Episode Reading the Gospels--How to Read... John
Over the course of these four weeks Bill Crowder leads the group in thinking through the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), and explores some elements that could help our understanding of these important accounts as we read and study them. The more we comprehend the settings of these witnesses to the life and work of Jesus, the more accessible his story becomes to us. Join the Discover the Word group as they have this important discussion about how to read the Gospels so we understand--not misunderstand--the life of Jesus.
Chapter 1
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—the four biographies of Jesus that begin the New Testament. They’ve been described as possibly the four most influential books of all time. And this week, the Discover the Word group continues their “how-to-read” the Gospels conversations by focusing on ‘How to Read John.” Explore what we know about the author—“the disciple Jesus loved”—and how John’s up-close and personal experiences with Jesus shaped how he told the good news his gospel contains.
Chapter 2
Usually, when you’re trying to get a message out, you identify and concentrate on a specific target audience. Narrowing your focus is most often effective. But what happens when you have a message so important you want everyone to know about it? In this episode, the Discover the Word team looks at how John’s purposeful broadening of his audience when writing his gospel account Jesus’ life was exactly what was needed to get his powerful message across. Another intriguing perspective on “How to Read the Gospel of John.”
Chapter 3
In this edition of Discover the Word, the group discovers the key word in John’s gospel account of Jesus’ life. Why did John include the things he remembered Jesus saying? Why did he choose to tell readers about certain things Jesus did? What was John trying to accomplish with the biography he put together of the life of Jesus? That key word they’ll uncover answers all those questions. Discover what the key word is in assessing what John wanted his gospel to do.
Chapter 4
In this episode of Discover the Word, the group focuses on the different strategies and tactics the apostle John used when shaping his account of the life of Jesus. If John’s strategy was to get people to believe that Jesus was who He said He was, what specific tactics did he use to accomplish that strategy? Continue exploring “How to Read the Gospel of John.”
Chapter 5
We know that many of the events or teachings of Jesus that the apostle John chose to include in his writing came from firsthand experience. But is that what really what makes his account of the life of Jesus “good news”? Or is there something even more important? Today on Discover the Word, Daniel, Rasool, Elisa, and Bill wrap up their time in the book of John by celebrating how John’s good news can become our best news.