Basic Christianity by John Stott
Week 3: Part One — The Claims of Christ (His Teaching)
Read Part One, Chapter 2 of Basic Christianity by John Stott. Key passages: Matthew 5:17; John 14:6; Mark 2:5-7.
Want the full guide for Basic Christianity?
Free Week 1 sample in 5 min · $24.99 for all 10 weeks · 7-day refund
A good man would not make the claims Jesus made — unless those claims were true. This week we follow Stott's careful examination of what Jesus actually said about himself.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Stott draws attention to the extraordinary way Jesus taught — not 'the scribes say' or 'thus says the Lord,' but 'I say to you.' How is this different from every other prophet or teacher in Israel's history? What is Jesus implicitly claiming by teaching with this kind of authority?
2.Jesus forgave sins — not just sins against himself, but sins in general. Stott points out that the teachers of the law were quite right to be scandalized: 'Who can forgive sins but God alone?' (Mark 2:7). Why is forgiving sins in this absolute way a claim to divinity? How does this differ from one person forgiving another for a personal offense?
3.Stott examines Jesus's claim in John 14:6 — 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' Many people today find this claim offensive or arrogant. How does Stott help us see it differently — as flowing naturally from who Jesus is, rather than being an arbitrary exclusion?
You're on Week 3 of 10
Don't lose momentum — get the rest of Basic Christianity
All 71 questions across 10 weeks, with closing prayers and a downloadable PDF for your group.
One-time purchase · 7-day refund · Covers your whole group