Series Summary:
We live life in troubled times with troubled hearts. Who or what do we believe? The Greek word πιστεύω (pisteuo) is translated believe. It is not just an intellectual exercise. It is an entrusting of one’s self to a person or a cause. The gospel of John uses pisteuo 98 times! “These are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name." This fall may "your heart not be troubled. Believe!” πιστεύω #John #2025
Starter
What are the works that others do or have done that lead you to believe them and share what they say? (be honest)
Pray
Lord we live life in troubled times with troubled hearts. Who or what do we believe? You tell us clearly what to believe. You tell us, “These are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name." As we study the book of John, open our hearts and minds to believe. May we encourage one another to truly believe entrusting our lives to you and your will being done. May we strive to lead people to believe in you “the way, the truth, and the life.” Amen
Study Questions
- Who is the door?
- What is Jesus the door to?
- What does this sheepherding metaphor point us to?
- What are the other ways that people try to live life and enter into eternity instead of using the door?
- Why would they try to enter and live that way instead of using the door?
- What are all the things sheep are designed to provide for others in scripture?
- What would an abundant life (10:10) look like for a sheep especially in Jesus day?
- How might that that help us understand what the abundant life is for us?
- Discuss why God would use the illustration of sheep and shepherd over and over in scripture?
- How are we (including pastors) simply gatekeepers and not the good shepherd people should look to?
- What are the differences between the gate/door, the shepherd, and the gate keepers?
- Who and what does the Good Shepherd (Jesus) use to be the gate keepers in the lives of believers?
- Who or what do you allow to be the gatekeepers in your life?
- What voices do you listen to, allow to shepherd you, and follow? Why?
- Jesus was standing in Jerusalem near the sheep gate. When a shepherd led his sheep through the sheep gate in Jerusalem, what did that likely mean for those sheep?
- Why would we say that a shepherd who led His sheep through that gate was a good shepherd?
- How does leading people to through the gate of death lead to good pasture? (see: Psalm 23)
- What pasture might you be you looking for that keeps you from allowing God to lead you?
- Discuss what it means for us and others that Jesus knows His sheep by name.
- Why does Jesus keep causing division and conflict?
- If we are going to believe in the works Jesus did and the works He will ask us to do, what should we expect?
- What was the **Feast of Dedication** and why would the Messiah conversation be the thing on peoples minds during this festival?
- There is a popular belief out there in Christianity that people who have believed in Jesus can lose their salvation.
- How does this passage push back against that?
- There are some verses in the Bible that seem, on the surface, to say that people can lose their salvation. What are the problems with believing that people can lose their salvation?
- What are some ways to answer the question of people losing their salvation when they seemed to know God but walked away?
- So many false religions, and false teachings have started from people saying they heard the voice of God. How can we know if we are listening to the shepherd’s voice or some other voice?