Starts May 1st, 2005, in the Parlor
John's Gospel is unique. Rather than dutifully recording all the details of the life of Jesus, John relates scenes from no more than 20 days in the life of Christ. He focuses on seven "signs" or miracles (five of which aren't reported elsewhere) and uses them to illustrate who Jesus is. John's Gospel contains most of the famous "I am" statements by Jesus himself, and his most unambiguous statements concerning his deity and authority. It is a thrilling book, full of power and promise. Jesus says, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).
And yet, we mainstream Protestants have a tendency to shy away from the boldest claims of John's Gospel. We hesitate when asked if Jesus absolutely performed all of these miracles. Some of us chafe at verses that sound exclusive and closed-minded. What do we do with verses like John 14:6, where Jesus says, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me?".
In this course we will explore the seven life-giving passages from the Gospel of John. We will look at who Jesus claims to be, at the signs he performed, and at the abundant life he promises to give us. We will talk about how much "authority" we are willing to give to scripture, and to the Gospel of John in particular. This will not be a lecture. It will be a group exploration into the foundation of our faith. Come join us!
Richard Trismen has been a member of Old South since 1993. He has taught several Adult Ed courses, mostly on the New Testament texts, and was a co-leader of the first DISCIPLE Bible Study course at the church. He lives in Andover with his wife Hilary, daughter Dana, and son Ryan.