Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (John 5:20-29), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion…

• [22-23] (Read Ps. 96:10-13; Isa. 33:22) Universal judgment belongs to God alone, and Jesus claims to have received this divine prerogative from his Father. What does this say about Jesus as God? What does this say about Jesus as a human? Does this strike you as Good News? Do you understand the nature of Christ’s judgment?

• [23-24] Hearing Christ’s word with faith is the way to honor him. Yet it seems to us that he often speaks in strange ways about strange things. What do you think about that? What are some teachings of Christ that are difficult for you? That are meaningful to you? What does it look like in your life to listen to him with faith? Are you an active listener, hungry to hear and understand and believe?

• [26-27] The Father has granted it to Jesus to command eternal life, not only because he is the divine Son of God, but “because he is the Son of Man,” because Jesus’ humanity has been caught up into the life of the Trinity on our behalf. Do you see your salvation in this? Do you see God’s heart revealed in this? How is this “relevant,” how does it intersect with your daily life? How does it contradict your ideas of what is relevant to daily life? Do you talk about the Gospel in this way with others?