In the words of Pastor Brian this week, you are not alone if the COVID-19 realities have "rattled your cage and shaken you awake". In response to uncertain times, John 12:44-50 provides us with five different timely answers to five different timeless questions. When our future is uncertain, the gospel remains unchanged and that provides an immense amount of light no matter the darkness.

Let's study together.

Grow Together: Read the Bible

John 12:44-50, CSB

44 Jesus cried out, “The one who believes in me believes not in me, but in him who sent me. 45 And the one who sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me would not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and doesn’t keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and doesn’t receive my sayings has this as his judge: The word I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own, but the Father himself who sent me has given me a command to say everything I have said. 50 I know that his command is eternal life. So the things that I speak, I speak just as the Father has told me.”

Some key statements and questions put forward that are important for us to talk about…‍

WHO IS JESUS?

“The one who believes in me believes not in me, but in him who sent me." Jesus isn't saying he is "like" God, he is saying he is equal to him.

• Why does Jesus being equal with God matter? Do you consider him equal or not?

WHY DID JESUS COME?

"I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me would not remain in darkness." Jesus is undefeated in his ability to bring light into darkness.

• Share one way Jesus has brought light into your darkness this week. If you can't think of one, ask for prayer in areas that seem darker than normal right now.

IS THERE HOPE FOR ME?

"...for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world." Our hope isn't found in how we perform, how faithful we are, or how guilty we feel over bad stuff we've done.

• Have you surrendered to the lie that you are disqualified?

DO MY DECISIONS MATTER?

"The one who rejects me and doesn’t receive my sayings has this as his judge..." Yolo (you only live once) among other pop culture sayings are "total garbage."

• In what ways have you bought into the cultural lie of YOLO, FOMO (fear of missing out), or FOBO (fear of a better option)? Why are these ideologies tempting for us in times like these?

HOW CAN I HAVE ETERNAL LIFE?

"I know that his command is eternal life." What is God's command? To believe in Jesus as God.

• When you think of "eternal life" what comes to mind?

Next Steps: Hard Questions

"The light of Jesus shatters the darkness of everything else." Do you need this statement to be true? What would change in your current reality if you believed it was?

"God wants you more now than ever before." Do you have any feelings of guilt or shame in this season? Do you know where those are those coming from?

"Eternal life implies abundance in the here and now." Does life feel abundant to you in this season? How would you define abundance?

Last Thing: Be Vulnerable

Share honestly about any substitute or substance you've been relying on in lieu of the abundant and eternal presence of Jesus. (Alcohol, entertainment streaming, over-connection on socials, news feeds, embittered thoughts, etc.) How can our poor decisions actually be invitations to lean on Jesus all the more?