Opening Question: What kind of fruit do you like?
John 15:1-8 (NIRV)
1 "I am the true vine. My Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch joined to me that does not bear fruit. He trims every branch that does bear fruit. Then it will bear even more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain joined to me, and I will remain joined to you. No branch can bear fruit by itself. It must remain joined to the vine. In the same way, you can’t bear fruit unless you remain joined to me.”
5 "I am the vine. You are the branches. If anyone remains joined to me, and I to him, he will bear a lot of fruit. You can’t do anything without me. 6 If anyone does not remain joined to me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and dries up. Branches like those are picked up. They are thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain joined to me and my words remain in you, ask for anything you wish. And it will be given to you. 8 When you bear a lot of fruit, it brings glory to my Father. It shows that you are my disciples.”
Q 1: Who is the vine, gardener and branch? What is the role of each?
Q 2: What does it mean to be trimmed (pruned)? Give an example
Q 3: What does it mean to bear much fruit? How does bearing fruit bring glory to God?
Q 4: What do you think Jesus means by the promise in verse 7?
John 15:9-17 (NIRV)
9 "Just as the Father has loved me, I have loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love. In the same way, I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy will be in you. I also want your joy to be complete. 12 Here is my command. Love each other, just as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than the one who gives his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I do not call you servants anymore. Servants do not know their master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends. I have told you everything I learned from my Father. 16 You did not choose me. Instead, I chose you. I appointed you to go and bear fruit. It is fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you anything you ask for in my name. 17 Here is my command: Love each other.”
Q 5: What does “my joy” mean in verse 11? What was Jesus’ joy?
Q 6: What does it mean to be a friend in these verses? What is the difference between a servant and a friend?
Q 7: How can we love each other?
Friday, February 24, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
Another Friend
Opening question: Can you share a highlight (or lowlight) of your week?
Read John 14:16-31
16 "I will ask the Father. And He will give you another Friend to help you and to be with you forever. 17The Friend is the Spirit of truth. The world can't accept Him. That is because the world does not see Him or know Him. But you know Him. He lives with you, and He will be in you. 18 I will not leave you like children who don't have parents.
I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see Me anymore. But you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father. You will know that you are in Me, and I am in you. 21 Anyone who has My commands and obeys them loves Me. My Father will love the one who loves Me. I too will love him. And I will show myself to him."
22 Then Judas spoke. "Lord," he said, "why do you plan to show Yourself only to us? Why not also to the world?" The Judas who spoke those words was not Judas Iscariot.
23 Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves Me will obey My teaching. My Father will love Him. We will come to Him and make Our home with Him. 24 Anyone who does not love Me will not obey My teaching. The words you hear Me say are not My own. They belong to the Father who sent Me. 25 I have spoken all these things while I am still with you. 26 But the Father will send the Friend in My name to help you. The Friend is the Holy Spirit. He will teach you all things. He will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 I leave My peace with you. I give My peace to you. I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be troubled. And do not be afraid. 28 You heard me say, 'I am going away. And I am coming back to you.' If you loved Me, you would be glad I am going to the Father. The Father is greater than I am. 29 I have told you now before it happens. Then when it does happen, you will believe. 30 I will not speak with you much longer. The prince of this world is coming. He has no power over Me. 31 But the world must learn that I love the Father. They must also learn that I do exactly what My Father has commanded Me to do.
Discussion questions:
1) Which words of Jesus do you like the most?
2) Which words are a little difficult to understand?
3) What are the qualities of a good friend?
4) How does Jesus describe the Holy Spirit?
5) Christians believe in the ‘Trinity.’ What does this word mean, and where can we see it in the verses above?
6) Based on the verses above, what is the Christian life all about?
Read John 14:16-31
16 "I will ask the Father. And He will give you another Friend to help you and to be with you forever. 17The Friend is the Spirit of truth. The world can't accept Him. That is because the world does not see Him or know Him. But you know Him. He lives with you, and He will be in you. 18 I will not leave you like children who don't have parents.
I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see Me anymore. But you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father. You will know that you are in Me, and I am in you. 21 Anyone who has My commands and obeys them loves Me. My Father will love the one who loves Me. I too will love him. And I will show myself to him."
22 Then Judas spoke. "Lord," he said, "why do you plan to show Yourself only to us? Why not also to the world?" The Judas who spoke those words was not Judas Iscariot.
23 Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves Me will obey My teaching. My Father will love Him. We will come to Him and make Our home with Him. 24 Anyone who does not love Me will not obey My teaching. The words you hear Me say are not My own. They belong to the Father who sent Me. 25 I have spoken all these things while I am still with you. 26 But the Father will send the Friend in My name to help you. The Friend is the Holy Spirit. He will teach you all things. He will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 I leave My peace with you. I give My peace to you. I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be troubled. And do not be afraid. 28 You heard me say, 'I am going away. And I am coming back to you.' If you loved Me, you would be glad I am going to the Father. The Father is greater than I am. 29 I have told you now before it happens. Then when it does happen, you will believe. 30 I will not speak with you much longer. The prince of this world is coming. He has no power over Me. 31 But the world must learn that I love the Father. They must also learn that I do exactly what My Father has commanded Me to do.
