WEEK 25.7 Discussion questions below.

Episode Summary

In this Week 25 explore episode, marking the halfway point of their journey through John, Nick and Jamie dive into Jesus's teaching about shepherds and sheep in John 10. They examine the context of the Feast of Tabernacles, explore Jesus's claims to be both "the gate" and "the good shepherd," and discuss what it means to live the abundant life Jesus promises. The episode also addresses how to discern good spiritual leadership from false shepherding and introduces their new "Rhythms of Life" workbook.

Time Stamps

02:01 Recap of Jesus' Interactions at the Feast of Tabernacles

03:32 Deep Dive into John Chapter 10

05:27 Shepherd and Sheep Motif Explained

07:05 Ezekiel 34 and False Shepherds

12:41 Recognizing Good and Bad Shepherds

16:23 Jesus as the Gate and the Good Shepherd

29:25 Understanding Jesus' Promise of Abundant Life

31:24 Introducing the Rhythms of Life Workbook

33:00 The True Meaning of Abundant Life

36:57 Jesus as the Good Shepherd

46:43 The Good Shepherd's Sacrifice and Authority

48:50 The Division Among the People

52:50 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Key Points

• Historical Context: Jesus speaks after Ezekiel 34 would have been read at the Feast of Tabernacles, condemning false shepherds
• Ancient Shepherding: Understanding Middle Eastern shepherding practices illuminates Jesus's metaphors - shepherds led from the front, knew sheep individually, and literally became the gate at night
• Good vs. False Shepherds: Distinguishing between leaders who serve the flock versus those who exploit them for personal gain
• Two "I Am" Statements: "I am the gate" (entrance to safety and abundant life) and "I am the good shepherd" (one who sacrificially loves the sheep)
• Abundant Life Definition: Not prosperity or ease, but deep satisfaction and contentment in Jesus, available even in difficult circumstances
• Beautiful vs. Moral Good: Jesus uses "kalos" (beautiful, noble, attractive) rather than "agathos" (morally upright) to describe his goodness

Signs of Good Shepherds:

• Align with Jesus's life and teaching
• Care for marginalized and vulnerable people
• Demonstrate sacrificial love (while maintaining healthy boundaries)
• Point to Jesus rather than themselves

Warning Signs of False Shepherds:

• Seek personal power, control, or financial gain
• Show lack of compassion for the sheep
• Use deceit or manipulation
• Make themselves the centre of attention
  

Discussion Questions

Read through John 10:1-21 Share what the passage reveals to you about God, about humanity, and about following Jesus. Then discuss some or all of the following questions:

1. Recognizing the Shepherd's Voice: Jesus says his sheep know his voice and won't follow strangers. What practices help you discern Jesus's voice among all the competing voices in your life? How do you distinguish between God's leading and your own desires or cultural pressures?
   
2. Spiritual Leadership: The hosts discuss how to identify good versus false shepherds. Think about spiritual leaders who have influenced you - what qualities made them trustworthy guides? How do you evaluate whether a teacher or pastor truly has your spiritual welfare at heart?
   
3. Abundant Life in Difficulty: Jesus promises abundant life, but the hosts emphasize this doesn't mean an easy or comfortable life. When have you experienced deep satisfaction or contentment in Jesus during a difficult season? What does "life to the full" look like when circumstances are challenging?
   
4. Beautiful vs. Moral Good: Jesus describes himself as the "good" (kalos - beautiful, attractive) shepherd rather than just morally upright. How does understanding Christianity as pursuing an attractive, noble life rather than moral perfection change your approach to faith? What makes Jesus's character attractive to you?

End your time by taking a minute to listen to the Holy Spirit and prayerfully choose an “I will…” intention. One small, practical step you’ll take this week to put your learning into practice.

WEEK 25.6: The Prayer of Examen helps us reflect on the week that was in our Slow Journey Through John.

SJTJ s a year-long contemplative journey through the Gospel of John. We invite you into Scripture, reflection, and intentional practices to help you pause, listen, and respond to God’s love in transformative ways. 

Weekdays are 10-12-minute devotionals to help you abide in the presence of Jesus and the Word of God, learn by studying the Scriptures, and go with intention to love the world. 

Weekends we release a short prayer of examen reflecting on the previous week and/or a longer teaching podcast that more deeply explores the themes and implications of John. 

Occasionally we have an excursus episode, which is basically an extra episode addressing listener questions or certain topics that require extended exploration.

