John may be the most artful and poetic of the gospels; it demands and rewards study of its literary shape, the power of its metaphors (eg - "I am's), Jesus' deep discourses, and the beauty of his unfolding passion throughout its chapters. Jesus, the Word made flesh, emerges powerfully and personally, so it is no surprise that John sums up his Gospel's message as "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). John offers a theologically deep answer and a compelling historical narrative as to the identity and purpose of God's anointed Son. - Publisher.
The Knowing the Bible series is a new resource designed to help Bible readers better understand and apply God’s Word. Each 12-week study leads participants through one book of the Bible and is made up of four basic components: (1) Reflection questions designed to help readers engage the text at a deeper level; (2) “Gospel Glimpses” highlighting the gospel of grace throughout the book; (3) “Whole-Bible Connections” showing how any given passage connects to the Bible’s overarching story of redemption culminating in Christ; and (4) “Theological Soundings” identifying how historic orthodox doctrines are taught or reinforced throughout Scripture. With contributions from a wide array of influential pastors and church leaders, these gospel-centered studies will help Christians see and cherish the message of God’s grace on each and every page of the Bible. In this study of John’s Gospel, pastor and author Justin Buzzard helps readers understand the most theologically and philosophically profound account of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection in the New Testament. From revealing his cosmic identity as being with the Father “in the beginning,” to recounting the many miraculous signs attesting to his divinity, Buzzard illuminates John’s unmatched portrait of Jesus Christ, the unique Son of God, sent from heaven to save all who would turn to him. This insightful guide encourages Christians to worship Christ as Lord and follow him on mission to the world.
There are certain books of the Bible that just seem to stand out and the Gospel of John is surely one such book. It is frequently the first book of the Bible we encourage non-Christians to read in the hope that its message will lead them to faith in Christ. After all, that is the purpose of the book. See John 20:31.For Christians, the Gospel of John is a source of much truth about our Lord and the Gospel. But it is much more than that. It is an opportunity for us to follow Him as we read, and to identify with the disciples as their knowledge of Him continues to expand. It is our opportunity to get to know the heart of the Savior, and to fellowship with Him through His Word. If men of old found their hearts set on fire as they listened to Him teach in person (Luke 24:32), so we will find our hearts warmed as we seek to listen to Him through this Gospel.I challenge you to join me in making the Gospel of John the subject of your study. May God use it to help you see and serve Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).
What Do the Five Points of Calvinism Really Mean? Many have heard of Reformed theology, but may not be certain what it is. Some references to it have been positive, some negative. It appears to be important, and they'd like to know more about it. But they want a full, understandable explanation, not a simplistic one. What Is Reformed Theology? is an accessible introduction to beliefs that have been immensely influential in the evangelical church. In this insightful book, R. C. Sproul walks readers through the foundations of the Reformed doctrine and explains how the Reformed belief is centered on God, based on God's Word, and committed to faith in Jesus Christ. Sproul explains the five points of Reformed theology and makes plain the reality of God's amazing grace.
Over 3 million LifeChange studies sold Who was Jesus—a wise teacher? A prophet? A fake? During Jesus’ lifetime, few understood His mission as the Light of the world. But the truth is unfolded for us centuries later through the eyes of one of His most beloved disciples. Since biblical times, John’s portrait of Jesus has drawn men and women into a trusting and intimate relationship with the Son of God. Dive deep into the book of John and discover more of who Jesus truly was. In this Bible study you will find: 22 lessons that lead you through the book of John Wide margins and extra space for your reflections Discussion questions for group study Thought-provoking reflection questions and prompts Notes for further study Applications to help you go deeper Helpful excerpts on the historical context LifeChange Bible studies offer a transformative encounter with each book of the Bible. Designed to help you discover and rediscover insightful and challenging truths in Scripture, each book is ideal for group or personal use.
The command to love is central to the Gospel of John. Internationally respected scholar Francis Moloney offers a thorough exploration of this theme, focusing not only on Jesus's words but also on his actions. Instead of merely telling people that they must love one another, Jesus acts to make God's love known and calls all who follow him to do the same. This capstone work on John's Gospel uses a narrative approach to delve deeply into a theme at the heart of the Fourth Gospel and the life of the Christian church. Uniting rigorous exegesis with theological and pastoral insight, it makes a substantive contribution to contemporary Johannine scholarship.
The NIV is the world's best-selling modern translation, with over 150 million copies in print since its first full publication in 1978. This highly accurate and smooth-reading version of the Bible in modern English has the largest library of printed and electronic support material of any modern translation.
for every healthy tree bears good fruit --; Demand #28 : love your enemies--lead them to the truth --; Demand #29 : love your enemies--pray for those who abuse you --; Demand #30 : love your enemies--do good to those who hate you, give to the one who asks --; Demand #31 : love your enemies to show that you are children of God --; Demand #32 : love your neighbor as yourself,
Putting Jesus in His Place is designed to introduce Christians to the wealth of biblical teaching on the deity of Christ and give them the confidence to share the truth about Jesus with others.
The bestselling author of Misquoting Jesus, one of the most renowned and controversial Bible scholars in the world today examines oral tradition and its role in shaping the stories about Jesus we encounter in the New Testament—and ultimately in our understanding of Christianity. Throughout much of human history, our most important stories were passed down orally—including the stories about Jesus before they became written down in the Gospels. In this fascinating and deeply researched work, leading Bible scholar Bart D. Ehrman investigates the role oral history has played in the New Testament—how the telling of these stories not only spread Jesus’ message but helped shape it. A master explainer of Christian history, texts, and traditions, Ehrman draws on a range of disciplines, including psychology and anthropology, to examine the role of memory in the creation of the Gospels. Explaining how oral tradition evolves based on the latest scientific research, he demonstrates how the act of telling and retelling impacts the story, the storyteller, and the listener—crucial insights that challenge our typical historical understanding of the silent period between when Jesus lived and died and when his stories began to be written down. As he did in his previous books on religious scholarship, debates on New Testament authorship, and the existence of Jesus of Nazareth, Ehrman combines his deep knowledge and meticulous scholarship in a compelling and eye-opening narrative that will change the way we read and think about these sacred texts.
