In John 15:18-25, Jesus warns his disciples that they should expect that if they remain in Him then they will also be treated like He was treated by the world. Hated and persecuted. This sermon takes a look at Jesus' warnings to the disciples and thinks about how that applies to us, and how we should therefore live as Christians today in a world that may hate us for holding fast to the truth of the gospel.

In John 15:1-17 Jesus encourages us to remain in him, the vine, the source of life and our only true connection to God.

As Jesus continues to teach his disciples and prepare them for his death he teaches them about why it's good for them that the next phase of God's mission is about to begin. That mission is the mission of God's people empowered by the Holy Spirit to tell people about Jesus.

In John 14 Jesus speaks some words of comfort to His disciples, He must go to His Father's house to prepare a place for them. They are confused and ask how can they get to this house? And Jesus responds by telling them that he is the way, the truth, and the life. He goes on to explain that seeing Jesus means they have seen God. We too can see Jesus as we put our faith in Him and experience his work in our lives.

As Jesus continues to share a meal with his disciples they are confronted with the truth that one of them will betray and another deny Jesus. Peter especially is shocked at the news as he thinks he could never deny or betray his Lord. However, all of us like Peter are capable of betraying Jesus. Watch this talk to be challenged and helped to stay true to Jesus.

In the lead-up to Jesus' death and resurrection, he gathered with his disciples and did something very unusual for a leader. He took the role of the servant and washed their feet. This incident symbolised both the spiritual cleansing we all need in Jesus as well as physically demonstrating the kind of sacrificial love all Christians, especially Christian leaders, are called to show.

Have been washed clean by Jesus?

Are you washing others in your service of them?

In John 12:37-50 we see three responses to Jesus, unbelief, scared or half hearted belief and true belief. Each is revealed by actions.

What do your actions show about what you believe about Jesus?

In this talk we reflect on Jesus call on us as disciples to follow him and die.

As Jesus faces his impending death he doesn't do it without trepidation. Yet he seeks to do His Father's will for His Father's glory. We need to have the same mind when faced with our own need to die as we follow Jesus, seeking to do what is right for the glory of God.

Likewise just as the people in Jesus day needed to trust Jesus as the Light while he was with them. We too sometimes need to stop trying to answer all our questions about God and instead simply trust Him.

In John 12:12-26, Jesus calls those who wish to follow him to glory to first follow him in His death. What does it mean to follow Jesus and die? How do we do that?

In John 12:1-11 the gospel transitions to telling the story of Jesus' final week of ministry before his death and resurrection. As Mary anoints Jesus with oil so pointing us forward to Jesus' death, it's also an occasion for us to reflect on the main characters in the story, Judas and Mary.

Judas, much like the Chief Priests, has let sin take over his life. Mary on the other hand shows us how to fight sin and dedicate ourselves to Jesus.