1. Pray. Ask the Lord to open your eyes, that you might behold wondrous things out of his Law (Ps. 119:18). 

2. Read Sunday's passage. Feel free to read it more than once, or in another translation.

3. Review the sermon outline. Try to see how the points came out of the text.

4. Answer the questions below. Focus on personal application.

5. Pray. Praise and thank the Lord, then ask him to work in mighty ways. 

Remember, we live not by bread alone, but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God (Dt. 8:3; Mt. 4:4).

22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for John had not yet been put in prison).

25 Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.”

27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”

31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

1 Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2(although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), 3 he left Judea and departed again for Galilee.

Intro:  Picture a wedding. We are accustomed to standing and looking at the bride when she enters the room, to see her in all her beauty. But it is now a trend to also turn and look at the groom, to see if his face shows any signs of deep love for her. When it does, our hearts are moved. Did you know that one way the Bible depicts God's relationship with his people is through the covenant of marriage? From the books of Moses, to the Prophets, to the Gospels, to the Epistles, and even to the Book of Revelation, this theme is present. God has faithful, committed, covenantal love for his people. Do you know this Bridegroom? Have you received and rejoiced in his love? 

I. In Jesus Christ, God has come to claim his bride. When John the Baptist is asked why more people are flocking to Jesus than to him, he uses the analogy of the bridegroom and the best man to show them that his God-given role was not to draw attention to himself, but to direct attention to the Christ. Now that Jesus has come, John's role, and his joy, are complete. On a deeper level, though, the fact that John calls Jesus the Bridegroom is not happenstance. This was a familiar and theologically-loaded term for Jews. In the Old Testament, Yahweh was the Bridgroom, and Israel was the bride (see Deut. 7; Isaiah 5; Jeremiah 2; Jeremiah 31; Ezekiel 16; Hosea). God had metaphorically divorced Israel because of her adulterous idolatry and sin. Yet, in his mercy and grace, he promised to one day come and claim them as his bride again (see Isaiah 62:5; Jeremiah 31; Hoseah 2:19). So the deeper meaning here is that the Bridegroom is actually Jesus! Jesus is God-in-the flesh, come to claim his people as his bride.  

II. We become the bride of Christ by believing in him (v.36–37). Jesus came to take the sin and guilt of his people on himself, at the cross. Now that he has overcome sin and death by his resurrection, all who trust in him receive forgiveness and eternal life. The way we receive the love of the Bridegroom, and become the Bride, is by turning from sin in faith to Jesus Christ. Believe and be saved!

III. Like John, learn to rejoice when Jesus increases, and we decrease (v. 29). For those who believe, John the Baptist is a powerful example. When pride tempts us to think that we are great, or vanity tempts us to desire attention for ourselves, or when we feel like God is lucky to have us on his side, John reminds us that real discipleship requires humility. We remember that our Savior humbled himself to save us, so now we live humbly to exalt him.

Conclusion:  If you have received the love of the Bridegroom, then rejoice, and live your life for his increase, and your decrease. To God be the glory!  

1. In Jesus, God has come to claim his bride. 

- Read Ezekiel 16. What do you observe about God? What do you observe about God's people? What is God like? Why does he restore his people to himself? 

- In what ways have you been like Israel (unfaithful to God)?

- According to Scripture, what does our unfaithfulness deserve?

- How does God deal with our unfaithfulness to him? 

- Why does God deal with our unfaithfulness to him?

- Where have you seen God's faithful, committed love in your own life? 

2. We become the Bride by believing in Jesus. 

- When did you first realize what Jesus did for you on the cross?

- What was that experience like for you? 

- Describe a time when you were reminded of, or moved by, Jesus' sacrifice. 

- What do you want to tell a non-believing friend or family member about Jesus?

3. Imitate John: live so Jesus increases, and you decrease. 

- How have you lived for your own increase?

- What would be different if you lived for Jesus' increase, not your own?

- Name someone who lives for Jesus' increase. What can you learn from his/her life? 

- Where is God inviting you to take one step of obedience toward living more for his glory, and not your own? 

1. Praise God for his faithful, committed, covenantal love. 

2. Thank Jesus for being the Bridegroom, who came to claim his bride by taking our sin on himself, and giving his righteousness in return. Thank him for saving you.

3. Ask God to help you live to exalt Jesus Christ.

4. Pray for those in your life who don't yet know Jesus. Pray they will turn from sin and trust in Jesus, and live their lives for him. 

Thanks for reading the Bible Study Guide! I pray it helps us "continue to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ" (Eph. 4:15).

Sincerely, your brother in Christ,

Tom Hansen, Senior Pastor