Title: 7 Marks of The Church Text: John 17:13-26 Theme: Union with Christ and his love is the key to living the Christian life. Teaching Notes: In John 17, Jesus prayed that his followers be characterized by seven character traits: faith, joy, holiness, truth, mission, unity, and ultimately love. He prayed that the Church would be filled with these traits simply by living in union with him. This message explores the centrality of love to the effective functioning of the other character qualities. Click on link below: Notes and Questions for Life Application
Title: The (Real) Lord’s Prayer Text: John 17:1-26 Theme: Jesus is consumed with saving and sanctifying sinners for God’s glory and our joy. Teaching Notes: Just before Jesus went to a cross to lay down his life for our sins, he prayed. What we observe in this prayer is a passion for the glory of God, a commitment to saving and sanctifying his own, and a love for countercultural unity. To the end, Jesus prayed and worked for the Father to be known by the world, so that more people would be saved by faith in him. Click on link...
Title: The Triumph of Joy Text: John 16:16-33 Theme: Jesus bore our sins and sorrows so we’d experience eternal and unshakable joy. Teaching Notes: Jesus told his disciples he was going away for a little while, and they would experience sorrow. But his resurrection would conquer sin and sorrow, so that believers could experience both immediate and eternal joy – joy that transcends circumstances. To experience this joy now, we must simply trust him and live as if what Jesus said is true. Click on link below: Notes and Questions for Life Application
Title: The Spirit at Work Text: John 16:4-15 Theme: The Spirit’s work is centered on Jesus Christ. Teaching Notes: The disciples struggled to accept that it was to their advantage that Jesus would go away and send his Spirit. So Jesus taught them more about the ministry of the coming Spirit – first, toward the world, and then, toward those who believed in him. Interestingly, the Spirit would point both audiences to Jesus as the standard and the central focus. Click on link below: Notes and Questions for Life Application
Title: Hated without Cause Text: John 15:18-16:4 Theme: Live and speak the Gospel no matter what it costs you. Teaching Notes: Shortly before Jesus is taken away to be beaten and crucified, he warns his disciples that the world would hate them just as it had hated him. If you follow the ways of Jesus instead of the ways of the world, your life will convict the world of sin, and the world will oppose you. But Jesus urges a faithful witness empowered by the presence of the Spirit. Click on link below: Notes and Questions for Life Application
Title: Abide in the Vine Text: John 15:1-17 Theme: The key to living and loving like Jesus is being in constant communion with him. Teaching Notes: In contrast to old covenant Israel, which failed in its calling to be God’s fruitful vineyard, Jesus is the true Vine. By abiding in him, and allowing his word to abide in us, believers flourish spiritually. His life nourishes our lives and we bear the fruit of his character. The Father works actively in our lives to prune away anything that would hinder our fruitfulness. Click on link below: Notes and Questions for Life Application
Title: Look for the Helper Text: John 14:15-31 Theme: Your resource to guide you through fear and doubt and to empower a life of obedient faith is the Holy Spirit. Teaching Notes: Knowing that he’s going away and his disciples are facing significant confusion, doubt, and anxiety, Jesus urges them to pursue lives of obedience and to look for the Helper. The Helper is nothing less than the third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, who will come live in believers to teach, comfort, and empower. Click on link below: Notes and Questions for Life Application
Title: Presence, Power & Prayer Text: John 14:7-14 Theme: Because of the unity of the Trinity, the work of Jesus continues through the Church today. Teaching Notes: On the eve of his death, Jesus reassures his disciples that they already know the Father because they know him – and he claims ontological unity and equality with the Father (and the Spirit) as part of the Trinity. Because he’s going away, and will send the Spirit, the Church can continue to live and pray with power. The Gospel of the Kingdom will expand, not shrink. And prayers that align with his...
Title: The Way Text: John 13:36-14:6 Theme: The only way home to the Father is not through our performance for God, but through Jesus’ performance for us. Teaching Notes: Peter wants to follow Jesus wherever he goes. And he’s confident he has what it takes to lay down his life for Jesus. (Spoiler alert: he doesn’t.) Thomas speaks for all the disciples, admitting he doesn’t know where Jesus is going or how to get there. Religion tries to answer this question and bridge this gap by telling you the way to God is through your performance. Jesus claims he is...
Title: A New Commandment Text: John 13:31-35 Theme: In light of the paradox of the Cross, Christians must be defined by our sacrificial love for one another. Teaching Notes: Why does Jesus say the hour for him to be glorified has come if he’s headed to a gruesome death on a cross? Why does he say the disciples can’t come with him? What does he mean when he says the command to love one another is “new”? How can we love each other as Jesus has first loved us? Click on link below: Notes and Questions for Life Application
