Posts tagged Darien Gabriel
How Can We Be Sure God Will Keep His Promises? | Genesis 15:7-21
How Can We Be Sure God Will Keep His Promises? | Genesis 15:7-21

Series: God's Promises, Our Journey

Title: "How can we be sure God will keep his promises?"

Scripture: Genesis 15:7-21 NIV

Jeremiah 34:17-20

Galatians 3:13-16

Bottom Line: Our confidence in God’s promises rests in His character, His competency, His covenant, and His Christ.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. OUTLINES

  7. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  8. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

My opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

⸻

INTRODUCTION

The Wedding Vow

Most people understand contracts, but marriage vows are closer to biblical covenant.

In a wedding, two people stand before witnesses and promise faithfulness:

“For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health.”

Those vows mean:

“I am committing myself to you even if circumstances change.”

Now imagine a wedding where only one person says the vows.

Imagine the groom saying:

“Even if you fail me, I will remain faithful to you.”

That would be startling.

But that is essentially what happens in Genesis 15.

Abram prepares for a covenant ceremony. He would have expected both parties to pass between the pieces. Instead, Abram is put into a deep sleep, and God alone passes through.

God is saying:

“Abram, this promise finally rests on Me.”

That is how we can be sure God will keep His promises.

Not because we are so faithful, but because He is.

⸻

CONTEXT

Genesis 15 comes in the middle of tension.

God has already promised Abram land, offspring, and blessing. But Abram still has no son. Sarai is still barren. The land is still occupied.

So Genesis 15 is about the space between promise and fulfillment.

And in that space, God does not rebuke Abram.

He reassures him.

Last week in Genesis 15:1, God said, “I am your sovereign/shield.”

Now in verses 7–21, God shows Abram WHY He can be trusted.

⸻

Bottom Line: Our confidence in God’s promises rests in His character, His competency, His covenant, and His Christ.

SERMON

Genesis 15 has two halves:

• Verses 1–6: the promise believed

• Verses 7–21: the promise guaranteed

Last week we focused on Abram believing God.

This week we focus on God guaranteeing His promise.

3 BIG TRUTHS

1. God reminds Abram who He is and what He has done (v. 7)

“I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”

Before God explains what He will do, He reminds Abram who He is and what He has already done.

That is important.

God builds Abram’s confidence in the future by reminding him of His character and His track record.

Two anchors are right there in verse 7:

• Who God is: “I am the LORD”

• What God has done: “who brought you out of Ur”

God often strengthens our faith the same way.

When we struggle to trust His promises, He points us backward before He points us forward.

He reminds us:

• I am the LORD

• I have been faithful before

• I will be faithful again

Application

When your faith is weak, start here:

• Remember who God is

• Remember what God has done

Our confidence in God’s promises grows when we look at His character and His past faithfulness.

⸻

2. God’s covenant promise depends on His faithfulness, not Abram’s performance (vv. 12–17)

This is the heart of the passage.

Abram prepares the covenant animals. In that world, both parties would normally walk between the pieces. It was a solemn way of saying:

“May this happen to me if I break this covenant.”

But Abram never walks through.

Instead:

• Abram is put into a deep sleep

• God alone passes through the pieces

The smoking firepot and blazing torch represent the presence of God.

So what is God saying?

He is saying:

“Abram, I am taking full responsibility for this covenant.”

This promise rests finally on My faithfulness, not yours.

That does not mean Abram’s faith does not matter. It does. But the covenant is not secured by Abram’s perfection. It is secured by God’s commitment.

That is why Abram’s later failures do not cancel God’s promise.

Simple way to say it

Abram receives.

God guarantees.

Illustration

It is like an inheritance.

A father prepares something for his children.

The children do not create it.

They do not negotiate it.

They receive what the father establishes.

Genesis 15 shows us that God is building a covenant family, and Abram is receiving what God creates.

Application

That is good news for us.

If God’s promises depended mainly on our consistency, we would all be in trouble.

But the covenant rests on God’s faithfulness.

⸻

3. This covenant ultimately points to Jesus (Galatians 3; Lord’s Supper)

Genesis 15 does not end with Abram. It is foundational. It points forward to Christ.

Think again about the covenant ritual.

Animals are cut apart.

The covenant maker passes between them, saying in effect:

“May I bear the curse if this covenant is broken.”

In Genesis 15, God takes that oath upon Himself.

So the big question becomes:

If people fail God again and again, who will bear the covenant curse?

The answer is Jesus.

Galatians 3:13 says:

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.”

Galatians 3:16 says the promises were ultimately centered in Christ.

So Genesis 15 is pointing ahead to the cross.

At the cross:

• God keeps His promise

• God bears the curse

• God secures salvation for His people

What God symbolized in Genesis 15, He fulfills in Jesus.

God said, in effect, “I will bear the cost.”

And at the cross, He did.

That is why Genesis 15 is one of the clearest foreshadowings of the gospel in the Old Testament.

⸻

CONCLUSION

So how can we be sure God will keep His promises?

Because in Genesis 15, God does three things:

• He reminds Abram who He is & what He’s done

• He guarantees the covenant Himself based on His willingness to die for our failures

• He points us forward to Jesus

So when you struggle to trust God, remember:

• Look at His character

• Look at His past faithfulness

• Look at the cross

The cross is the ultimate proof that God keeps His word.

⸻

LORD’S SUPPER TRANSITION

As we come to the Lord’s Table, we remember that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s covenant promise.

At this table we look back and remember:

• Christ has died

• Christ is risen

• Christ will come again

The bread and cup remind us that God does not just make promises.

He keeps them.

Jesus said in Luke 22 that the cup is the new covenant in His blood.

So today we come not trusting in our faithfulness to God, but in God’s faithfulness to us through Christ.

Bottom Line: Our confidence in God’s promises rests in His character, His competency, His covenant, and His Christ.

CLOSING APPEAL

So what is God saying to you today?

Perhaps He is saying:

• Stop measuring My faithfulness by your circumstances

• Remember who I am

• Remember what I have done

• Trust My Son

And what will you do about it?

Will you trust Him again?

Will you rest in His faithfulness?

Will you come to the table grateful that Jesus has secured what you never could?

Amen.

Series: God’s Promises, Our Journey

Title: How Can We Be Sure God Will Keep His Promises?

Scripture: Genesis 15:7–21

Jeremiah 34:17–20

Galatians 3:13–16

1 Corinthians 11:23–26

Luke 22:14–20; 28–30

Hebrews 8:8–12

Bottom Line: Our confidence in God’s promises rests in His character, His competency, His covenant, and His Christ.

⸻

INTRODUCTION

The Wedding Vow

Most people understand contracts, but marriage vows are closer to biblical covenant.

In a wedding, two people stand before witnesses and promise faithfulness:

“For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health.”

Those vows mean:

“I am committing myself to you even if circumstances change.”

Now imagine a wedding where only one person says the vows.

Imagine the groom saying:

“Even if you fail me, I will remain faithful to you.”

That would be startling.

But that is essentially what happens in Genesis 15.

Abram prepares for a covenant ceremony. He would have expected both parties to pass between the pieces. Instead, Abram is put into a deep sleep, and God alone passes through.

God is saying:

“Abram, this promise finally rests on Me.”

That is how we can be sure God will keep His promises.

Not because we are so faithful, but because He is.

