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Encounter

Encounter: A Bible Study In John That Encounters Jesus Christ
Copyright © 2003 by Ken Harer. All rights reserved.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible: New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission.

Introduction

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10

When you encounter Jesus you can’t help but walk away a different person. That’s because everything about Him was unique, revolutionary, supernatural and life transforming. As you encounter Him through His claims, teachings, miracles, sacrificial death and resurrection may you come to experience life to the full.

This study in the gospel of John was designed for you to read each set of Bible verses and to answer the questions that follow. You are encouraged to take extra time for further study, prayer and reflection.

At the end of each week’s study you will find questions for making it practical. It will be to your greatest advantage to answer these questions each week. If you need more space feel free to use your own notebook for your journal entries.

John 1:1-2:25

Day 1 - 1:1-9
Jesus is the Word. What do you learn about the Word in these verses?

Why does the darkness not understand the light?

Day 2 - 1:10-18
What new things do you learn about the Word?

What gives a person the right to become a child of God?

Day 3 - 1:19-28
What was John the Baptist’s mission?

What was his opinion of himself compared to Christ?

Day 4 - 1:29-42
What does the Lamb of God do?

When John the Baptist said, “A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me” what did he mean?

Day 5 - 1:43-51
Why did Nathanael declare that Jesus was the Son of God?

What might bring someone to such a declaration today?

Day 6 - 2:1-11
Why did Jesus perform His first miraculous sign?

How did it impact the disciples?

Day 7 - 2:12-25
Why was Jesus so intense toward the merchants?

What did Jesus want for His Father’s House?

Making it Practical

Make the following journal entries from this week:
(1) Insights or questions you have.
(2) What new ways you encountered Christ.
(3) How your life was challenged.

John 3:1- 4:54

Day 1 - 3:1-15
How does a person see the kingdom of God? How does this happen?

Why do you think Nicodemus was slow to under- stand Jesus’ teachings?

Day 2 - 3:16-21
What does a person need to “believe” in order not to be condemned but have eternal life?

What about your life does the light expose?

Day 3 - 3:22-36
What did John the Baptist mean when he said, “He must become greater; I must become less?”

How does a person “reject” the Son?

Day 4 - 4:1-14
What is “living water?”

How does having living water impact a person’s life?

Day 5 - 4:15-26
What probing question do you think Jesus would ask you? How would you answer?

How does a true worshiper of the Father worship “in spirit and truth?”

Day 6 - 4:27-42
Why did the woman think Jesus could be “the Christ?”

What was more important to Jesus than food?

Day 7 - 4:43-54
Are miraculous signs necessary for faith? Explain.

Making it Practical

Make the following journal entries from this week:
(1) Insights or questions you have.
(2) What new ways you encountered Christ.
(3) How your life was challenged.

John 5:1-6:24

Day 1 - 5:1-15
Why would Jesus ask an invalid if he wanted to get well?

How did Jesus confront this man’s spiritual issues?

Day 2 - 5:16-23
Why were the Jews so upset that Jesus called God His Father?

Is Jesus God in the flesh?

Day 3 - 5:24-30
What happens to those who hear and believe in Him?

What happens to the people when they rise from the dead?

Day 4 - 5:31-40
What testimonies did Jesus have that He was the Son of God?

How is it possible to study and know the Bible but not have life?

Day 5 - 5:41-47
How does the praise of men stand in our way of knowing Christ?

To see what Moses said about the Christ read Genesis 3:14-15; 22:18; Numbers 24:17.

Day 6 - 6:1-15
How would you have responded to Jesus if you had been on the mountainside that day?

How did the people there respond?

Day 7 - 6:16-24
What did Jesus reveal about Himself through walking on the water?

What application do you see for you life?

Making it Practical

Make the following journal entries from this week:
(1) Insights or questions you have.
(2) What new ways you encountered Christ.
(3) How your life was challenged.

John 6:25-7:24

Day 1 - 6:25-29
What is the work of God?

Can you earn eternal life through good works? Explain. (See Ephesians 2:8-9)

Day 2 - 6:30-42
What did Jesus mean when He said that those who come to Him would never be hungry or thirsty?

What is the Father’s will?

Day 3 - 6:43-51
What is the key to someone coming to Christ?

In what ways does the Father draw people to Jesus?

Day 4 - 6:52-59
What did Jesus mean when He spoke of eating His flesh and drinking His blood?

What teachings of the Bible offend you?

Day 5 - 6:60-71
In what way are the teachings of Jesus spirit and life?

How did many of the disciples respond to this teaching?

What was Simon Peter’s view of Jesus?

Day 6 - 7:1-13
Why does the world hate Jesus?

What specifically do you think the world hates about Him in our day?

Day 7 - 7:14-24
Why was Jesus’ teaching so amazing?

What teachings of Jesus have been life transforming to you?

Making it Practical

Make the following journal entries from this week:
(1) Insights or questions you have.
(2) What new ways you encountered Christ.
(3) How your life was challenged.

