John 17 - Are You Living Unified?

Of all the things that Jesus could pray for his disciples before his departure, he prays for unity. He doesn’t pray for power, or for protection. Jesus says that our unity is proof to the world that Jesus came from God.

He prayed for those already following him, and all those who would follow him in the future – that’s you and me!

#newtestament #faith #jesus #starthere #spirituality

John 16 - Do You Want to Overcome the World?

Jesus’ death and resurrection defeats “the prince of this world.”

As he leaves, the Spirit will come and guide the disciples into truth.

Jesus encourages them with the following: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

#newtestament #jesus #faith #spirituality #starthere

John 15 - Do You Bear Fruit?

Jesus refers to himself as the vine and that we are the branches who can be pruned by the Father so that we might bear fruit. Bearing fruit in the Scriptures means being transformed and bringing transformation to others.

Jesus promises that if we remain in him, stay rooted in him, we will bear fruit just as naturally as a branch would bear fruit. He reminds us that apart from him we can do nothing. We can do good things and maybe even important things, but without him we cannot do any God things, things with an eternal significance.

For a free overview and assessment on my book Fruitful: Becoming Who God Created You To Be, go to www.ericbryant.org.

#newtestament #faith #jesus #spirituality #starthere

John 14 - Do You Know the Way, the Truth, and the Life?

Jesus tells his disciples he is going to prepare a place for them because his Father's house has many rooms. Confused, they ask where he is going because they want to follow him.

Then Jesus says: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

Truth is a person, and His name is Jesus. Jesus is the Source of Life. Jesus is the Way.

Jesus then promises to send the Holy Spirit saying: “the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:26-27)

#newtestament #jesus #faith #spirituality #starthere

John 13 - Are You Willing to Love Others?

Jesus says that others will know his disciples by the way they love each other. He says this in the same chapter he tells Judas he knows he will betray him. Jesus tells Peter that he knows that he will deny him. Jesus demonstrates the servant hearted love he’s calling us to demonstrate by washing his disciples feet.#newtestament #faith #jesus #spirituality #starthere

John 12 - Are You Willing to Die to Self?

Jesus points out a spiritual principle we intrinsically know.We cannot become the hero we were created to be unless we are willing to sacrifice for the good of others.

Like a seed that is buried only to grow a new plant, Jesus says he will be buried but rise with new life.

Before this Jesus is anointed for burial and rides into Jerusalem on a donkey with the crowd cheering for him.

Even a few Greeks want to meet him. Jesus spoke on behalf of God the Father and in John 12, God the Father spoke on behalf of Jesus!

Even after all the signs Jesus performs, many did not believe in him. Then some who did believe did not share this with others because they fear people more than they should.

#newtestament #faith #jesus #postchristianworld #spirituality #christianity #christian

John 11 - Do You Believe This?

Jesus hears that his good friend Lazarus is sick. Rather than go to him to heal him, Jesus waits.Jesus says to Martha: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” Jesus weeps with those who are weeping before he goes to the tomb and calls Lazarus to come out! Then Lazarus lives again!#newtestament #faith #jesus #spirituality #postchristianworld #christianity #christian

John 10 - Do You Hear His Voice?

Jesus compares himself to a gate through which sheep can enter a pasture where they are safe and protected.

He then compares himself to a shepherd and people to sheep and shared how his sheep can hear his voice.

Finally, he says he is one with the Father leading some to try to stone him to death and others to believe in him.

#newtestament #faith #jesus #faith #postchristianworld #christianity #christian

John 9 – Do You Want to See?

In Jesus’ day people believed that someone who was born with disabilities must have sinned or his or her parents sinned.

Jesus dispels that notion saying that the man was not blind due to sin but that through his life he might glorify God.

The religious leaders try to get the healed man and his parents in trouble, but the healed man says: “I don’t know who healed me. All I know is, I once was blind, but now I can see.”

#newtestament #faith #spirituality #jesus #starthere

John 8 - Do You Know the Truth?

To the sinful (those who don’t think they are worthy of God’s love) Jesus begins with grace and then once the person knows they are loved, seen, and heard then he points towards the truth as we see with the woman caught in the act of adultery.

For those who don’t think of themselves as sinners, Jesus begins with the truth before he gets to the grace as he does this with the religious leaders.

Jesus clearly claims He is the light of the world and the “I Am” and promises that if we know the truth that the truth will set us free.

#newtestament #faith #spirituality #jesus #postchristianworld #christianity #christian