That you may believe
As I Have Loved You
As I Have Loved You – John’s Gospel chapter 15 verses 12-17 The Love of God is unfathomable “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39) Compelled to Love My command is this: love each other as…
Abiding in Christ
Abiding in Christ – John’s Gospel chapter 15 verses 1 to 11 How do I grow as a Christian? ‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. John 15:1-3 Two pitfalls 1) just being passive 2)…
Are You Bearing Fruit?
Are You Bearing Fruit? – John’s Gospel chapter 15 verses 1-8 What does it mean to follow Jesus, to bear fruit for him, to be more than a nominal Christian? Jesus, the True Vine I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. John 15:1 So, what is the false Vine? We read of it in Isaiah’s prophecy, “The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the nation of Israel, and the people of Judah are the vines he…
Supernatural Peace
Supernatural Peace – John’s Gospel chapter 14 verses 25 to 29 A Supernatural Teacher All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:25-26 A Supernatural Peace Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not…
Pray in My Name
Pray in My Name – John’s Gospel chapter 14 verses 12 to 14 Jesus’ disciples are troubled at His words “I am going away”. A Great Mission Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. John 14:12 Even greater things than Jesus’ miracles! Yes, BECAUSE He is going away. The very thing that troubles them…
The Way to Heaven
The Way to Heaven – John’s Gospel chapter 14 verses 5 to 11 The Objection Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ John 14:5 “How can we know the way?” Many nominal Christians believe all religions, held sincerely, lead to heaven. The Claim Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. John 14:6 The Way: Jesus says ‘no, only one way leads to heaven.’…
The Promise of Heaven
The Promise of Heaven – John’s Gospel chapter 14 verses 1 to 4 Sad and troubled disciples: one was a betrayer, all the rest would abandon Him, and He was leaving. Faith began to waver. Embarrassment, confusion, sadness. The Command: Trust Me ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. John 14:1 Not a distant command. He was weighed down himself. But He cares for them. You can trust me because of who…
Love One Another
Love One Another – John’s Gospel chapter 13, verses 31-38 (not chapter 10 as shown in the few video slides – apologies for the mistake) Jesus had only a few hours to live. He had stooped to serve his friends, and soon he would stoop to die on our behalf. The Glory of the Cross When he [Judas] was gone, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in…
Born From Above
Born From Above – John’s Gospel chapter 2 verse 23 to chapter 3 verse 15 Pharisees as a group were critical of Jesus, became his enemies and later wanted to kill him. Nicodemus, a Pharisee, was more sympathetic, and comes to find out more. Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come…
Don’t Be A Judas!
Don’t Be A Judas! – John’s Gospel, chapter 13, verses 18 to 30 History is full of betrayals, but don’t you be a Judas! Judas’ betrayal revealed ‘I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfil this passage of Scripture: “He who shared my bread has turned against me.” 19 ‘I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who…
The Servant King
The Servant King – John’s Gospel chapter 13, verses 2 to 17 A staggering humility 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;7 rather, he…
Loved to the End
Loved to the End What does Jesus think about me? Here is the answer: John 13:1. It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. John 13:1 Without God there is no love. Loved eternally: “his own”. Loved completely: “to the end”. God is love: 1 John 4:8 “his…