The Wiersbe Bible Study Series: John: Get to Know the Living Savior

By Warren W. Wiersbe

The book of John lays the very foundation of the Gospel: Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and through Him we begin to truly live. This study takes an in-depth look at the life of Christ, from a miraculous public ministry that confirmed His calling [mission], to personal revelations that can transform the life of every believer. Rich in theology, and essential to evangelism, the book of John provides a definitive guide to Christ’s powerful message of hope. 

The Wiersbe Bible Studies Series explores timeless wisdom found in God’s word. Based on Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe’s popular “BE” series, each study provides topical, relevant insights from selected books of the Bible. Designed for small groups, this eight-week study features selected commentaries from Be Alive and Be Transformed, engaging questions, and practical applications, all designed to help you connect God’s word with your life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: David C Cook
• Release date: Jul 1, 2010
• ISBN: 9780781404907

Warren W. Wiersbe

Warren W. Wiersbe, former pastor of the Moody Church and general director of Back to the Bible, has traveled widely as a Bible teacher and conference speaker. Because of his encouragement to those in ministry, Dr. Wiersbe is often referred to as "the pastor’s pastor." He has ministered in churches and conferences throughout the United States as well as in Canada, Central and South America, and Europe. Dr. Wiersbe has written over 150 books, including the popular BE series of commentaries on every book of the Bible, which has sold more than four million copies. At the 2002 Christian Booksellers Convention, he was awarded the Gold Medallion Lifetime Achievement Award by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. Dr. Wiersbe and his wife, Betty, live in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Book preview

Contents

Cover

Introduction to John

How to Use This Study

Lesson 1

God in the Flesh (John 1—2)

Lesson 2

Life and Faith (John 3—4)

Lesson 3

Man of Miracles (John 5—6)

Lesson 4

Feast and Conflict (John 7—8)

Lesson 5

A Blind Man and the Shepherd (John 9—10)

Lesson 6

Crisis (John 11—12)

Lesson 7

Humility and Heart (John 13—14)

Lesson 8

Relationships (John 15:1—16:16)

Lesson 9

An Emotional Time (John 16:16—17:26)

Lesson 10

Guilt and Grace (John 18:1—19:16)

Lesson 11

The Cross (John 19:17—20:18)

Lesson 11

Resurrection and Transformation (John 20:19—21:25)

Bonus Lesson

Summary and Review

Extras

Introduction to John

The Theme

The gospel of John is simple enough for a child to wade in, but deep enough for the scholar and the most seasoned saint to swim in.

The basic theme of John’s gospel is that Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the Son of God, and all who believe in Him receive eternal life (20:30–31). John’s subject is the deity of Christ. John’s object is to lead people into the life—eternal life, abundant life—that only Christ can give. John is both a theologian and an evangelist.

The Content

The first twelve chapters focus on our Lord’s public ministry, especially the signs (miracles) that Jesus performed and the messages that grew out of some of them. The climax of His public ministry was official rejection by the religious rulers of Israel.

In chapters 13—21, John presents, for the most part, the private ministry of Christ with His own disciples. He was preparing them for their future service when the Holy Spirit would come and empower them. What the disciples experienced during those days completely transformed their lives.

Your Heart

Please come to this study with the heart and mind of a worshipper. John did not simply write a book; he painted exciting pictures. These pages are filled with images such as the Lamb, the door, the Shepherd, the new birth, the light and darkness, the Water of Life, bread, blindness, seeds, and dozens more. Use your sanctified imagination as you study, and the gospel of John will become a new book to you.

—Warren W. Wiersbe

How to Use This Study

This study is designed for both individual and small-group use. We’ve divided it into twelve lessons—each references one or more chapters in Warren W. Wiersbe’s commentaries Be Alive and Be Transformed (second editions, David C. Cook, 2009). While reading the commentaries is not a prerequisite for going through this study, the additional insights and background Wiersbe offers can greatly enhance your study experience.

The Getting Started questions at the beginning of each lesson offer you an opportunity to record your first thoughts and reactions to the study text. This is an important step in the study process as those first impressions often include clues about what it is your heart is longing to discover.

