Group Notes | May 28
Not My Jesus: What Does Jesus Say About YOU?
May 28, 2017
Pastor Jonathan Falwell
Open:
Love has become a common expression for everything from our feelings for a chocolate cake, pizza, certain cars to people we know. Can you share an example from your life when you’ve been challenged by the word “love”?
Having carefully examined evidence by secular historians showing that Jesus lived, reading records of the witnesses who saw Him through His ministry and after the resurrection, studying His own witness of Himself and the witness of God as to who He is, we should now know we can trust the truth of what He says about you or me in our relationship with Him. Let’s look at how He values those who choose to obey Him.
Focal Passage: John 15:1-27
Discuss:
You are Ready
- Read verse 2. What does Jesus say happens to us at salvation? What does this make you ready for?
- Perhaps you have a “green thumb”; what occurs when you take care of your flowers or plants? How does God take care of us?
You are Protected
- In verse 5a, what did Jesus say our relationship to Him is like?
- If you break a branch off a tree, what happens to it? Can we exist as believers, without Christ? Why?
You are Powerful
- Read 5b. How do we remain in Jesus? What is the evidence of a person who is abiding in Christ?
- What is promised to believers in this verse? What is the warning?
You are Loved
- Read verses 9-10. What are some terms you could use to describe God’s love for His Son (who was worthy)? Can you comprehend that Jesus loves us (who are unworthy) with that same love? How?
- How do we remain in His love? What is the greatest example that we know that Jesus obeyed God’s will, remaining in His (God’s) love?
You are promised Joy
- Read verse 11. What “things” was Jesus referring to?
- How much joy does He promise us if we love and obey Him?
You are His friend
- Read verses 14-15. What do we call those with whom we have a “waving” relationship? What about those with whom we share time, food, fun?
- In Amos 3:3, God asks, “Do two people walk hand in hand if they are not going to the same place?” This implies an answer of No! In verse 15, how does that confirm what Jesus is saying about our being called His friend?
You are Chosen
- What does Jesus say in verse 16? How should that impact our lives? When we “choose” anything, why does it become special to us just by the fact that we are making the choice to embrace it (a spouse, a car, a house, etc.)?
You are given great help
- Read verse 16. Does anyone remember the old hymn, “His Eye is on the Sparrow,” and if so, can you recall the first verse? If not, look at Matt. 6:30, 33, and John 14:16. Who is this Comforter? How will He help us?
You are Forgiven
- Have any of you seen a dead person or animal sit up? What can they do? How does this illustrate what God has done for us who believe? Read Romans 10:9, 10 if you need to clarify this.
Close:
Did you grow up in a dysfunctional family, where love was not a priority as much as discipline? Or possibly yours was just an undemonstrative family, and you never learned to show your love. Both are common, and make it harder for us to understand God’s love for us, as we are full of sin! Yet as we read the scriptures, Jesus not only speaks of His love for us, but also has shown it by dying for us, and we see that His is an active love, full of grace and longsuffering, with “mercies that are new every morning” (Lam. 3:22, 23). We should take heart! Phil. 4:13 assures us that through Christ, we can accomplish anything—showing love to the unlovely, grace to those who don’t deserve it, even prayer for our enemies to know Christ. A life full of joy is promised to us if we are steadfast in our walk with Him, not worrying about tomorrow. As the song says, we should not be discouraged because—if His eye is on the little sparrow—how much more does He love us, who are “but dust”! Carry that thought with you this week!
Memory Verse: John 15:11: “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”