Materials Included
• 4 Sessions of Learner’s Materials
• 4 Sessions of Teaching Materials
• Handouts

Scriptures
1. John 18:1-11
2. John 18:28-40
3. John 19:16b-30
4. John 20:1-18

Brief Description
"Agonizing Love" is a four session adult Bible study in the book of John, including learner’s materials, teaching guides, and handouts. The teaching guide is options-based, so teachers can customize sessions to match their favorite approach.

"Agonizing Love" leads adults to study a collection of passages that display Jesus’ last days on earth. The stories of the are the essential core, the kerygma, of the Christian faith. The Passion, the death and resurrection of Jesus, represent for us the fundamental evidence that, because God loves people, God sacrificed his only Son for their salvation. These stories have subsequently shaped Christian history and our perception that Christians are the Redeemed of God. But, in our tradition, these stories are told in the past tense, and we are therefore tempted to leave the events of Passion week almost two thousand years behind us. They are the stories of Jesus, and Pilate, and the disciples, and we have repeated them for generations. Since we know the plot, the characters, and the ending, we treat the stories as something comfortable and familiar. But they are not necessarily our stories.

Session One discusses our preconceived ideas about Jesus. Often preconceived ideas determine our course of action. How we respond to situations or events is based on previous experiences. How does the portrayal of Jesus in the story enrich our understanding of the cross?

Session Two tells the story of the Jews bringing Jesus to Pilate demanding Jesus’ execution. Pilate said, “no.” The Jews were determined. Each refusal escalated their hostility and raised the stakes. How do we decide which issues are worth standing for or against.

Session Three focuses on Jesus’ crucifixion. The mystery is still present. After almost two thousand years, we still ask, “What does it mean?”

Session Four relates the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection. In what guises might we see Jesus and not recognize him?

by Cynthia Gruhn

User License
The purchaser of this file has permission to print twenty copies of this Learners Study Guide. Neither the file nor the printed contents may be sold copied or transferred to another person or church. The purchaser may make a backup copy of the file.

The purchaser of this file has permission to print one copy of this Teaching Guide. Neither the file nor the printed contents may be sold, copied or transferred to another person or church. The purchaser may make a backup copy of the file.

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