Life in the Red Letters– STUDY GUIDE

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Icebreaker: What is your favorite Red-Letter quote from the bible?

Sermon Title: Living in the Red Letters – “Seeing Red” – John 18:19-21

Group Discussion:

Read Matthew 7:24-27 & James 1:21-24 – Jesus’ words have power! – Discuss how living out Jesus’ words (i.e., through practical application), rather than simply “hearing them,” can transform lives.

Read Mark 6:2, Luke 4:22, & John 14:23-26 – Jesus has a way with words! What do these verses reveal about the distinct clarity, truth, and impact of Jesus’ words? Discuss ways we can be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s prompting to help us recall, receive, and reveal Jesus’ words of truth.

Read Matthew 7:28-29, Luke 4:32, & John 14:10 – Jesus’ words have authority! Why might we be tempted to receive Jesus’ words as simply inspirational or optional? What spiritual or practical implications might result from this mentality? Discuss how we can guard our hearts against treating Jesus’ words as simply inspiration rather than as authoritative truth that calls for faith and obedience.

Read John 10:14-18 – Jesus has a way with people! What do these verses teach us about Jesus’ character, love, and sacrifice, especially when compared with worldly models of influence and authority that impose power, manipulation, and control? Discuss how this should shape the way we view our own relationships. Also, consider practical steps we can take to embrace a shepherd-like approach in our families, churches, and communities, especially with mentoring and discipling others.

Read John 14:6-7 & John 17:20-26 – Jesus is the way for you! Where do people often go, instead of to Jesus, when searching for fulfillment; why are they still unfulfilled? Discuss how these verses equip us to share the gospel in a culture that increasingly points to multiple roads to heaven?

Spiritual Discipline: Review additional resources for this sermon series on our Church Center app:
Church Center/Home/Sermon Resources

Action Steps: (1) Choose a passage of Jesus’ red-letter teaching this week (e.g., John 14:1-11; John 14:15-21) and prayerfully meditate on how His words speak promises and hope into your life, and (2) Choose someone to encourage this week using His words to remind them that “Jesus is the way…”