![]() We’re invited to truly encounter the person and work of Jesus Christ – to allow him to renew us, convict us, and ultimately change us at our core. Initial faith in Jesus is important the Gospel of John challenges anyone who has not trusted Christ for their salvation to do so! But for many of our believing students (and for many of us), John’s encouragement is to allow the faith we’ve placed in Christ to penetrate “below the surface” of our hearts and minds. Rather, John presents the view that it is possible (and quite normal) for Christ-followers to experience the realities of God’s Kingdom in the course of their lives on earth. In John 10:10, Jesus himself states “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” With instructions for believers to “love one another” (13:34), to “keep commandments” (14:15), and to “Abide in love” (15:9), it is clear that John’s Gospel does not limit its definition of “eternal life” to something which is only possible in an afterlife. As Craig Keener writes, “Throughout the Fourth Gospel signs call forth a basic level of faith, but only as an invitation to a deeper, persevering faith…” ![]() While the “purpose statement” from John 20 reveals the evangelistic priority of the Fourth Gospel, the depth and breadth of its theological content reveals the priority of Christian growth as well. Through robust theological reflections and engaging narrative, John’s Gospel introduces readers first and foremost to a person: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who alone is able to bestow eternal life.Ģ.John’s Gospel stretches and encourages believers into faith and surrender. At the same time, the entirety of this theological content falls under the umbrella of a simple, powerful statement of purpose provided by the author of the Gospel himself: “ are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).Įternity hangs in the balance for the students to whom we minister. The book stimulates in-depth theological conversations: the nature of our Triune God, the person and work of the Holy Spirit, the role of signs and miracles in the Christian ministry, etc. ![]() Here are four reasons why I feel it to be so:ġ.John’s Gospel is useful for leading lost people to Jesus. In my mind, the study of John’s Gospel is well worth any associated opportunity cost, particularly when one is teaching teenagers and/or young believers. ![]() Though we have taken breaks from the series when a relevant topic or current event dictates, a study through John’s Gospel presents an opportunity cost to teaching shorter, equally relevant books of the Bible in the same time span. The necessary amount may vary between teachers, but the faithful, thoughtful exposition of the book’s contents is a process which demands time. And yet a journey through the book is not without a cost to a church’s or ministry’s overall teaching landscape. The book Father, Son, and Spirit (by Andreas Köstenberger and Scott Swain) notes that the Gospel of John possesses “virtually unparalleled theological compactness and coherence.” It was the depth and breadth of the Fourth Gospel’s contents which made the book attractive to study with our church’s students. Having studied the first ten chapters last year, the completion of our study of the book of John is a scriptural journey which will last through the end of the 2016-2017 school calendar. As families find their ways into “back to school” rhythms, our church’s student ministry leadership team is preparing to teach through John 11-21. ![]()
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