There is a short introduction available for the book of John. You can read it here.
The Word Became Flesh - John 1:1-18
Understand It
- Who is the Word? (1:1)
- What is the relationship between the Word and God? (1:1-2)
- What was the Word’s role in creation? (1:3)
- How is the "life" the light of men? (1:4)
- What was John’s role in relation to the light? (1:6)
- How did the light give light to every person? (1:9)
- Why didn’t the world recognize the light? (1:10)
- What is the benefit of receiving or believing in the Word? (1:12)
- How and why did the Word make His dwelling among us? (1:14)
- Whose glory did the Word reveal? (1:14)
- What did God give us through Moses? (1:17)
- What did God give us through Jesus? (1:18)
- Why is it significant that no one has seen God but "God the One and Only"? (1:18)
Apply It
- What do you need to do to be certain of your relationship with God?
- What will you do this week to better enjoy your status as a child of God?
- How should the reality that God became a man affect your life today?
John the Baptist Denies Being the Christ - John 1:19-28
Understand It
- What did the Jews want to know? (1:19)
- Who did the Jews think John was? (1:20-21)
- What did John say about who he was? (1:20-22)
- In what way was John a "voice of one calling in the desert"? (1:23)
- What does the phrase "make straight the way for the Lord" mean? (1:23)
- How did John "make straight the way for the Lord"? (1:23)
- Why did the Pharisees care that John was baptizing people? (1:24)
- What did John say he was not worthy to do? (1:27)
- Who did John say was coming after him? (12:27)
- Where did these events take place? (1:28)
Apply It
- In what way can you be a voice for Jesus?
- What are some areas in which you struggle to be humble at this time in your life?
- In what specific ways can you point others to Christ this week?
Jesus the Lamb of God - John 1:29-34
Understand It
- Why did John call Jesus the Lamb of God? (1:29)
- What are the sins of the world? (1:29)
- What does Jesus do with the sins of the world? (1:29)
- What did John mean that Jesus surpassed him because He was before him? (1:30)
- How was Jesus before John? (1:30)
- Why did John say he didn’t know who Jesus was? (1:31)
- What reason did John give for baptizing Jesus? (1:31)
- Why did John come to baptize people? (1:31)
- What creature represented the Spirit of God? (1:32)
- Why did the Spirit come down upon Jesus? (1:33)
- With what did John baptize? (1:31, 33)
- With what will Jesus baptize? (1:33)
- What title did John ascribe to the person he baptized? (1:34)
Apply It
- How can you honor Jesus’ Sonship with your life this week?
- What steps can you take to appreciate better who Jesus is?
- In what way can you reveal Christ to others this week?
Jesus' First Disciples - John 1:35-42
Understand It
- Who besides Jesus had disciples? (1:35)
- What did John say when he saw Jesus? (1:36)
- How did John identify Jesus for his disciples? (1:37)
- What did John’s disciples do when John identified Jesus? (1:37)
- What did Jesus ask John’s disciples? (1:38)
- What did John’s disciples call Jesus? (1:38)
- What did John’s disciples ask Jesus? (1:38)
- What was the first thing Andrew did after he had followed Jesus? (1:40)
- Who was Andrew’s brother? (1:40)
- What did Andrew tell his brother about Jesus? (1:41)
- What nickname did Jesus give to Simon? (1:42)
- What words did the author interpret for us? (1:37, 41, 42)
Apply It
- Whom do you want to introduce to Jesus this week?
- How could you introduce Christ to a friend or relative?
- What change in your daily routine would enable you to follow Jesus better?
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael - John 1:43-51
Understand It
- How did Jesus and Philip meet? (1:43)
- What did Jesus say to Philip? (1:43)
- How did Philip respond to Jesus’ invitation? (1:44-46)
- What did Philip do after he followed Jesus? (1:45)
- What did Philip tell Nathanael about Jesus? (1:45)
- Why was Nathanael skeptical that Philip had found the Messiah? (1:46)
- How did Nathanael respond to the fact that Jesus was from Nazareth? (1:46)
- What did Jesus say when he saw Nathanael? (1:47)
- What convinced Nathanael that Jesus was the Son of God? (1:47-50)
- What was Nathanael’s response to Jesus’ greeting? (1:48)
- Why was Nathanael surprised? (1:48)
- Why did Nathanael call Jesus the Son of God and the King of Israel? (1:48-49)
- What were the greater things to which Jesus referred? (1:50)
- What did Jesus tell Nathanael he would see? (1:51)
- Who is the Son of Man? (1:51)
Apply It
- How will you show your trust in the God who knows all about you this week?
- How would you share your faith with a skeptical person this week?
- In what way will you recognize Jesus as the ruler of your life today?
