Grace Upon Grace Journal

DEATH AND DYING Both science and faith, each in its own way and in its proper place, should help us live, and therefore also help us face death, with greater courage and dignity. Death is a consequence of life. In other words, death is an integral part of life. Life and death form a continuous line. Death should not be seen simply as the final point at the end of life. If we see it that way, it becomes a tragedy that seems to rob life of its meaning. On the contrary, death gives life a deeper sense of urgency and reality. Because we do not have unlimited time, and because we do not know the hour of our death, every moment of life becomes uniquely precious. Each moment is the only one we truly possess. Either we live it well, or we risk letting it slip away. In this sense, dying is a task that is built through living. Just as in nature, where we begin the process of dying the very day we are born, because our bodies are temporary, our challenge is to live in such a way that each day...

  Encounter at the Well Based on Gospel of John Chapter 4 This Wednesday, we had a great time studying the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman, focusing on grace, identity, and transformation. We started our study with a warm-up game using Wordwall , where we recalled events that are found specifically in the Gospel of John . It was a fun way to review key stories and help everyone remember how unique this Gospel is in presenting Jesus’ identity and ministry. Right after the game, we compared John chapter 3 and John chapter 4 . In chapter 3, Jesus meets Nicodemus , a religious leader who came to Jesus at night, representing religious authority, knowledge, and social status. In contrast, in chapter 4, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman during the day, representing social exclusion and marginalization. Nicodemus comes privately, while the Samaritan woman meets Jesus in public space at the well. These two encounters show that Jesus is for everyone — religious and non-religious, respe...

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...