The cross of Jesus is a series of ironies, in which Jesus loses everything so that we can gain everything – a new family, a new satisfaction, and a new life.

How might we confuse unity and uniformity? Why is gospel unity of the utmost importance for followers of Jesus?

When sorrow and pain comes what will be your response? How might sorrow and joy hold a tension of hope?

The nature of the kingdom of God is disruptive to the world. Therefore the followers of Jesus will encounter opposition. But Jesus promises the sustaining presence of the Spirit who will guide us into all truth.

Jesus says that he is the true vine and we are the branches. Apart from him we can do nothing. Therefore we should abide in him, and go and bear much fruit.

In preparing to leave his disciples, Jesus promises that he will not leave us as orphans but will send the Holy Spirit to help us.

The disciples are feeling disoriented and are in crisis. So Jesus tells them to trust in him, because he is the way, the truth, and the life.

The night before his death Jesus gathers his disciples in the Upper Room, washes their feet, and then tells them to love one another just as he has loved them.

Though a king, Jesus adopts the posture of someone lowly and humble. Likewise, in his kingdom you have to lose your life to gain it, sacrifice your life to save it, and serve to be great. In other words, he completely reconfigures our understanding of shame and honor.