• Like Mary, there are times when, in the midst of darkness and confusion, we may feel troubled because we can’t seem to find Jesus. Think back to a time when you were searching for Him. What was that experience like for you?

• Often, when we look back on an experience, we realize that Jesus was walking with us, even if we didn’t feel His presence in the moment. What are some experiences where you can now recognize that Jesus was with you?

• In what areas of your life do you long to see the “new creation” that Jesus promises?

• As you think about the NEXT campaign, consider why this declaration by Jesus is important. Is there a calling for you in response to these statements?

View, download, or pick up a copy of the NEXT Vision Campaign Guidebook for additional devotional resources during this series.

• What do you think the people were feeling when they shouted “Hosanna!” as Jesus entered Jerusalem?

• Jesus says, “I am the Bread of Life.” What do you think that means?

• What’s one way our family can “refocus” on Jesus this Holy Week?

View, download, or pick up a copy of the NEXT Vision Campaign Guidebook for additional devotional resources during this series.

Follow along with the I Am messages using the engagement resources found in the NEXT Vision Campaign Guidebook: weekly readings, daily prayer guide, plus additional tools for personal worship and engagement. You can grab a booklet on campus, view the booklet online, or download a PDF.

This week’s questions:

Reflect on the word Good. Do you believe God is Good? What are some memories in which you have encountered God’s goodness?

Reflect on the word Shepherd. If He is our Shepherd, what does it mean to know His voice? How can we learn to distinguish His voice above others?

If you combine the two words Good and Shepherd and apply them to Jesus, does that provide you comfort in life? Why or why not?

View, download, or pick up a copy of the NEXT Vision Campaign Guidebook for additional devotional resources during this series.

• Read John 11:17-27. How does the conversation between Jesus and Martha help us understand what Jesus meant when He said, "I am the resurrection and the life"? What do you think Martha expected from Jesus at that moment?

• Jesus doesn’t just say He gives resurrection but that He -is- the resurrection and the life. What does this tell us about His role in both physical and spiritual life? How does this change the way we think about eternal life?

• Martha believed in a future resurrection, but Jesus demonstrated His power in the present by raising Lazarus. How does this challenge or encourage your faith regarding God’s power in your life today?

• In verse 26, Jesus asks, "Do you believe this?" Why do you think belief in Jesus as the resurrection and life is central to the Christian faith? How does that belief shape the way we live now?

• How does Jesus being "the resurrection and the life" give you hope in difficult circumstances? How might this promise help you as you consider SomeONE in your life to build a relationship with and share the Good News so that they can know His hope and salvation too?

• What stands out to you most in this chapter, and why?

• In verses 21-27, Martha expresses both faith and doubt. How do you relate to her response in your own faith journey?

• Jesus wept (John 11:35). What does this reveal about His character and how He relates to our suffering? 

• How does Jesus' statement in John 11:25-26 challenge or encourage your faith? ("I am the resurrection and the life...")

• What are some "dead" areas in your life where you need to trust Jesus to bring renewal and hope?

• What could the mud Jesus put on the man's eyes represent?

• How did the religious leaders react to the miracle and why did they try to discredit the man?

• How did the man respond to the Pharisees' interrogation, and what does his unwavering testimony demonstrate about his faith? 

• What does it mean to be "spiritually blind" and how can Jesus open our eyes to truth? 

• How can we stand firm in our faith even when facing opposition from others? 

• How can we apply the message of this story to our own lives, particularly in terms of seeking truth and overcoming spiritual blindness?

• How does this story challenge us to be bold in sharing our testimony about Jesus? 

• What does this passage reveal about Jesus’ attitude toward sin and sinners?

• How does His response compare to the religious leaders' approach?

• Why do you think Jesus responded the way He did when asked about the woman’s punishment?

• What might He have been writing on the ground, and why is that detail significant?

• What does Jesus’ statement, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her,” teach us about judgment and mercy?

• How can we apply this principle in our daily lives?

• After the accusers leave, Jesus tells the woman, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” How does this balance grace and truth?

• What does this teach us about repentance and transformation?

• How can we, as a church and as individuals, reflect Jesus' mercy and grace while also upholding His call to holiness?

• In what ways do we sometimes act like the Pharisees, and how can we change that?

• Faith and Provision: How does this story demonstrate Jesus' ability to provide for our needs? How can we apply this lesson to our own lives when facing scarcity or uncertainty? 

• Testing Our Faith: In John 6:5-6, Jesus asks Philip where they can buy bread, even though He already knew what He was going to do. Why do you think Jesus tested Philip in this way? How does God test our faith today?

