Part of the HARBOR HAWAIʻI ʻOhana
HARBOR HAWAIʻI ʻOhana

Sermon Questions and Resources

Why Should I Believe the Bible?(God’s Word)

Community Group Discussion Questions
Week of Apr 26
John 13-16

OPENER

  • What’s a book, show, or movie that totally lived up to the hype for you?

DISCUSSION
Many people struggle to trust the Bible because they are not sure it is believable, helpful, or worth surrendering to. But in this passage, we saw that confidence in the Bible grows out of confidence in Christ, the Spirit’s work in inspiring Scripture, and the way God uses his Word to transform lives.

  • Read John 13:18–20. Jesus speaks about Scripture being fulfilled and says he is telling the disciples beforehand so they may believe that he is “I am.” How does Jesus’ trust in Scripture shape the way you think about trusting the Bible?
  • Read John 13:21–30. Judas was physically close to Jesus, but did not truly believe in him. What’s the difference between being around Jesus and actually trusting him as Lord?
  • Read John 14:25–26. Jesus says the Holy Spirit will teach the disciples and remind them of all that he told them. How does this strengthen your confidence that the words of Jesus were faithfully preserved for us?
  • Read John 16:12–15. Jesus says the Spirit of truth will guide his people into all the truth and glorify him. Why is it important to remember that the Spirit’s main work is not to draw attention to himself, but to glorify Jesus?
  • The Bible is not mainly given to make us smarter, but to lead us to salvation and sanctification. In what ways have you seen God use his Word to teach, correct, or reshape you over time?
  • Occasional exposure to Scripture is not the same as being shaped by it. What tends to keep you from engaging God’s Word regularly and expectantly?
  • Growing as a Learner: If God has chosen to reveal himself through his Word, what is one way you need to become more teachable before Scripture instead of selective or resistant?
  • Fruit → Root: When the fruit is indifference to Scripture, resistance to correction, spiritual drift, or only going through the motions, what root might be underneath — unbelief, pride, distraction, or not really seeing Jesus as glorious and trustworthy? How does the gospel move you from merely being around Jesus to actually trusting him and receiving his Word?

ACTION STEP

  • What is one step you can take this week to not just hear God’s Word, but respond to it in obedience?

DIG DEEPER
We study Scripture to understand what it says, means, and intends, patiently walking with the text instead of moving too quickly to application.

OBSERVATION – What Does It Say?

  • In John 13:16–20, what does Jesus say about servants, messengers, blessing, and the fulfillment of Scripture? How does he connect belief in himself to what is about to happen?
  • In John 13:21–30, what details stand out in the interaction between Jesus and Judas? What contrasts do you notice between Jesus’ knowledge and Judas’ response?
  • According to John 14:25–26 and John 16:12–15, what specific things does Jesus say the Holy Spirit will do for the disciples?

INTERPRETATION – What Does It Mean?

  • What does Jesus mean in John 13:18–19 when he says, “the Scripture must be fulfilled” and “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you may believe that I am he”? How does fulfilled Scripture strengthen confidence in Jesus?
  • What does John 14:25–26 teach us about how the disciples would later remember and faithfully communicate the words of Jesus? How does that shape the way we think about the reliability of the Gospels?
  • In John 16:13–14, what does it mean that the Spirit will guide into all the truth and glorify Jesus? How does that help us understand the Spirit’s role in inspiring and illuminating God’s Word?

CROSS REFERENCE & CONTEXT(Connect the Bible to Itself)

  • How does Psalm 41:9 deepen our understanding of John 13:18 and Jesus’ use of the Old Testament to interpret Judas’ betrayal?
  • How does 2 Timothy 3:16–17 help explain the sermon’s claim that all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable? How does that connect with what Jesus says in John 14:26 and John 16:13?
  • How does 1 Corinthians 1:18 help explain why confidence in the Bible is tied to confidence in Christ? Why does the cross often sound like foolishness until God opens our eyes?

SERMON RESOURCES

SERIES RESOURCES