Bible Study resources for the Gospel of John, to help individuals and small groups explore how the Bible applies to life today: background, commentary, questions. John Additional passages of the Gospel of John will be added approximately once a week, after I test-drive them with my Bible Study group and refine them. John 1:1-18 In the beginning, the Word was with God and was God, yet he chose to come and live among us. His life is the light that enlightens us, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:10-18 (Continuation of John 1:1-18) When John says the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, he is talking about Jesus, the only Son of the Father. Jesus invites us to be sons and daughters of God also. Introduction to John The Gospel of John shows us Jesus Christ, who is both God and man and Son of the Father. It provides spiritual insights that go beyond what the other Gospels have, so that we can believe and have life. John 1:19-34 The religious authorities want to know who John the Baptist is. John is more interested in identifying who Jesus is. That's the central question for us, too. John 1:35-51 As Jesus gathers disciples, they try to decide who he is. He invites them to “Come and see.” Jesus says that to us, too. What is he inviting you to see right now? John 2:1-12 At the wedding feast at Cana, Jesus turns water into wine. It is far more than a miracle; it is a sign that God is present, calling us to “Do whatever he tells you.” John 2:13-25 Jesus cleanses the Temple, removing the sacrificial lambs he will one day take the place of. Where do we need his cleansing in the “temple” of our own life? John 3:1-15 Jesus tells us we need to be born again/from above in order to enter his kingdom. What does this mean, and what might our life look like if we are born from above? John 3:16-21 God loves us with an incomprehensibly immense love. But he doesn’t force us to accept it. People can choose to live in the darkness without him. John 3:22-36 John the Baptist sees from God’s perspective and provides a role model for avoiding jealousy. How can we allow Jesus to increase in our lives? John 4:1-42 Jesus helps the Samaritan woman sort out some religious questions and come to faith in him. How do we move from know about God to having faith in him? John 4:27-42 (Continuation of John 4:1-42) The fields are ripe for harvest. What can we learn from the Samaritan woman and Jesus about how to tell others about Jesus? John 4:43-54 Jesus’s word was enough for the royal official. How much faith do you place in Jesus’s word? John 5:1-9 Jesus told the paralytic man to “Arise, take up your mat, and walk.” Where is Jesus calling you to take a step of faith right now? John 5:8-18 Jesus gets in trouble for healing a man on the Sabbath. No one seems to care that God has done a marvelous deed. In what ways do we miss what God is doing by being too focused on rules and protocol? John 5:19-47 Jesus provides evidence that he comes from the Father and challenges the religious leaders to search the Scriptures to find him. How eagerly do we search the Scriptures and accept what he says? John 6:1-15 Jesus feeds a multitude by multiplying loaves of bread. The people miss the point. How are we vulnerable to missing the point of what God is trying to do? John 6:16-21 Jesus spends time alone, leaving the disciples to get across the lake without him. When he walks on the water and joins them, they reach their destination. How do we handle the times when we don’t feel his presence? John 6:22-33 The work of God is that we believe in Jesus. How can we treat believing as an action that brings us into relationship with the person Jesus? John 6:34-47 When Jesus says that he is the Bread of Life, some people grumble. Jesus calls us to believe him and have eternal life. How might grumbling undermine our faith? John 6:48-59 Jesus tells us to eat his flesh and drink his blood. How does your celebration of the Lord’s Supper/Eucharist/Holy Communion reflect this teaching? John 6:60-71 Some disciples leave Jesus. Peter says, “To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” How is your life built on that kind of commitment to Jesus? John 7:1-13 Jesus had a clear awareness of his overall mission and when was the right moment for specific actions, and he did not let any temptations get in the way. How can you cultivate your sense of God’s timing and avoid temptations that might keep you from your mission? John 7:14-53 Jesus offers rivers of living water, referring to the Holy Spirit. Some believe in him, some have questions, and some reject him. How can you let the Holy Spirit flow more fully through you? John 8:1-11 Some men asked Jesus if would support the execution of a woman caught in adultery. Jesus’s response models mercy and does not support executing people. Can we embrace his approach? John 8:12-30 Jesus is the light of the world who gives us the light of life so that we do not have to walk in darkness. To know him is to know the Father. How can we embrace Jesus as the light of our lives and keep knowing him better? John 8:31-59 Jesus tells us to abide in his word and know the truth, which will set us free. He tells the religious leaders who relied on the fact that they were children of Abraham: “Before Abraham was, I AM.” How can we abide in him, know the truth, and allow him to set us free? John 9:1-41 Jesus illustrates that he is the light of the world as he heals a blind man and addresses the spiritual blindness of those who reject his work. How can we embrace Jesus’s light? John 10:1-21 Jesus is the Good Shepherd who provides for his sheep and lays down his life for his sheep. How does Jesus act as a good shepherd in your life? John 10:22-42 Jesus says, “My sheep follow me.” We are his sheep. How do we follow him? Jesus says, “I and the Father are one.” Why is that important? John 11:1-44 Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. How does he want to give new life to