John 7:25-8:59

Day 1 - 7:25-39
What are streams of living water flowing within a person?

What is different in your life if you have this?

Day 2 - 7:40-52
What did the people think of Jesus at this point?

Why do you think the Pharisees were so intent on rejecting Him?

Day 3 - 8:1-11
What point was Jesus making to the Pharisees?

When did you leave your life of sin?

Day 4 - 8:12-30
In what ways does Jesus bring light into our lives of darkness?

What had Jesus been claiming all along?

Why were they having such a hard time accepting His claim?

Day 5 - 8:31-41
What does it mean to be a disciple of Christ?

How does truth set you free?

Day 6 - 8:42-47
What is the native language of the devil?

In what ways has the devil lied to you about the truth?

Day 7 - 8:48-59
What claim did Jesus make about Himself?

Why do you think this made them pick up stones to stone Him?

Making it Practical

Make the following journal entries from this week:
(1) Insights or questions you have.
(2) What new ways you encountered Christ.
(3) How your life was challenged.

John 9:1-10:21

Day 1 - 9:1-12
How was this man’s blindness used to display the work of God?

How has God used difficulties in your life to display His work?

Day 2 - 9:13-23
What “religious” rule did the Pharisees say Jesus
broke?

Have “religious” rules ever stood in the way of your relationship with Christ? Explain.

Day 3 - 9:24-34
What bold statements did this man make to the religious leader?

Why was he able to be so bold? (See Acts 4:13)

Day 4 - 9:35-41
What did Jesus mean when He said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind?”

Day 5 - 10:1-6
As the sheep recognize the voice of the shepherd, how do you recognize the voice of Jesus in you life?

Who are the “strangers” that try to enter the pen?

Day 6 - 10:7-13
Why does the thief come?

What does Jesus mean when He says He has come “that they may have life, and have it to the full?”

Day 7 - 10:14-21
How is Jesus a “good shepherd” in your life?

How did He lay down His life and take it up again?

Making it Practical

Make the following journal entries from this week:
(1) Insights or questions you have.
(2) What new ways you encountered Christ.
(3) How your life was challenged.

John 10:22-11:57

Day 1 - 10:22-32
What does Jesus say that gives us assurance of our eternal salvation?

How are Jesus and the Father “one?”

Day 2 - 10:33-42
What was the purpose of the miracles Jesus performed?

Read also John 10:24-26; 15:24-25.

Day 3 - 11:1-16
What did Jesus do when He was told of Lazarus’s sickness?

What can we learn about God’s “timing” in our lives from this incident?

Day 4 - 11:17-27
In what way is Jesus the resurrection and the life?

Do you believe that those who are in Christ will never die? Why or why not?

Day 5 - 11:28-37
Why do you think Jesus wept?

How do you think He relates to your painful circumstances? (See Hebrews 4:15-16)

Day 6 - 11:38-44
What did Jesus say so that they may believe that the Father sent Him?

How would you have responded if you had been in the crowd that day?

Day 7 - 11:45-57
How did many of the Jews respond to Jesus?

Even as the Pharisees plotted to kill Jesus, what prophesy did the high priest unintentionally give?

Making it Practical

Make the following journal entries from this week:
(1) Insights or questions you have.
(2) What new ways you encountered Christ.
(3) How your life was challenged.

John 12:1-13:17

Day 1 - 12:1-11
What do you see in Mary’s heart by her pouring expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet and wiping them with her hair?

What was in Judas Iscariot’s heart?

What is in your heart toward Jesus?

Day 2 - 12:12-19
What had been written about the Messiah hundreds of years before He came? (See Zechariah 9:9)

What other prophesies did Jesus fulfill?

Day 3 - 12:20-26
Why will the man who loves his life lose it?

Why will the man who hates his life keep it?

Day 4 - 12:27-36
Even though His heart was troubled what did Jesus ask for instead of His life to be saved?

What did Jesus say He would do when He was lifted up? How is He drawing you to Himself?

Day 5 - 12:37-43
Why do you think they would still not believe Him after these miraculous signs?

How in your life have you loved praise from others more than the praise of God?

Day 6 - 12:44-50
What kinds of bondage does the darkness bring to our souls?

How is a person set free from such bondage?

Day 7 - 13:1-17
What spiritual lesson was Jesus teaching the disciples?

Making it Practical

Make the following journal entries from this week:
(1) Insights or questions you have.
(2) What new ways you encountered Christ.
(3) How your life was challenged.

John 13:18-15:17

Day 1 - 13:18-38
How do others know that we are His disciples?

Which is your experience, seeing Christians love one another or seeing fighting and hypocrisy?

Have other Christians’ responses ever stood in the way of your relationship with Christ? Explain.

Day 2 - 14:1-4
What comfort do you find in these verses?

What promise does Jesus give?

Day 3 - 14:5-14
What did Jesus mean when He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life?”

