Knowing Jesus - Knowing His Friendship

Introduction:

We Love Like Jesus (John 15:12-17):

1. When we care more about Others than Ourselves. (John 15:13)

   Phil 2:3 - Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

2. When we let People in. (John 15:14-15)

3. When we see our Ministry as "loving people". (John 15:16-17)

   1 John 4:9-11 - In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

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Small Group Discussion
Read John 15:12-17

1. What was your big “take-away” from this passage / message?
   

2. Why do you think many people are reluctant to “let people in”? How can we as a church encourage people to let people in? How does Jesus example motivate us?
   

3. How does John 15:16 fit into Jesus' teaching about loving one another as He loved us? How are abiding fruit and answered prayer tied into this command to love?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Knowing Jesus - Knowing How to Abide

Introduction:

Knowing How to Abide: A Metaphor from the Vineyard. (John 15:1-11):

1. The Father Cares for His branches. (John 15:1-3)

   Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control...

2. The Son Produces Fruit in the branches. (John 15:4-6)

3. Our job is to Abide . (John 15:4)

Three Evidences You Are Abiding in Christ:

1. You see Prayer answered. (John 15:7-8)
2. You keep Jesus' Commandments . (John 15:9-10)
3. Your life is marked by Joy . (John 15:11)

   Hebrews 12:2 - looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

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Small Group Discussion
Read John 15:1-11

1. What was your big “take-away” from this passage / message?
   

2. Tell of a way that the Lord has pruned you. What happened? How did you know it was “of God”? How did you grow in Christlikeness as a result?
   

3. Prayer answered, keeping Jesus’ commandments, possessing Jesus’ joy - Which evidence of abiding is strongest in you? In which area do you struggle? What can you do to better draw near to Christ and abide in this area?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Knowing Jesus - Knowing His Peace

Introduction:

Three Anxiety Killers Given to Us From Jesus (John 14:25-31):

1. He gives us His Truth . (John 14:25-26)

   1 Timothy 2:4 - who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2. He gives us His Peace . (John 14:27)

   Isaiah 26:3 - You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

3. He gives us His Example . (John 14:28-31)

Four Things That Brought Jesus Peace (and Can Bring You Peace):

1. Viewing Death realistically. (John 14:28)
2. Resting in God's Control . (John 14:29)
3. Regarding Satan as Defeated . (John 14:30)
4. Obeying the Father out of Love . (John 14:31)

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Small Group Discussion
Read John 14:25-31

1. What was your big “take-away” from this passage / message?
   

2. What are some ways the world gives peace (John 14:27)? How is the peace Jesus gives different?
   

3. How does “not having peace” show up in your life: worry, depression, anger, despondency, something else? How should you respond when you feel this coming on?
   

4. What example from Jesus do you most need to embrace and emulate right now?

   Viewing Death Realistically. (John 14:28)

   Resting in God's Control. (John 14:29)

   Regarding Satan as Defeated. (John 14:30)

   Obeying the Father Out of Love. (John 14:31)

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Four Things Followers Must Forfeit

Introduction:

As a follower of Jesus
(Luke 9:51-62)...

1. I must abandon my Appetite to Judge . (Luke 9:51-56)
2. I must Concede my Comfort . (Luke 9:57-58)
3. I must part with my Priority Problem . (Luke 9:59-60)
4. I must Let Go of Looking Back . (Luke 9:61-62)

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Small Group Discussion
Read Luke 9:51-62

1. What is one thing that God revealed to you personally during the sermon?
   

2. Have you ever been in a situation where you were trying to help someone and they didn’t want your help? How did you handle that emotionally (or how should you have handled that)?
   

3. Which is the most challenging for you to give up: a judgmental attitude, a desire for comfort, a priority problem, or looking back?
   

4. Why is it difficult for followers of Jesus to sacrifice things for Him even when we know they aren’t good for us anyway?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Avoiding The Destruction Of Distraction

Introduction:

When We Are Distracted, Even By A Good Thing (Luke 10:38-42):

1. We try to Do it all ourselves . (Luke 10:40)
2. We Worry . (Luke 10:41)
3. We don't Dwell in His presence . (Luke 10:42)

Ways To Keep The Focus On Jesus:

1. FIND: Your Prayer Room . (Matt 6:6)

   Matthew 6:6 - "But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

2. FIND: The real Reason behind the distraction.
3. FIND: Scripture with real answers. (Matt 6:24)

   Matthew 6:24 - "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."

4. FIND: Who will Keep me accountable ? (John 17:21)

   John 17:21 - "that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me."

How I will take action today?

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Discussion
Read Luke 10:38-42

1. What is one thing that God revealed to you personally during the sermon?
   

2. Have you identified what distracts you the most from seeking after the Lord daily?
   

3. Why do you think Jesus calls us to "shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret"? What does it mean to have Him as our reward when we do this?
   

4. Have you taken the time to memorize Scripture? If so, how do you feel it impacts how you live out your day?
   

5. What steps do you feel you need to take to not allow the things you enjoy (entertainment, social media, etc.) become idols and distractions?
   

6. Do you feel like you have the right amount of Christian accountability in your life? Are you that accountability partner in someone else's life? How have you seen that be effective?

Breakout
Pray for one another.