ST NICOLAS, NEWBURY

HOME GROUP QUESTIONS

FROM SUNDAY 6 MAY 2007

JOHN 2:12-25 - GOOD NEWS FROM JOHN - NEW TEMPLE

WHO IS JESUS? - PART 2

If you were using these notes last week, we are picking up where we left off! Can you remember who the last passage revealed Jesus to be? (God and Messiah)

PART 1

1. Read John 2:12-25

2. Walk your way through the first half of the passage. what was going on and why? Picture the scene.

3. What was the significance of the temple to the Jews? What was it for? What did it symbolise?

4. What is the problem in having those people there? How might they be hindering people from coming to God? What is it that motivates Jesus to do what he does in verse 15-16?

5. What does verse 17 add? You might like to look up Psalm 69 - Jesus the Messiah!

Application

6. What were the traders preventing people doing? How might we as a church, as congregations, as individuals also hinder people from coming to God?

PART 2 - JESUS THE TEMPLE

7. How do the traders respond in verse 19? Put it in your own words.

8. How does Jesus respond? Why is this so significant? What does it mean for Jesus to be the new temple?

9. The Jews had to go to Jerusalem to meet with God, where must we go?

10. The people's response. Read verses 23-25. At first glance their response looks positive, but why might it not be quite so good after all? What other responses are there to Jesus here? (verse 11, verse 19?)

Application

10. How do we respond to these claims of Jesus to be Messiah and God? Do we believe Jesus to be the one we need to turn to to meet with God?

11. And if we do believe he is God, do we see the evidence of our faith in our lives? And are we helping other to see this truth also?

PRAYER

12. Pray for those in our church and on the edge of church life who are thinking seriously about the Christian Faith at the moment. Pray for the Start! Course beginning this Tuesday (May 8th) and for those thinking about being confirmed in June. Pray too for the plans being made to run the Alpha Course in the autumn.

Edward Hobbs
3 May 2007