Sermon Notes:
Not even _____________________ (the _______________ of God) welcomed the Word, when he came. (John 1:11)
But to all who did welcome and believe in him, he gave them _______________________in God’s family. (John 1:12-13)
He was hard to miss! The Word became ________________ and lived on earth. His glory was seen and his arrival was announced. (John 1:14-15)
His mission was to deliver __________________ and _______________ – the key to the life we need. It was always God’s plan for us. Now we know exactly what God is like. (John 1:16-18)
Discussion Questions
1. In John 1:11, John says that “his own” did not receive Jesus. Who was “his own”? Read Isaiah 6:9-10. Jesus mentions and quotes this passage in John 12:39-40. Scripture tells us that Israel’s heart was hardened for their disobedience. What does it mean to have a hard heart? What are some ways our hearts can become hard, in our time?
2. In John 1:12-13 we learn that, if we believe in Jesus, we are given the gift of joining God’s family. John writes more about this in 1 John 3:1-3. List three things from this passage that characterize us as God’s children.
3. John says that whoever receives Jesus and believes on his name becomes a child of God. Pastor Michael explained that to believe in someone’s name means you trust the whole person, not just listen to what they say. How does this help explain the kind of faith John is talking about? How can we receive Jesus into our hearts and lives?
4. John explains in John 1:14-15 how the Word came into the world – he became flesh and blood, just like us. Read Isaiah 9:6-7. Over 800 years before the birth of Christ, Isaiah received a prophecy of the coming Messiah who would be born as a child but would be called God. Why would God reveal himself this way? What does it tell us about God?
5. John concludes this section by saying that no one has ever seen God before, but now, Jesus has made him known (John 1:18). If Jesus revealed God to us, we can know a lot about him through the gospels (Matthew Mark Luke and John). How did Jesus reveal God’s power over the natural world? How did Jesus demonstrate God’s love for people?
6. Knowing Jesus intimately can transform our lives the deeper we trust him. From your reading of scripture, what do you think is the kind of life God wants for you? What reasons would you have to trust Jesus for direction in your life? How do you trust Jesus in the everyday decisions (both big or small) you make?