Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (John 7:1-13), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion…

• [3-5] How is the suggestion made by Jesus’ brothers evidence of their lack of faith in him? Are they trying to learn from and follow Jesus, or do they impose their own agenda and life strategies on him? Can you trust (have faith, believe in) Jesus without being able to make perfect sense out of his approach to things? Why can that be hard? Why is that actually faith?

• [7] Jesus concedes that his ministry may be characterized as testifying “about the world that its works are evil,” to which the world (i.e., people who don’t trust him) responds with “hate.” What is the main point of Jesus’ ministry? Why does it engender hatred? In what ways does Jesus testify about you, that your works are evil? In what ways do you respond to Jesus with “hate”? (Or frustration? suspicion? resentment?) Do you see any particular people in your life responding to Jesus this way? Is there a remedy for our evil works and hatred of Jesus?

• [6, 8] “My time has not yet come…” What “time” is Jesus talking about? What happens when his “time” comes? What aspects of the Feast of Booths, if any, would be “fulfilled” at that “time”? (You can read more about the Feast of Booths in Lev. 23:33-44; Deut. 16:13-17; Neh. 8:13-18; Zech. 14:16-19.)