David and Michael walk through John 1:6-18 to help you lead meaningful discussions about the text.
John 1:6-18 (ESV)
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
Questions from the Conversation:
- Who was John the Baptist based on this text? What do you notice about John the Baptist’s job description in this text?
- What words are repeated in 9-13, what do they tell us about the main idea of the passage?
- What are the two ways the light was received?
- What are the attributes of Jesus in verse 14? How can verse 14 serve as a summary of the whole passage (6-18)?
- How do grace and truth work together in this text?
- How did Jesus make the father known?
- BIG IDEA QUESTION: What does John want us to know about Jesus in this text?
- How does recognizing Jesus is full of grace and truth demand a reorientation of our lives?
- What does it look like to live a life characterized by grace and truth?
- How do we speak the truth without shaming, and show grace without pleasing?
Chiastic Structure Example:
Here’s a great example of chiastic structure and a fun look at a modern take on it...
https://medium.com/@eabiusi/kanye-west-and-the-adaptation-of-ancient-hebrew-poetic-form-d8319b661ef
Book References:
How to Read the Bible for All its Worth - Fee & Stuart
How People Grow - Cloud & Townsend