Category: Lessons

Introduction to the Book of Isaiah

• Introduction

The Eighth-century Prophets Douglas R. Clark The prophets of the eighth century B.C.E. include Amos, Hosea, Isaiah and Micah. Recognized by many as the first of the “writing prophets” and among the most brilliant and…

The Power of the Resurrection

• Lesson 13 for the week of March 20 to March 27

Relevant Passages John 20:1-21:25 The Power of the Resurrection. None of the Gospels leave Jesus in the tomb. On the first day of the week the tomb is empty. That points to a precious hope...

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Jesus Lays Down His Life for His Friends

• Lesson 12 for the week of March 13 to March 20

Relevant Passages John 18:1-19:42 Jesus Lays Down His Life for His Friends. John’s account of Jesus’ trial and crucifixion differs in several ways from the synoptic accounts, just as the synoptics differ among themselves. John...

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The Spirit “Replaces” Jesus

• Lesson 11 for the week of March 6 to March 13

Relevant Passages John 13:31-16:33 The Spirit “Replaces” Jesus. In John 13-16, Jesus addresses several of the pressing concerns which were haunting the disciples. It was a troublesome time for all of them. Not only had...

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Real Greatness

• Lesson 10 for the week of February 28 to March 6

Relevant Passages John 13:1-30; 17 Real Greatness. If Jesus’ strong claims to divinity as recorded in the earlier chapters of John are separated from his real life of service and his passion, they could sound...

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A Devoted Soul and an Impending Cross

• Lesson 9 for the week of February 21 to February 28

Relevant Passages John 11:1-12:50 A Devoted Soul and an Impending Cross. Jesus’ ministry is now in transition. In John 11 and 12 we read of two significant events involving Jesus’ friends from Bethany: the death...

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The Good Shepherd

• Lesson 8 for the week of February 14 to February 21

Relevant Passages John 7:1-10:21 The Good Shepherd. Jesus’ story of the good shepherd follows on a sequence of events at the Feast of Tabernacles. After the feeding of the 5000 Jesus spoke of bread; at...

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The Sacred in the Common

• Lesson 7 for the week of February 7 to February 14

Relevant Passages John 6 The Sacred in the Common. John 6 links together three events in the life of Jesus: the feeding of he 5000, walking on water, and his “bread of life” sermon at...

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Putting the Past Behind You

• Lesson 6 for the week of January 31 to February 7

Relevant Passages John 5 Putting the Past Behind You. Today’s lesson takes us to the story of the man whom Jesus healed at the Pool of Bethesda, a man who had been sick for 38...

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The Struggle to Be Real

• Lesson 5 for the week of January 24 to January 31

Relevant Passages John 4:43-54 The Struggle to Be Real. The “living parable” which is the focus of today’s lesson involves Jesus’ return “home” to Galilee and an encounter with a royal official whose boy was...

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Grace Is All-Inclusive

• Lesson 4 for the week of January 17 to January 24

Relevant Passages John 2:23-4:42 Grace Is All-Inclusive. The two major incidents studied in last week’s lesson contrasted Jesus’ leisurely experience at a Jewish wedding with the intensity of his anger in cleansing the temple. This...

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Something Better

• Lesson 3 for the week of January 10 to January 17

Relevant Passages John 2:1-22 Something Better. After the highly abstract prologue, John continues his Gospel with two down-to-earth stories in chapter 2 Jesus’ week-long stay at a wedding and his cleansing of the temple. Both...

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Jesus Is the Best

• Lesson 2 for the week of January 3 to January 10

Relevant Passages John 1:1-18 Jesus Is the Best. The Gospel of John opens with a magnificent cluster of verses establishing both Jesus’ full divinity and his full humanity. In addition, Jesus is compared with two...

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The Unique Purpose of John’s Gospel

• Lesson 1 for the week of December 27 to January 3

Relevant Biblical Passages Luke 1:1-4; John 15:1-8; 17:20; 20:24-31; 21:20-25 The Unique Purpose of John’s Gospel. Our studies for this quarter take us to the fourth Gospel, often called the “beloved” Gospel because the author...

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