you, and how can you receive it? John 11:45-57 The chief priests decide that the only way to save their nation is to kill Jesus. It is easy to decide to use sinful means to achieve what we think are good ends. How can we avoid that trap? John 12:1-11 Mary anoints the feet of Jesus, while the chief priests seek to kill Jesus and Lazarus. How can we show our devotion to Jesus? And what is Jesus saying about the poor being always with us? John 12:12-19 Jesus does not choose the trappings of a king; he signals that he cares for all the people. How can we follow his humble example and his love for the whole world? John 12:20-26 Jesus uses the image of a grain of wheat to show us that we must die in order to bear fruit. How can we die to ourselves, and what kind of fruit are we called to produce when we do so? John 12:27-36 Jesus describes his death as both a judgment on the world and something that will draw all people to himself. Why is his crucifixion such a central part of what he is doing in the world? John 12:36-50 We can walk in the light of Jesus, or we can walk in the darkness that leads to a hard heart. What can you do to stay in the light and keep your heart soft and open to Jesus? John 13:1-20 Jesus asks us to take a towel and wash each other’s feet. He modeled it first and then told us to do the same. Where is the towel that is waiting for you? John 13:21-38 Betrayal and an impending denial surround Jesus’s command to love one another. Can we love even when it is hard, as Jesus did? John 14:1-14 Jesus is the way to the Father. When we see him, we see the Father because he and the Father are one. He empowers us to do great things so that God will be glorified. How can you be like Jesus? John 14:15-24 Jesus links 3 things that we sometimes treat as separate: loving Jesus, keeping his commandments, and having the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. How can we welcome his presence within us to help us love him more and keep his commandments more readily? John 14:25-31 Jesus gives us a peace the world cannot give, a peace that quiets our troubled hearts and overcomes our fears. Nothing has power over him. How can you rest in his peace? John 15:1-17 Jesus speaks almost simultaneously about abiding in him and loving one another – the interior life and the exterior life. How are they related? How can you both abide him and bear his fruit in how you love others? John 17:1-19 Jesus prays for the disciples, asking the Father to consecrate them as he sends them out into the world. We, too, are called to be set apart or consecrated for the work he has for us. How well do we recognize and respond to our calling? John 20:1-18 The disciples don’t understand the Resurrection at first. Why is it so central to the Christian faith? John 20:19-31 Jesus appears to the disciples, imparts the Holy Spirit to them, commissions them, and gives special attention to Thomas’s need to see him. What do you need to hear from the risen Lord? John - Bibliography Bibliography of major sources and additional sources used in this study of the Gospel of John. Image at top by Travis Emmett, provided by Unsplash via Wix.

Jesus speaks almost simultaneously about abiding in him and loving one another – the interior life and the exterior life. How are they related? How can you both abide him and bear his fruit in how you love others? [John 15:1-10; 15:11-17] Previous Next John List John 15:1-17 Jesus speaks almost simultaneously about abiding in him and loving one another – the interior life and the exterior life. How are they related? How can you both abide him and bear his fruit in how you love others? A grapevine at Gikas Winery, Spata, Greece. Photo by Tom Faletti, 3 Nov. 2023. Tom Faletti June 7, 2026 Read John 15:1-11 I am the vine; abide in me The Greek word menó is central to this passage. It means to abide, to remain, to stay, to live or dwell somewhere. The most common translations are to “remain” or “abide,” although to “stay” or “dwell’ also communicate the key connotation that you are continuing “in” a particular place or position – in this case, in a particular Someone and his love. Jesus uses this word 6 times in verses 4 through 7, urging us to abide in himself. He also uses it once in verse 7, calling on us to let his words stay in us, and 3 times in verses 9-10, telling us to remain in his love. To introduce us to the concept of abiding or remaining in him, Jesus gives us an image of a branch of a vine, which needs to remain attached to the vine to stay alive. What does that image tell us about what it means to “remain” or “abide” in him? The word “abide,” or “remain,” always implies a place: you abide or remain somewhere . Where does Jesus want us to remain or abide? In verse 1, Jesus says that he is the “true” vine. He may be using the word “true” to distinguish himself from Old Testament uses of that metaphor. In the Old Testament, Israel is described as God’s vineyard (Is. 5:1-7; Is. 27:2-6; Jer. 12:10-12) and God’s vine (Ps. 80:8-16 [80:9-17 in the NABRE]; Jer. 2:21). Now, Jesus says that he is God’s vine, the one and only vine in God’s vineyard. In what ways is Jesus the “true” vine? Israel was an imperfect and fickle vine – the people and their leaders did not stay true to their commitment God. Jesus can be counted on forever, and we can find life in him and through him forever. In verse 1, Jesus says that his Father is the vine-grower or vinedresser. He is referring to the kind of farmer who cultivates a grapevine, tends it, waters it, and prunes it. How is God the Father like a vine-grower? In what ways is this metaphor of the vine and branches appropriate for us? How is Jesus like a vine, and how are we like his branches? In verse 4, Jesus says, “Abide in me.” What does it mean to abide “in” Jesus? Why is that word “in” so important? How do you picture yourself abiding in Jesus? What image do you have in your mind as a symbol or picture of abiding in him? What do you