John's Gospel
A Discipleship Journey with Jesus


Free E-mail Bible Study Bible study Humility: Disciple's Guide to a Humble Life

Good Shepherd, stained glass window at All Saints Church, Alburgh, Norfolk, UK, by Powell of London (1872). Photo © by Simon Knott. Used by permission.
Good Shepherd, stained glass window at All Saints Church, Alburgh, Norfolk, UK, by Powell of London (1872). Photo © by Simon Knott. Used by permission.

Please share this webpage on Facebook or bookmark the site using the buttons above. Thanks!

St. Augustine once said about the Gospel of John that,

"It is shallow enough for a child not to drown, yet deep enough for an elephant to swim in it."

The most memorized verse in the New Testament is found in the Fourth Gospel:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

And some of the greatest truths of the Christian faith are taught in the Fourth Gospel, perhaps more than in any New Testament book, for example:

  • Jesus Christ is the only-begotten, fully divine, Son of God;
  • The Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, Who guides, teaches, and empowers us to carry on Jesus' miraculous ministry;
  • The Father loves us as He did Jesus;
  • Eternal life vs. the wrath of God;
  • And much more....

John shares some of the same incidents as Matthew, Mark, and Luke (the Synoptic Gospels) and offers his own thoughtful perspective from the point of view of one close to Jesus that helps us understand the deeper significance of these events. But John's Gospel also contains material not found in the other Gospels:

  • Changing the water into wine (2:1-11),
  • The woman at the well of Sychar (4:1-26)
  • Healing of the invalid at the Pool of Bethesda (5:1-15) (short story)
  • "I am the Bread of Life" (6:25-51)
  • The woman taken in adultery (8:1-11)
  • "I am the light of the world" (8:12)
  • "The truth shall set you free" (8:32)
  • Healing the man born blind (8:48-9:41)
  • "I am the Good Shepherd" (10:1-42)
  • Raising Lazarus from the dead (11:1-44)
  • Washing the disciples feet (13:1-38)
  • "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (14:6)
  • "I am the vine, you are the branches" (15:1-17)
  • Jesus' "High Priestly" prayer (chapter 17)
  • "As the Father sent me, so send I you" (20:19-31)
  • ... and much, much more.
John's Gospel: A Discipleship Journey with Jesus, by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
Entire study is available in paperback, Kindle, and PDF formats.

I'm sure you've studied the Gospel of John before, but this time we'll study it in depth and mine its riches for ourselves -- you and I together. It will be a long study -- and I'm not finished writing it yet by a long shot -- but it will be worth it! My focus will be on how we can learn to be better disciples and walk more closely with Jesus.

I encourage you to sign up for this study that will begin on the Friday  following the day after you sign up. Sign up now so you don't forget -- and invite your friends to do the same.

Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
This is our 41st online Bible study since 1996. If you've participated in one before, you know how God can use them in your life. If not, then you have a treat in store for you. This is an cross-denominational study designed to help you grow as a disciple of Christ. -- Dr. Ralph F. Wilson. About the leader.
Here's how we'll study together.

  • Each Saturday I'll e-mail you the lesson for the weekk. Then you'll read the Bible passage and use my notes to help you understand it better.
  • If you sign up for the daily questions version, on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday you'll receive a question from that week's lesson to think about and answer. This is designed as a "total immersion" approach to Bible study, since I believe God wants to use these lessons to work real and permanent change in your life. (You can opt out of the daily questions if you like, however, and just receive the weekly lessons.) You'll be thinking about these passages constantly over these weeks -- long enough for God to work his Word into your life and lifestyle.
  • You can respond to the questions and exercises using the Joyful Heart Bible Study Forum -- and read others' answers to reinforce your own understanding.
  • With each lesson you'll receive a link to a 20- to 30-minute audio teaching that sums up the passage you've been studying that week. Some who learn better from hearing than from reading really appreciate this.
  • Then on Saturday, I'll send you the next week's lesson.

As 2015, more than 3,500 people from more than 81 countries around the world had subscribed. It's free, no cost. If you'd like to study this with a group, feel free to reprint the Participant Guide Handouts at no charge.

Sign up now!

To sign up, start by clicking on your e-mail frequency preference:

You'll receive your first lesson the Friday after you sign up. There is no cost to participate in the study, though donations are encouraged so we can create more studies and reach more people.

We respect your privacy and never sell, rent, or loan our lists. Please don't subscribe your friends; let them decide for themselves.

Please don't sign up for more than one of my Bible studies at one time. There's no penalty, but each of them is pretty intensive. If you try to do too many studies at the same time without adequate reflection, you'll miss out on God speaking to you.

John's Gospel: A Discipleship Journey with Jesus

Copyright © 2024, Ralph F. Wilson. <pastor@joyfulheart.com> All rights reserved. A single copy of this article is free. Do not put this on a website. See legal, copyright, and reprint information.