Grace Upon Grace Journal

Wednesday Bible Study Recap – John 3 This past Wednesday, we spent time in Gospel of John , chapter 3, and began by reflecting on the theme of identity. I invited everyone to think about a few simple but powerful questions: Who are you? (Your name, gender identity, where you were born.) What is your lineage? What shapes your sense of self? We talked about how the four Gospels — Gospel of Matthew , Gospel of Mark , Gospel of Luke , and Gospel of John — are deeply concerned with helping us understand who Jesus is. In many ways, the Bible gives us four whole books to answer one question: Who is Jesus? I connected this to last week’s sermon about Jesus’ temptation, when the tempter said, “If you are the Son of God…” — challenging Jesus’ identity. Identity matters deeply in Scripture because it shapes how we live, trust, and respond to God. If we ask, “Who is Jesus?” and look specifically at the Gospel of John, here’s where we find clear answers: ⸻ 1. Who is Jesus? 📖 The Word (Log...

  Summary – John 3 In John 3, we meet Nicodemus , a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council, who comes to Jesus at night to ask questions about His teaching. Jesus tells him that no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again —a spiritual rebirth through the Holy Spirit, not just physical birth. Jesus explains that this new birth is necessary to enter eternal life and emphasizes the importance of faith in Him . One of the most well-known verses in the Bible comes from this chapter: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Jesus also teaches about the contrast between light and darkness: those who believe in Him live in the light, while those who reject Him remain in darkness. The chapter closes with John the Baptist affirming that he is not the Messiah, but a witness to Him, and emphasizing that belief in Jesus brings eternal life. Discussion Que...

The Gospel of John – Chapter 1 Wednesday, January 28 Theme: Grace, Truth, and Our Birth into God’s Family Last Wednesday, we began our journey through the Gospel of John by grounding ourselves in John chapter 1, a passage that sets the theological foundation for everything that follows in this Gospel. Rather than starting with Jesus’ birth or early ministry, John begins with eternity, inviting us to see Jesus not just as a teacher or prophet, but as God in the flesh. Why John Was Written We learned that the Gospel of John was likely written between AD 85–95, later than the other Gospels. By this time, the church was more established and facing serious challenges – persecution, theological confusion, and growing questions about who Jesus truly was. John writes with a clear purpose: not just to tell stories about Jesus, but to help readers believe and live in light of who Jesus is. John himself states this purpose clearly: “These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is...

Bible Study Recap — October 22 Theme: “Worship from the Heart” 📖 Scripture Focus: Isaiah 29:13 “The Lord says: ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.’” Icebreaker: Writing Our Own Acrostic We began the study with a creative and reflective icebreaker! Everyone was invited to write their own acrostic using the word GRACE . Each letter represented a personal expression of faith or a quality of God’s character. After sharing some of our acrostics, Pastor Marvel explained that several Psalms in the Bible were written in acrostic form — where each verse or section begins with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. This poetic style was a way to express completeness and devotion — praising God from A to Z . Some examples of acrostic Psalms include: 🕮 Psalm 25 — a prayer for forgiveness and guidance. 🕮 Psalm 34 — a song of...

Expressions of Grace (Matthew 16–20) Bible Study Recap – “Journey of Grace” (Matthew 16–20) By Rev. Marvel Souza Our Bible Study this week was a beautiful time of learning, reflection, and spiritual growth . We began with an icebreaker reviewing the key religious groups that shaped the world Jesus lived in— Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots , and others. Understanding their beliefs and influence helps us read the Gospels with deeper insight, recognizing how radical and compassionate Jesus’ message truly was. Before diving into Scripture, we explored the different Bible translation styles : Formal Equivalence (word-for-word): strives to remain close to the original wording and structure (like ESV or NASB). Dynamic Equivalence (thought-for-thought): focuses on communicating the original message in a clear, modern way (like NIV or NLT). Both translation types help us experience God’s Word with renewed understanding and appreciation for its depth and beauty. The Context: Re...