Red Letter Questions, Part 3: “You Do Not Want to Leave Me Too, Do You?”

Grant Fishbook, Lead Teaching Pastor

In the last 24 hours…

Jesus fed the 5000 (John 6:1-15)

Jesus walked on water (John 6:16-24)

Jesus introduced himself in a new way – I am the (John 6:25-60)

Cringe Moments from John 6
⁴¹ At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”
        ⁴² They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”

       ⁵¹ “…I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
       ⁵² Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
       ⁵³ Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

        ⁶⁰ On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”

hard = ; ; ;

          ⁶⁶ From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

The Red-Letter Question from John 6:67

“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.

Peter’s Response
⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹ We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

A Modernized Red-Letter Question from Jesus

In the face of cultural pressure, after counting the cost, are you with me?
Will you put your trust in me? Will you choose to be under my authority?
Will your belief and knowledge sustain you as my follower?

Small Group Questions

1. What’s your favorite part of fall? (sweaters, pumpkin spice, etc.)
2. How has social media positively or negatively affected your life?
3. Which of the cringe moments listed above would have affected you the most? Why?
4. What keeps you from abandoning your faith Jesus?
5. This would be a great time to consider taking Communion, as a group, or as an individual. What does John 6 teach you about this sacrament?
6. How would you answer the red-letter question of John 6:67?
7. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?