Bible Study

WINDSOR FULL GOSPEL MISSION CHURCH
GROUP BIBLE DISCUSSION ANSWERS

John 1:43-52 (G)

1. 1) How did Philip become Jesus’ disciple?

Answer

Philip was chosen by Jesus as His disciple.

1.2) What was Jesus’ command for Philip?

Answer

Jesus’ command for Philip is to follow Jesus

2.1) How can you follow Jesus until the end?

Answer

You can follow Jesus until the end by (1) Focusing on Jesus and His Word and (2) Absolute obedience

2.2) What attitude do the followers of Jesus have?

Answer

The followers of Jesus should have the attitude of:

(1) A lamb following the shepherd (John 10:11) and (2) A servant following the master (Romans 10:9)

2.3) Can you illustrate a Jesus’ follower who walks ahead of Him? (Proverbs 3:5-7)

Answer

A Jesus’ follower who walks ahead of Him is a person who makes decisions with own wisdom, and then asks Jesus to bless his decision. This means that He will decide his own direction and ask Jesus to follow him. In case he encounters any trouble on the way, he will ask for Jesus’ help.

2.4) How do those people make decisions on choosing marriage partners?

Answer

Those people first choose their marriage partners, and then ask God’s blessings on them.

2.5) What will happen to them?

Answer

They will surely encounter problems in their decision and Jesus will not take responsibility for these decisions.

2.6) What kind of Christian will walk ahead of Jesus?

Answer

The kind of Christians will walk ahead of Jesus are: 1) Christians who do not seek God’s will in prayer and 2) Christians who have poor knowledge of the Bible.

2.7) As a beginner Christian, how do you know God’s will?

Answer

As a beginner Christian, you can know God’s will by consult with spiritually matured person, such as the Pastor or a church elder

3.1) Whom do you think of, when good things happened to you? (v. 45)

Answer

I want to share the good news with my close family members or friends.

3.2) What is the evidence of a person who has experienced Jesus?

Answer

He wants to share his experience of Jesus (the good news of the Gospel) with others.

4. What is the underlying meaning in Nathaniel’s saying, “ Nazareth ! Can any thing good come there”? (James 2:2-4, 1 Peter 1:17)

Answer

He had a prejudicial thought over Jesus on the basis that Jesus came from Nazareth . We should not judge a person according to the overall group impression. Generally, the success rate of persons without formal education is lower as compared to a person with formal education. However, we cannot use this general rule when we evaluate each individual. Abraham Lincoln is the President of US and Spurgeon is a famous preacher, but they both had no formal professional education.

5.1) Why did Jesus say that Nathaniel is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false? (John 1:16)

Answer

Jesus wants to remember a truthful moment of Nathaniel.

5.2) What moment in your life does Satan want to remember? Why?

Answer

Satan wants to remember the moment that we commit sins in our lives in order to condemn us.

5.3) Why does Jesus want to remember a beautiful moment of our lives?

Answer

Jesus sees our potential in us. He knows that He can make a beautiful product out of our lives with his help.

5.4) When was the truthful moment of Nathaniel?

Answer

The truthful moment of Nathaniel is during the prayer time.

5.5) When did Jesus observe such a time of Nathaniel?

Answer

Jesus observed such a time of Nathaniel under a fig tree. Nathaniel was probably praying for the nation of Israel and waiting for the Messiah to deliver his nation out of Roman occupation.

5.6) What do you think of Nathaniel’s reaction to Jesus’ saying?

Answer

He was surprised by Jesus’ supernatural knowledge and God’s quick answer to his prayer for the Messiah.

6. Where did the name of Israel come from? (Genesis 32:22-28)

Answer

The name of Israel comes from God’s renewed name of Jacob after his decision on a total dedication of his life to God at Jabbok brook.

7. Why did Jesus say a true Israelite? Are not all the Israelites the children of Jacob?

Answer

They are all Israelites, but their life style is similar to that of the old Jacob (self-centered and self-interested).

8. What does it mean when Jesus say that Nathaniel will see angels from heaven up and down on Jesus? (Genesis 28:10-13)

Answer

Jesus was referring to the staircase that Jacob saw in his dream at Bethel , the top of which reaches heaven and angels come up and down on it. Jesus was saying that this staircase is Himself. Through Jesus we can reach heaven, and angels will carry us to heaven through Jesus. Jesus was saying that He is the Messiah and we will have salvation only through Him. The top of staircases of all other religion cannot reach into heaven.

Life Application:

1. Are you a follower of Jesus?

Answer

Individual answer

2. How often do you walk ahead of Jesus in your Christian life?

Answer

Individual answer

3. Are you a true Christian or an old Jacob like Christian?

Answer

Individual answer

4. Do you think that any religion can take people into heaven?

Answer

No. Only Jesus can take you into heaven.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father! Thank you for choosing me to follow Jesus. Give me spiritual hunger so that I can follow Jesus closely everyday. Help me to be humble so that I will not walk ahead of Jesus. Please change me to a true Christian from a self centered Jacob Christian. I believe that only Jesus can take me to heaven. Help me to deny myself, take up my cross daily, and follow Jesus until the end. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!