John: The Word Became Flesh

John 1

What we believe impacts every aspect of our lives. When God entered human history and the Word became flesh, the power of Heaven was unleashed on the earth. God became a man. People could see and believe in Him in a whole new way. It is the time to ask the question, “What do I really believe about Jesus, and how should this shape my daily life?” 

WELCOME

Our lives will be shaped and dramatically impacted by what we believe and where we put our trust. Jesus offers a rock-solid foundation for life. Sadly, many people look to the things of this world and hope they will provide the security and stability their souls long for. Too often the results are tragic.

Countless people have lost their life’s savings by getting sucked into an investment scam or Ponzi scheme. They put all the money they have saved into an opportunity that seems too good to be true — because it is! When the truth finally comes out, their retirement savings are gone and there is often nothing they can do to recover their resources.

Many young people have a sense of invincibility. They place their trust in their own strength, abilities, and creativity. Over time the weight of life becomes too much and something has to give. Their blind confidence becomes flooded by uncertainty.

Your soulmate is out there! Just find the right one! So many people spend their lives looking for the perfect person who will “complete them” and make life wonderful. Many never find that elusive prize. Those who do, with time, tend to discover one of two things. That person is not as perfect as they imagined (and sometimes they start looking again). Or the weight and expectations they heap on that one “flawless person” is too much and it crushes them.

If we place our ultimate belief and trust in finances, health, people, or anything else, in time we will end up disappointed, and the sheer weight of life will bring things crumbling down. In the beginning of John’s Gospel, we are offered a place to put out trust, belief, hope, and life. Well, it’s not really a place; it’s a person. He is the Word of God. The Light. The Messiah. Jesus.

SHARE

Tell about a time when you put your hope, trust, or belief in something (or someone), and things did not turn out well.

WATCH

Play the video for session one. As you watch, use the following outline to record any thoughts, questions, or key points that stand out to you.

The big picture — snapshots of the four Gospels:

• Matthew:
• Mark:
• Luke:
• John

The focal point of John’s Gospel and his big themes:

Jesus the Logos (John 1:1)

• Greek meaning:
• Jewish meaning:

The Word became flesh (John 1:14–18).

What do you really believe?

What do you believe about Jesus?

The number seven in Scripture

The importance of real, growing, and increasing belief in Jesus

Our lives and prayers tell the story of what we believe about everything, including Jesus.

DISCUSS

Take a few minutes to discuss with your group members what you just watched and to explore these concepts in Scripture. Use the following questions to help guide your discussion.

1. What impacted you the most as you watched Kyle’s teaching on John 1?
2. Read John 20:30–31. Kyle told a story about his son using a walker after an injury. What are some of the “walkers” people use to help them get through life, move forward, and bear the weight that life can heap on them? How has true belief in Jesus helped you (or someone close to you) stand strong and press forward through the hard times of life?
3. Read John 1:1–5. This power-packed passage launches us into John’s Gospel. Jesus is the “Word.” What do we learn about our Savior? how should this impact our belief in him?
4. Read John 1:14–18. What do you learn about Jesus (the Word) from this passage? How have you experienced both the grace and truth of Jesus as your belief in him has deepened over time?
5. Our core beliefs shape our attitudes, govern our emotional world, guide our behavior, regulate our relationships, and form our future. Take a moment and write down two or three things that you believe about Jesus at the core of your being. Share one of these beliefs with your group and illustrate how this belief impacts how you walk through life.
6. What are ways we can be sure we are growing to really believe in Jesus and not just gather information about him? How can we help the next generation encounter Jesus so they truly believe in him?

MEMORIZE

In each session, you will be given a key verse (or verses) to memorize from the passage covered in the video teaching. This week your memory verse is John 1:1:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Recite this verse out loud. Ask for volunteers who would like to say the verse from memory.

RESPOND

What will you take away from this session? What is one practical next step you can take that will deepen your belief in Jesus and impact your life in a positive way that honors God?

PRAY

Close your group time by praying in any of these directions:

• Lift up prayers of thanks and praise for how Jesus has been the one to strengthen and protect you in the hard times of life.
• Praise God for who Jesus is and for how his presence and power in your life have transformed your past and your present.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to grow your faith in Jesus over the coming forty days, and pray for the members of your group to go deeper in their belief in Jesus.

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Your Turn

Come share your thoughts with us on the John study! We would love to hear from you.