⸻

CONTEXT

Genesis 15 comes in the middle of tension.

God has already promised Abram land, offspring, and blessing. But Abram still has no son. Sarai is still barren. The land is still occupied.

So Genesis 15 is about the space between promise and fulfillment.

And in that space, God does not rebuke Abram.

He reassures him.

Last week in Genesis 15:1, God said, “I am your sovereign/shield.”

Now in verses 7–21, God shows Abram WHY He can be trusted.

⸻

Bottom Line: Our confidence in God’s promises rests in His character, His competency, His covenant, and His Christ.

SERMON

Genesis 15 has two halves:

• Verses 1–6: the promise believed

• Verses 7–21: the promise guaranteed

Last week we focused on Abram believing God.

This week we focus on God guaranteeing His promise.

3 BIG TRUTHS

1. God reminds Abram who He is and what He has done (v. 7)

“I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”

Before God explains what He will do, He reminds Abram who He is and what He has already done.

That is important.

God builds Abram’s confidence in the future by reminding him of His character and His track record.

Two anchors are right there in verse 7:

• Who God is: “I am the LORD”

• What God has done: “who brought you out of Ur”

God often strengthens our faith the same way.

When we struggle to trust His promises, He points us backward before He points us forward.

He reminds us:

• I am the LORD

• I have been faithful before

• I will be faithful again

Application

When your faith is weak, start here:

• Remember who God is

• Remember what God has done

Our confidence in God’s promises grows when we look at His character and His past faithfulness.

⸻

2. God’s covenant promise depends on His faithfulness, not Abram’s performance (vv. 12–17)

This is the heart of the passage.

Abram prepares the covenant animals. In that world, both parties would normally walk between the pieces. It was a solemn way of saying:

“May this happen to me if I break this covenant.”

But Abram never walks through.

Instead:

• Abram is put into a deep sleep

• God alone passes through the pieces

The smoking firepot and blazing torch represent the presence of God.

So what is God saying?

He is saying:

“Abram, I am taking full responsibility for this covenant.”

This promise rests finally on My faithfulness, not yours.

That does not mean Abram’s faith does not matter. It does. But the covenant is not secured by Abram’s perfection. It is secured by God’s commitment.

That is why Abram’s later failures do not cancel God’s promise.

Simple way to say it

Abram receives.

God guarantees.

Illustration

It is like an inheritance.

A father prepares something for his children.

The children do not create it.

They do not negotiate it.

They receive what the father establishes.

Genesis 15 shows us that God is building a covenant family, and Abram is receiving what God creates.

Application

That is good news for us.

If God’s promises depended mainly on our consistency, we would all be in trouble.

But the covenant rests on God’s faithfulness.

⸻

3. This covenant ultimately points to Jesus (Galatians 3; Lord’s Supper)

Genesis 15 does not end with Abram. It is foundational. It points forward to Christ.

Think again about the covenant ritual.

Animals are cut apart.

The covenant maker passes between them, saying in effect:

“May I bear the curse if this covenant is broken.”

In Genesis 15, God takes that oath upon Himself.

So the big question becomes:

If people fail God again and again, who will bear the covenant curse?

The answer is Jesus.

Galatians 3:13 says:

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.”

Galatians 3:16 says the promises were ultimately centered in Christ.

So Genesis 15 is pointing ahead to the cross.

At the cross:

• God keeps His promise

• God bears the curse

• God secures salvation for His people

What God symbolized in Genesis 15, He fulfills in Jesus.

God said, in effect, “I will bear the cost.”

And at the cross, He did.

That is why Genesis 15 is one of the clearest foreshadowings of the gospel in the Old Testament.

⸻

CONCLUSION

So how can we be sure God will keep His promises?

Because in Genesis 15, God does three things:

• He reminds Abram who He is & what He’s done

• He guarantees the covenant Himself based on His willingness to die for our failures

• He points us forward to Jesus

So when you struggle to trust God, remember:

• Look at His character

• Look at His past faithfulness

• Look at the cross

The cross is the ultimate proof that God keeps His word.

⸻

LORD’S SUPPER TRANSITION

As we come to the Lord’s Table, we remember that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s covenant promise.

At this table we look back and remember:

• Christ has died

• Christ is risen

• Christ will come again

The bread and cup remind us that God does not just make promises.

He keeps them.

Jesus said in Luke 22 that the cup is the new covenant in His blood.

So today we come not trusting in our faithfulness to God, but in God’s faithfulness to us through Christ.

Bottom Line: Our confidence in God’s promises rests in His character, His competency, His covenant, and His Christ.

CLOSING APPEAL

So what is God saying to you today?

Perhaps He is saying:

• Stop measuring My faithfulness by your circumstances

• Remember who I am

• Remember what I have done

• Trust My Son

And what will you do about it?

Will you trust Him again?

Will you rest in His faithfulness?

Will you come to the table grateful that Jesus has secured what you never could?

Amen.

NOTES

Numerology

1. The Difference Between 3 and 7

3 — Divine Witness or Divine Action

Three often signals that God himself is acting, confirming, or revealing something.

It frequently appears where God’s activity or testimony is emphasized.

Examples:

• Abraham, Isaac, Jacob — the patriarchal line.

• Jonah three days in the fish (Jonah 1:17).

• Jesus raised on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:4).

• Peter’s threefold restoration (John 21:15–17).

In simple terms:

3 = God’s action or divine testimony.

It often marks a moment when God steps into history.

7 — Completion / Covenant Fulfillment

Seven signals completion, sacred fullness, or covenant perfection.

It often appears where God brings something to its intended completion.

Examples:

• 7 days of creation (Genesis 1–2).

• Sabbath on the 7th day.

• Sevenfold covenant symbolism in several passages (e.g., Genesis 21:28–31).

• Seven seals, trumpets, bowls in Revelation.

In simple terms:

7 = God bringing something to completion or covenant fullness.

A Helpful Way to Distinguish Them

Number Core Idea Function

3 Divine action / witness God stepping in

7 Divine completion God finishing what He started

So you might say:

• 3 = God acts

• 7 = God completes

2. The Number 2 Is Very Relevant in Genesis 15 as well

The Biblical Principle

Deuteronomy 19:15

“A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”

Ancient covenants normally involved two parties walking between the pieces (a self-maledictory oath):

“May what happened to these animals happen to me if I break this covenant.”

What Makes Genesis 15 Unique

Normally two covenant partners would walk the path.

But in Genesis 15:

• Abram does not walk through the pieces.

• Only God passes through (symbolized by the smoking firepot and flaming torch).

It means:

God takes the entire covenant obligation upon himself.

In other words:

• God is both witness and guarantor.

• Abram receives the promise by faith (Genesis 15:6).

3. How the Numbers Work Together in Genesis 15

Interestingly, several symbolic numbers converge here.

2 — Witness / Covenant Testimony

God acts as the covenant guarantor.

3 — Divine Action

The covenant ritual itself emphasizes God’s direct intervention in Abram’s story.

5 Animals (Genesis 15:9)

• Heifer

• Goat

• Ram

• Turtledove

• Pigeon

Some see 5 here as grace, though that connection is less certain.

⸻

4. The Real Theological Point

The numbers serve the story, but the story drives the meaning.

Genesis 15 shows:

• Abram believes (15:6)

• God guarantees the promise himself (15:17–18)

Which is exactly how Paul interprets the passage in Romans 4 and Galatians 3.