Bibliography

Visit our website

Follow us on social media for weekly practices: @gothewildway

Contact us: podcast (at) thewildway.ca

Most Scripture from the Common English Bible (2012).

Music credits:

Weekday music by Maksym Dudchyk on Pixabay. Used with permission.

Examen music: Music by Laniakea from Uppbeat. License code: HRU7UD9ID388DFJT

Teaching podcast: Music produced by Nick Osborne

DONATE TO THE WILD WAY⁠.  Your support helps us create spiritual formation and discipleship resources that help people be formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others. 

WEEK 25.5: 17 “This is why the Father loves me: I give up my life so that I can take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I give it up because I want to. I have the right to give it up, and I have the right to take it up again. I received this commandment from my Father.”

19 There was another division among the Jews because of Jesus’ words. 20 Many of them said, “He has a demon and has lost his mind. Why listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These aren’t the words of someone who has a demon. Can a demon heal the eyes of people who are blind?”

SJTJ s a year-long contemplative journey through the Gospel of John. We invite you into Scripture, reflection, and intentional practices to help you pause, listen, and respond to God’s love in transformative ways. 

Weekdays are 10-12-minute devotionals to help you abide in the presence of Jesus and the Word of God, learn by studying the Scriptures, and go with intention to love the world. 

Weekends we release a short prayer of examen reflecting on the previous week and/or a longer teaching podcast that more deeply explores the themes and implications of John. 

Occasionally we have an excursus episode, which is basically an extra episode addressing listener questions or certain topics that require extended exploration.

Bibliography

Visit our website

Follow us on social media for weekly practices: @gothewildway

Contact us: podcast (at) thewildway.ca

Most Scripture from the Common English Bible (2012).

Music credits:

Weekday music by Maksym Dudchyk on Pixabay. Used with permission.

Examen music: Music by Laniakea from Uppbeat. License code: HRU7UD9ID388DFJT

Teaching podcast: Music produced by Nick Osborne

DONATE TO THE WILD WAY⁠.  Your support helps us create spiritual formation and discipleship resources that help people be formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others. 

WEEK 25.4: 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 When the hired hand sees the wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and runs away. That’s because he isn’t the shepherd; the sheep aren’t really his. So the wolf attacks the sheep and scatters them. 13 He’s only a hired hand and the sheep don’t matter to him.

14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own sheep and they know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. I give up my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that don’t belong to this sheep pen. I must lead them too. They will listen to my voice and there will be one flock, with one shepherd.

SJTJ s a year-long contemplative journey through the Gospel of John. We invite you into Scripture, reflection, and intentional practices to help you pause, listen, and respond to God’s love in transformative ways. 

Weekdays are 10-12-minute devotionals to help you abide in the presence of Jesus and the Word of God, learn by studying the Scriptures, and go with intention to love the world. 

Weekends we release a short prayer of examen reflecting on the previous week and/or a longer teaching podcast that more deeply explores the themes and implications of John. 

Occasionally we have an excursus episode, which is basically an extra episode addressing listener questions or certain topics that require extended exploration.

Bibliography

Visit our website

Follow us on social media for weekly practices: @gothewildway

Contact us: podcast (at) thewildway.ca

Most Scripture from the Common English Bible (2012).

Music credits:

Weekday music by Maksym Dudchyk on Pixabay. Used with permission.

Examen music: Music by Laniakea from Uppbeat. License code: HRU7UD9ID388DFJT

Teaching podcast: Music produced by Nick Osborne

DONATE TO THE WILD WAY⁠.  Your support helps us create spiritual formation and discipleship resources that help people be formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others. 

WEEK 25.3: 7 So Jesus spoke again, “I assure you that I am the gate of the sheep. 8 All who came before me were thieves and outlaws, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief enters only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came so that they could have life—indeed, so that they could live life to the fullest.

SJTJ s a year-long contemplative journey through the Gospel of John. We invite you into Scripture, reflection, and intentional practices to help you pause, listen, and respond to God’s love in transformative ways. 

Weekdays are 10-12-minute devotionals to help you abide in the presence of Jesus and the Word of God, learn by studying the Scriptures, and go with intention to love the world. 

Weekends we release a short prayer of examen reflecting on the previous week and/or a longer teaching podcast that more deeply explores the themes and implications of John. 

Occasionally we have an excursus episode, which is basically an extra episode addressing listener questions or certain topics that require extended exploration.

Bibliography

Visit our website

Follow us on social media for weekly practices: @gothewildway

Contact us: podcast (at) thewildway.ca

Most Scripture from the Common English Bible (2012).