The bulk of the study is found in the Going Deeper questions. These dive into the Bible text and, along with helpful excerpts from Wiersbe’s commentary, help you examine not only the original context and meaning of the verses but also modern application.

Looking Inward narrows the focus down to your personal story. These intimate questions can be a bit uncomfortable at times, but don’t shy away from honesty here. This is where you are asked to stand before the mirror of God’s Word and look closely at what you see. It’s the place to take a good look at yourself in light of the lesson and search for ways in which you can grow in faith.

Going Forward is the place where you can commit to paper those things you want or need to do in order to better live out the discoveries you made in the Looking Inward section. Don’t skip or skim through this. Take the time to really consider what practical steps you might take to move closer to Christ. Then share your thoughts with a trusted friend who can act as an encourager and accountability partner.

Finally, there is a brief Seeking Help section to close the lesson. This is a reminder for you to invite God into your spiritual-growth process. If you choose to write out a prayer in this section, come back to it as you work through the lesson and continue to seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance as you discover God’s will for your life.

Tips for Small Groups

A small group is a dynamic thing. One week it might seem like a group of close-knit friends. The next it might seem more like a group of uncomfortable strangers. A small-group leader’s role is to read these subtle changes and adjust the tone of the discussion accordingly.

Small groups need to be safe places for people to talk openly. It is through shared wrestling with difficult life issues that some of the greatest personal growth is discovered. But in order for the group to feel safe, participants need to know it’s okay not to share sometimes. Always invite honest disclosure, but never force someone to speak if he or she isn’t comfortable doing so. (A savvy leader will follow up later with a group member who isn’t comfortable sharing in a group setting to see if a one-on-one discussion is more appropriate.)

Have volunteers take turns reading excerpts from Scripture or from the commentary. The more each person is involved even in the mundane tasks, the more they’ll feel comfortable opening up in more meaningful ways.

The leader should watch the clock and keep the discussion moving. Sometimes there may be more Going Deeper questions than your group can cover in your available time. If you’ve had a fruitful discussion, it’s okay to move on without finishing everything. And if you think the group is getting bogged down on a question or has taken off on a tangent, you can simply say, Let’s go on to question 5. Be sure to save at least ten to fifteen minutes for the Going Forward questions.

Finally, soak your group meetings in prayer—before you begin, during as needed, and always at the end of your time together.

Lesson 1

God in the Flesh

(JOHN 1—2)

Before you begin …

• Pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal truth and wisdom as you go through this lesson.

• Read John 1—2. This lesson references chapters 1–2 in Be Alive. It will be helpful for you to have your Bible and a copy of the commentary available as you work through this lesson.

Getting Started

From the Commentary

Much as our words reveal to others our hearts and minds, so Jesus Christ is God’s Word to reveal His heart and mind to us. He that hath seen me hath seen the Father (John 14:9). A word is composed of letters, and Jesus Christ is Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:11), the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. According to Hebrews 1:1–3, Jesus Christ is God’s last Word to mankind, for He is the climax of divine revelation.

—Be Alive, page 20

1. As you read John 1:1–2, what stands out to you about the description of the Word? What does it mean that the Word was with God? That the Word was God? How does this opening contrast with that of the other three gospel accounts (Matthew, Mark, and Luke)? What does this tell us about John, the writer of this gospel?

More to Consider: Why do you think John refers to Jesus as the Son of God so many times in his gospel? (See John 1:34, 49; 3:18; 5:25; 10:36; 11:4, 27; 19:7; 20:31.)

2. Choose one verse or phrase from John 1—2 that stands out to you. This could be something you’re intrigued by, something that makes you uncomfortable, something that puzzles you, something that resonates with you, or just something you want to examine further. Write that here.

Going Deeper

From the Commentary

Life is a key theme in John’s gospel; it is used thirty-six times. What are the essentials for human life? There are at least four: light (if the sun went out, everything would die), air, water, and food. Jesus is all of these! He is the Light of Life and the Light of the World (John 8:12). He is the Sun of righteousness (Mal. 4:2). By His Holy Spirit, He gives us the breath of life (John 3:8; 20:22), as well as the Water of

Reviews for The Wiersbe Bible Study Series

[mzellen_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I like the "Be Books". They are Arminian in flavor, but a good basic overview.