do to help yourself to continue to abide in Jesus? There are many things we can do: prayer, Bible study, praise, gratitude, service, united our sufferings with his, sacrificing ourselves for others with a conscience focus on staying connected to Jesus. Our participation in Holy Communion is also a way to abide in Jesus. The same word “abide” that Jesus uses here, at the Last Supper, he also uses in the Bread of Life discourse in John 6:56, where he says, “The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” This suggests that our sharing in the Eucharist/the Lord’s Supper can help us to abide in him. What kinds of things happen that take us away from abiding in Jesus? Now let’s look at the rest of what Jesus says in this passage. What does Jesus say about the Father in verse 1? How does that add to the image of what God is doing? Verse 2 has two parts. First, Jesus says that the vine-grower removes the branches that do not bear fruit. Why is that necessary for a vine? A diseased branch can infect the good branches and cause them also to stop bearing fruit. In what way does this apply to people? Why is it necessary to remove the branches that do not bear fruit? Are such people not really connected to the vine in the first place? Or is a separation necessary because a life that does not bear fruit is a contradiction that is incompatible with abiding in Jesus? Explain. Both of these are possible. Some people adopt the label “Christian” but never actually commit to living with and for Jesus. God will not force them to live forever with him when they have not chosen to do so; sooner or later, there must be a separation. There are also times when false prophets must be identified so that the Body of Christ is not led astray. Second, he prunes the branches that do bear fruit. Why is pruning necessary for a vine? If we are seeking to abide in Jesus, we should not need to be removed from the vine; but everyone needs pruning. What does it mean for us to be “pruned” by God? God seeks to remove everything in us that is not compatible with a life of intimate communion with God: our selfishness and self-centeredness in all the ways it shows up in unloving actions, words, and attitudes; the ways we fail to handle the truth accurately; the ways we fail to live in faith, hope, and love; etc. Our calling is to be become fully like Jesus (Eph. 4:13; Col. 1:28). Everything that falls short of that must eventually be pruned away so that we reflect Christ entirely. How can we cooperate with God’s pruning in our lives? In verse 3, Jesus says that the disciples are already pruned. According to verse 3, how have they already been pruned? By his word. In what ways are we already pruned even though in other ways we still need pruning? In verse 5, what does Jesus say will happen if we abide in him? What are some examples of fruit that you are already bearing? What are some examples of fruit that you are not yet producing but that he may still want you to bear? In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul provides a list of the “fruit of the Spirit”: some of the interior dispositions that the Spirit works in us that then flow out into our actions. When we see that fruit in action in our lives, then we know that we are grounded in the Spirit. The Bible also points us to universal values such as justice and peace that come from the heart of God. When we respond to the promptings of the Spirit to try to address issues of justice and peace in our world so that God’s justice and peace can prevail, we are bringing forth the fruit of a life rooted in the heart of Jesus. In verse 5, Jesus says, “apart from me you can do nothing.” People do lots of good things. Even atheists do good things. In what sense is Jesus’s statement true? What is it that can’t be done apart from him? By using the metaphor of a vine, Jesus tells us that we cannot live or have growth unless we remain connected to him. If a branch is severed from a tree or vine, it stops growing and dies. The branch is absolutely dependent on the vine. What lessons can we draw for ourselves from this metaphor? What is the point of verse 6? Why must the branches that don’t bear any fruit be thrown out? People assume that God is doing the “throwing out” in verse 6, but Jesus doesn’t identify God as the actor. He simply takes it as an obvious fact that those who show no evidence (fruit) of a connection with Jesus can’t stay connected to him. Why is that so? Verse 7 is similar to 14:13-14 (“whatever you ask in my name, I will do”), but this time Jesus is saying that the criteria for receiving what we ask is (1) that we remain in him, and (2) that his words remain in us. How do we do that? What do these two requirements look like in practical terms? Why is it so important to abide in him and allow his words to abide in us, as a precondition for effective prayer? Verse 8 seems to be directed more to the people of John’s time and to us, rather than to those he has already identified as his disciples. What does this say to us? How is bearing fruit related to being a disciple of Jesus? In Jesus’s metaphor, there is only one vine. We are not separate trees in an orchard; we are separate branches on one vine. What are our obligations to each other as members of one vine? How does my growth and fruitfulness affect yours, and vice versa? When we live as Jesus’s disciples and bear fruit, Jesus says that the Father is glorified (verse 8). How does what we do in our lives glorify God? In verse 9, Jesus turns to the importance of remaining in his love. What does it mean to abide in or remain in his love? In verse 10, what does he say is the evidence that we are remaining in his love? How does this verse challenge you in how you live your life? In verse 11, Jesus changes the focus again. What does he say about joy? Jesus wants his joy to be in us and our joy to be complete. How are those related? How does our experience of the joy of the Lord relate to whether