Twelve Ordinary Men by John MacArthur
Week 5: Chapter 4 — John: The Apostle of Love
Read Chapter 4 of Twelve Ordinary Men. Key passages: John 13:23; John 19:26–27; 1 John 4:7–12; Revelation 1:9.
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John began as a Son of Thunder and ended as the Apostle of Love — and MacArthur argues the transformation between those two descriptions is one of the most remarkable in all of Scripture.
Discussion Questions
8 questions1.MacArthur notes the apparent paradox that John, who would write more about love than any other New Testament author, began his ministry wanting to call down fire on his enemies. What does this contrast tell us about the power of sustained exposure to Jesus over a lifetime?
2.John is consistently referred to in his Gospel as 'the disciple whom Jesus loved' — a phrase he uses to identify himself. MacArthur argues this is not arrogance but a profound understanding of grace. What is the difference between resting in God's love for you and arrogantly claiming a special status?
3.John was present at more defining moments than almost any other apostle — the Transfiguration, the Last Supper (reclining next to Jesus), the cross, the empty tomb, and the ascension. MacArthur suggests this proximity shaped John's theology of love and incarnation. How does closeness to Jesus — through Scripture, prayer, community — shape a person's character over time?
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