• The Role of the Boy: The boy in the story offered his small lunch of five loaves and two fish. What can we learn from his willingness to give what little he had? How does this challenge us to be generous with our own resources?

• Jesus as the Bread of Life: Later in John 6, Jesus declares that He is the "Bread of Life." How does the feeding of the five thousand foreshadow Jesus’ deeper teaching about spiritual nourishment?

• Recognizing Jesus for Who He Is: After the miracle, the crowd wanted to make Jesus king by force (John 6:15), but Jesus withdrew. What does this tell us about the difference between what people expect from Jesus and what He actually came to do? How do we sometimes misunderstand His mission in our own lives?

• Jesus saw a man who had been lame or paralyzed for 38 years. When Jesus asked him if he wanted to get well, the man answered, “I can’t sir, for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.” How do you think the man may have been feeling after all those years?

• Jesus said to the man, “’Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!’ Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking!” What do you think was going through the man’s mind and heart at that moment?

• But suddenly, religious leaders were scolding the man, telling him that he was breaking the Sabbath rules by carrying his mat – in their minds a crime punishable by death. How do you think the man was thinking or feeling then?

• The religious leaders were legalists. What are the characteristics of legalism, and why is it an enemy of the Gospel and the Christian Church?

• What is the goal of a legalist?

• Have you ever known a legalist, and how did that person make you feel?

• What insights did you take away from how Jesus handled the religious leaders and their legalistic attitudes?

• Jesus intentionally sought out the woman at the well, even though others may have ignored or avoided her. How does this show His heart for those who feel rejected or unworthy? Have you ever felt like an outsider in your faith journey?

• The woman came to the well searching for water, but Jesus offered her "living water" instead. What do you think Jesus meant by that? How does His offer of spiritual renewal bring hope to those who feel drained or spiritually empty?

• Jesus gently confronted the woman’s past, not to shame her, but to lead her toward freedom and transformation. How does this encourage us when we struggle with guilt, shame, or past mistakes?

• The woman’s encounter with Jesus changed her so much that she ran to tell others about Him. How can experiencing Jesus’ grace and forgiveness motivate us to share our faith with those who might feel distant from God?

• Jesus declared that true worship isn’t about a place or a ritual but about worshiping in spirit and truth. How does this challenge the way we sometimes approach faith and religion? What does it mean for us personally to worship in spirit and truth?

• What does being "born again" mean in this passage, and how did Nicodemus initially misunderstand it?

• Discuss how Nicodemus' literal interpretation contrasts with Jesus' spiritual explanation. What does it mean to be born "of water and the Spirit"?

• Why do you think Jesus emphasized the need for spiritual rebirth to someone like Nicodemus, who was a Pharisee and religious leader?

• Explore how Jesus challenges Nicodemus' reliance on religious knowledge and practices in favor of personal spiritual transformation.

• In verse 14, Jesus refers to Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness. How does this Old Testament reference connect to Jesus’ mission? Discuss the symbolism of the serpent being lifted up and how it foreshadows Jesus being lifted up on the cross.

• John 3:16 is one of the most famous verses in the Bible. How does this verse summarize the message of the Gospel, and why is it significant in the context of this conversation?

• Reflect on the relationship between God's love, Jesus' sacrifice, and the promise of eternal life.

• How does Jesus contrast light and darkness in verses 19-21, and what does this reveal about people's response to Him?

• Discuss why some people reject the light while others embrace it. How does this tension play out in our lives today?

• What does the miracle of turning water into wine reveal about Jesus' identity and mission? How does this first recorded miracle set the tone for His ministry?

• How does Mary’s interaction with Jesus in this passage illustrate her understanding of His power and role? What can we learn from her instructions to the servants?

• The servants obey Jesus’ instructions without knowing the outcome. What does this teach us about faith and obedience, even when we don't fully understand God’s plans?

• What might the transformation of water into wine symbolize in the context of Jesus' ministry and the broader themes of the Gospel of John?

• Verse 11 mentions that this miracle revealed Jesus’ glory, leading His disciples to believe in Him. How did this event strengthen their faith, and what does this suggest about the role of signs and miracles in fostering belief?

• What does it mean for Jesus to be called "the Word" in John 1, and how can we apply this understanding in our daily lives?

• John 1:4 says, "In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind." How can we reflect this light in our communities?

• John 1:12 mentions that those who receive Jesus are given the right to become children of God. What steps can we take to live out our identity as children of God?

• The passage talks about Jesus being full of grace and truth (John 1:14). How can we balance grace and truth in our interactions with others?

• John 1 emphasizes that Jesus came into the world, but many did not recognize or accept Him (John 1:10-11). How can we help others recognize and accept Jesus today?