A New Year’s Resolution for Christians: Read John’s Gospel with a Friend

Bible reading with others is always a good discipline, but consider doing it for someone else’s benefit, and you just might find that it benefits you more.

Recently, I was talking with a friend who has started having conversations with an co-worker about Jesus. This co-worker is a churchgoer, but she is not a Christian, and my friend is a Christian who is eager to evangelize and disciple. However, my friend is also somewhat nervous and unsure about how to go about it.

My friend invited her co-worker to read through the Gospel of John with her, and the co-worker accepted the invitation. And my friend called to talk with me about how she might prepare herself to have good discussions as they read together. I think these tips might be generally helpful to anyone who is interested in doing this sort of thing, so I’m making a blog-post out of them.

As 2025 approaches, and as many Americans are resolving to lose weight, make a budget, or be more productive, maybe you could resolve to read John’s Gospel with a friend at some point this next year. Do you have a Christian friend who might join you in reading the Bible and praying together? Have you wondered how to begin a daily family time around Bible reading and discussion? Do you have a non-Christian friend who might join you in reading and considering the Bible’s teaching? Well, you could use some of what I’ve listed below as a guide or tips-list for making a plan.

First, keep the big picture in mind.

It’s a good idea to start by knowing the purpose of the book of John, which he conveniently tells us in obvious terms near the end of the Gospel. He says, “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (Jn. 20:30-31).

I’d keep on revisiting this purpose, and use it to help stimulate questions (such as, “How does what we read help us to believe that Jesus is the Christ or Messiah sent from God?”).

Second, consider the kind of literature you’re reading.

The book of John is a narrative (i.e., a story) with a lot of dialogue and teaching scattered throughout. So, you can often ask questions of the story:

• Who are the main characters?

• Is there a villain and a hero? If so, who are they?

• Is this an example of what to do or what not to do?

• Is this story meant to teach us something about Jesus, about God, about humanity, or about something else?

• What can we learn from this story?

• What should I start doing or stop doing in light of what I’ve read?

• What should I start believing or stop believing in light of what I’ve read?

In those portions of John’s Gospel where the narrative stops and the dialogue or teaching begins, you can ask questions like these:

• Is this a command to do something (or not do something) or to believe something (or not believe something)?

• If it’s a command, then what should I do or not do?

• If it’s a theological claim, then what should I believe or not believe?

• What does this command or claim teach us about Jesus, about God, about humanity, or about something else?

• What should I start doing or stop doing because of the command here?

• What should I start believing or stop believing because of the theological claim I’ve read here?

Third and finally, remember that the goal of Bible reading is faith and obedience.

As you read through John’s Gospel, you’ll see that he is all about real or true or genuine “belief” in Christ, and John contrasts that quite a lot with false or superficial “belief.” Anytime you read the word “believe” in John, you might ask, “Is this true belief? Or is it false?” And “How do you know from the story or teaching in the text?”

• Aim to mimic the faith of those who are good examples of it, and think of specific ways you might do that today.

• Ask your friend to help you expose ways that your own life might be showing a lack of true faith.

• Pray with your friend, and ask God to give you both the gift of true faith.

• Pray with your friend, and ask God to grow your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

If you find these tips helpful, and especially if you employ them to read John’s Gospel with someone else this next year, then please do let me know. I’d be glad to pray for God to produce fruit from your efforts.