You could summarize it for preaching like this:

In Genesis 15, God doesn’t just make a promise to Abram—He walks the covenant path alone, declaring that the fulfillment of His promise ultimately rests on Him.

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Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipGod's Promsies, God's Promises, Our Journey, Genesis, Darien Gabriel, Bible-believing church, non-denominational church, Ladson, SC, Grace Christian Fellowship
How Do God's Promises Shape Our Faith Journey? | Genesis 15:1-6
How Do God's Promises Shape Our Faith Journey? | Genesis 15:1-6

Series: God's Promises, Our Journey

Title: “How Does God’s Promise Shape Our Faith Journey?”

Scripture: Genesis 15:1-6 NIV

Habakkuk 2:4

Luke 2-3

Ephesians 2:8-10

Romans 4:3-5; 20-22

Galatians 3:6-9, 14

James 2:21-23

Bottom Line: When we trust God’s promise, our journey is secure—He makes us right with Him and leads us step by step.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. OUTLINES

  7. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  8. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

My opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

“The Signed Contract Before the House Exists”

In 2006, we started looking for a house to buy in Summerville. We'd just accepted the position to come to Grace and were excited about what we might move into. But our excitement faded as we saw what we'd care for the money we were bringing from our last house sale. So, in the end, it made more sense for us to build a new house over buying an existing one.

Imagine a young couple buying a home that hasn’t been built yet.

There is:

• No framing

• No roof

• No walls

• Just dirt and a blueprint or rendering

But they sign a contract.

They put down earnest money.

They commit financially.

Why would they do that?

Because they trust:

• The builder’s reputation

• The written promise

• The legal agreement

They are acting today on something they cannot yet see.

That’s Genesis 15.

Abram:

• Has no son

• Has no visible nation

• Has no fulfillment

• Only a word from God

And verse 6 says he signed the contract in his heart.

“Abram believed the LORD…”

Faith is not pretending the house is already standing.

Faith is signing your life to the One who promised to build it.

That sets up:

• Romans 4 — persuaded God will do what He promised

• Galatians 3 — we inherit the same contract by faith

• James 2 — if you signed it, you start living like it

CONTEXT

Genesis 15 comes at a pivotal moment in Abram’s journey. In Genesis 12, God called Abram out of Ur with sweeping promises of land, offspring, and blessing — but Abram still has no child. In Genesis 13, he lets Lot choose the better land and must trust God again for the promise. In Genesis 14, Abram rescues Lot, defeats powerful kings, refuses the riches of Sodom, and is blessed by Melchizedek — demonstrating growing faith and allegiance to God alone. Yet despite spiritual victory, the central promise remains unfulfilled: Abram is aging, Sarai is barren, and the land is still occupied by other nations. Genesis 15 opens in that tension — between promise and fulfillment, between faith and visible reality — and God responds not with rebuke, but with covenant.

OUTLINE (with references):

1. Fear Meets God’s Promise (Genesis 15:1-2): Abraham’s fears—reprisal and no heir—are met by God’s protection and provision.

2. Who God Is in the Journey (Genesis 15:1, 5): Present, protector, provider, sovereign, life-giver—all shaping trust.

3. Faith Receives God’s Promise (Genesis 15:6): Abraham believed, and it was credited as righteousness.

SERMON

Review from Genesis 12:1-3:

  1. God Is the Initiator of Redemption

  2. God Calls His People to Trust Him Before They Understand Him

  3. God’s Blessing Is Never Merely Personal—It Is Missional

  4. God Promises to  Anchor His People in Uncertain Times & Places

  5. God’s People Respond with Obedience, Worship, and Witness

1. Fear Meets God’s Promise (Genesis 15:1-2): Abraham’s fears—reprisal and no heir—are met by God’s protection and provision.

2. Who God Is in the Journey (Genesis 15:1, 5): Present, protector, provider, sovereign, life-giver—all shaping trust.

The stars in the sky in Uganda. (Show Chris' pic)

"On a clear night, at most 5,000 individual stars can be seen with the naked eye, as well as objects like the fuzzy outline of the Andromeda Galaxy, with its estimated 100 billion stars, 2.5 million light years away!" -Lennox, p. 113

"ACCORDING TO THE WRITERS of Hebrews and the Genesis record, the link between faith and righteousness was not a New Testament invention, nor was it even a patriarchal innovation. Instead, the dynamic connection between faith and righteousness is rooted in primeval history well before the flood. The lives of three famous pre-diluvians-Abel, Enoch, and Noah— make this very clear.

Of Abel we read, "By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks" (Hebrews 11:4). Faith-righteousness was exemplified in earth's first family by the second son of Adam and Eve.

Of Enoch Genesis says, "Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him" (5:24). The metaphor "walked" indicates closest communion and intimacy—a righteous life. Enoch's godly walk grew out of his faith, as Hebrews makes so clear: "By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God" (11:5). According to verse 6, his God-pleasing faith believed that "God is" (literal translation of the Greek)-that the sovereign God of creation is God. He also believed that God "rewards those who seek him"-that God is positively equitable.

As a result, Jude 14, 15 records that he became a preacher of righteousness, apparently for his entire life, for some three centuries! Enoch's life demonstrated a righteousness based on faith.

Of Noah Genesis says, "Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God" (6:9). That Noah "walked with God" identifies him with the godly character of Enoch. But even more significant, the statement that "Noah was a righteous man" is the first occurrence of the word righteous tsadiq) in the Bible. Noah's righteousness was not derived from his being perfect or any antecedent righteousness, but because he believed God, as the writer of Hebrews explains: "By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household" (11:7). The biblical doctrine of imputed righteousness (a righteousness from God) began here in primeval history before the flood!" -Hughes, pp. 221-222

3. Faith Receives God’s Promise (Genesis 15:6): Abraham believed, and it was credited as righteousness.

Cross-References for Genesis 15:6 - Faith credited as righteousness. #core

• Romans 4:3-5, 20-22 - Faith credited as righteousness. #standing #position

• Galatians 3:6-9, 14 - Faith connects us to the promise. #family #mission #nations

• James 2:21-23 - Faith is active, not passive. #living #practical #behaviors

Bottom Line: When we trust God’s promise, our journey is secure—He makes us right with Him and leads us step by step.

So How Does God’s Promise Shape Our Faith Journey?

He brings security, confidence and peace because of who he is and what he does as our personally present provider and protector.

More application:

First, when you face fear—whether fear of the future or uncertainty—remind yourself that God is both your protector and provider. Concretely, when you face a major decision, begin by praying for His presence in it.

Second, trust in God’s promise of righteousness—when you feel inadequate or guilty, recall that your standing is secure by faith. For example, when you fail, don’t retreat—confess and continue walking with Him.

Third, active faith leads to action—like Abraham, step forward in obedience. If God’s promise is sure, what step of obedience is He calling you to right now?

Fourth, when considering your connection to God’s larger promise (like in Galatians 3), remember that your faith ties you to a bigger family of faith. Practically, live out that community—extend grace and include others in your faith journey.

Finally, as James 2 emphasizes, ask yourself: How is my faith visible in action this week? Identify one tangible act of service or obedience you’ll do in response to trusting Him.

