JOHN – Chapter 4
What/who was important to Jesus?
Bridging all theological divides
What needs did Jesus meet?
Healing and salvation
What did Jesus ask or require of his followers?
To worship God in Spirit and Truth
What issues did Jesus address (relationships, work, money, character, religious practice, etc.)?
Cultural and Theological Divisions: God is Lord of all
What is compelling to you about Jesus in this section?
The scandal that Jesus was willing to fellowship with a Samaritan even though Judean Jews considered them heretics just like certain Christians treat others for not believing the way that they do (pg. 461 of Biblica: The Bible Atlas states: “The Samaritans were descendents of the northern tribes, who read their own version of the Pentateuch, and whose worship centered on Mt. Gerizim. There was little love lost between them and the Jews, who disputed their claim to be legitimate Israelites.”)
How do followers respond to Jesus?
In Spirit and in Truth
What in this section challenges us to respond/ imitate/obey?
To avoid statements of Absolute Certainty such as: "my way of thinking is the only correct one, and if you don't interpret the (Bible) the same way I do, you're going to hell."---as if mere humans possess the perfect mind of God
( http://christianforums.com/showthread.php?t=7237579 )
How did Jesus change the world (for an individual or for a community)? Jesus challenged the cultural assumptions of His day about God---if He did so today, we would wake up and find that God is not a male, heterosexual, racist, black or white, American, sexist, homophobic bigot, Republican or Democrat or any other partisan label one wants to attach to the Eternal God of all (not a few as Calvinists claim)---but that God is beyond any petty manmade theological box or Book that we try to hold God captive in or that God defies all human comprehension
What vision of being missional do you glimpse for yourself? For the church? Relational theology is above doctrinal purity---in other words, God calls us to relationships with everyone not to parade our denominational doctrines around as if they are badges of honor---for God is a God of people and relationships not church doctrines and God is Lord of all regardless of their beliefs
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