Small Group Bible Study

The Old Has Gone, the New Has Come
 - Week 
7

A New Way to Be Faithful

Discussion Guide
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1. Be Real

In this week’s teaching, Jesus had an encounter that was an incredible display of his healing power, and yet it was a bit confrontational, too.

Jesus is very interested in the regular living we’re doing — not just the moments of the spectacular. Take a few minutes to catch up and check in on regular, everyday life.

2. Grow Together

Read this from the Bible together:

John 4:43–54
43 After the two days he departed for Galilee. 44 (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) 45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast.

46 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” 49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. 51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. 54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.

Why do you think Jesus tells the official “you won’t believe unless you have a sign?”

Jesus is inviting the man and his hometown to know Jesus for who he really is — to have relationship with him. If you’re honest, which of these words better describe your faith: turbulent or abiding?

Following Jesus is more about who you’re with than what you get. Which of these aspects of who you’re with is the loudest truth for you today? Jesus is…

  • The Word of God — John 1:1
  • The Lamb of God — John 1:29, 36
  • The Son of God — John 1:34
  • The Rabbi / Teacher — John 1:38
  • The King of Israel — John 1:49
  • The Son of Man — John 1:51
  • The Savior of the World — John 4:42

3. Next Steps

Where are you at when it comes to miracles and healing? Are you willing to take the emotional risk to ask Jesus for something incredible? Pray your bold prayer today. Keep it simple and honest!

Have you been holding back your “I’m all in with Jesus” moment until you receive some sort of sign? Jesus wants you to know him, not just what he can do. Today is a great day to confess and repent and say “Jesus, I just want to know you.”

Is your prayer restricted to times of turbulence and desperation?
What rhythm do you need to build into your life to spend time in the Bible and praying to build relationship with God?