MESSAGE NOTES AND INDIVIDUAL/GROUP REFLECTION QUESTIONS, 11/17/24
So, what do you believe about Jesus? We all believe something about Him. A.W. Tozer, a famous American pastor in the mid 1900s declared, “What comes into our minds when we think about Jesus is the most important thing about us.”
In week 14, we focus on John 14-17 and consider this question of belief: Do you believe Jesus is one with the Father and the Spirit?
CONNECT
- What is clear and confusing to you about the Trinity? What is amazing and beautiful to you about it?
How do you explain it to yourself and others?
REFLECT “The last words are often the most important words.”
The words Jesus declares in John 14-17 are His final words to His disciples before His death. The scene is the Last Supper on Holy Thursday, before Good Friday. He wants to comfort and know if His disciples believe that He is one with the Father and Spirit. Hence, He guides them through a dialogue that speaks of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and then prays for them and us in the hope that we’d all believe and follow.
- Read John 14:1-11 What is the tone of this passage? And why the confusion? How are v.1 and v.11 bookends to the main point that Jesus is trying to get across to the disciples? Meanwhile, the imagery of “rooms = abiding places” and “a place for you” reflects that of a Jewish groom who would go away during the year-long engagement period to build a home for his bride. He would then return for the wedding celebration and then take his bride to their new home. This parallels Jesus being the bridegroom and the church being the bride. Why is He speaking in this manner? What does it mean that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life? How do you feel about the inclusivity or exclusivity of that statement?
- Read John 15:1-8 Ponder Jesus’ final “I am” statement that He is the Vine. What are the many intended meanings? What is encouraging, difficult to understand, and challenging about this passage as a whole? In your life or the life of another, how have you seen fruit borne that only could have come from being attached to Jesus? And how did it give God glory? What are you so easily over-attached to than the vine of Jesus? (e.g. substance, sensuality, security, status, selfishness, worry, wealth, desire for other things, etc.)
- Read John 16:1-14 What is Jesus warning them about? What are the threats we face, because of our faith, in our daily lives? Identify the many roles of the Holy Spirit, who is described as an Advocate (Helper/Comforter) from verse 7 on. Based on one of the roles, identify one way the Spirit has guided you during a specific circumstance in your life. How do you regularly listen for the Spirit within you, and/or how is it hard to hear Him?
- Read John 17:9-23 Jesus is praying for His disciples and those who will believe in the future. What is He praying for each? With the word sanctify = set apart / cleanse, how does this deepen what Jesus is saying about His disciples, us, and Himself? What does He mean when He says, “I have given them the glory that you gave me?”
How does it make you feel that Jesus was praying for you prior to you even being born into this earth?
PRAYER:
God in heaven, I acknowledge that you, the Father, made me in your image and love me. Help me to continually believe that,
your Son, Jesus, died for the forgiveness of my sins. And grant me the focus to follow your Spirit that is within me.
RESOURCES
Gospel of John Simple Journal/Reading Plan (in lobby)
Gospel of John Overview Video [https://shorturl.at/hVyfX]