CONCLUSION

Bottom Line: When we trust God’s promise, our journey is secure—He makes us right with Him and leads us step by step.

“The Shield You Carry vs. The Shield You Trust”

You could return to Genesis 15:1:

“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield…”

In ancient warfare, a shield only works if you trust it enough to stand behind it.

If a soldier:

• Keeps peeking out

• Keeps lowering the shield

• Keeps running forward in panic

The shield cannot protect him.

The issue is not whether the shield works.

The issue is whether he will stand behind it.

Abram’s fear was real:

• Eastern kings

• No heir

• An aging body

God doesn’t say:

“Be brave.”

He says:

“I am your shield.”

And Abram stands behind that promise.

Romans 4 says he was fully persuaded.

Galatians 3 says we now stand in that same promise.

James 2 says if you really trust the shield, you’ll fight differently.

So the question becomes:

Are you standing behind the Shield?

Or are you trying to carry your own?

That lands the plane cleanly on:

• God as protector

• God as provider

• Faith that rests

• Faith that acts

INVITATION

Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.

Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)

Pray

NOTES

"As Von Rad has said, "But above all, his righteousness is not the result of any accomplishments, whether of sacrifice or acts of obedience.

Rather, it is stated programmatically that belief alone has brought Abraham into a proper relationship to God."

This understanding is revolutionary! Circa 2000 B.C., Abram was declared righteous because of his belief. This declaration was in profound accord with the primeval fathers Abel, Enoch, and Noah. Furthermore, the principle has remained operative through both primeval and patriarchal history and the entire old-covenant era and is the foundation of the new covenant." -Hughes, p. 225

"It has always been the same-in primeval times and patriarchal times. under the old covenant and the new covenant: Faith brings righteousness

and salvation.

So it was for Abel: "By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain" (Hebrews 11:4). Abel was saved by faith, a faith that was not alone because it produced better works than Cain.

So it was for Enoch: "By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death" (Hebrews 11:5). But Enoch's faith was such that he "walked with God" (Genesis 5:22) before he was no more. His faith was a real faith a faith that worked.

So it was for Noah: "By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith" (Hebrews 11:7). Noah's profound faith produced a profound obedience. And his works were monumental: "He did all that God commanded him" (Genesis 6:22; cf. 7:5, 9, 16). His was a faith that worked.

So it was with Abram: "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going" (Hebrews 11:8). "By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac" (v. 17a.). Abraham was saved by faith alone-a faith that was not alone faith that works!

We conclude this study with two penetrating questions. Have you rested your faith on God the Son, Jesus Christ, alone for your salvation? That is the first question. Are you trusting your works or Christ? Now if you answer, I am trusting Christ alone," then the second question is, has your faith produced works? Is your faith real enough that it has changed your life? These are salutary questions because you are saved by faith alone. But if it is true faith, it is faith that is not alone but a faith that works." -Hughes, p. 218

"When someone is called 'a person of faith' it usually means that they are adherents of a particular religious tradition. It does not normally refer to the obvious yet frequently overlooked fact that everyone exercises faith every day in a myriad different ways - just think what would happen if people did not place their faith/trust in maps, traffic lights, electric appliances, or doctors, surgeons, pilots, lawyers and so on. In that important sense, everyone is a person of faith. Faith, as such, is not a religious concept." -Lennox, p. 117

Below is:

1. A refined opening (pastoral tone)

2. A clean covenant pivot

3. A governing Big Idea

4. A simple sermon skeleton that keeps the focus where it belongs

🔹 Big Idea for Genesis 15

Here is a clear, governing sentence you can build the entire sermon around:

Because God alone guarantees His covenant promises, we can trust Him completely — even when fulfillment seems impossible.

Or slightly shorter:

When God makes a promise, He stakes His own reputation on keeping it.

That fits your series theme beautifully.

⸻

🔹 Sermon Skeleton (Text-Driven)

Genesis 15 naturally unfolds in four movements:

1️⃣ God Reassures a Fearful Abram (15:1)

“Do not be afraid… I am your shield.”

• God gives Himself before He gives land.

• The first promise in the chapter is protection, not territory.

• Application: The promise of God’s presence precedes the promise of provision.

⸻

2️⃣ God Counts Abram’s Faith as Righteousness (15:2–6)

Abram asks honest questions.

God responds with stars.

Abram believes.

God credits righteousness.

• This is the theological heart of the chapter.

• Paul builds justification by faith on this verse (Romans 4, Galatians 3).

The land promise sits inside a gospel promise.

⸻

3️⃣ God Formalizes the Covenant (15:7–17)

• Animals cut in two.

• Normally both parties walk through.

• Only the smoking firepot and blazing torch (symbolizing God) pass between the pieces.

Meaning:

“If this covenant fails, may I be torn apart.”

Abram contributes nothing to the covenant’s guarantee.

This is grace before Sinai.

⸻

4️⃣ God Defines the Land (15:18–21)

Yes — boundaries are named.

Yes — geography matters.

But notice the order:

Faith → Righteousness → Covenant → Land.

The land is downstream of relationship.

The promise of place flows out of the promise of belonging.

⸻

🔹 Pastoral Landing for GCF

Given your church’s mission —

“To love God and love people by making disciples of Jesus Christ…” —

Genesis 15 reminds us:

We are not sustained by what we secure.

We are sustained by what God guarantees.

Abram does not conquer land in this chapter.

He trusts a promise.

And every disciple-making movement begins the same way:

Not with control.

Not with strategy.

But with confidence in a covenant-keeping God.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. What do I want them to know?

  2. Why do I want them to know it?

  3. What do I want them to do?

  4. Why do I want them to do it?

  5. How do they do this?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

YOUTUBE DESCRIPTION

Here’s the revised YouTube description, with the preacher and links cleanly integrated and placed where viewers expect them:

Series: God’s Promises, Our Journey

Message Title: What Are the Key Ingredients to the Life God Calls Us to Live?

Scripture: Genesis 14:1–24 (NIV); Hebrews 7

Preacher: Darien Gabriel

What does it look like to live the life God calls us to live—especially when we’re surrounded by temptation, fear, and competing allegiances?

In Genesis 14, Abram steps into the first recorded battle in Scripture to rescue his nephew Lot. But the real battle isn’t fought with swords—it’s fought in the heart. Upon returning victorious, Abram is met by two kings and faced with two radically different offers. One tempts him with visible reward and fleeting gain. The other blesses him in the name of El Elyon—God Most High.

This mysterious priest-king, Melchizedek, brings bread and wine, speaks blessing, and points Abram back to the promises of God. Hebrews 7 later reveals that Melchizedek is not just a historical figure—but a powerful signpost pointing forward to Jesus Christ, our eternal King and Priest.

In this message, we explore:

  • Why resting in what God has said is essential to faithful living

  • How righteousness, peace, and blessing flow from wholehearted allegiance to God

  • The contrast between living by sight (Lot) and living by faith (Abram)

  • Why Jesus is the better Melchizedek—our ultimate rescuer and eternal intercessor

Bottom Line:

When we rest in what God has said, we walk in His key ingredients—righteousness, peace, and blessing—so that we might be a blessing to the nations, just as He created us to be.

If you’re feeling torn between what you can see and what God has promised, this message invites you to lift your eyes—and your allegiance—to the King who is also our Priest.

