We had our second session for our Journey Family Bible Study last night. There was an opportunity for us to dig into John and answer some of the questions people had. I want to thank everyone who was able to join us and who pushed us with your great questions.
Here is a recap in case you missed it.
Discussion Questions:
We actually only got through one question from our discussion questions, so we will save the other three for our next session. But, most of our conversation last night was focused on a few other very good and theologically deep questions that I thought we should highlight.
1️⃣ The video shows people making bad choices over and over—why do you think that keeps happening? How does this apply to us today?
- This is caused by what is often referred to as “our sin nature.” This is technically what is in us that causes us to sin, and to sin repeatedly, habitually. It can’t really be quantified or located in the body. But it is supernaturally present in each and every person since Adam and Eve brought the curse on mankind.
- This applies to us today because we are all under Adam’s curse. We all sin. We are all born into sin from the very beginning. So there is nothing inherently righteous or good in us. And if God did not call us out of the world, call us to salvation, then we would have no ability to cease from sinning, and we would all stand before Christ at the judgment, would be judged, and would all be thrown into the Lake of Fire. This is what we, as creation, corporately deserve.
Other Questions:
Right off the bat, I apologize for not taking very good notes last night. If there is a question we touched on that I missed here, feel free to send it to me through the website form or by email. Here are a few of the questions that came up, along with some verses to continue thinking through before our next session:
- How does God choose who He will save and who He will condemn?
The honest answer is that there are parts of this that we do not fully understand, such as how he chooses some people and not others. The Bible, though, clearly teaches both that God is sovereign and that humans are responsible for their choices. Some important passages to read are:
- Romans 9
- Ephesians 1:3–14
- John 6:35–44
- John 10:24–30
- Why does it seem in John 3 that Jesus is judging people when it says God sent Him to save, not judge?
Jesus came first to save, not to condemn the world (John 3:17). But people are still judged by how they respond to Him. John 3:18–21 explains that people reject the light because they love darkness instead. We are told in Hebrews 9:27 that everyone is appointed to “die once and then the judgment.” Likewise, in John 5:28-29, we are told that everyone will be judged: some will be resurrected to eternal life, while others will be resurrected to eternal condemnation. Some verses to read:
- John 3:16–21
- John 5:22–24
- John 12:44–50
- What is the difference between apostles and disciples?
A disciple is a follower or learner of someone, typically in a religious context. Anyone following Jesus could be called a disciple. An apostle, on the other hand, was someone specifically chosen and sent out by Jesus with authority and a mission. The twelve apostles were part of the larger group of disciples. Apostles are part of what is called the Fivefold Ministry of the church, which is found in Ephesians 4:11-16. It is often said that to be an apostle, one had to have seen Jesus’ ministry and resurrection (hence no apostles today).
- Luke 6:12–16
- Acts 1:21–26
- Ephesians 4:11–14
- Can we do enough good things, be a good enough person to be saved?
We cannot do anything to earn our place in heaven or our place with God for eternity. We cannot because we are unable to, not because we are not allowed to. The Law that Moses received from God, if kept perfectly throughout one’s entire life, can technically produce salvation. But the only one who could keep the law perfectly in all of creation was Jesus. This is why salvation required God’s death to fix our problem.
- Romans 3:23
- Ephesians 2:8-9
5. There was confusion about the overall timeline/story of the Bible.
The Bible is one connected story moving from creation, to humanity’s fall into sin, to God forming Israel, to Jesus coming into the world, and finally to restoration/new creation.
Very simple overview:
- Genesis → Creation and the fall (~4000 BC)
- Israel → God forms a people for Himself (~2000 BC with Abraham → ~400 BC close of the Old Testament period)
- Jesus → The promised Savior arrives (~4 BC–30 AD)
- Church → The gospel spreads to the nations (~30 AD → present)
- Revelation → Final judgment and restoration (future)
Helpful places to read:
- Genesis 1–3
- John 1
- Romans 5
- Revelation 21–22
Here is a handy timeline of the Bible and the major time periods and events that shape it.
Keep reading through John and keep marking:
- things you understand
- things you struggle with
- things you have questions about
You do not need to understand everything immediately. Just keep engaging honestly with the text.
Optional Reading:
Read Along with Us:
We have decided to start reading John as our first book. Jennifer and I will be reading through this together every day, and may do a deeper study of it if time allows. I would encourage everyone reading this to join in with us. Even if it’s years after this session recap was posted.
Next Google Meeting:
Wednesday, May 20th, 2026 – 7 pm
https://meet.google.com/vtp-pstx-tmo
Great Second Session:
So we had a lively discussion last night. There were some great questions, very deep theologically, which is always excellent. That means you are really wrestling with the tough issues of being human and what they mean in light of the Bible’s message.
I’m looking forward to the next one on the 20th of May!
If you were at the meeting last night and want to add something else, please post it in the comments below. If you would like to join us for our online meetings, please email me.
Have Questions?
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What do you think?