Community Group Discussion Guide

John 12:44-50 – Weekend of April2122, 2018

I. Starter Question:

Easier: Have you experienced a time where you were persistent in something despite failure after failure, and you were rewarded for it?

Deep: What do you hope your life’s/ministry's summary statement will be at the end of your life?

II. Discussion of Scripture:

Context: We are back in John 12 this week. We find ourselves in the middle of Passion Week, just days before Jesus’ crucifixion. Jesus has just given his final invitation to the people, “While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” (verse 36), before he goes into hiding. This marks his last public appearance; his three-year public ministry is now over. From Chapter 13 on he only speaks with his disciples and doesn’t appear in public again until the events surrounding his crucifixion.
Since Jesus’ public ministry is over, verses 44-50 serve to stand as a summary of Jesus’ ministry. This is a message consistent with what he had been proclaiming day in and day out.

  1. John 12:44-50 — Jesus Came to Save the World (ESV)
    44 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”

Brief Explanation: John has added these words of Jesus after Jesus has gone into hiding to serve as a summary for his ministry. It reasserts that Jesus is one with God, in that whoever believes in Jesus believes in God (verse 44); that Jesus is the light that brings people out of darkness (verse 46); the consequences of rejecting him is not judgement now (during his first coming) (verse 47), but judgement later (in his second coming) (verse 48); that God the Father has given him all authority (verse 49); and, finally, the reward for his commandment, which comes from the Father, is eternal life (verse 50).
It is important for people to know that there are consequences for unbelief, and glory for those who believe. This is meant to bring joy to believers, not that unbelievers will perish, but rather that the God of the universe has chosen us, even us, and our hope is assured and secure! God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love!

For Discussion:

Read verses 36 through 43, the verses that come just before our study today. These verses are written by John, quoting Isaiah. It points to God’s sovereignty over belief and unbelief. If God is sovereign over belief and unbelief, yet much of his public ministry can be summed up as an invitation to people to believe in him for eternal life, how does God weave sovereignty and human responsibility together, rather than being mutually exclusive?

How many times did you hear the gospel before you believed? Jesus is persistent in inviting people to a saving faith, even for those who have rejected him. What does that reveal about God’s love? (Read 2 Peter 3:9.)

Do you have to believe in the trinity to be saved?

Jesus says in verse 48 that those who reject him and his words will be judged. None of us can keep his word perfectly, so does that mean we will face judgement? What Scriptures can you use to support your answer?

Why was Jesus frequently intent on saying that his words come from the Father? (vv. 49-50)

III. Responding in Prayer:

  1. The verse preceding our study, verse 43, describes a lostness at worst, or a flawed faith at best, in describing authorities who “loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.” Pray that our church body and our leadership would live fully into who Jesus is, as the Son of God who is one with the Father, and that we would love the glory that comes from God more than the glory that comes from man.
  2. Pray that the summary statement of our church will continue to be one that lines up with Jesus’ own — the gospel is the very hope that we patiently, intently, and passionately declare to everyone who will hear. Pray that we continue being the hands and feet of Jesus in proclaiming the gospel to those around us and to the nations! It is summed up in our mission: Love God. Love People. Make Disciples.
  3. Continue praying for our interim preacher, Dr. Heath Thomas, as he faithfully leads us through God’s word week after week. Also, continue praying for our elders as we continue pressing into the Lord, trusting that the Lord working through their leadership will bring us the man God would have to lead our church.

Mission / Vision / Values

of Henderson Hills Baptist Church

Our Mission:

Love God.Love People.Make Disciples.

Our Vision:

Our vision is to become a diverse family of surrendered and transformed people who passionately love God and others. We endeavor to be a body that is overcome by the reality that this life is not about us, but all about the glory of God. We want to be transfixed by the gospel of Jesus Christ and compelled by His heart for our world. We strive to be seed-throwers and fire-starters, hope-announcers and grace-givers, risk-takers and constant-reformers, lifelong-learners and sold-out doers. We desire to be a people who gladly give our lives to free the captive, strengthen the weak, embrace the outcast, and seek out the lost. Because Scripture is our authority, we strive to be a family that serves together, studies the Word together, plays together, worships together, and lives life together. By God's grace our world will be changed because we are here.

Our Values:

  1. Glorifying God:

We value the passionate pursuit of knowing God and walking with Him.

  1. Submitting to the Authority of Scripture:

We value the sufficiency of Scripture in every aspect of our lives.

  1. Living the Gospel of Jesus Christ:

We value sharing the Gospel and making disciples.

  1. Serving with a Kingdom Perspective:

We value living our lives focused upon what will matter most for eternity.

  1. Cherishing the Local Church:

We value the essential role of the church in the sanctification of the believer and salvation of the nations.

  1. Doing Life Together in a Christ-Centered Community:

We value that God uniquely uses personal relationships to sanctify and sharpen believers.