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BIBLE STUDY

UNTIL WE’RE ABLE TO MEET AT CHURCH AGAIN, THE GOSPEL READING FOR THE COMING SUNDAY AND SOME QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT WILL BE POSTED EVERY WEDNESDAY.  WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOUR OWN ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS. PLEASE EMAIL THEM TO:      

barbfletcher2@aol.com

 

ALL COMMENTS WILL BE COMPILED (ANONYMOUSLY) AND ADDED TO THE POSTING ON SATURDAY.   WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL JOIN THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE GOSPEL READING EACH WEEK.

 

BIBLE STUDY FOR SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021

 

PRAYER:     Holy Father, by the power of your Holy Spirit, prepare our hearts and minds to receive all that You want us to learn.  As we read your word, shine on us the light of your truth.  May we gain a deeper understanding of who You are and what your will is in each of our lives.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

CONTEXT:  Epiphany is the time in the church year when we get to see Jesus starting his ministry, breaking onto the public scene, making his way into the lives of the people and offering them the life-transforming opportunity to become his followers.  In this week’s reading, Jesus is in Galilee, beginning to gather his core group of disciples. As we study the Epiphany readings, we too can see the message of Jesus more clearly and follow Him more closely.

 

READING:  John 1:43-51        Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49 Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

 

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT:

1. Jesus simply says to Philip, “Follow me”, and he does -- just like that.Why do you think Philip followed Jesus so easily?What do you think it was about Jesus that caused people to drop everything and follow Him?

2. What is the very first thing Philip does next that all Christians can and should do? What is notable about how Philip does it, and what can we learn from that?

3. What mistake does Nathanael make in verse 46, and why is it wrong? What do we know about Jesus that Nathanael didn’t yet know? How can that knowledge inform our everyday lives?

4. What is significant about what Jesus tells Nathanael in verse 47, and what does it tell you about Jesus? If Jesus were to walk up to you right now, how do you think He would describe you?

5. In verse 50, Jesus says that Nathanael and the disciples “will see greater things than these”. What “greater” things did they come to see? What “greater” things have you seen from following Jesus?

6. How did you first come to follow Jesus; did someone invite you to “come and see”? What was that experience like for you, and what can be learned from it?

7. What keeps you from telling more people about Jesus? What truths can you take from this reading that will help you to get over that hesitation?