🔗 Learn more about the preacher:

Darien Gabriel — https://dariengabriel.com

⛪ Grace Christian Fellowship:

https://gracetoday.net

📖 Scripture References: Genesis 14; Hebrews 7

🙏 Prayer Focus: Growing to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in Him and leading others to do the same

If this message encouraged you, consider liking, sharing, or subscribing to help others follow the journey of God’s promises together.

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipGrace Christian Fellowship, Ladson, SC, Darien Gabriel, bible-believing church, non-denominational church, God's Promises, Our Journey, Genesis 15, Abraham, Abram, Sarai
What are the Key Ingredients to the Life God Calls Us to Live? | Genesis 14:1-24
What are the Key Ingredients to the Life God Calls Us to Live? | Genesis 14:1-24

Series: God's Promises, Our Journey

Title: "What are the key ingredients to the life God calls us to live?"

Scripture: Genesis 14:1-24 NIV

Hebrews 7

Bottom line: When we rest in what God said, we walk in his key ingredients of righteousness, peace & blessing that we might be a blessing to the nations as he created us to be.

God reveals himself as our rescuing King and eternal Priest and calls us to wholehearted allegiance.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. OUTLINES

  7. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  8. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

My opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

Free the Hostages

"ON JUNE 27, 1976, armed operatives for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) surprised the twelve crew members of an Air France jetliner and its ninety-one passengers, hijacking it to a destination unknown.

The plane was tracked heading for Central Africa, where indeed it did land under the congenial auspices of then Ugandan President Idi Amin. And there it remained apparently secure at Entebbe Airport, where the hijackers spent the next seven days preparing for their next move. The hijackers were by all estimations in the driver's seat.

However, 2,500 miles away in Tel Aviv three Israeli C-130 Hercules transports were secretly boarded by a deadly force of Israeli commandos who within hours attacked Entebbe under cover of darkness. In less than sixty minutes the commandos rushed the old terminal, gunned down the hijackers, and rescued 110 of the 113 hostages. A few days later, July 4, Israel's Premier Yitzhak Rabin triumphantly declared the mission "will become a legend"—which it surely has.' Israel's resolve and stealth in liberating her people is admired by her friends and begrudged by her enemies.

Actually, Israel's resolve is nothing new because the same quality can be traced all the way back to the very beginning of the Hebrew nation in the prowess of their father Abraham. The kidnappers in his day (the Middle Bronze Age) were an international coalition of four eastern kings headed by King Chedorlaomer who attacked the Transjordan, defeating the city states of Sodom and her neighbors, carrying off a large number of hostages That included Abram's nephew Lot." -Hughes, p. 213

CONTEXT

We've gone from Promises of blessings to failure to rest in those promises to returning to the original promise keeper through repentance and faith.

Abram went down to Egypt but returned to between "House of Bread" and "Ruin". It is here he and Lot part ways. He watches Lot choose what he thinks is best for him and yet outside of God's promised land. No doubt he knows this. He just doesn't believe it or realize it.

Genesis 13 contrasts Abram’s faith-shaped restraint with Lot’s sight-driven ambition—and places both under the canopy of God’s covenant faithfulness.

In Genesis 14 we see the first recorded battle in scripture. We meet Melchizedek, and we see Abram draw encouragement from Melchizedek and rest in what God has said.

There's a powerful lesson for us here.

SERMON

Review from Genesis 12:1-3:

  1. God Is the Initiator of Redemption

  2. God Calls His People to Trust Him Before They Understand Him

  3. God’s Blessing Is Never Merely Personal—It Is Missional

  4. God Promises to  Anchor His People in Uncertain Times & Places

  5. God’s People Respond with Obedience, Worship, and Witness

Bottom line: When we rest in what God said, we walk in his key ingredients of righteousness, peace & blessing that we might be a blessing to the nations as he created us to be.

Outline (help from Outline Bible):

I. THE COURAGE OF ABRAM (14:1-16)

A. The villains (14:1-11)

  1. The rebellion (14:1-4): Five Canaanite city-states rebel against Kedorlaomer of Elam.

  2. The retaliation (14:5-11): Kedorlaomer and his allies defeat the armies of the five city-states, plunder their cities, and carry many people away as slaves.

B. The victim (14:12): Lot, now living in Sodom, is taken away as a slave.

C. The victory (14:13-16)

  1. Abram's army (14:13-14): Upon learning of Lot's capture, Abram and his 318 trained servants ride out to rescue Lot.

  2. Abram's attack (14:15): Abram divides his men and initiates a surprise attack at night.

  3. Abram's achievements (14:16): Kedorlaomer is defeated, and Lot is rescued.

II. THE COMMUNION OF ABRAM (14:17-24)

A. The godly and priestly king of Salem (14:17-20): As he is returning from battle to his home in Hebron, Abram meets Melchize-dek, who blesses him. Abram offers him a tenth of all the goods he has recovered from Kedorlaomer.

B. The godless and perverted king of Sodom (14:21-24): In stark contrast, Abram refuses to have any fellowship with Bera, king of wicked Sodom.

My notes on Gen 14:

This sermon is sort of a part 2 to last week.

Abram rescues Lot and co.--people, possessions and all. And he's met by two kings upon his return: Melchizedek and the King of Sodom. (Name?)

Sodom's king can only see that his losses are back and he can get back at least some of them, thanks to Abram, who rightly deserves the spoils of war. He is consumed by what he can see. So he asks for some of it back, though he deserves none of it.

Melchizedek, however, is a mystery. He is there for Abram at a moment when he's tempted to also get seduced by what he can see. But he finds in Mel a kindred spirit of sorts. Actually, he finds a type of Christ.

This type of Christ behaves very much like Christ. He blesses Abram in the name of El Elyon and praises El Elyon for what he did. He honors the greater even as he blesses the lessor. He also blesses Abram and his men with bread and wine. Could this be a whisper to a future Last Supper?

Lot, fresh off his rescue, could easily be taking all of this in. He's no doubt glad to be alive. He is thinking of all his losses. He believes that Abram will restore his fortunes. He's focused on what he lost...what he could see and some of it he can still see. We know this because he follows the king of Sodom back to the city. He doesn't rest in what God has said. He's now further from that than he's ever been.

Abram, inspired by another person who knows El Elyon, rests in the promises of God and eludes the temptation to dwell on what he can see. He tithes 10% of it to Mel, tells Sodom to give his allies their portion for helping, and surrenders the rest back to Sodom, with the possible invitation for any of the rescued people to join him in his growing clan. It appears none take him up on it.

We're back to the contrast between Abram and Lot; a promise of God and a pile of possessions. Abram chooses well, helped by a mysterious king of righteousness, king of peace and priest of a different priesthood.

This mysterious priest shows up right when Abram needs him. He leads with generous gifts followed by blessings to Abram and adoration to El Elyon.

This is where we are as well. But we don't have a type of Christ showing up to help us right when we need him. We have Christ himself. And he showed up on a Roman cross and shows up for us every day at the right hand of the Father interceding for us in our need.

So the next time you're tempted, like I have been for over a week, to feel sorry for yourself, remember that it only would have been worse if he'd not been praying for you.

