Before You Begin
Jesus once invited people simply to “come and see” (). Later, when a skeptical Nathanael wondered whether anything good could come from Nazareth, his friend Philip gave him the same invitation: “Come and see” ().
That is what this course is about.
You don't need to know much about the Bible, and you don't need to consider yourself a Christian. You are simply invited to read some of Jesus' remarkable claims about himself and consider what they mean.
Each conversation is built around a passage from John's Gospel. We will read it together, ask questions about what Jesus said and did, and talk honestly about what we find interesting, surprising, difficult, or compelling.
The goal isn't to pressure you into giving the “right” answers. It is to give you an opportunity to investigate Jesus for yourself.
What Does a Conversation Look Like?
Each conversation is simple. There are no lectures and no homework required. We will spend most of our time reading a short passage from John's Gospel and talking about it together.
1. Connect
We begin with a question about life or experience that introduces the subject of the passage.
2. Read
We read the passage together and begin with a simple question:
What caught your attention?
3. Explore
We ask a few questions to understand what is happening in the passage, what Jesus is saying, and what he is claiming about himself.
The goal is not to guess the “correct” answer. Look at the passage and say what you see.
4. Consider
Then we move from “What does Jesus say?” to “What do you think?”
You may agree with Jesus, disagree with him, have questions, or simply be unsure. Honest questions and doubts are welcome.
5. Respond
Finally, we consider what difference Jesus' words might make if they are true.
You may also leave each conversation with another question you want to explore.
One Question Behind Them All
Near the end of his Gospel, John explains why he recorded these things:
“These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
So throughout these eight conversations, we will keep returning to one central question:
Who do you think Jesus is?
Come and see.