Jesus continues to prepare His disciples for their mission. He expects them to bear witness even in the face of persecution. The only way they are able to do this is with a heart of faith and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Discussion of what the image of God means and the ramifications of it.

Jesus prepares His disciples for the mission to come. He warns them that they will be hated by the world and persecuted. The world will hate Jesus' followers because of their identity in Him, because they do not know God, and because Jesus always exposes sin. The same holds true today.

Reviewing the days of Creation

We discuss true and false views of the Genesis creation narrative - and the importance of rightly interpreting Genesis as a foundation for the rest of Scripture.

Jesus warns the useless lukewarm church to repent of their idolatry and independence.

Jesus writes to the church whom he will empower to persevere through the coming trials.

Jesus gives the application of the parable of the Vine. He shows the disciples that their life, their strength, their ability comes from Him alone. The task of the disciple is to abide in the vine - to pursue and cultivate the relationship in which God has placed them in Christ. The Christian life is one of reliance and dependence upon the vine.

Jesus illustrates the relationship the disciples will experience with the Father, Son, and Spirit after Jesus is resurrected. In this illustration, we see the care of the Father for the branches of the vine. He prunes those that are His so they will bear fruit. And pruning often hurts.

Chapter 14 ends as Jesus again assures His disciples that they will not be left alone. The Holy Spirit will teach them all things and guide them. Also Jesus gives them His peace. In the troubled times the disciples endure, they are assured that their gospel is victorious