Music credits:

Weekday music by Maksym Dudchyk on Pixabay. Used with permission.

Examen music: Music by Laniakea from Uppbeat. License code: HRU7UD9ID388DFJT

Teaching podcast: Music produced by Nick Osborne

DONATE TO THE WILD WAY⁠.  Your support helps us create spiritual formation and discipleship resources that help people be formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others. 

WEEK 25.2: 1 I assure you that whoever doesn’t enter into the sheep pen through the gate but climbs over the wall is a thief and an outlaw. 2 The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The guard at the gate opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 Whenever he has gathered all of his sheep, he goes before them and they follow him, because they know his voice. 5 They won’t follow a stranger but will run away because they don’t know the stranger’s voice.” 6 Those who heard Jesus use this analogy didn’t understand what he was saying.

SJTJ s a year-long contemplative journey through the Gospel of John. We invite you into Scripture, reflection, and intentional practices to help you pause, listen, and respond to God’s love in transformative ways. 

Weekdays are 10-12-minute devotionals to help you abide in the presence of Jesus and the Word of God, learn by studying the Scriptures, and go with intention to love the world. 

Weekends we release a short prayer of examen reflecting on the previous week and/or a longer teaching podcast that more deeply explores the themes and implications of John. 

Occasionally we have an excursus episode, which is basically an extra episode addressing listener questions or certain topics that require extended exploration.

Bibliography

Visit our website

Follow us on social media for weekly practices: @gothewildway

Contact us: podcast (at) thewildway.ca

Most Scripture from the Common English Bible (2012).

Music credits:

Weekday music by Maksym Dudchyk on Pixabay. Used with permission.

Examen music: Music by Laniakea from Uppbeat. License code: HRU7UD9ID388DFJT

Teaching podcast: Music produced by Nick Osborne

DONATE TO THE WILD WAY⁠.  Your support helps us create spiritual formation and discipleship resources that help people be formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others. 

WEEK 25.1: A lectio divina practice based on John 10:7-10.

SJTJ s a year-long contemplative journey through the Gospel of John. We invite you into Scripture, reflection, and intentional practices to help you pause, listen, and respond to God’s love in transformative ways. 

Weekdays are 10-12-minute devotionals to help you abide in the presence of Jesus and the Word of God, learn by studying the Scriptures, and go with intention to love the world. 

Weekends we release a short prayer of examen reflecting on the previous week and/or a longer teaching podcast that more deeply explores the themes and implications of John. 

Occasionally we have an excursus episode, which is basically an extra episode addressing listener questions or certain topics that require extended exploration.

Bibliography

Visit our website

Follow us on social media for weekly practices: @gothewildway

Contact us: podcast (at) thewildway.ca

Most Scripture from the Common English Bible (2012).

Music credits:

Weekday music by Maksym Dudchyk on Pixabay. Used with permission.

Examen music: Music by Laniakea from Uppbeat. License code: HRU7UD9ID388DFJT

Teaching podcast: Music produced by Nick Osborne

DONATE TO THE WILD WAY⁠.  Your support helps us create spiritual formation and discipleship resources that help people be formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others. 

WEEK 24.7 Discussion questions below.

Episode Summary

In this Week 24 explore episode, Nick and Jamie conclude the story of the man born blind in John 9, examining the interrogation by religious leaders, the courage of the formerly blind man, and Jesus's final encounter with him. They dive deep into topics of deconstruction, biblical interpretation versus experience, and how to respond with love when facing theological disagreements. The episode tackles challenging questions about church authority, persecution, and what it means to truly "see" spiritually.

Time Stamps

00:00 Introduction and Recap

01:06 The Conflict Over the Healing

05:41 The Fear of Excommunication

12:43 Deconstruction of Faith

22:35 The Pharisees' Second Interrogation

29:39 Understanding and Compassion in Conversations

32:21 Biblical Interpretation vs. Experience

41:58 Jesus Returns to the Scene

46:30 The Cost of Faith

51:41 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Key Points

• Parents' Fear: The man's parents refuse to support him due to fear of synagogue expulsion, showing how religious authority can silence dissent
• Courageous Witness: The formerly blind man demonstrates remarkable courage, sticking to his story despite increasing hostility
• Religious Bullying: Temple leaders resort to mockery, condescension, and abuse when they can't refute the man's testimony
• Deconstruction Defined: Breaking something down to understand its meaning better - a process Jesus himself used frequently
• Experience vs. Interpretation: Sometimes our theology needs to change to match our genuine experiences of God's love

• Spiritual Blindness: Those who claim to see everything clearly often remain spiritually blind due to pride

Discussion Questions

Read through John 9:18-41 Share what the passage reveals to you about God, about humanity, and about following Jesus. Then discuss some or all of the following questions:

1. Fear and Faith: The man's parents abandon him out of fear of religious authority, while some Pharisees believe in Jesus but stay silent for the same reason. When have you seen fear of losing community or status prevent people from speaking truth? How do you navigate the tension between belonging and authenticity?
   
