Blind to the Darkness

Introduction

Are you walking in the light, or have you grown comfortable in the darkness? In John 8:21–29, Jesus challenges us to examine our hearts, surrender our pride, and look beyond the things of this world. Discover how His truth can transform our lives, renew our hope, and lead us out of darkness into His light.

Series Overview

Discussion Questions

Outline

I. We Think We’re Fine. John 8:21-22

· Attacking conviction will eventually lead to dying in your sin.

II. We Think Life Is Awesome. John 8:23-24

· Sanitizing the world for religious purposes doesn’t change the fact that those things are from our sinful world and not from God.

III. We Think We Know Better. John 8:25-29

· Sometimes living in darkness means we’re willing to sacrifice God’s truth on the altar of our own pride.

Study Questions

1. Have you ever ignored a warning light, strange noise, or obvious problem because you convinced yourself, “It’s probably fine”? How did that work out?

2. Read John 8:21–22. When Jesus told the religious leaders that they would die in their sins and could not follow Him, they mocked Him. What does their response reveal about spiritual blindness? Why is our reaction to conviction often to mock the messenger or make a joke rather than examine our own hearts?

3. Read James 1:22–25. How does this passage connect with Jesus’s conversation with the religious leaders? What does it look like to respond honestly to conviction instead of distracting ourselves long enough to forget it?

4. Read John 8:23–24. What does Jesus mean when he contrasts being “from below” with being “from above”? Why would that have been challenging to these religious leaders?

5. What are some ways Christians try to sanitize the things of this world? Why does attempting to do this for religious use fail?

6. Read John 8:25–29. Last week, Pastor Keven said, “Sometimes living in darkness means we’re willing to sacrifice God’s truth on the altar of our own pride.” Why is spiritual darkness rarely a lack of information, and more often a symptom of pride? What is an area where God’s Word challenges what you naturally want to believe, feel, or defend?

7. CALL TO ACTION - Memorize: John 8:24. Tell your group or a trusted friend which of the three characteristics of spiritual darkness you are most prone to and ask them to help you recognize it when it shows up. Set aside 10 minutes in silence this week to do a heart audit before the Lord, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal any place where worldly thinking has shaped your priorities.

Discussion Questions