Check Yo Self

Main Thought

Sometimes, the promises of God come with a premise. A condition. Jesus made three conditional promises in John 8: that we’d be his disciples, that we’d know the truth, and that the truth would set us free. What do we need to be set free from? As humans, our “default setting” is habitual sin. Sin is any thought or action that exalts self, damaging relationships with God or others in the process. Sin attempts to meet legitimate needs (like love, comfort, control and more) in illegitimate fashion. Sin overpromises and underdelivers. We eventually find ourselves unsatisfied, and increasingly distant from God and others . Yet we continue in sin as if we’re enslaved by it. It’s a painful cycle and a painful truth. But truth in God brings freedom.

Jesus wants to set us free from slavery to sin! He’ll fulfill the three promises in John 8 if we abide in him. Then, we’ll learn what it means to be free in Jesus. Instead of being enslaved by habitual sin, we are free to do things that honor God. Things that help us grow in relationship with God and others. Things that bring lasting satisfaction and eternal impact. We can experience this freedom in Jesus when we abide in him.

Main Passages

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

- John 8:31-32

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.

- John 8:34

16 Do you not know that the one to whom you present yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of that same one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were entrusted, 18 and after being freed from sin, you became slaves to righteousness. - Romans 6:16-18 (NASB)

Discussion Questions

1. What stands out to you in the Main Thought or Passages above?

2. Have you ever felt distant from God or from people as a result of your sin (a thought or action in which you were wrong)? Share what happened if you’re able and willing.

3. What do you think it means to abide in God? What are you doing, or what can you do, to abide in God more?

Staple Foods

Main Thought

Everyone depends on something. This is obvious in a physical sense. We all eat food and drink water, right? But we depend on things spiritually and emotionally too! We can depend on our possessions, on other people, or even on ourselves. The things we depend on might reveal what we’re desperate for. (For example, we can depend on our possessions as a means to find the approval we’re desperate for.) Unfortunately, our desperate searches can result in disappointment when we discover that the things we want are temporary. They’re fleeting and they fall apart. 

But God wants to meet our greatest needs through the “Bread of Life,” Jesus Christ! Bread is a “staple food.” Different cultures have depended on it for thousands of years. It’s also a versatile food. It’s been used in and with more dishes than anyone can imagine. We can depend on Jesus just like a staple food. He’s also versatile enough to provide for any of our needs!

So how do we “eat” this Bread of Life? We need to participate actively. We sit down and engage Jesus through His Word and prayer, just like we sit down for a meal. We meditate and reflect on what He’s teaching us throughout the day. We take everything He reveals about Himself - His will, His Character, His power - and become like Him. “You are what you eat,” after all! As we deepen our dependence on God, we’ll discover that He doesn’t disappoint. Jesus is the Bread of Life, a staple food in our spiritual lives.

Main Passage

48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.

- John 6:48-51

67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

- John 6:66-69

Discussion Questions

1. Do you depend on anything to help you spiritually and emotionally, aside from God?

2. Why do you depend on that thing? Do you think it might reveal something that you’re desperate for?

3. How can you “eat the Bread of Life,” and deepen your dependence on God?

When in Doubt

Main Thought

Doubts are inevitable in a world that’s been damaged by sin. Sometimes, we might even doubt that we’ve been saved and changed by Jesus, or that we’ll spend eternity with God. What do we do in the face of such scary doubts? The answer has less to do with us and more to do with Christ. Jesus has the ability to give us life, because He’s the Source of Life! Christians have witnessed and experienced what it means to find life in Jesus. The life we find in Him now is a sign of eternal life to come. Through His resurrection, Jesus also proved that He is God’s Son and has authority to judge. These things lead us to acknowledge Christ - to believe in Him and behave like Him - more and more over time. As our acknowledgement of Christ grows, our assurance in Christ grows too. We become more confident of our salvation as we walk with Him. Eventually, this confidence becomes bigger and more resilient than our doubts. We can live without fearing death or judgement because of Jesus.

Main Passages

5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.

- John 5:8-9

20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

- John 5:20-24

Discussion Questions

1. Have you ever doubted that you’ve been saved by Jesus, or that you’ll spend eternity with God? If so, did something trigger your doubt?

2. Has your assurance (or confidence) in God grown over time? If it did, what contributed to that growth?

3. How can you acknowledge (or honor) Jesus a little more in this season of your life? (Helpful hints: maybe you can grow in your belief through experience or study. Perhaps you can alter some behavior to become more like Jesus.)

To Know the Word

Main Thought

The first chapter of the Gospel of John famously refers to Jesus as “the Word of God.” Why is this title used to describe Jesus? Words take things that are hidden inside us (like our thoughts, our emotions, our will, and even our character) and make them known. Words allow us to know one another more fully. Jesus is called “the Word of God” because He reveals things that were hidden about God. Jesus reveals God’s thoughts, His heart, His will, His feelings, and so much more. But we don’t have the benefit of seeing Jesus in person, or speaking to him face-to-face! Instead, we can know God through His written Word, the Bible. The Bible teaches us about God’s grace: His love and favor that we could never earn on our own. The Bible also teaches us the truth about God. Because God is full of grace AND truth in equal measure, we can come to Him with nothing hidden.

Main Passage

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it… 

- John 1:1-4, NIV

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 

- John 1:9-13, NIV

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

- John 1:14-17, NIV

Discussion Questions

1. What stands out to you in the Main Thought and/or Main Passages above?

2. What’s one thing you learned about God from the Bible that had a major impact on you?

3. What’s one thing you can do to know God a little more in 2022?