John 15:26-27 - 26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.

To a place of grace, we must be connected to Jesus; love; and have support to face the hate.

The Father is involved in his creation as a father is involved in the lives of his children.

The Son is God in flesh, who comes to redeem the world

The Holy Spirit is God intimately connected to people

John 15:26: When the Advocate comes …

The Paraclete comforts

Psalm 23:4 – Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

The Paraclete advocates.

Psalm 139:23-24 - 23 Search me, God, and know my heart;

The Paraclete encourages

Ephesians 2:10 - For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do

The Paraclete informs

John 15:26 - … he will testify about me.

John 15:26 - I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father.

You need to hear the truth you don’t want to hear.

How do you know if it is really the Holy Spirit speaking to you?

Is the message consistent with Scripture

Is the message challenging

Does wise counsel agree this is a message from God?

The support and prayer of a LIFE Group will help you hear the Holy Spirit.

(LIFE Group Slide)Text GROUP to 803-720-9711.

John 15:27 -27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.

We can share what the Holy Spirit shares with us.

What have you seen Jesus do?

Who needs to hear those stories?

Lord, show me who needs to hear my stories.

Do you want God intimately involved in your life?

Whatever I face in life, I want to face it alone.

Discussion Questions

Starter: Who do you turn to for guidance?

Go Deeper

1. Read John 15:26-27

2. When most people hear “Holy Spirit” what do they think? What is their image of the Holy Spirit?

3. Can you share a time when the Holy Spirit comforted you? Encouraged you? Informed you?

4. What messages do you resist most from the Spirit?

5. How would you apply v. 27 to your life? How are you sharing what the Holy Spirit shares with you?

John 15:18-25 - 18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. 24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’

Discussion Questions

Starter: Can you think of Jesus followers who are hated by the world? In your opinion, why does the world hate them?

Go Deeper

1. Read John 15:18-25

2. Notice the contrast of these verses with the first part of John 15. John 15:1-17 emphasizes connection with Jesus, bearing fruit, and the love of God. Why do you think Jesus shifts to teaching about the world hating his followers?

3. There is a strange phrase at the end of John 15:20 – “If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.” What do you think Jesus means?

4. How would you explain v.23 - 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father as well to someone? Can you think of examples where people hate Jesus and our Heavenly Father?

5. If you were advising a Jesus follower who is dealing with hatred because of his or her faith, what would you tell him or her?

6. In your opinion, how does opposition from the world impact most Jesus followers? What is their reaction?

John 15:9-17 - 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

· Insecure people have insecure connections.

· We believe people can have secure relationships when they are connected to Jesus.

· Big Idea: If you are connected to Jesus, you are secured by his love so you can love.

· The Love Model: 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love

· Matthew 28:20b – Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age

· The Obedience Lock: 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love

· The Joy of Security: 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

· Joy is deep-seated sense of well-being, of safety in God’s universe. – Dallas Willard.

· If you are secured by his love, you will love.

· The Outflow truth: 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

· Love gives.

· Adopt the Jesus standard for love.

· The Laydown Principle: 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

· The Slave – Friend Conversion: 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

· The Security of Being Chosen - 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

· The Reminder: 17 This is my command: Love each other.

· Are you secured by Jesus’ love so you can love?

· [email protected]

Discussion Questions

Starter: In your life, other than your spouse/significant other, who has loved you best?

Go Deeper

1. Read John 15:9-17

2. Jesus clearly connects the idea of keeping commands and remaining in his love. How do you understand this connection? How would you explain it?

3. Being loved by Jesus means we have joy. In your opinion, do most Jesus followers live in joy? Why or why not?

4. Jesus defines love as laying down your life. Outside of your family, who would you sacrifice for?

5. Jesus says we are friends if we do what he commands – love. How do verses 15-16 change your understanding of prayer?

John 15:1-8 - 1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciple

· Big Idea: Who you connect to determines what you produce.

Starter: Who are you really connected with? How does that impact your life, your mood, and your future?

Go Deeper

1. Read John 15:1-8

2. Often the best way to understand a passage is to identify who you are in the story. What are the implications of being a branch connected to Jesus?

3. Reading the passage closely, in your opinion, what does Jesus want for every branch/person that is connected to him?

4. Imagine the frustration of trying to bear fruit but not being connected to the vine. Why would a person do that?

5. Does verse 6 make you uncomfortable? What do you think Jesus is saying?

6. In your opinion, are the benefits of staying connected to Jesus?

How to Live: In Charge Delmar Peet

1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 - 9 Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more

Big Idea: Whoever teaches you how to love determines how you love.

What if God taught you to love?

Group Discussion Questions

Starter: Who is the most loving person you know? Why are they so loving?

Go Deeper

1. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10

2. Imagine Jesus sitting down with you and saying, “Today, I am going to teach you about love.” What would he say?

3. The church at Thessalonika loves well. In your opinion, does our church love well? Why or why not?

4. God himself has taught the church in Thessalonika to love. In your opinion, what does God need to teach our church about love?

5. Love must grow to thrive. Would you say your growth edge is to love your neighbor, love the stranger, or love your enemy? Why?

Starter: Do you know someone who struggles with sexual sin? What is his/her life like?

Go Deeper

1. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 - 3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

2. What comes to mind when you hear the word “holy?”  Is it positive or negative? Why?

3. How would you advise a friend on how to control their sexual appetites?

4. In your opinion, do most people value their bodies as something sacred, special, or unique? Why or why not?

5. In your opinion, why do people want to keep God out of their sex lives?

6. Based on these verses, what encouragement would you give to a person who is struggling with sexual sin?

1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 - As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

Discussion Questions

Starter: Who were the three most influential people in your life? Why?

Go Deeper

1. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2

2. What would be one thing your Heavenly Father needs to teach you?

3. What would be one thing you could do that would please your Heavenly Father today

4. Is there a spiritual victory you need to celebrate with the group?

5. Is there a roadblock you need to push past? What is it?

6. Which Fruit of the Spirit do you need to ask God to bring out in you? (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness/generosity, faithfulness, gentleness or self-control)

Proverbs 14:34 - Righteousness exalts a nation,

John 18:33-40 - 33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”

35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

38 “What is truth?” retorted Pilate.

Group Discussion Questions

Starter: In your opinion, what is right with America? What is wrong with America?

Go Deeper

1. Read Proverbs 14:34

2. Think about things you wish were right in our country. If those were fixed, how would other nations see us?

3. Think about the shame of sin. How do citizens behave when they are ashamed of their country?

4. Read John 18:33-38a

5. In your opinion, why do people seek power instead of truth?

6. What does mean to you when Jesus says, “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me?”

7. Pastor Clay suggested five actions we could take to move our country toward righteousness:

Pray, speak truth, care of those harmed by government action/inaction, love fiercely, and offer new citizenship in the Kingdom of God. Which one do you need to do this week?

The Path to Freedom

The Point: Freedom is seen in a place of grace

The Scripture: Galatians 6:1-10

Doing Good to All

6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

The Path to Freedom WK 3 Questions

1. How have you misunderstood freedom in Christ?

2. Whose Kingdom are you investing in? Who is king of your world?

3. In what way can you begin investing into the ministries God has?

a. Step In

b. Step Up

c. Step Out

4. Have you ever fell into the comparison trap? What helped you to overcome it?

5. When did you receive grace?

6. Name a time you gave grace.

7. What does a place of grace look like for you?