About

Call to worship: Genesis 28:10-17

Text: John 1:35-51

Sermon Outline:

1. Discipleship: helping people to Jesus, 1:35-46.
   • From John to Jesus, 1:35-39.
   • From Andrew to Jesus, 1:40-42.
   • From Philip to Jesus, 1:43-46.
2. Discipleship: Jesus helping His people, 1:47-51.
   • His welcoming grace.
   • His convincing knowledge.
   • His assuring word.
   • His surpassing glory.

Prepare

Discussion Questions:

1. Read John 1:35-51.
2. In 1:35-39, what emphasis do we find in John's testimony about Jesus? See also 1:29. On this occasion, what happens with two of John's disciples? Why is this transition from John to Jesus so important and right? What are these two disciples seeking? What marks the very beginning of Jesus' discipling ministry? See v. 39.
3. In 1:40-42, Andrew is one of the first two to leave John for Jesus. After following Jesus, what's his first action? Do we think of his labor to bring Peter to Jesus as the Christ? Do we remember this action? What might that imply about the usefulness of 'small and forgotten' labors in Christ's Kingdom? Why is this act so significant to the life of the church? Think of Peter's future role, implied in Christ's naming of him.
4. In 1:43-46, Jesus is in the place of John (compare with 1:35). He finds Philip and says 'Follow Me.' In that, how is Jesus different than John or anybody else for that matter? If we are means to an end in discipleship, what is Jesus? What is Philip's first action after following Jesus? What does he preach of Jesus? Is there another Christ than the biblical Christ? How should biblical revelation gloriously 'regulate' our understanding of Jesus? How does Nathanael respond differently than the others? Why does he? How does Philip respond? Will Jesus ever let down anyone seeking the Christ of Scripture?
5. In 1:47-51, how does Jesus greet Nathanael? What does He reveal to dispel Nathanael's doubt? What testimony replaces his doubt? How does Jesus respond? What 'greater things' does Jesus allude to in 1:51? See Genesis 28:10-17. What do you make of it? How should that compel us to believe in and entrust ourselves to Jesus all the more?