Chat GPT notes:

  1. Abram rescues Lot. (Temp salvation)

  2. Abram meets a Priest-King. (Melchizedek appears)

  3. Abram worships through giving. (Recognizes divine favor and responds)

  4. Abram refuses King of Sodom. (Allegiance clarified)

  5. Jesus is the better Melchizedek:

    1. Ultimate rescue

    2. Eternal priesthood

    3. Calls for total allegiance

Closing illustration

How many of you heard/saw last week's message?

I've never gotten so much positive feedback on a message in my life. It's just like God to take someone battling the temptation to have his own pity party to do something like that. God is faithful.

What's sad is that there were people online and on-site who heard the message last week and yet didn't get a thing out of it. Nothing. Nada. Zilch.

How can that be? Life-changine for one--Apathetic sigh for the other.

Who's that on?

Abram and Lot were a part of the same war and rescue. But one of them turned away from what God said and went back to the wicked city that was defeated just days before. Like a dog returning to his vomit.

The other turned towards the God of promise: El Elyon. The God Most High. No, not high on a joint--high on his holy hill; holy throne; in his holy temple.

What about you?

CONCLUSION

Bottom line: When we rest in what God said, we walk in his key ingredients of righteousness, peace & blessing that we might be a blessing to the nations as he created us to be.

"Abram rescued Lot from four kings.

Jesus rescues us from sin and death.

Abram met a priest who blessed him.

We have a Priest who intercedes forever.

Abram gave a tenth.

We give our whole lives.

Abram refused Sodom’s reward.

We refuse a kingdom that is passing away.

Because our King is also our Priest." -ChatGPT

INVITATION

Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.

Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)

Pray

NOTES

This is an important theological distinction—especially as you preach through Genesis and encounter figures like Melchizedek in Genesis 14.

Let me define the categories carefully and then contrast them.

1️⃣ What Is a

Type of Christ?

A type (Greek: typos) is a historical person, event, or institution intentionally designed by God to foreshadow Christ.

It is:

  • Real history

  • Symbolically patterned

  • Forward-pointing

  • Incomplete without Christ

The type is not Jesus Himself.

It is a divinely embedded preview.

Key Characteristics of a Type

  • Historical reality

  • Escalation or fulfillment in Christ

  • Often clarified by later Scripture

  • Analogical, not identical

Biblical Examples

Adam

Paul explicitly calls Adam a “type” of Christ (Romans 5:14).

Adam = representative head → Christ = greater representative head.

Melchizedek

Hebrews 7 presents Melchizedek as a type:

  • King of righteousness

  • King of peace

  • Priest of God Most High

  • Without recorded genealogy

But Hebrews never says Melchizedek was Christ — he was “made like” the Son of God (Heb 7:3).

Joseph

Rejected brother → exalted savior → forgives those who wronged him.

A clear Christ-pattern.

Definition:

A type of Christ is a God-ordained historical shadow that finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus.

2️⃣ What Is a

Pre-Incarnate Christ (Christophany)?

A Christophany is an actual appearance of the Son of God before the incarnation.

It is:

  • A real manifestation

  • Personal and divine

  • Not symbolic

  • The second Person of the Trinity appearing visibly

This is not foreshadowing — this is presence.

Classic Christophany Texts

Angel of the LORD

In several passages:

  • Speaks as God

  • Receives worship

  • Forgives sin

  • Identifies Himself as Yahweh

Examples:

  • Genesis 16 (Hagar)

  • Genesis 22 (Abraham and Isaac)

  • Exodus 3 (burning bush)

  • Judges 13 (Manoah)

Many evangelical theologians conclude this is the pre-incarnate Son.

The “Commander of the Lord’s Army” (Joshua 5)

Accepts worship. Identifies ground as holy.

Definition:

A Christophany is a real, pre-incarnate appearance of the eternal Son of God.

3️⃣ The Core Differences

Type of Christ

Christophany

Symbolic foreshadowing

Actual divine appearance

Human or event

Divine manifestation

Points forward to Christ

Is Christ

Incomplete

Fully divine presence

Analogical resemblance

Ontological identity

4️⃣ The Melchizedek Question (Critical for Your Genesis 14 Preaching)

Some argue Melchizedek was a Christophany.

But Hebrews 7 does not say he was the Son of God — it says:

“He is made like the Son of God.”

That language supports typology, not incarnation.

Hebrews is arguing:

  • Jesus is not in the order of Aaron.

  • He is in the order of Melchizedek.

  • Melchizedek prefigures Christ’s eternal priesthood.

If Melchizedek were literally Christ, the argument collapses.

You can’t be “in the order of” yourself.

So for Genesis 14:

  • Melchizedek is best understood as a type.

  • The Angel of the LORD passages are stronger candidates for Christophany.

OUTLINES

SECTION OUTLINE SEVEN (HEBREWS 7) The author identifies and equates the priesthood of Jesus with that of Melchizedek. I. A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE (7:1-3) A. The person of Melchizedek (7:1 a, 2b-3)

  1. Who he was (7:2b): His name means "king of justice," and he was also the "king of peace."

  2. What he did (7:1a): He was both priest and king over the city of Salem.

  3. Where he came from (7:3): There is no record of either his birth or his death. B. The preeminence of Melchizedek (7:1b-2a)

B. The preeminence of Melchizedek (7:1 b-2a)

  1. The battle (7:2a): Following the defeat of his enemies, Abraham met Melchizedek and paid tithes to him.

  2. The blessing (7:1 b): Melchizedek blessed Abraham.

II. A THEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE (7:4-28): The author lists the various characteristics of Jesus, who, according to the Father's decree, is to be a priest after the order of Melchizedek (see Ps. 110:4). Thus, his priesthood would be: A. Royal (as was that of Melchizedek) (see 7:1) B. Superior (7:4-10)

  1. To whom? (7:5-7): To Levi, founder of the levitical priesthood.

  2. Why? (7:4, 8-10)

a. Abraham was the ancestor of Levi (7:9). b. The yet unborn Levi thus tithed to Melchizedek while still in the loins of Abraham (7:4, 8, 10). C. Independent (7:11-15)

  1. Independent of the law (7:11-12).

  2. Independent of the tribe of Levi (7: 13-15): Christ came from the tribe of Judah.

  3. D. Everlasting (7:16-17)

  4. E. Guaranteed (7:20-22): The Father himself took an oath concerning this.

  5. F. Continuous (7:23)

  6. G. Permanent (7:24)

  7. H. Holy (7:26)

  8. I. All-sufficient (7:18-19, 25, 27)

  9. J. Flawless (7:28)

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. What do I want them to know?

  2. Why do I want them to know it?

  3. What do I want them to do?

  4. Why do I want them to do it?

  5. How do they do this?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

YOUTUBE DESCRIPTION

Here’s the revised YouTube description, with the preacher and links cleanly integrated and placed where viewers expect them:

Series: God’s Promises, Our Journey

Message Title: What Are the Key Ingredients to the Life God Calls Us to Live?

Scripture: Genesis 14:1–24 (NIV); Hebrews 7

Preacher: Darien Gabriel

What does it look like to live the life God calls us to live—especially when we’re surrounded by temptation, fear, and competing allegiances?

In Genesis 14, Abram steps into the first recorded battle in Scripture to rescue his nephew Lot. But the real battle isn’t fought with swords—it’s fought in the heart. Upon returning victorious, Abram is met by two kings and faced with two radically different offers. One tempts him with visible reward and fleeting gain. The other blesses him in the name of El Elyon—God Most High.