we are abiding in him or not? How does our experience of the joy of the Lord relate to whether we are keeping his commandments (including the commandment to love one another) or not? How does our experience of the joy of the Lord relate to the fact that Jesus loves us? What would it look like for our joy to be complete? Read John 15:12-17 Love one another as I love you What is Jesus’s command? Who is he telling us to love? Why do you think it matters so much to Jesus that we love one another? What does it look like in practice when we love one another? What is the connection between abiding in Jesus, which Jesus talked about in the previous passage, and loving one another? How are they connected? What is a new step you could take this week to love someone who has been hard to love? Why does Jesus call us his “friends” in verses 14-15? How does it make you feel, knowing that Jesus calls us his friends? How can you be the kind of friend Jesus wants you to be? Take a step back and consider this: When Jesus tells us to abide in him and to love one another, neither of those is a “one-size-fits-all” proposition. How we abide in him and love another will look different from person to person. We will have some things in common. We are all called to pray, to learn about God through his Word, to see Jesus in those around us who are in need, and to be connected to a local church or Christian community. But people may pray differently, have different ways of studying God’s Word, respond differently to the needs around them, and find different ways of being involved in the Christian community. We are not identical automatons. Paul explores this in his ode to the Body of Christ: we are not all hands; the body needs feet and ears and eyes (1 Cor. 12:12-31). Each of us is made in the image of God, but each of us has our own talents, gifts, interests, and opportunities to manifest that image of God. Even as we abide in the one Lord, we have different callings. So how we love others and how we abide in Christ will vary. What are the specific practices or ministries that God has called you to, that you need to be faithful to if you want to stay rooted in Christ? As you do those things, what can you do to make sure that you are maintaining a vital, abiding relationship with God, not just engaging in external actions? How do you keep abiding in him? One of the ways we love others is by encouraging others in the specific ways that they are called to abide in God and bear fruit. How can you help those around you to embracing the callings they have received from God, so that they, too, are abiding in Jesus? Bibliography See John - Bibliography at https://www.faithexplored.com/john/bibliography . Copyright © 2026, Tom Faletti (Faith Explored, www.faithexplored.com ). This material may be reproduced in whole or in part without alteration, for nonprofit use, provided such reproductions are not sold and include this copyright notice or a similar acknowledgement that includes a reference to Faith Explored and www.faithexplored.com. See www.faithexplored.com for more materials like this. Previous John List Next

Jesus gives us a peace the world cannot give, a peace that quiets our troubled hearts and overcomes our fears. Nothing has power over him. How can you rest in his peace? [John 14:25-26; 14:27-31] Previous Next John List John 14:25-31 Jesus gives us a peace the world cannot give, a peace that quiets our troubled hearts and overcomes our fears. Nothing has power over him. How can you rest in his peace? Image by Dámaris Azócar, provided by Unsplash via Wix. Tom Faletti May 29, 2026 Read John 14:25-31 My peace I give to you; do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid In verse 26, what does Jesus say the Holy Spirit will do? The Holy Spirit does not call attention to itself; it illuminates the words of Jesus. How can we open our hearts and minds and souls to be taught by the Holy Spirit? In verse 26, Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will “remind you of all that I have said to you.” The “you” is plural, so this may be a promise to the Body of Christ as a whole, not to each individual. However, it raises an interesting question for us as individuals. Someone can only bring to your remembrance the things you already previously knew or experienced. If you only know a little of what Jesus has said, there isn’t much information stored in your memory to be brought back to your remembrance. What can you do to expand what you know about Jesus, so that the Holy Spirit can remind you of it when you need it most? In verse 27, Jesus offers us his peace, and he says his peace is not like the world’s peace. What is Jesus’s peace like, and how is it different from what the world gives? In the second half of verse 27, Jesus says, “Do not let your heart by troubled, nor let it be afraid.” Let’s take those separately. First, what is a troubled heart? What does it look like when your heart is troubled? How does Jesus’s peace respond to the needs of a troubled heart? Second, Jesus says, “Do not let your heart be afraid.” In what ways is being afraid different than being troubled? What kinds of things or situations can cause our heart to be afraid? How does Jesus’s peace help up deal with the things that cause us to be afraid? How can you rest in his peace? In verse 28, Jesus says that the disciples should be rejoicing that he is going to the Father. Of course, they aren’t rejoicing, because they don’t want him to leave. But Jesus sees where things are going. Are there ways we can rejoice even when we are losing someone? How can Jesus’s peace help us to rejoice even in times of loss? In verse 28, Jesus says that the Father is greater than he is. Jesus is fully God and fully human. He is speaking here partly from the perspective of the human and divine role he is playing. The Father sent him. He speaks only what he has heard from the Father. He does the work the Father has given him to do. And