WEEK 19.7 Discussion questions below.
In this episode of A Slow Journey Through John, Nick and Jamie delve into the first half of John chapter 7, exploring Jesus' interactions during the Feast of Tabernacles. They discuss the drama of Jesus' activities, including his secret journey to the festival and teachings that polarized the crowd. The hosts examine the growing opposition Jesus faced from religious leaders and the struggles related to his family's skepticism. They touch on significant themes such as the prophetic role of the church, the redefinition of success in God's kingdom, and the importance of humility and love over the pursuit of power. Nick and Jamie encourage listeners to immerse themselves in Jesus’ teachings and address modern applications, including the courage needed to speak against unjust systems.
00:00 Introduction to Week 19: A Slow Journey through John
00:37 Exploring John Chapter 7: Jesus and the Feast of Tabernacles
01:42 Reflections on Jesus' Growing Opposition
03:04 Reading and Discussing John 7:1-13
05:30 The Significance of the Feast of Tabernacles
09:43 Jesus' Brothers and Their Skepticism
15:12 The Temptation of Power and Worldly Success
16:44 Jesus' Timing and the World's Hatred
21:08 The Church's Prophetic Role Against Injustice
26:42 Polarizing Presence of Jesus
27:36 Jesus Teaches at the Festival
28:26 Judging by Appearances
29:44 Speaking Out Against Injustice
33:56 Jesus Challenges the Crowd
46:31 Final Reflections and Takeaways
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JOURNAL PROMPTS / SMALL GROUP GUIDE
Read through John 7:1-30. Share what the passage reveals to you about God, about humanity, and about following Jesus. Then discuss some or all of the following questions:
- Jesus went to the Festival of Tabernacles secretly, contrary to what he told his brothers. Nick and Jamie discuss how Jesus was looking for the "kairos" moment (most opportune time). When have you needed to wait for the right timing to do something important? How do you discern when the time is right to speak or act?
- In the episode, Nick and Jamie discuss how Jesus faced opposition when he testified that the world's systems are evil. What unjust systems do you see in the world today that followers of Jesus should be speaking out against? What makes it difficult to take a prophetic stance against systems that benefit us?
- The religious leaders dismissed Jesus based on his lack of formal education and his supposed Galilean origins rather than engaging with the content of his teaching. When have you dismissed someone's message because of their appearance, background, or credentials? How can we practice "judging with right judgment" rather than by appearances?
- Jesus says, "Whoever wants to do God's will can tell whether my teaching is from God." The hosts suggest this means we must act on Jesus' teachings to truly understand them. How has your understanding of Jesus deepened through attempting to live out his teachings? What teaching initially confused you but made more sense through practice?
- Nick and Jamie discuss how success in God's kingdom differs from worldly measures of success. They suggest that the most successful people in the kingdom of God might be those serving quietly in the background. How does this challenge your personal definition of success? What would it look like to reorient your ambitions around kingdom values?
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.
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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.
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