Do You Believe God's Testimony? Do you believe the

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Do You Believe God’s Testimony? John 5:30-40

Steve Holdaway, LifeSpring Church 06.26.16

John 5:30-40 ESV

30 "I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. 31 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not deemed true. 32 There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. 33 You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, 38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. 39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

Do you believe the testimony of John the Baptist? From the womb: Luke 1:39-45 From the Jordan River: Matt. 3:16-17 From the Desert: John 1:29-34

Do you believe the testimony of Jesus Christ? John records 7 specific signs of Jesus’ divinity. Jesus openly confessed his divinity: Mark 14:61-65

Do you believe the testimony of God, the Father? Revealed through His works Revealed through His Word

LIFEGROUP LEADER GUIDE Icebreakers: Have you ever been asked to be a witness in a court of law? Describe it. Share about a time when you told the truth and no one believed you?

In this lesson, we’ll learn about the testimony offered by Jesus when confronted by religious people who wouldn’t believe that he was God’s Son.

Read John 5:30-40 Going Deeper:

30-31: Even Jesus admits that his witness about himself is not sufficient. If Jesus were the only one to bear witness of himself, why would that be insufficient? 33-35: John the Baptist was sent by God to be a forerunner for the Messiah. What kinds of witness did he give for Christ? (See the passages on the sermon outline.) 36: How was the testimony of Jesus greater than that of John? Of course, these works of Jesus were also works of the Father, since Jesus does what the Father says. Describe some of the “works” that God gave Jesus to accomplish. Take some time and share together as many of Christ’s miracles as you can remember. 37-38: The Jewish leaders did not truly know God, and his word was not abiding in them. Give some examples of this from what you remember about their confrontations with Jesus. How does the Word of God reveal the true identity of Jesus? 39-40: Even the Pharisees, scribes, and rabbis all believed that scriptural knowledge was what “saved” someone or gave them “life.” So they knew the law of God, but did not have life. Read the following texts that speak of Jesus as the life: John 10:10; John 14:6

Application: Read for next Sunday: John 6:1-15, The Feeding of the 5,000 (What Jesus can do with just a little)

Take turns and share in 60 seconds God’s Story (the Gospel). Take turns and share in 60 seconds Your Story (your testimony about Christ)