SERIES TITLE
He Gets Us!
SERIES OVERVIEW
Love and forgiveness is something we all need. We all have pain. We all have sorrow. We all have doubts. Jesus understands all of this…and the story of Jesus is for EVERYONE. Join us as we examine the life of Jesus through the eyes of those that knew him personally. Together, we will find hope and purpose because HE GETS US.
SERMON TITLE
He Gets My Desperation
WEEKEND IN REVIEW
Since Easter we’ve been studying Bible passages written by an eyewitness of the life of Jesus named John. John chose the stories and events out of Jesus’ life for the purpose of helping us to truly BELIEVE that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. In this weekend’s message, we encountered a man in John chapter 9 who had been born blind. This is a significant detail because this is the only account in the 4 biographies of Jesus’ life where someone BORN with an affliction, is HEALED from it!
WARM UP
Begin with some conversation, checking in on how people are doing. You can talk about whatever you’d like, but here are a few potential questions to get the conversation going in the direction of this week’s Bible study.
- If you could add to your senses any one superpower, which would you choose? Explain why.
- If you had to go without one, which of our 5 senses, (Vision, Hearing, Smell, Taste, Touch) would you most hate to lose? Explain why?
DISCUSSion
Select 6-7 questions from the list below to guide your discussion time.
- In John chapter 9, Jesus and his disciples are in Jerusalem where it had become dangerous for them to be because this was the headquarters for Jesus haters, the Jewish religious leaders. “As he went along” implies this was a random, unplanned encounter…but Jesus seizes the encounter to turn it into a teaching moment, a compassionate healing, and perhaps even to intentionally contrast God’s priorities with the priorities of the Jewish religious leadership. Read John 9:1-2. (NLT) What questions did the disciples ask Jesus to answer?
What theological presuppositions did their questions reveal?
What do their questions reveal about their view of God?
- How did Jesus answer their question regarding whose sin was to blame? See John 9:3.
- Is there a difference between “causing” something and giving something “purpose?” If so, explain the difference.
- Pastor Gene said, “Sometimes God chooses to display His power on the platform of our pain and suffering.” What do you think he means?
- How did Jesus heal the man born blind? John 9:6, 9:ll, 9:15. As if those 3 verses weren’t clear enough, the “how” question is also asked in 9:19, and 9:26.
- Why do you think the Pharisees got their undies in a bunch over the “How’ rather than rejoicing over the “What?” (The fact that an amazing, incredible miracle like no one had ever seen before was performed, and the life-long suffering, hardship, and difficulty of a man had completely come to an end with this healing?)
- What does John 9:16 reveal about the theological presuppositions of the Pharisees that caused them to miss out on the significance of the miracle Jesus performed?
- A man was amazingly, incredibly, miraculously healed of a lifetime of blindness, and yet the spiritual blindness of the Pharisees seems to keep increasing. What do you think was the root cause of the spiritual blindness in the Pharisees?
- In John 9:11, the formerly blind man refers to his healer as “the man they call Jesus.” Then his testimony in John 9:17 is that Jesus is “a prophet.” But when he encounters Jesus again, what is his testimony and how does he refer to Jesus? See John 9:38.
Application
- Read John 9:25. The formerly blind man didn’t have the answers to all of the Pharisees’ theological questions, but he had a powerful but simple testimony. What was his testimony and why was it difficult for the religious leaders to argue with it?
- Read John 9:26-34 The more they hurl hate and insults at him, the clearer Jesus’ identity becomes for him. The more they question him the more convinced he is that Jesus is from God. He’s no longer afraid or intimidated. What would help you follow his example and become a more courageous witness for Jesus?
- Explain this sentence: “I don’t have to understand everything to believe something.” How might this statement help you when you share your faith?
wrap up | prayer
Share prayer requests and spend time praying for each other.
- Remember to keep Gene and Barbara and their daughter Alayna, and their granddaughter in the womb, Maezie Joy, in your prayers. Alayna has had a difficult pregnancy and is in the hospital for the duration of the pregnancy. Maezie’s due date isn’t until August. Pray to the God who formed all of us in our Mother’s womb, that He would help Maezie to grow, get stronger, and be a healthy baby.
ways to get more out of the weekend message
get help
Are you in a difficult season? Don’t navigate this season alone. We’d love to invite you to join this caring community of people who will walk beside you on your journey to find hope and healing
sermon notes
You will find the sermon notes exclusively on the Eastside App. These notes include links to the Bible verses and an easy way to follow along during the message.
summer groups
Make the most of the long days and great weather by hosting a new group! Concerts in the park, movies in the park, a hiking group, or book club. There are so many ways to build community!