did you learn anything new about Jesus from this lesson?
3. A. Try to imagine yourself in the place of the sinful woman; what do
you think it would have been like to be there?
B. Do you identify in any way with Simon?
4. A. Do you tend to be a Martha or a Mary?
B. How might you become more balanced in work and worship?
5. How has Jesus responded to your need this week?
1. A. When you read about Jesus establishing the sacrament of communion at
the last Passover, which words have meaning for you?
B. How has your own experience of taking communion been a blessing to
you?
2. A. What is especially challenging to you about actually spending time in
prayer?
B. How would you encourage someone who wanted to begin a regular
habit of prayer?
3. Read I Corinthians 1:18.
A. What is your understanding of this verse?
B. Do you see evidence of this in today’s world?
4. Read Psalm 22:1-18.
What are some specific descriptions that relate to the crucifixion of
Jesus?
5. Scan the remainder of Psalm 22.
A. Which verses reflect a change in David’s focus and tone?
B. What lesson can you take for your own life?
1. A. What truth about the Savior especially blessed you as you studied this
series?
B. How has your relationship with Jesus been changed by your study?
2. A. What detail of the resurrection account is the most meaningful to you?
B. How has your view of death been shaped by knowing about Christ’s
resurrection?
3. If you had been present when Jesus made an appearance following the resurrection,
what do you think would have been the most convincing proof?
4. A. Read I Thessalonians 4:16-18 and spend some time meditating on the promise
of Christ’s return. How are these words a comfort?
B. What is your attitude about His return?