in John 13:16 he said that the one who is sent is not greater than the one who sends him. In these ways the Father is greater than him. As God, he is one with the Father (John 10:30) and therefore is not any less great. However, even though the Son is equally God, in the mystery of the Trinity it is also true that the Son is begotten of the Father, while the Father is entirely without origin (not begotten). Thus, the Son always defers to the greatness of the Father. In verse 30, Jesus says “the ruler of this world” is coming. Who is he referring to? Satan. Jesus immediately adds that the ruler of this world “has no power over me.” What does he mean? Jesus will be put to death. How is it that the ruler of this world has no power over him? In verse 31 Jesus explains that he is going to his death because he loves the Father, not because anyone has power over him. He is acting in obedience to the Father’s command, which will fulfill the Father’s plan of salvation for the world. How are we also sometimes called to submit to those who, in a spiritual sense, have no power over us, out of love for God and obedience to his commands? Looking beyond Jesus’s death and all the way to our time, it is still true that no one has power over Jesus. No devil, no ruler, no teacher of lies – no one has power over Jesus. How can that guide your thinking about what is going on in your world and in your life? How can this statement assure our hearts in times of trouble? In verse 31, Jesus says that he loves the Father. He does not say this explicitly anywhere else in the Gospels, yet there is never a time where it is in doubt. In everything he does, throughout his life on earth, we see that Jesus loves the Father. The chapter ends with Jesus saying, “Arise, let us go from here” (verse 31). Since John is presenting this entire discussion as happening at the Last Supper, this could be interpreted as a signal that they are leaving the supper and heading for the Mount of Olives. However, it is not until John 18:1 that John says they went out across the Kidron Valley to the Garden of Gethsemane in 18:1. Some scholars think that chapters 15-17 are in insertion of additional material that is related to what we have seen in chapter 14. Others think that chapters 15-17 tell us what Jesus said as they walked through the city and past the Temple on their way out to the Kidron Valley. Others interpret the statement rhetorically: The ruler of this age has no power over me, so arouse yourselves and let’s go face him. Jesus wants to rouse your heart so that you have confidence in his love for you. Here is what Jesus has said in this chapter: No matter what you are facing, Jesus has not left you alone. The Father and Jesus dwell with you. You are in him and he is in you. No ruler, no devil, not even Satan himself has any power over Jesus. And Jesus has sent his Holy Spirit to live inside of you. What does that say to you right now? What are you facing, and what do Jesus’s words say to you? Take a step back and consider this: A casual observer might think that Satan had a temporary victory when Jesus was put to death on the cross on Calvary, a victory that was only reversed when Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Sunday. Jesus’s statements in verses 30-31 refute that idea. Satan never had any power over Jesus: not before he went to the cross, not while he was dying on the cross, not even during the 3 days that Jesus was dead and in the tomb. Jesus always had greater power; he just chose to demonstrate his power in a way that the world does not think of as “power,” the way of self-sacrificing love. How can we reorient our thinking and allow God to transform your hearts and minds so that we do not see power the way the world sees power, but instead see how powerfully God moves in acts of sacrificial love? Often, we are silent when people around us voice the mindset of the world that power equates with force and the ability to do violence. By our silence, we unintentionally reinforce that false idea of power. How can we become more confident voices offering to others a different way of thinking that is guided by the One whose self-sacrificing power is greater than all the supposed powers of this world? Bibliography See John - Bibliography at https://www.faithexplored.com/john/bibliography . Copyright © 2026, Tom Faletti (Faith Explored, www.faithexplored.com ). This material may be reproduced in whole or in part without alteration, for nonprofit use, provided such reproductions are not sold and include this copyright notice or a similar acknowledgement that includes a reference to Faith Explored and www.faithexplored.com. See www.faithexplored.com for more materials like this. Previous John List Next

Bible-based teaching that explores the Christian faith and how to live everyday life with gratitude, joy, faith, truth, kindness, and respect. Christian Faith Faith and the Christian Life What do Christians believe, and what does the Christian life look like? These articles explore important questions about who God is and how we can live the transformed life he offers us more fully. God Loves All People and Never Wills Evil Even Though He Allows It People sometimes speak as though God only loves those who love him and wills the evil that happens in our lives. These are misunderstandings of the nature of God. God loves everyone and never causes evil, even though he allows evil in his pursuit of a greater good. God Did Not Abandon Jesus on the Cross The idea that God abandoned or withdrew from Jesus, or hid his face from Jesus, contradicts the Bible and Christian doctrine about the Trinity. God was there to the end and will never abandon humans. God Takes a Downside-Up View of the World Throughout the Bible, God views what is going on from the perspective of the lowly, the poor, and the outcast. Faith Versus Works: What Does the Gospel of Matthew Say Matthew does not support the idea that a sinner’s prayer is a simple ticket to heaven. In his Gospel, Jesus calls us to much more than that. Look for the Perspective that Allows You to See Joy Your attitude determines what is a “win.” Reconciliation Can Start with a Gesture What is the small gesture or action you could take? When Did Christians First Recognize the Divinity of Jesus? The earliest Christian documents – Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians – show an early understanding that Jesus is God, and the Gospels say it explicitly. Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Discipleship, Responsibility, Transformation Many seek to use him for their own cause, but few want to embrace his total commitment to Christ. God Reveals Himself in Scripture and in the Natural World, through Faith and Science God teaches us through faith and science. The Rapture? It’s Not a Pre-Millennial Escape from Tribulation Pre-tribulation theories contradict Jesus and Paul. What does the Bible actually say? Let's put our faith into action! The life of a follower of Christ is an adventure. We each have a unique mind, body, and spirit , character, abilities, and circumstances . Jesus embraces each of us in the fullness of who we are. He also embraces us collectively as the Body of Christ. Through the working of the Holy Spirit in us, God wants to help each of us, individually and together – every day, all the time – to become more fully like Jesus and to participate in His work to transform the world. Where do you need to grow? In what ways can you take a step closer to God? Possible Future Topics Want to see more? If there is nothing posted on a topic listed above, it means I don't have anything ready for publication on that topic yet. If you would like to encourage a higher priority for a topic, or would like to see a topic explored further, send me a note using the contact form below explaining what you are interested in and why it should be a priority. If you would like to pay for the development of specific material, please feel free to explore that with me, but payment is not required. The main thing is to offer a convincing case that the topic you are interested in should be a priority as material is added to the website. Image at top by Erika Giraud, provided by Unsplash via Wix.

Bible Study resources for the Gospel of Mark, to help individuals and small groups explore how the Bible applies to life today: background, commentary, questions. Mark Introduction to Mark Mark presents Jesus as the Messiah (the Christ) and the Son of God. Mark 1:1-8 John the Baptist comes to prepare the way for one greater than him. Mark 1:9-16 Jesus is baptized, subjected to temptation, and starts preaching. Image at top: First lines of Mark 16, Codex Sinaiticus. Late 2nd century or early 3rd century. Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:P.Oxy_LXXXIII_5345.png .

Bible Study resources for the Gospel of Luke, to help individuals and small groups explore how the Bible applies to life today: background, commentary, questions. Luke Luke 1:1-4 Prologue to Luke's Gospel: Why is he writing and for whom? Luke 24:13-35 Jesus walks with two discouraged disciples and opens the Scriptures to them, and then they recognize him in the breaking of the bread. How can we see Jesus in the Scriptures and the breaking of the bread? Luke - Bibliography Bibliography of major sources and additional sources used in this study of the Gospel of Luke. Image at top by wisconsinpictures, provided by Unsplash via Wix.

Bible-based teaching that explores how to apply God's Word to the issues around us, respect the human dignity of every person, and work for justice for all. Justice God demands that we work for justice Does God care what goes on in our societies, or does He care only about our individual souls? The Bible has a very clear answer. Justice is one of God’s major priorities, and He wants us to pursue justice in our societies. He wants to transform not only our personal lives but also our governments, businesses, societies, and cultures. Read Justice and the Bible to see a short summary of the many Bible passages where God calls us to work for justice. This section of Faith Explored is a place to explore what it means for Christians to do justice in our time. Justice Resources Justice and the Bible God wants Christians to work for justice. God Calls Us to Speak Out In the Bible, God tells us to speak out for those with no voice and defend the poor (Proverbs 31:8-9). Groups That Work for Justice We are not alone. We can work with groups that speak out for justice. The Bible and Catholic Social Teaching Examples of how the Bible supports Catholic social teaching. Jesus Rejects the Death Penalty In the story of “The woman caught in adultery,” Jesus rebuffs those who seek His consent for an execution and rejects capital punishment. Stations of the Cross on Overcoming Racism What do the final hours in the life of Jesus say to us about racism in America today? Possible Future Topics BASIC PRINCIPLES Common Good Subsidiarity SEVEN THEMES OF CST 1. HUMAN DIGNITY Life War Nonviolence 2. PARTICIPATION Family 3. RIGHTS Health Government Responsibilities Racial Justice 4. OPTION FOR THE POOR Poverty Immigration 5. WORK Economy Business Practices 6. SOLIDARITY Advocacy God's Downside-Up View 7. CARE FOR CREATION Climate Change Want to see more? If there is nothing posted on a topic listed above, it means I don't have anything ready for publication on that topic yet. If you would like to encourage a higher priority for a topic, or would like to see a topic explored further, send me a note using the contact form below explaining what you are interested in and why it should be a priority. If you would like to pay for the development of specific material, please feel free to explore that with me, but payment is not required. The main thing is to offer a convincing case that the topic you are interested in should be a priority as material is added to the website.

