New Covenant Christian Church
Discussion questions & verses for the week of December 2nd
WEEKLY STUDY GUIDE
Study guide for the week of December 2nd
Sunday marked the official start of Advent. The Advent season lasts for four Sundays leading up to Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. The term Advent means arrival, appearance, or emergence. So Advent season to the church is the celebration of the arrival, appearance, and emergence of Jesus Christ to the earth! During Advent, we celebrate Christ’s arrival, all that He has done, and all that He will do in the future. During this Advent season, we will be going through a sermon series called “The Way.” Jesus came to this earth as the way, the truth, and the life!
John 14:1–7 (NLT) “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.” “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
In reading John 14, we find ourselves rapidly approaching the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the time we call holy week. During this time, Jesus triumphantly arrives in Jerusalem. He teaches and preaches; He eats with the disciples and washes their feet. During this time, He also announces Judas as the one who would ultimately betray Him and turn Him over to the religious and political leaders for crucifixion. Jesus also tells the disciples that He is leaving, and Peter wants to follow. Instead, Peter is told that he will deny Jesus three times. If you had heard and seen all of this take place with your own eyes, what would be some thoughts and emotions running through your mind?
The disciples were understandably confused. This is why Jesus said, “don’t let your hearts be troubled.” Don’t be confused and anxious, but trust in God and be confident in Him. Josh said on Sunday, “trusting in God turns confusion into confidence.” Have you seen this happen in your own life? Have you ever seen God take a confusing situation and give you the answer to confidently move forward?
Jesus tells the disciples that there is a place for them with God for all of eternity. Jesus is telling them that He is leaving but that they always have a place with Him. He left the disciples but never abandoned them. Jesus left this earth, but He has not abandoned us either! We can be confident and know that Jesus loves us and will never let us down!
Deuteronomy 31:6 (NLT) “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Jesus loves you and has a great plan for your life. He will never abandon you. How do you know that Jesus will not abandon you? What promises - what scriptures - tell you that this is true?
In verse 4, Jesus tells the disciples that they know the way to where He is going. Thomas asks the question that everyone else was thinking. He says, ““No, we don’t know, Lord. We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
We like to make fun of the disciples. They didn’t understand Jesus’ parables, they would fight among themselves, and they were often confused about what Jesus was truly saying. It’s probably not fair for us to make fun of them because we do the same things. We also know Jesus, and still we can lose sight of the way. We ask how to know the way for our life. How do I know the way for this situation? Jesus why am I going through this? The answer to this is to continue to trust in God. Don’t be troubled; trust in God.
Isaiah 55:8–9 (NLT) “‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.’”
What does this scripture have to do with trusting in God? Why do we not always understand what God is doing in our lives? How can you practically trust in God while going through a situation that you do not understand?
Jesus responds to Thomas’ question by saying, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus is the beginning, the middle, and the end. Jesus says that He is the way to salvation and eternal life. Salvation begins with Jesus. He is the truth that keeps us on course. The truth of God’s word keeps our path lit. Jesus also gives us life with Him that passes into eternity. Jesus has given us life that continues after death.
Revelation 1:8 (NLT) “‘I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,’ says the Lord God. ‘I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.’”
How has Jesus been the way for you? How has Jesus been the truth for you? How has Jesus been the life for you?
John 14:1–7 (NLT) “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
Deuteronomy 31:6 (NLT) “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Isaiah 55:8–9 (NLT) “‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.’”
Revelation 1:8 (NLT) “‘I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,’ says the Lord God. ‘I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.’”