"Grace in Person" - John 1:15-18 (December 27, 2015)

1. Have someone read the passage aloud.
2. How does John proclaim the greatness of Jesus in this passage?
3. How is he modeling for us what our witness of Jesus is to look like?
4. John promotes Jesus over himself in this passage, why are we prone to celebrate ourselves rather than Christ? In what ways do we promote ourselves?
5. Thinking about the Old Testament, what are examples of God's grace in the Old Testament?
6. How do we see from this passage that Christ's grace is better than the grace revealed in the Old Testament?
7. We are called to live as a culture of grace. What does this look like for us?

Sermon Outline
1. Greatness
2. Grace
3. God Himself

"A Brother in the Family" - John 1:12-13 (December 20, 2015)

1. Have someone read the passage aloud.
2. How do these verses point us to a the offer of a new start?
3. Ask if anyone is willing to share about how their life was changed by Jesus, to talk about the "new start" that took place in their lives.
4. What is the new status that is given to us and what does it offer us?
5. We are told that we're given God's unrestricted access, what does this mean for us practically?
6. Why is "but God" significant to understanding our new life?

Sermon Outline:
1. New Start
   a. Radically Inclusive
   b. Exclusive Demand

2. New Status
    a. Where does it originate?
    b. What does it offer?

3. New Life

"Stranger in the World" - John 1:9-11 (December 13, 2015)

1. Have someone read the passage aloud.
2. Look at vv. 1-8, what are some of the amazing ways that we're told about Jesus in these verses? How would we expect someone like this to be welcomed?
3. Contrast our expectations in vv. 1-8 with how he really was received in vv. 9-11.
4. Why was it important that Jesus was "in" the world? How does his life reflect his in-ness?
5. How is Jesus depicted as one of obscurity in this passage?
6. Why is it important that Jesus embraced and embodied obscurity for us?
7. Where are the places that you can spend yourself as a response to Jesus giving himself for you?

Sermon Outline:

1. Creator in the world
   a. Illumination
   b. Immersion

2. Stranger in the world
   a. Unknown
   b. Unwelcome

"Light in the Darkness" - John 1:4-8 (December 6, 2015)

1. Have someone read the passage aloud.
2. What are the issues of the world that seem to always bring division?
3. How in this passage is Jesus spoken of as one who crosses divisions?
4. Ryan talked about how we crave the light and yet it is easy to live casually, underestimating the power of darkness. In what ways do you do this?
5. How is Jesus shown in this passage as dealing with the darkness of sin?
6. Since Jesus is the light we reflect, how can you reflect that light into the various spheres you live in?

Sermon Outline:
1. The Light We Crave
   a. Crosses all divisions
   b. Defeats all darkness

2. The Light We Reflect
   a. For a purpose
   b. At a cost

"Advent: Word in the Beginning" - John 1:1-3 (November 29, 2015)

1. Have someone read the passage aloud.
2. When you think about your story, where do you begin? Why is it important that John begins the advent story with the beginning?
3. Why is Jesus' presence at the beginning so important?
4. How does this passage show Jesus' agency?
5. Who does our culture (and often us) say by its actions who the star of Christmas is?
6. How does this passage renew our joy over Christ being the star of Christmas?

"Sign Language: The Blind See" - John 9:1-41 (November 22, 2015)

1. Have someone read the passage loud.
2. Why is it important that Christ sees this man?
3. Because of this passage, how are we assured of how Christ sees us?
4. How does Jesus show that he is the light of the world?
5. How doe the Pharisees show they are trusting in their works more than in Jesus?
6. What are the ways that we reflect that a belief we can see when we are really blind?
7. Who are the only people who actually see?

"Sign Language: Walking on the Water" - John 6:16-21 (November 15, 2015)

1. Have someone read the passage aloud.
2. What is the danger the disciples are facing?
3. What are the things that you are afraid of?
4. How, in this passage, does Jesus show that he rules over all things? How does this give us comfort in the midst of our fears?
5. How does Jesus' actions in this passage speak both to who he is and what he will do?
6. How does this passage challenge a common perspective that God is far off and not engaged with his people?

Sermon Outline:
1. Jesus Rescues Us (Compassion)

2. Jesus Rules Over Nature (Authentication)

3. Jesus Will Renew All Things (Demonstration)

4. Jesus Reassures Us (Confrontation)