December 20, 2025
A video introduction using illustrations, personal stories, metaphors, or active learning examples to begin the discussion.
After the video, prompts are supplied for thinking and sharing with others personal perception and experience. This opening activity prompts participants to think about and relate to the topic, and to share with others.
Metaphors help us see more clearly and feel more deeply. They take something ordinary and show us its hidden meaning. Around the world, people use animals and objects to say something true about life. In Japan and Korea, the crane stands for peace, long life, and faithfulness. In India, Africa, and Southeast Asia, the elephant symbolizes wisdom, memory, and quiet strength. In West Africa and the Caribbean, the spider represents creativity, storytelling, and problem-solving.
Now think about how everyday things can speak in the same way today. What kind of person, group, or situation could each one represent?
Pomegranate:
[A pomegranate is packed with seeds and bright color. It could symbolize abundance, hidden potential, or someone who looks simple on the outside but is full of life within.]
Otter:
[Otters are playful and social. They can be a metaphor for friendship, teamwork, or the ability to stay calm and joyful in hard moments.]
Zip ties:
[Zip ties are small, strong, and unnoticed. They can symbolize support, loyalty, connection, or the quiet people who hold everything together.]
Look for the meaning of the metaphor in this week’s discussion!
The Bible discussion begins with a careful reading of the whole passage, either from your own Bibles, or from the provided images below.
Then participants are to ask:
John's Gospel is rich with vivid metaphors that open our understanding of who Jesus is. He is the Bread of Life who satisfies our deepest hunger (John 6). He is the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep by name (John 10). He is the Gate who opens the way to safety and belonging (John 10). He is the True Vine who gives life and fruitfulness to every branch that abides in Him (John 15). Each image reveals His heart, His mission, and the kind of relationship He offers the world.
To this list, Jesus adds another bold symbol: "I am the light of the world." Light is God's first gift in creation (Genesis 1:3). In John, light means the clarity of God's presence breaking into human darkness, enabling us to see what is true. Jesus promises that those who follow Him "will never walk in darkness," echoing the confidence of Psalm 27:1.
The Pharisees push back, and it is unclear whether their resistance stems from ignorance, fear, or pride. Still, the debate over witnesses and testimony is complex and hard to follow. One way to simplify Jesus' words is to say: "I am not making wild claims. My identity is verified by Scripture, by His works, and by God Himself."
A parting video clip with a personal invitation to apply the message to “knowing Christ” and “living in Christ” in the coming week.