Is God a vending machine giving us whatever we ask? How do you explain verses 13-14?

Day 4 - 14:15-24
Describe the Spirit of truth (Holy Spirit).

What part does He play in our loving obedience?

Day 5 - 14:25-31
What is one of the things the Holy Spirit does?

How is God’s peace different than the world’s peace?

Day 6 - 15:1-8
Would you consider yourself: 1) only a professing Christian that will be cut off 2) a true Christian that is fruitful 3) neither? Explain.

Do you remain in the vine through dependence on Christ and through intimate communion with Him?

What fruit is the indwelling Spirit producing in your life? (See Galatians 5:22-23)

Day 7 - 15:9-17
Why does Jesus call the disciples “friends?”

Making it Practical

Make the following journal entries from this week:
(1) Insights or questions you have.
(2) What new ways you encountered Christ.
(3) How your life was challenged.

John 15:18-17:26

Day 1 - 15:18-16:4
Why does the world hate Christ’s followers? How are they treated?

Do you think you will ever be persecuted or killed because you are a Christian? Why or why not?

Day 2 - 16:5-11
What is the work of the Holy Spirit to the world?

What conviction has He brought into your life?

Day 3 - 16:12-16
What is the work of the Holy Spirit to the believer?

How has He done this work in your life?

Day 4 - 16:17-33
To what was Jesus referring that was so confusing to the disciples?

What do we have to take heart over?

Day 5 - 17:1-5
What is the eternal life that Jesus grants?

What was Jesus’ glory like before the world began?

Day 6 - 17:6-19
What seems to be Jesus’ main concern as He prays for His disciples?

How does the truth of God’s word sanctify (set us apart for sacred use) us?

Day 7 - 17:20-26
What seems to be Jesus’ main concern as He prays
for all believers?

Making it Practical

Make the following journal entries from this week:
(1) Insights or questions you have.
(2) What new ways you encountered Christ.
(3) How your life was challenged.

John 18:1-19:42

Day 1 - 18:1-11
What was Jesus praying about at this time? (See Mark 14:32-42)

What did He mean when He said, “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?”

Day 2 - 18:12-24
What were some of the things Jesus said openly to the world?

Day 3 - 18:25-40
Have you in any way ever denied Jesus? Explain.

From what place was Jesus’ kingdom?

Who listens to Jesus?

Day 4 - 19:1-16
How was Jesus humiliated?

After learning about Jesus through this study, how does this strike you?

Day 5 - 19:17-27
What was a Roman crucifixion like?

Whom did they crucify?

Day 6 - 19:28-37
What did Jesus mean when He said, “It is finished?”

Why did Jesus die on the cross? (See Colossians 1:19-20)

Day 7 - 19:38-42
Do you ever fear what others think about your relationship with Christ as Joseph did? If so, why?

Making it Practical

Make the following journal entries from this week:
(1) Insights or questions you have.
(2) What new ways you encountered Christ.
(3) How your life was challenged.

John 20:1-21:25

Day 1 - 20:1-9
What do you think Peter and John were feeling at the tomb?

The resurrection is a key part of the gospel because it:
*proves the deity of Christ (Romans 1:4)
*guarantees our own resurrection (2 Corinthians 4:14)
*makes our faith valid (1Corinthians 15:13-19)
*frees us from the fear of death (1 Corinthians 15:54)

Day 2 - 20:10-18
How would you have felt and responded if you had been Mary?

What was Mary’s message to the disciples?

Day 3 - 20:19-23
What was Jesus’ message to the disciples?

Why do you think He gave them this message?

Day 4 - 20:24-29
What did Jesus say to Thomas about his doubting?

Do you have any doubts about Christ? If so, what do you think Jesus would say to you?

Day 5 - 20:30-31
Why was the life of Christ recorded by John?

Would you like to become a child of God and have life in His name?

What fullness of life can you expect as a believer?

Day 6 - 21:1-14
Why do you think Jesus made all of these appearances?

To whom else did He appear? (See 1 Corinthians 15:1-8)

Day 7 - 21:15-25
How did Jesus indicate that Peter was forgiven and their relationship restored?

Making it Practical

Make the following journal entries from this week:
(1) Insights or questions you have.
(2) What new ways you encountered Christ.
(3) How your life was challenged.

Becoming a Christian

Understand God and His standard for your life.

“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” 1 Peter 1:15-16

Understand your condition.

“...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23
“All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath..” Ephesians 2:3

Realize there is a penalty for your sin.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Believe that only through Christ you can be forgiven and have a personal relationship with God.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us..” Romans 5:8
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6

Respond personally by receiving Christ as your Lord and Savior.

“I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.” Acts 20:21
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God...” John 1:12

Know God forgives your sins and makes you a new creation.

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13-14
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

© 2005 Last One Designs | Last Updated: 03/07/2005
Questions or Comments -- ken@kneelingwetriumph.com