2. Deconstruction and Faith: The hosts explain deconstruction as taking apart beliefs to understand them better, noting that Jesus himself deconstructed religious ideas. Have you experienced periods of questioning or "deconstructing" your faith? How did your community respond, and what did you learn through that process?
   
3. Experience vs. Interpretation: Jamie shares how her experience of God's calling to ministry conflicted with her interpretation of women's roles. When has your personal experience of God challenged your theological beliefs? How do you discern between changing circumstances and unchanging truth?
   
4. Responding to Disagreement: The Pharisees resort to mockery and abuse when challenged. Think about how you respond when someone questions your beliefs or presents different theological views. What would it look like to embody Jesus's character in these conversations rather than defending your position?
   
5. Spiritual Blindness: Jesus says those who claim to see remain blind, while those who admit blindness begin to see. In what areas of your faith or understanding might you need to embrace "not knowing" in order to truly see? How does intellectual or theological pride prevent spiritual growth?

End your time by taking a minute to listen to the Holy Spirit and prayerfully choose an “I will…” intention. One small, practical step you’ll take this week to put your learning into practice.

Takeaways

• Maintain theological humility: Hold firm beliefs while remaining open to God's continued teaching
• Respond with Christ-like character: Choose love, compassion, and respect over mockery and aggression when facing disagreement
• Create safe spaces: Churches should welcome questions and faith journeys rather than demanding conformity

[email protected]

WEEK 24.6: The Prayer of Examen helps us reflect on the week that was in our Slow Journey Through John.

SJTJ s a year-long contemplative journey through the Gospel of John. We invite you into Scripture, reflection, and intentional practices to help you pause, listen, and respond to God’s love in transformative ways. 

Weekdays are 10-12-minute devotionals to help you abide in the presence of Jesus and the Word of God, learn by studying the Scriptures, and go with intention to love the world. 

Weekends we release a short prayer of examen reflecting on the previous week and/or a longer teaching podcast that more deeply explores the themes and implications of John. 

Occasionally we have an excursus episode, which is basically an extra episode addressing listener questions or certain topics that require extended exploration.

Bibliography

Visit our website

Follow us on social media for weekly practices: @gothewildway

Contact us: podcast (at) thewildway.ca

All Scripture from the Common English Bible (2012) unless otherwise noted.

Music credits:

Weekday music by Maksym Dudchyk on Pixabay. Used with permission.

Examen music: Music by Laniakea from Uppbeat. License code: HRU7UD9ID388DFJT

Teaching podcast: Music produced by Nick Osborne

DONATE TO THE WILD WAY⁠.  Your support helps us create spiritual formation and discipleship resources that help people be formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others. 

WEEK 24.5: 39 Jesus said, “I have come into the world to exercise judgment so that those who don’t see can see and those who see will become blind.”

40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard what he said and asked, “Surely we aren’t blind, are we?”

41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you wouldn’t have any sin, but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.

SJTJ s a year-long contemplative journey through the Gospel of John. We invite you into Scripture, reflection, and intentional practices to help you pause, listen, and respond to God’s love in transformative ways. 

Weekdays are 10-12-minute devotionals to help you abide in the presence of Jesus and the Word of God, learn by studying the Scriptures, and go with intention to love the world. 

Weekends we release a short prayer of examen reflecting on the previous week and/or a longer teaching podcast that more deeply explores the themes and implications of John. 

Occasionally we have an excursus episode, which is basically an extra episode addressing listener questions or certain topics that require extended exploration.

Bibliography

Visit our website

Follow us on social media for weekly practices: @gothewildway

Contact us: podcast (at) thewildway.ca

All Scripture from the Common English Bible (2012) unless otherwise noted.

Music credits:

Weekday music by Maksym Dudchyk on Pixabay. Used with permission.

Examen music: Music by Laniakea from Uppbeat. License code: HRU7UD9ID388DFJT

Teaching podcast: Music produced by Nick Osborne

DONATE TO THE WILD WAY⁠.  Your support helps us create spiritual formation and discipleship resources that help people be formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others.