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

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Starter

What is a prayer from scripture that you take great encouragement and confidence in praying?

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

Jesus in obedience to the law has come to Jerusalem with His disciples to celebrate the Passover feast commemorating their deliverance from slavery, covenant with God, and journey to the promise land. He knows that this will lead to His betrayal, abandonment, suffering, death, and resurrection in accordance with the law and the prophets. In John 2:4, 7:30, and 8:20, John wrote that Jesus’ “hour had not come”. Now Jesus says, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” Now Jesus is giving some of his final preparation and personal words before He is crucified.

READ: John 17:1-8

  1. What was the focus of Jesus’ prayer when He knew his hour had come to endure the reality of the curse of sin and fulfill the law? (17:1-3)
    1. Is His type of prayer typically what you pray when you are asked to endure the earthly reality of the curse of sin? explain

In John 4:34 Jesus says, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work,” John 17:4 says “I have glorified You on the earth by completing the work You gave Me to do.”

  1. What was the work Jesus completed?
  2. Do you think more about what you are going to eat each day and what you want to get done, OR Do you think about how you will complete the simple will of God and glorify God in your daily life?
    1. What things (even good things) do you tend to hold onto that distract you from the simple glorifying work Jesus calls us to do?
  3. What work can we be sure truly brings glory to God from John 17:1-8 and these passages below?

READ: Matthew 28:18-20, John 3:17-18, John 6:39-40

  1. Jesus speaks of His authority and asks to be glorified so that the Father is glorified. Why would this be His primary prayer in the midst of what he is getting ready to endure?

READ: John 17:9-15

  1. Jesus says, “Now they know all things”. How can He say that when it is obvious the disciples do not know everything?
  2. Jesus says in John 17:9, “I pray for them. I am not praying for the world but for those You have given Me, because they are Yours.”
    1. How should it impact us to know that Jesus prayed this?
    2. Do you spend much time praying that God would be glorified in other believers and that God would help them know they are His? Why or why not?
    3. What prayers do we tend to pray instead?

READ: John 17:16-19