THE WORD, THE LIFE, THE LIGHT

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MEETING AGENDA

  1. OPENING PRAYER – Ask one person to open the meeting in prayer.
  2. GROWTH QUESTIONS – Ask everyone the Growth Questions.
  3. ATTENDANCE – Take attendance through the DG Attendance System.
  4. TODAY’S LESSON – Go over this week’s DG lesson.
  5. GIVING – Encourage everyone to give on the App.
  6. CLOSING PRAYER – Ask for prayer requests and pray.

GROWTH QUESTION #1

Who would like to share a highlight, praise report, or testimony from this week?

GROWTH QUESTION #2

What did you learn from this week’s sermon?

GROWTH QUESTION #3

What was your most important accomplishment this week?

TODAY’S PASSAGE:

John 1:1-5 (NLT) 1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

What did you learn from what we just read?

TRUTH #1

JESUS IS THE WORD (V. 1-2)

  • Jesus was there in the beginning, before anything existed.

  • John’s opening line “In the beginning…” intentionally echoes the creation account we find in Genesis 1:1.

Genesis 1:1 (NLT) - In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

  • John wanted to make it clear from the start of this book about Jesus, that Jesus was and is God.

  • He also made it clear that Jesus is the Word. 

  • The “Word” comes from the Greek term logos, which had deep meaning to both the Jewish and Greek audience that John was writing to.

  • In the mind of the Jews, the phrase “the word of God,” could be used to refer to God Himself.

  • The Greeks viewed logos as the very power that set the world in perfect order and kept it going in perfect order.

  • John knew that everyone all around the world would recognize that he was writing about God when he used the term “the Word” to describe Jesus. 

  • He is essentially saying, “Let me introduce you to the One who created it all!”

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

Why is it important that Jesus existed before anything else was created? How does that change the way we see Him—not just as a teacher or prophet, but as God Himself? 

TRUTH #2

JESUS IS THE LIFE (V. 3-4)

  • Jesus created all things that were created.

Colossians 1:16 (NLT) - For through him God created everything, in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see — such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.

  • Jesus is the source of all life, not just temporary life here on earth, but eternal life.

  • DEFINITION - life (zoe): the absolute fullness of life which belongs to God through faith in Christ alone; the blessed life that begins in this world and continues for eternity after the resurrection; a life that is dedicated and devoted to God; a happy life.

1 John 5:12 (NLT) - Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.

  • Jesus is the one and only source of life. If you have Him, you have life. If you do not have Him, you do not have real life.

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

How could you explain to someone who has never heard of Jesus that He is the only source of life, both temporary and eternal? 

TRUTH #3

JESUS IS THE LIGHT (V. 4-5)

  • Without Jesus, all of us would be lost in the darkness.

  • To John’s Jewish audience, light was the ultimate value. All good things were said to be “light” and all evil was called “darkness.”

  • John wanted everyone to know that Jesus was the ultimate good! He is the Light of the World!

  • Jesus Himself, told everyone that He was the Light!

John 8:12 (NLT) - Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

  • The Light of the World, Jesus, has come to lead us to an abundant, eternal life.

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

Can you share a time when Jesus brought light into a dark place in your life? How did that change you? 

CLOSING QUESTION

What is one thing from today’s lesson that you will apply this week?

GIVING

Generous giving aligns our hearts with heavenly values and ensures that our greatest treasures are stored where they cannot be taken away.

Matthew 6:19-21 (NLT)
Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Encourage everyone to give their tithes and offerings.

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PRAY

QUESTION #1

Who are you praying for to be saved?

QUESTION #2

Who can you invite to the next meeting?

QUESTION #3

What are your prayer requests?