Use these for group work, or to assist your personal reflection.
- What have you received from the Lord that you could describe as ‘grace upon grace’? Do you testify to what God has done for you?
- How importance for Christian faith is Moses and his work, and how does this differ from its importance for Jews?
- What has Jesus taught you about the nature of God? Does this affect you in any way?
Merciful Lord, I long to be a better person for You, living a life that shows more faith, and trusting in Your death and resurrection. Help me exercise my faith in every circumstance of my life, in my work, in my home and in the privacy of my mind. And may I know Your peace all my days: AMEN
Topis covered by this text
- The testimony of John the Baptist
- The grace of God in Christ
- Law and grace
- Jesus as the evidence of God in this world
Personal comments by author:
These passages within John’s Gospel are treasures of Scripture. Each phrase tells us something about Jesus, but in very different ways. I find each verse challenging, and feel that my own testimony of Jesus is lacking somewhat, by comparison. Nevertheless, the purpose of Scripture is to inspire us not to put us down! Instead of aspiring to get my testimony ‘right’, I need to make sure I speak out what God has given me, just as John did. His testimony is in Scripture because it was unique.
Ideas for exploring discipleship
- Somewhere in this passage there is a challenge for each of us, for we all need to grow in our testimony of God’s work in our lives. If our testimony is the same today as it was several years ago, we should ask what has been going on! How has your own testimony of God’s grace grown over recent years?
- How does testimony take place within your church, and what steps can be taken to establish a place where people hear what others have to say about their faith in Jesus, and their relationship with God.
Please refer to the general advice on the page ‘discipleship challenges’
The notes below are offered to help you think about the challenges of God’s Word. Read the notes and suggestions below, but don’t try to follow through any more than one thing at any one time!