John 1:1-14
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This is the second sermon in our Advent series for 2023: The Advent of God. This sermon is “The God Who Comes in Person”.
Questions and going deeper resources
Small group questions
Connect How can you most helpfully prepare to celebrate Christmas this year—in wait of Jesus’ return?
Warm-Up
- When was the last time that you experienced a sense of ‘wonder’? What is at the heart of wonder?
- What is the ‘incarnation’? How is verse John 1:14 a brilliant summary of this event and good news?
Read John 1:1-5
- What are the opening words in John’s Gospel? What do they remind you of?
- Who is the Word? What is the Word like? When did the Word begin?
- What are the ways in which John points to the Son’s eternal nature? How is he uniquely qualified to bring us life?
- What is the darkness? How have you experienced that? How is God’s light greater than the darkness?
Read John 1:6-14
- How human did the Son become? What evidence do we have that the Son was not merely masquerading as a human, but truly human?
- Do you think people struggle more with Jesus’ humanity or divinity? Why do you think that is the case?
- Do you ever emphasise Jesus’ humanity over his divinity (or vice versa)? What could be the effect?
- Why is it important for us to recognise (and rejoice) that Jesus was both fully human and fully divine?
- How is God becoming human a big ‘YES’ to our humanity and physical world?
- What does John mean by the Word making his dwelling among us? How is it related to the tabernacle?
- What are the implications of Jesus dwelling with us? What significance does that have for you?
- What are the ways that people try to “find God”? How is it through Jesus that we can meet with God?
- Re-Read verse 12. What is the status we can receive from Jesus? How do we become ‘children of God’?
- What are the types of filters that prevent or inhibit us from seeing who Jesus is fully? Do you have any filters that particularly are a struggle for you?
- What could help you this year to let the wonder of the incarnation interrupt your life more?
Apply What is one practical way (this advent) that can help you to grow in the wonder of the incarnation?
Prayer
Gracious God, thank you for the tremendous news that the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. Help us to grow in our wonder of this truth, that Jesus may take a bigger grip on our lives. Amen.
Going deeper resources
On Your Front Line this Week
How can you bring grace and love to your interactions and transactions this week?
For Families
- Download: some of the family resources to use at home: stbartskids.org
Listen, Watch, and Read
- WATCH: Seminary Now: Talks on Advent: https://bit.ly/3EHauxv
- WATCH: Seminary Now: Talks on Advent: https://bit.ly/3EHauxv
- LISTEN: Word Became Flesh by Stephen Nichols: https://bit.ly/3U84Ieg
- LISTEN: Carols Service Talk by William Taylor:
https://www.st-helens.org.uk/resources/talk/57192/ - LISTEN: In the Beginning by Tim Keller:
https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/in-the-beginning-6238/ - LISTEN: “Imitating the Incarnation” by Tim Keller:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuE1l7JAl4g - BORROW & READ: “Knowing God” by J.I. Packer:
https://www.librarycat.org/lib/stbart/item/208464694
Series Resources
- Read: “Rejoice: Advent in all the Scriptures” by Chris Wright & John Stott: https://bit.ly/46GUMi1
- Read: “Advent (Fullness of Time Series)” by Tish Harrison Warren: https://bit.ly/3uGoy9r
- Read: “The God who Became Human” by Graham Cole. https://bit.ly/3g68RBj
- Read: “On the Incarnation” by Athanasius. https://bit.ly/3E5gLmB
- Read: “Is Christmas Unbelievable” by Rebecca McLaughlin. https://bit.ly/3E6X79K
- Watch: “The Word Becomes Human” by the Bible Project. https://bit.ly/3UEL8HB
- Listen: A Carols Playlist (curated by the St Bart’s staff team): https://spoti.fi/3OaJsTK
