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

—

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:

1. 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?
   
2. 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?
   
3. 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?
   
4. 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?
   
5. 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.

---

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. 

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 19.6: 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 19.5: 31 Many from that crowd believed in Jesus. They said, “When the Christ comes, will he do more miraculous signs than this man does?” 32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about Jesus, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent guards to arrest him.

33 Therefore, Jesus said, “I’m still with you for a little while before I go to the one who sent me. 34 You will look for me, but you won’t find me, and where I am you can’t come.”

35 The Jewish opposition asked each other, “Where does he intend to go that we can’t find him? Surely he doesn’t intend to go where our people have been scattered and are living among the Greeks! He isn’t going to teach the Greeks, is he? 36 What does he mean when he says, ‘You will look for me, but you won’t find me, and where I am you can’t come’?”

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 19.4: 25 Some people from Jerusalem said, “Isn’t he the one they want to kill? 26 Here he is, speaking in public, yet they aren’t saying anything to him. Could it be that our leaders actually think he is the Christ? 27 We know where he is from, but when the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.”

28 While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he exclaimed, “You know me and where I am from. I haven’t come on my own. The one who sent me is true, and you don’t know him. 29 I know him because I am from him and he sent me.” 30 So they wanted to seize Jesus, but they couldn’t because his time hadn’t yet come.

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 19.3: 19 Didn’t Moses give you the Law? Yet none of you keep the Law. Why do you want to kill me?”

20 The crowd answered, “You have a demon. Who wants to kill you?”

21 Jesus replied, “I did one work, and you were all astonished. 22 Because Moses gave you the commandment about circumcision (although it wasn’t Moses but the patriarchs), you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If a man can be circumcised on the Sabbath without breaking Moses’ Law, why are you angry with me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath? 24 Don’t judge according to appearances. Judge with right judgment.”

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 19.2: 14 Halfway through the festival, Jesus went up to the temple and started to teach. 15 Astonished, the Jewish leaders asked, “He’s never been taught! How has he mastered the Law?”

16 Jesus responded, “My teaching isn’t mine but comes from the one who sent me. 17 Whoever wants to do God’s will can tell whether my teaching is from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 Those who speak on their own seek glory for themselves. Those who seek the glory of him who sent me are people of truth; there’s no falsehood in them. 

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 19.1: 6 Jesus replied, “For you, anytime is fine. But my time hasn’t come yet. 7 The world can’t hate you. It hates me, though, because I testify that its works are evil. 8 You go up to the festival. I’m not going to this one because my time hasn’t yet come.” 9 Having said this, he stayed in Galilee. 10 However, after his brothers left for the festival, he went too—not openly but in secret.

11 The Jewish leaders were looking for Jesus at the festival. They kept asking, “Where is he?” 12 The crowds were murmuring about him. “He’s a good man,” some said, but others were saying, “No, he tricks the people.” 13 No one spoke about him publicly, though, for fear of the Jewish authorities.

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 18 EXPLORE (John 6:52-71 - E)

WEEK 18.7 Discussion questions below.

In this episode of A Slow Journey through John, hosts Nick and Jamie explore the complex and challenging teachings in the latter half of Chapter Six of the Gospel of John. They discuss the reactions of Jesus' disciples and followers to his statements about eating his flesh and drinking his blood, and the deeper metaphorical meaning of these teachings. The episode touches on themes of abiding in Jesus, the cost of discipleship, and the role of the Holy Spirit in understanding Jesus' words. They also delve into personal reflections on spiritual nourishment and the journey of growing in faith.

00:00 Welcome and Global Reach

00:51 Recap of Chapter Six

02:52 Exploring the Eucharistic Language

05:37 Diving into Question Six

06:40 Jesus' Scandalous Teachings

14:22 Spiritual Nourishment and Abiding

18:47 Daily Spiritual Practices

21:56 High Nutritional Value vs. Spiritual Junk Food

25:24 The True Bread of Life and Abiding Relationship

30:12 Understanding Communion: Beyond Rituals

31:27 The Importance of Staying Present in Faith Practices

35:50 The Offense and Cost of Following Jesus

39:13 The Role of the Holy Spirit in Understanding Scripture

46:34 True Discipleship: Commitment and Growth

49:57 Peter's Declaration and the Essence of True Faith

56:16 Reflecting on Our Discipleship Journey

—

JOURNAL PROMPTS / SMALL GROUP GUIDE

Read through John 6:52-71. 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. Jesus's words about eating his flesh and drinking his blood caused many disciples to turn away. What teachings or aspects of Jesus's call to discipleship do you find most challenging or difficult to accept? How might these challenges actually be invitations to deeper faith?
   
2. Peter responds to Jesus with "Lord, where would we go? You have the words of eternal life." Reflect on a time when following Jesus seemed difficult, but you chose to stay. What anchored you to him when walking away seemed easier?
   
3. Nick and Jamie discuss how communion can become an "empty tradition" if we don't stay present and focused on its meaning. What spiritual practices in your life might have become rote or mechanical? How could you approach them with renewed attention to their deeper purpose?
   
4. Jamie and Nick talk about "spiritual junk food" versus high nutritional value spiritual practices. Examine your spiritual diet—what "junk food" might you be consuming that provides temporary satisfaction but little lasting nourishment? What practices consistently nourish your soul?
   
5. The podcast explores how understanding comes through the Spirit, not just intellectual study—"the spirit gives life, the flesh counts for nothing." When have you experienced the Holy Spirit bringing a scripture to life for you in a powerful way? 

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.

---

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. 

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 18.6: 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 18.5:

After this Jesus traveled throughout Galilee. He didn’t want to travel in Judea, because the Jewish authorities wanted to kill him. 2 When it was almost time for the Jewish Festival of Booths, 3 Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee. Go to Judea so that your disciples can see the amazing works that you do. 4 Those who want to be known publicly don’t do things secretly. Since you can do these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 His brothers said this because even they didn’t believe in him.

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.