TEACHING NOTES

John 4:41; 4:46-54; 13:34-35; 20:29-31 (NIV)

The Disciples followed because of what they saw and what they heard

Jesus wades into our lives no matter where you are

Jesus asked this nobleman to trust him based on the testimony of other *people*

He decided to believe Jesus and to live as if what Jesus said was true, even though there was no *evidence* yet

Walking by faith is living as if Jesus is who Jesus claims to be

Live as if Jesus is who he says he is by loving others as God, through his son loved us.

TALK IT OVER

INTRODUCTION
In order to demonstrate who he was, Jesus performed a number of miracles, which the apostle John referred to as “signs.” The first of those signs was at a joyous occasion where Jesus turned water into wine. The second sign was in the midst of a heartbreaking circumstance in which a father desperately asked Jesus to heal his dying son.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Give an example of something you believe (or believed) based solely on what someone else told you about it.
2. Tragedy can often cause people (even those who claim to not believe in God) to look up—whether it’s questioning or shaking our fists. Why do you think that is?
3. Read John 4:46–54, where the apostle John recounts the story of Jesus healing a government official’s son.
• How familiar is this story to you? Is there anything you just read that stands out as new information?
• What are some details about this story that would lead a reader to believe this actually happened?
• In verse 48, what seems to be Jesus’ main motivation for performing this miracle?
• In verse 53, what type of emotion do you think the official had when he realized his son was being healed at the same time he had been talking to Jesus?
• John tells us that the official and his entire household believed. How was this miracle not just a random act of kindness, but more of a strategic plan?
4. The official was desperate for Jesus to personally come to his son, but instead he ended up going home without Jesus. He didn’t know for sure his son was healed until he was told later. In what ways do our lives mirror the wait that the leader had to endure until he got word his son was healed?
5. The testimony of others is what prompted the leader to seek Jesus for help. How might our testimonies cause people to seek Jesus?
6. During the message, Blake challenged us to “Live as if Jesus who he says he is.” What are some things in your life that might need to change if you actually lived this way?

MOVING FORWARD
Jesus recognized there would be people who would believe in him who were not eyewitnesses to his miracles, and he looked into the future and called us blessed—in other words, happy, joyful, and peaceful.

CHANGING YOUR MIND

“Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have
not seen and yet have believed” —— John 20:29