Bethesda Chapel, 2000
SG Bible Study #11

Have you ever got into trouble or got into someone’s bad books because you were spending time with the wrong people?

1. According to Jesus, what condition must people fulfil if they want the world to love them?
   
   
2. Can Jesus’ disciples fulfil that condition?
   
   
3. Is it possible for people to react to Jesus negatively, and yet respond to his followers positively?
   
   
4. Do you see any clues in the text which indicate that Jesus had a particular group of persecutors especially in mind when he warned his disciples that they would face hatred?
   
   
5. Do you think Jesus’ warning about his followers being hated and persecuted applies equally to all his followers in all periods of history, including us today? Why or why not?
   
   
6. Jesus says that the Spirit will testify about him. He also says that his disciples will testify. Does he mean that the Spirit’s work of testifying and the disciples’ work of testifying will each be done independently, or does he mean instead that the Spirit’s testimony will accompany and work through the disciples’ words of testimony?
   
   
7. Do you see any indication in the text that Jesus’ followers are permitted to stop testifying about him during times when they face hatred and opposition?
   
   
8. Why did Jesus make a point of giving these warnings to his followers?
   
   
   

Application question. (Everyone should answer.)

Describe a recent or current situation in which you have experienced people’s dislike, opposition or social distancing because you are a follower of Jesus. Will what you have read in this passage make a difference in the way you handle that situation? Explain.