Planting Hope, Always:

Discipleship: Deepening Our Hope

Speaker: Rev. Shu-Ling Lee

Questions: How do you define Discipleship?

What is involved for Discipleship?

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1. Hope Begins with Abiding in Christ (v.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.—John 15:5

the Lord delights in those who fear him,

who put their hope in his unfailing love.—Psalm 147:11

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.—Colossians 1:27

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,—1 Peter 1:3

Essentials 2 –> Worship, Word, Prayer, Stewardship

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2. Hope Grows through Fruitful Living (v.8, 9-17)

8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

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.—John 15:8-17

Questions: What is the fruit of your life?

Are you growing towards Christlikeness?

15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, 16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.

17 “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.

He replied, “I am not.—John 18:15-17

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3. Hope Multiplies through Intentional, Relational Discipleship

Question for this Present-Future:

What about the advent of AI and Discipleship?

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Conclusion

“Hope is the confident anticipation of good that is not yet here, based upon the knowledge and experience of God.”—Dallas Willard- Dallas Willard

13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.—1 Thessalonians 4:13-14