John 3:16-21
Life Group Questions:
1. If you were not able to hear this week’s sermon, consider going to the church website and listening to it. What are some main ideas that you gathered from the sermon? What, if any, questions did the sermon cause for you or do you desire to have additional clarification?
2. Do you believe it’s accurate to say that salvation is solely a work of God? Why or why not? What tension do you see between the idea of man’s responsibility to act and God’s work in salvation? Consider the following passages: Jonah 3:9; Romans 3:23-25; Ephesians 2:8-10.
3. What does it mean that God is the Judge of all the earth (cf. Genesis 18:25)? Do you think that it is fair and proper for God to judge all of mankind? Explain. Why is it wrong for us to judge other people? Explain Matthew 7:1-5 and Romans 14:10.
4. Why do people like darkness rather than the light? What is it about the human heart that leads us astray (cf. Jeremiah 17:9)? Is it correct to say that all human hearts are desperately sick? If as believers God has given us a new heart, is the believer’s heart still deceitful and sick (cf. Jeremiah 31:31-34)?
5. Why do you think Paul uses the term “dead” when referring to our state of being before salvation (cf. Colossians 2:13)? What implications does this term make with regard to: the consequences of sin, our relationship with God, and our ability to change our situation?
6. Considering this passage in John, describe God’s provision for our salvation. What was the manner of his provision? What specifically did he give or do? What impresses you most about God’s actions and attitude?
7. Why do you think John gives Jesus the title the only begotten Son of God? How might this title relate to the idea of Genesis 22? What theological and practical significance should we associate with this title? How does John use it in John?
8. What does it mean to have eternal life? What does it mean to perish? How would you respond to somebody that said every created person will be saved (a.k.a. universalism)? How would you respond to somebody that said those who perish will cease to exist (a.k.a. annihilationism)?
9. What does it mean that those who do not believe in Christ are already judged? Is there a difference between being judged and being condemned? If the unbeliever is already judged, is there any hope for them? Explain.