Bible Study material to help individuals and small groups explore what the Bible says about Mary, the mother of Jesus, with background, commentary, and questions. Mary, the Mother of Jesus: What does the Bible tell us about Mary? Session 1: What Mary was, we are called to be A young woman living in obscurity receives a visit from an angel of God and says “Yes” to God’s plan. How can we be like her? [Luke 1:5-25; 1:26-38; 1:39-45; 1:46-56] Session 2: Jesus’s birth causes uncertainty as well as joy In the days surrounding Jesus’s birth, uncertainty is a fact of life for his mother Mary. She responds by pondering and treasuring everything that happens. How can we embrace her trusting attitude? [Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-7; 2:8-20; 2:21; Luke 2:22-24] Session 3: When life gets complicated Mary and Joseph follow God’s guidance one step at a time, not knowing what each new step will be but trusting that he will show them what to do. Can we, too, trust God to guide us one step at a time? [Luke 2:25-40; Matthew 2:1-12; 2:13-18; 2:19-23] Session 4: "Do whatever he tells you." Mary watches Jesus grow up and begin his ministry. After she brings a concern to him, she tells others, “Do whatever he tells you.” Those are wise words for us. What would he tell you about your concerns do? [Luke 2:40-52; Matthew 3:13; 4:1; 4:12-13; 4:18-22; John 2:1-12] Session 5: Jesus’s family The various denominations within Christianity don’t agree on whether Mary had other children besides Jesus, but they do agree with his statement that those who do his will are his brothers and sisters. How can we respond? [Matthew 13:54-58; Mark 6:1-6; Matthew 12:46-50; Mark 3:31-35; Luke 8:19-21] Session 6: At the foot of the cross and in the Upper Room Mary stands by Jesus at the cross and is with the Christian community at Pentecost. How can we follow her example of being faithful in difficult times and remaining present with the church? [John 6:41-44; Luke 11:27-28; John 19:16-20, 23-27; Acts 1:13-14; 2:1-4; Galatians 4:4-7] Session 7: Other possible references to Mary in the Bible Some people see Mary in a variety of images and prophecies in the Bible where she is not specifically named. What do these passages tell us about God and how we can respond to him? [Revelation 12:1-6; 12:13-18; Isaiah 7:10-16; Psalm 22:9-10; Jeremiah 31:22; Micah 5:1-4] Mary - Bibliography Bibliography of major sources and additional sources used in this study of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Image at top: Lambert Lombard (1506-1566), artist; Ferdinand Piloty (1785-1844), engraver. “Die Kreuzabnahme (The deposition from the cross).” Print. Cropped. The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Art & Architecture Collection, The New York Public Library. The New York Public Library Digital Collections, 1837-1842, https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e3-3e73-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e3-3e73-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99.

Bible-based study guide on hope for small groups and individuals, using Pope Francis's Jubilee Year 2025 document Spes Non Confundit as a guide. Hope (for Jubilee Year 2025 and beyond) Embrace God's Hope and Extend It to All A Scripture-Based Study Guide for Exploring Pope Francis’s Jubilee Year 2025 Document Spes Non Confundit Link to S pes Non Confundit Introduction: Respond to the Invitation to Embrace God’s Hope God wants to renew our hope and help us put our faith and hope into action. Overview: How to Use This Study Guide Suggestions for individuals, small group members, and small group leaders. A Note About Our Terminology What do we mean when we refer to a “part of a paragraph”? Session 1: Why we can have hope We find hope because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through Jesus. (Read paragraphs 1-4) Session 2: The Jubilee leads us on a journey of hope The Jubilee Year invites us to encounter Jesus, who is our hope. (Read paragraphs 1, 5, and 6) Session 3: Where signs of hope are needed today, part 1 Peace and war; welcoming children; prisoners. (Read paragraphs 7-10) Session 4: Where signs of hope are needed today, part 2 The sick; the young; migrants and refugees; the elderly. (Read paragraphs 11-14) Session 5: Where signs of hope are needed today, part 3, and broader appeals for hope The poor; the goods of the earth, debt, economic priorities; synodality. (Read paragraphs 15-17) Session 6: A life anchored in hope, part 1 Faith, charity, and hope; life everlasting; death; happiness. (Read paragraphs 18-21) Session 7: A life anchored in hope, part 2 God’s judgment; indulgence and Penance; the Mother of God; hope as an anchor. (Read paragraphs 22-25) Jubilee Year 2025 - Bibliography Sources used in this study of Spes Non Confundit . We would appreciate your feedback on this study: Feedback Form .

Bible Study resources for Philemon, to help individuals and small groups explore how the Bible applies to life today: background, commentary, and questions. Philemon Introduction Paul sends Onesimus to Philemon with a letter. Philemon - Bibliography Bibliography of major sources and additional sources used in this study of Paul’s Letter to Philemon. Philemon 1-7 The person Paul is writing to, Philemon, is an example of the kind of encouraging partner everyone might like to have, and Paul is an example of giving thanks and praise. How can we be like them? Philemon 8-25 How can we approach someone with a difficult a request in a way that might keep our relationship with them strong? Philemon: Broader Questions About Slavery The apostle Paul undermined the Roman system of slavery by seeking to transform the relationship between masters and slaves. Could he have done more? Could we be doing more to challenge the injustices of our time? Image at top by Luis Georg Müller, provided by Unsplash via Wix.

