Reflection Questions: John 1:1-18

For the message, When God Moved into the Neighbourhood given by Pastor John Ferguson
at New City Church of Calgary on December, 2016
These discussion questions are designed primarily to help you apply the message from the Scriptures
by helping you think through application to your personal life, your church life, and your citys life.
You can use these by yourself for reflection, or with your family or small group for discussion.
To review the sermon, go to NewCityChurch.ca/sermons
INTRODUCTION
Pray. Take a moment to pray asking God to guide you in reflecting upon the Scripture text.
Read the Scripture text: John 1:1-18
A summary of the sermon: In this introduction to his Gospel, the Apostle John describes Jesus as the Word and tells
us (1) the Word was God and was with God, and (2) the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
Key Point: The Christmas story is about Him, but it also includes us!
Key Quotes:
NT Wright, This book is about the Creator God acting in a new way within his much-beloved creation. It is about the
way in which the long story which began in Genesis reached the climax the Creator had always intended. In
Genesis 1, the climax is the creation of humans. In John 1, the climax is the arrival of a human being.
Eugene Peterson, The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood.
Tim Keller, No other religionwhether secularism, Greco-Roman paganism, Eastern religion, Judaism or Islam
believes God became breakable or had a body. Eastern religion believes the physical is illusion. Greco-Romans
believe the physical is bad. Judaism and Islam dont believe God would do such a thing as live in the flesh.
1 John 4:8ff, God is love. In this the love of God was manifest among us, that God sent his son into the world, that we
might live through him. We have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world
So we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us.
Bottom Line: If you want to know God, you have to get to know Jesus because in Jesus God has made himself known.
QUESTIONS
Starter Question: Do you have a favourite Christmas song? If so, what is it & why is it your favourite?
1. How does this text speak to your life?
How does this text help you understand that Jesus cannot simply be a great teacher? In other words, how do we
miss the point of the text if all we know about Jesus is that he is a great teacher?
The central claim of this text is that Jesus was God, and took on flesh and dwelt among us. When did the actual
weight of this truththat God took on flesh and blood and moved into the neighbourhood, as it wereimpact your
life?
2. How does this text speak to us as a church community?
How should this truth impact our life? Brainstorm as many ways as you can think of?

3. How does this text speak to our city?

How does the central claim of this text inform our message to our city?
How does this passage correct what many people think about Jesus?
How does 1:12 challenge the way people in the city think about religion?

CONCLUSION QUESTION
What is the one thing you want to take away from this study to remember or to make a change in your life?

PRAYER
What are some ways you can turn what you are learning into prayer? List them as bullet points.
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