This mysterious priest-king, Melchizedek, brings bread and wine, speaks blessing, and points Abram back to the promises of God. Hebrews 7 later reveals that Melchizedek is not just a historical figure—but a powerful signpost pointing forward to Jesus Christ, our eternal King and Priest.

In this message, we explore:

  • Why resting in what God has said is essential to faithful living

  • How righteousness, peace, and blessing flow from wholehearted allegiance to God

  • The contrast between living by sight (Lot) and living by faith (Abram)

  • Why Jesus is the better Melchizedek—our ultimate rescuer and eternal intercessor

Bottom Line:

When we rest in what God has said, we walk in His key ingredients—righteousness, peace, and blessing—so that we might be a blessing to the nations, just as He created us to be.

If you’re feeling torn between what you can see and what God has promised, this message invites you to lift your eyes—and your allegiance—to the King who is also our Priest.

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipDarien Gabriel, God's Promises, Our Journey, Ladson, SC, Grace Christian Fellowship, bible-believing church, non-denominational church, Genesis, 29456
What Happens When We Rest in God's Unshakable Promises? | Genesis 13:1-18
What Happens When We Rest in God's Unshakable Promises? | Genesis 13:1-18

Series: God's Promises, Our Journey

Title: "What happens when we rest in God's unshakable promises?"

Scripture: Genesis 13:1-18 NIV

Matthew 6:33

1 Corinthians 2:14-3:3

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

James 3:13-4:10

2 Peter 2:7-8

Bottom line: When God’s people trust His promises, they can release what they see and rest in what He has said. Or

Faith chooses promise over possession.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. OUTLINES

  7. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  8. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

My opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

When I was in high school, I was encouraged by my dad to go to a good college to get a good job. A noble endeavor, as I saw it.

In college I chose an engineering degree that would provide for that vision.

I was focusing on what I could see.

I wasn't focused on what I could not see.

When God called me into the ministry, he called me out of a career of engineering. I'd been practicing civil engineering as a consultant for five years, and had finally found my footing and was beginning to be productive in the eyes of the company. I finally felt like I belonged.

God called me out of that into full-time ministry and I never really questioned the money piece. In other words by God's grace, I was able to look past the money to the Ministry that God was calling me too. I was able to walk by Faith instead of my sight.

In this passage today, Genesis 13 we'll see a contrast between Abram and Lot. Lot will choose based on what he sees. Abram chooses based on the promises of God.

When we trust in God's unshakable promises, we will release what we see, and rest in what he has said instead.

What are some of those promises?

God is able

God hears

God sees

God is with us

God cares

God satisfies

God approves

These are just some of the many promises throughout scripture that you and I have to bank on when we rest in him. Let's look at the life and the contrast of Abram and Lot and see how it plays out in chapter 13.

CONTEXT

We've gone from Promises of blessings to failure to rest in those promises to returning to the original promise keeper through repentance and faith.

Abram went down to Egypt but returned to between "House of Bread" and "Ruin". It is here he and Lot part ways. He watches Lot choose what he thinks is best for him and yet outside of God's promised land. No doubt he knows this. He just doesn't believe it or realize it.

Genesis 13 contrasts Abram’s faith-shaped restraint with Lot’s sight-driven ambition—and places both under the canopy of God’s covenant faithfulness.

SERMON

Review from Genesis 12:1-3:

  1. God Is the Initiator of Redemption

  2. God Calls His People to Trust Him Before They Understand Him

  3. God’s Blessing Is Never Merely Personal—It Is Missional

  4. God Promises to  Anchor His People in Uncertain Times & Places

  5. God’s People Respond with Obedience, Worship, and Witness

My notes on Gen 13:

God is.../God does...

  • Merciful / forgives, restores

  • West, spiritually (10) / Draws his people west, spiritually (10)

  • Holy, just judge (10) / judges righteously (10)

  • Permissive / allowed us to make mistakes and even sin

  • Faithful (14-17) / kept his promise (14-17)

  • Omnipotent (14-17) / able to deliver on his promise (14-17)

  • Worthy of our worship (18) / Receives our worship w/ pleasure when by grace through faith (18)

People are.../People do...

  • Can be faithful, humble (3-4) / repent, return to the Lord (3-4); call on the name of the Lord (4)

  • Tempted by riches (5, 10-11) / Pursue riches over God and end up in dark places (5, 10-11)

  • Divided, greedy (6-7) / Quarrelsom (6-7)

  • A witness to the world (7b) / A good or poor witness (7b)

  • Gracious; magnanimous (8-9) / yield to the underserving (8-9)

  • Brothers & sisters of humanity & sometimes in Christ (8) / Care about each other (8) or not

  • Lost; citizens of this world; born sinners (10-13) / Pursue the things of this world (10-13)

  • Faithful (at times), blessed (14-17) / Obedient, humble, grateful, faithful, believing (14-17)

  • Content for, yearn for God's presence (18) / Seek, pursue, rest in the Lord (18)

CONCLUSION

Bottom line: When God’s people trust His promises, they can release what they see and rest in what He has said.

"Fellow believers (Abram's spiritual seed), when we truly believe the promises that are ours in Christ, when we truly understand and believe that we are seated right now in him in the heavenly places, when we understand that all things are ours in Christ, we will cease our grasping. As Alexander Maclaren put it:

The less of our energies are consumed in asserting ourselves, and scrambling for our rights, and cutting in before other people, so as to get the best places for ourselves, the more we shall have to spare for better things; and the more we live in the future, and leave God to order our ways, the more shall our souls be wrapped in perfect peace.'" -Hughes, pp. 200-201

INVITATION

Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.

Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)

Pray

NOTES

The Apostle Paul talks about 3 kinds of people in the world somewhere in 1 Corinthians I think. Lost people, carnal Christians, and spiritual Christians. I think I read this in a Warren Wiersbe commentary pointing to Lot as a carnal Christian when considering 2 Peter 2:7-8. Does Paul say this?

Short answer by ChatGPT:

Yes, Paul does describe three kinds of people in 1 Corinthians 2–3 — but he does not present them as three permanent classes of Christians.

He contrasts unbelievers with two conditions of believers.

That distinction matters.

Where Paul says this

1 Corinthians 2:14–3:3 (flow of thought)

Paul uses three Greek adjectives:

  1. ψυχικός (psychikos) — natural / unspiritual

  2. πνευματικός (pneumatikos) — spiritual

  3. σάρκινος / σαρκικός (sarkinos / sarkikos) — fleshly / carnal

These form the three categories you’re remembering.

The Three Types Explained

1. Natural person — unbeliever (2:14)

This person:

  • does not receive the things of the Spirit

  • considers them foolish

  • lacks spiritual discernment

This is clearly outside Christ.

Paul is describing someone without the Spirit.

So this one is not debated.

2. Spiritual person — mature believer (2:15–16)

This person:

  • discerns spiritual realities

  • has “the mind of Christ”

  • is walking under the Spirit’s influence

This is what we might call:

  • mature

  • Spirit-led

  • growing

  • responsive to God

This is Paul’s goal for every believer.

3. Fleshly / carnal believer — immature believer (3:1–3)

This is the key text:

Paul says to the Corinthians (paraphrasing):

I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but as fleshly people, as infants in Christ… you are still fleshly… there is jealousy and strife among you.

Notice carefully:

He still calls them “in Christ.”