Special materials from Faith Explored to help you learn more about the Bible and apply it in your life, including Bible quizzes and quotes. Special Materials Easter Quiz: The Resurrection of Jesus How much do you know about the resurrection of Jesus? What does the Bible say? Take this 5-question quiz and see what you know. Quiz on Faith, Hope, and Love You’ve probably heard the words “faith, hope, and love” together many times. Take this 6-question quiz to see how much you know about them. Nagasaki - A History of Christian Faithfulness in Adversity For these Christians, neither persecution nor suppression, not even an atomic bomb, has kept them from staying faithful to Christ. Quotes Quotes worth thinking about. I Wince When I Hear People Say . . . Christians sometimes say things that they think are just standard platitudes but that actually raise theological concerns. People should be careful about making these claims, because they may not accurately reflect the teachings of Jesus or the character of God. Tags used for Blog Posts 1 Corinthians (10) 10 posts 1 John (2) 2 posts 1 Peter (5) 5 posts 1 Samuel (1) 1 post 1 Thessalonians (13) 13 posts 1 Timothy (4) 4 posts 2 Corinthians (2) 2 posts 2 Peter (2) 2 posts 2 Samuel (1) 1 post 2 Thessalonians (3) 3 posts 2 Timothy (1) 1 post Action (31) 31 posts Acts (5) 5 posts Advocacy (14) 14 posts Anger (6) 6 posts Anxiety (1) 1 post Bible (71) 71 posts Bible Study (34) 34 posts Catholic (10) 10 posts Christian Faith (27) 27 posts Christian Living (58) 58 posts Christmas (7) 7 posts Church (10) 10 posts Colossians (7) 7 posts Courage (2) 2 posts Death penalty (1) 1 post Deuteronomy (3) 3 posts Easter (4) 4 posts Ecclesiastes (1) 1 post Environment (1) 1 post Ephesians (11) 11 posts Everyday Life (40) 40 posts Exodus (4) 4 posts Ezekiel (1) 1 post Family (2) 2 posts Forgiveness (5) 5 posts Galatians (10) 10 posts Genesis (9) 9 posts Gentleness (5) 5 posts God (29) 29 posts Gratitude (5) 5 posts Hebrews (5) 5 posts Hope (5) 5 posts Human Dignity (19) 19 posts Hunger (2) 2 posts Immigration (3) 3 posts Isaiah (5) 5 posts Issues (24) 24 posts James (9) 9 posts Jeremiah (3) 3 posts Jesus's Death (2) 2 posts John (25) 25 posts Justice (25) 25 posts Leviticus (5) 5 posts Love (11) 11 posts Luke (31) 31 posts Malachi (2) 2 posts Marginalized (11) 11 posts Mark (10) 10 posts Matthew (44) 44 posts Mercy (4) 4 posts Micah (2) 2 posts Nonviolence (3) 3 posts Peace (3) 3 posts Philemon (1) 1 post Philippians (12) 12 posts Politics (15) 15 posts Poverty (5) 5 posts Prayer (8) 8 posts Proverbs (3) 3 posts Psalms (20) 20 posts Purpose (15) 15 posts Racial Justice (9) 9 posts Respect (15) 15 posts Rights (6) 6 posts Romans (16) 16 posts Science (6) 6 posts Sin (5) 5 posts Social Media (3) 3 posts Solidarity (9) 9 posts Temptation (4) 4 posts Thanksgiving (6) 6 posts Titus (1) 1 post Trust (6) 6 posts Truth (23) 23 posts Words (10) 10 posts Image at top by Sabbir Ahmed, provided by Unsplash via Wix.

Bible study leadership materials: how-tos for small-group leaders to help people grow in faith. Leading a Small-Group Bible Study Almost anyone can lead a small-group Bible Study if they believe in Jesus, are willing to prepare in advance, have an open heart, and have an awareness of social dynamics. Good leaders work to accomplish at least three important goals: Increase people’s understanding of the Bible, Foster spiritual growth through the application of God’s Word, and Provide a place to experience Christian community. Although leaders have different styles, every group benefits if the leaders seek these goals. Here are some handouts I have used in parish Leadership Training programs to help prepare people to lead well. Preparing to Lead a Small-Group Bible Study Meeting How do you prepare a small-group Bible Study meeting? Leadership Techniques for Good Bible Study Discussions How do you manage what goes on in a Bible Study meeting that you are leading? Important Functions of Leaders What are your goals as a small-group Bible Study leader, and what do you need to do to fulfill the role you have taken on? Image at top  provided by Wix.