Discussion questions:
1) Which words of Jesus do you like the most?
2) Which words are a little difficult to understand?
3) What are the qualities of a good friend?
4) How does Jesus describe the Holy Spirit?
5) Christians believe in the ‘Trinity.’ What does this word mean, and where can we see it in the verses above?
6) Based on the verses above, what is the Christian life all about?
Friday, February 3, 2012
Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
Opening Question: What was most interesting to you in the video we just watched?
Read John 13:2-17 (GNT)
2 Jesus and his disciples were at supper. The Devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, the thought of betraying Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him complete power; he knew that he had come from God and was going to God. 4 So he rose from the table, took off his outer garment, and tied a towel around his waist. 5 Then he poured some water into a washbasin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Are you going to wash my feet, Lord?” 7 Jesus answered him, “You do not understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later.” 8 Peter declared, “Never at any time will you wash my feet!” Jesus answered, “If I do not wash your feet, you will no longer be my disciple.” 9 Simon Peter answered, “Lord, do not wash only my feet, then! Wash my hands and head, too!”
10 Jesus said, “Those who have taken a bath are completely clean and do not have to wash themselves, except for their feet. All of you are clean—all except one.” 11 Jesus already knew who was going to betray him; that is why he said, “All of you, except one, are clean.”
12 After Jesus had washed their feet, he put his outer garment back on and returned to his place at the table. “Do you understand what I have just done to you?” he asked. 13 “You call me Teacher and Lord, and it is right that you do so, because that is what I am. 14 I, your Lord and Teacher, have just washed your feet. You, then, should wash one another's feet. 15 I have set an example for you, so that you will do just what I have done for you. 16 I am telling you the truth: no slaves are greater than their master, and no messengers are greater than the one who sent them. 17 Now that you know this truth, how happy you will be if you put it into practice!
Tell us about your culture! [5 mins]
What is the view of feet in your culture?
Ex: In India, feet are considered unclean. But people touch the feet of their elders to give them respect.
Who? What? When? Where? [10 mins]
Read and reply!
1.(v2) What did devil do to Judas?
2.(v3) Where did Jesus come from and where was He going?
3.(v6-8) What was Simon Peter’s initial response to Jesus?
4.(v8-9) What made Simon Peter change his mind? How much did he change?
5.(v13) What was Jesus’ position in His disciples’ lives?
Why? What does it mean? [15 mins]
Think and then reply.
1.(v14) What did Jesus teach His disciples to do? Did He mean it literally?
2.(v16) Why does Jesus say the words in verse 16? [Hint: Master served, so can servant also serve?]
How? In what way? [15 mins]
Pray and then reply…
1.(v17) How can we be happy by “washing one another’s feet”?
2.Give any one example:
a. When someone “washed your feet”
b. How you can “wash someone’s feet”
Read John 13:2-17 (GNT)
2 Jesus and his disciples were at supper. The Devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, the thought of betraying Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him complete power; he knew that he had come from God and was going to God. 4 So he rose from the table, took off his outer garment, and tied a towel around his waist. 5 Then he poured some water into a washbasin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Are you going to wash my feet, Lord?” 7 Jesus answered him, “You do not understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later.” 8 Peter declared, “Never at any time will you wash my feet!” Jesus answered, “If I do not wash your feet, you will no longer be my disciple.” 9 Simon Peter answered, “Lord, do not wash only my feet, then! Wash my hands and head, too!”
10 Jesus said, “Those who have taken a bath are completely clean and do not have to wash themselves, except for their feet. All of you are clean—all except one.” 11 Jesus already knew who was going to betray him; that is why he said, “All of you, except one, are clean.”
12 After Jesus had washed their feet, he put his outer garment back on and returned to his place at the table. “Do you understand what I have just done to you?” he asked. 13 “You call me Teacher and Lord, and it is right that you do so, because that is what I am. 14 I, your Lord and Teacher, have just washed your feet. You, then, should wash one another's feet. 15 I have set an example for you, so that you will do just what I have done for you. 16 I am telling you the truth: no slaves are greater than their master, and no messengers are greater than the one who sent them. 17 Now that you know this truth, how happy you will be if you put it into practice!
Tell us about your culture! [5 mins]
What is the view of feet in your culture?
Ex: In India, feet are considered unclean. But people touch the feet of their elders to give them respect.
Who? What? When? Where? [10 mins]
Read and reply!
1.(v2) What did devil do to Judas?
2.(v3) Where did Jesus come from and where was He going?
3.(v6-8) What was Simon Peter’s initial response to Jesus?
4.(v8-9) What made Simon Peter change his mind? How much did he change?
5.(v13) What was Jesus’ position in His disciples’ lives?
Why? What does it mean? [15 mins]
Think and then reply.
1.(v14) What did Jesus teach His disciples to do? Did He mean it literally?
2.(v16) Why does Jesus say the words in verse 16? [Hint: Master served, so can servant also serve?]
How? In what way? [15 mins]
Pray and then reply…
1.(v17) How can we be happy by “washing one another’s feet”?
2.Give any one example:
a. When someone “washed your feet”
b. How you can “wash someone’s feet”
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