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

Tell about a time you were sent by someone to give a message to someone else?

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

READ: John 7:1-2, Leviticus 23:33-43

1. The book of John lays out the ministry of Jesus in line with the Law and the Prophet’s times and seasons. If we are going to understand this story better, we need to try and understand the significance of who, what, when, where, why, and how Jesus is doing what He is doing.
   1. Who was to celebrate The Feast (Festival) of Tabernacles (Booths/Sukkot)?
   2. Who and what was the focus of the feast?
   3. What was required?
   4. When was the feast?
   5. Why was the feast to be celebrated?
   6. How did the feast likely impact the culture?
2. Why were the Jews trying to kill him?
   1. What should we expect if we live and teach love, grace, and truth like Jesus?

READ: John 7:3-9, Matthew 1:24-25, Matthew 12:46, Mark 3:31, 6:3, Luke 8:19, Acts 1:14

1. The Catholic church teaches that Mary was a perpetual virgin who never had sex and never had any other children. These official church doctrines and dogmas regarding Mary were established a long time after the early church and writing of the New Testament:

• her as the "Mother of God" at the Council of Ephesus in 431
• her Perpetual Virginity around 553
• her Immaculate Conception in 1854
• her Assumption into Heaven in 1950
  1. How do the scriptures, we just read, expose these doctrines about Mary as false teachings and false doctrines?
  2. Why would the church create, hold on to, and refuse to speak out against false teachings and doctrines like these when, like in this case, the scriptures are VERY clear?
  3. How should we speak grace and truth into false teachings and doctrines like these?

1. What did His brothers want Jesus to do and why? (7:3-9)
   1. How is this often the advice we receive today from people close to us in our spiritual climate especially those who say they believe, but don’t really believe?
2. What is Jesus saying when He said “My time has not yet arrived, but your time is always at hand.” (7:6-8)
3. READ Acts 1:7-8 How do words like this help us to know how to live faithfully as we wait on God’s timing knowing that our time could come at any moment?
4. Why does the world hate the message of Jesus that He lived out and preached? (7:7-8)