John 18

John 17 – As Jesus gives his final prayer for the disciples before leaving the Upper Room, he prays for the nascent and one day global church. "That they all may become perfectly one." Why? Because the world will know that Jesus was from God if those who follow him are united in his teachings, his way, and his mission. Yet so often the fractured global church, which on some days looks nothing like Jesus's vision, is either more known for what it's against than for what it's for–or just thought of as "nice". The tension of truly loving one another lies somewhere the center between these two poles, a much more intentional posture of living "for" Jesus, "in" Jesus and "by" Jesus. This week we learn and grapple with how to renew this challenging and fruitful stance in our community.

John 16 – Jesus calls the Holy Spirit the Helper (ESV) or the Advocate (NIV). The Spirit he says, helps us by cross-examining the world regarding sin, righteousness and judgement in light of the person of Jesus. This new line of questioning reveals a new meaning to existence that can only be known through the Incarnate diety of Christ and his death to forgive our sins. Jesus tells his disciples the Spirit will be advantageous over the singular incarnate person of Jesus. The Spirit will come to his disciples after his death and Resurrection, and to all who believe in Jesus as King–taking up a home in each believer. As a Spirit alongside our Spirit and as a Spirit that dwells in our body, we must ask this fundamental question: How do we discern and listen to the voice of the Spirit? What role does our head (intellect) play, and what role does our heart play? It is common in the Reformed tradition to put head over heart, and in the charismatic to put heart over head, but this passage gives us insight that the Spirit works wholly integrated in Heart and Head.

John 15 – I am the True Vine – This week we look at how communion is at the center of the Trinity, and the central to our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Once we become a Christian it is easy to look around and try to mimic the behavior of others or of Jesus, but John teaches us throughout his Gospel (and especially here in Chapter 15) that Jesus is more focused on listening to and obeying the Father in true unity, than he is on behavioral modification. His love to others is an outpouring of the Father's love for Him and His Love for the Father. What if, instead of focusing on doing more things like Jesus, we focused on listening to, taking joy in, and co-creating with the Father? What if community with God came first as the deepest desire for our heart? This week we look some baby steps to begin recalibrating our lives around this intimate abiding relationship with Jesus.

This week we explore the full chapter of John 14. Here, in his Farewell Discourse, Jesus is passing the baton to the future leaders of his chosen people. As seismic change occurs for the people of God, they must move forward into a new era in belief in Jesus and his yet unseen promises for their lives. As people who are as NT Wright says, improvising within this same era of history (the era of the Church), we ask: "How does John 14 similarly anchor and propel us into 2021 with all of its unknowns, in hope, comfort and power?"

John 13 – Choice-anxiety is a disease of the information age. As we live in increasingly loud spaces, we can learn a great deal by the transition Jesus makes from John 12 to 13. After Jesus enters Jerusalem and chaos ensues, the narrative of John zooms in and slows down tremendously starting chapter 13. Jesus retreats to a single room and will stay there for 5 chapters. Here he is to "thin and train" his disciples. Without any other distractions, the potency of Jesus's love is centerstage. John writes that Jesus loves his disciples "to the end". As we begin this season of Lent, Jon challenges us to consider focus through the disciplines of fasting and restraint so that we can simplify our lives and draw closer to Jesus.

John 12 – Seeing, Hearing, and Believing Jesus the Messiah (Guest Preacher: the talented Michael Smith)

John 12:1-11 – Mary Anoints Jesus's Feet – In the first part of chapter 12, we enter an eye of the storm. Here is the bridge between Jesus' public ministry, and his more private ministry which culminates in the passion and the cross. Jesus is the Man of the Hour–and John shows us in his typical dichotomies, that you are either drawn into Jesus, or repelled by Jesus. There is no middle ground. In this chapter, we have a study of love. Mary shows us the infectious and incredible effect of love focused on Jesus while Judas shows us the disastrous results of love that turns away from Him.

John 11 - Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead

John 10 –  "I am the Door", and "I am the Good Shepherd". Here Jesus gives a model for leadership. In two "I am" statements, he uses himself to set the bar for Christian leaders and shepherds (pastors). He also, helpfully shares defining features of those being led well, and two warnings of leaders who lose track of the Good Shepherd.