So they are:

  • saved

  • but immature

  • behaving like unbelievers

  • dominated by worldly patterns

This is not a third ontological class — it’s stunted growth.

So what is Paul actually teaching?

Here’s the most accurate way to state it:

Not:

❌ Three fixed types of people

But:

✅ Two groups (unbelievers vs believers), with believers living in two possible conditions (spiritual or fleshly)

In other words:

Category

Spiritual Status

Condition

Natural

Unregenerate

Cannot understand

Carnal

Regenerate

Immature / worldly

Spiritual

Regenerate

Mature / Spirit-led

Where Wiersbe and others get “three kinds of people”

Teachers like Warren W. Wiersbe simplify Paul’s language pedagogically.

It’s a teaching framework, not Paul’s formal taxonomy.

Helpful for preaching.

But not meant as rigid categories.

Your Lot connection (2 Peter 2:7–8)

This is actually a good biblical illustration.

Peter calls Lot:

  • “righteous”

  • yet compromised

  • distressed

  • living foolishly in Sodom

So:

  • justified positionally

  • but practically worldly

That fits the carnal/immature believer concept very well.

So Wiersbe’s use of Lot is pastorally reasonable.

Theologically important clarification

Some traditions mistakenly build a doctrine like:

“There are three kinds of Christians: saved, carnal, and spiritual.”

Paul does not teach that.

His point is corrective:

“You should be spiritual by now — but you’re acting fleshly.”

It’s rebuke, not classification.

He expects growth.

Bottom line

Yes — Paul does describe:

  • natural people

  • fleshly believers

  • spiritual believers

But he is describing spiritual maturity levels, not permanent types.

The “carnal Christian” is:

not a category to settle into

but a condition to repent from.

If you want, we can next:

  • look at the Greek terms more closely

  • compare with Romans 8 (flesh vs Spirit)

  • or explore whether “carnal Christian” is the best phrase theologically (some scholars push back on that wording)

  • or build a teaching/diagram you could use in a sermon or class

Where would you like to go deeper?

OUTLINES

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. What do I want them to know?

  2. Why do I want them to know it?

  3. What do I want them to do?

  4. Why do I want them to do it?

  5. How do they do this?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“Genesis,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in Genesis, by Bethancourt

The Genesis Record, by Henry Morris

The Genesis Factor, by David Helms & Jon Dennis

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

"Genesis" by Briscoe (TCC)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

Willmington’s Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)

Claude.ai

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipLadson, SC, 29456, Grace Christian Fellowship, Darien Gabriel, bible-believing church, non-denominational church, Genesis, God's Promises, Our Journey, rest
Where Do You Go When You Fail God? | Genesis 12:10-13:4
Where Do You Go When You Fail God? | Genesis 12:10-13:4

Series: God's Promises, Our Journey

Title: "Where do you go when you fail God?"

Scripture: Genesis 12:10-13:04 NIV

James 1:2-6

Bottom line: When we fail God, we return to the place where we left his presence and start again.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. OUTLINES

  7. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  8. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

My opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

Many of you know that last week we were online only due to the snow and hazardous roads. I was super encouraged by the number of people who tuned in as well.

However, the most common feedback I got was interesting. Apparently, it looked like I was reading from the back of my Bible. But I was reading Genesis which is in the front of our Bibles. So, just to set the record straight, I was reading from the front of my Bible while my iPhone live-streamed the mirror-version of me reading. Some of you figured that out by looking at my rings or some other thing. I thought that was funny:-).

So "Hero to zero" is a term that athletes sometimes use to describe when a player follows an amazing play with a boneheaded play. I see this in Ultimate Frisbee a lot. (And have done it too)

You make an amazing, diving catch. The sidelines erupt with sounds of awe and groans of opposition. Then the player jumps up and instead of dropping it to the open handler poised to throw a scoring strike, they act on their inflated confidence and make a poor throw that ends up in the other teams hands. Hero to zero.

The psychological term is overconfidence effect.

I don't know if Abram is dealing with that but he definitely goes from a very high confidence in God to a very high confidence in himself.

Let's read this together now.

Shorter-

God initiates redemption, calls us to trust Him without all the details, blesses us for the sake of the world, anchors us with His promises, and forms a people who respond with obedience, worship, and witness.

Longer-

God is the One who initiates redemption. He calls people before they understand all the details, inviting them to trust His voice and follow His lead. God’s blessing is never merely personal—it is always meant to flow outward for the sake of others and ultimately for the nations. Along the way, God anchors His people in uncertain places with unshakable promises. And when God calls, His people respond—not perfectly, but faithfully—through obedience, worship, and public witness as they walk with Him step by step.

CONTEXT

**Genesis 12 marks a decisive turning point in the biblical story, as God initiates His redemptive plan through one man and one family, promising land, descendants, and blessing that will ultimately extend to all nations. God’s promises are spoken clearly and graciously at the outset, calling Abram to leave what is familiar and trust God with an unknown future. Abram responds in faith, worship, and obedience, yet the chapter quickly reveals that walking in God’s promises does not mean a flawless journey. Famine, fear, and failure follow obedience, exposing Abram’s weakness and need for grace. Throughout the chapter, God remains faithful to protect His promise, preserve Sarai, and continue His purposes despite Abram’s missteps. Genesis 12 therefore holds together both realities of our series, God’s Promises, Our Journey: God’s promises are unshakable, while the journey of faith is marked by growth, testing, and restoration rather than perfection.

SERMON (influenced by W Wiersbe, Kent Hughes, and Bethancourt)

Review last week:

  1. God Is the Initiator of Redemption

  2. God Calls His People to Trust Him Before They Understand Him

  3. God’s Blessing Is Never Merely Personal—It Is Missional

  4. God Promises to  Anchor His People in Uncertain Times & Places

  5. God’s People Respond with Obedience, Worship, and Witness

Truth 1: Tests often follow triumphs.

  • Moses gets Israel delivered from Pharaoh after the 10th plague followed by Pharaoh abusing the entire arm after them and trapping them against the Red Sea.

  • God brought them through the Red Sea only to test them with no water in the desert. Then no bread. Then no meat.

God's tests often come after triumph when we're tempted to think the victory was because of us--not God. We quickly forget God.

Of course, God doesn't have us face the tests alone. He allows them for our good* and for his glory. God is with us so we don't have to be afraid.

*James 1:1-12

Application: So after a faith victory, expect a trial or test. Humble yourself instead of swelling with pride by thanking God and asking him to not let you forget who made that happen or who the source of that grace and provision is.

Truth 2: Tests tempt us to run.

  • Ex. People travel up and down I-95 from NY to FL asking for $$$ from people and churches because they're running from crisis only to travel back a year later.

  • Ex. People move from one town to another trying to start over as if all their problems will stay behind.

12:10 Instead of staying (or even just asking God), Abram schemes his own plan. A plan with dangers and risks.

We go "down" to Egypt not just topographically (elevation is lower in Egypt) but spiritually, in the Bible. (Abe, Mo, Joe)

We go "up" to Jerusalem (where God lives) not just topographicaly (elevation is high) but spiritually, in the Bible.

Application: When testing occurs, stay put until God tells you to go.

  • Now, I've met with a lot of people who say God told them to go, even though their sitting in front of me in crisis. So this requires great discernment and prayer.

  • Faith moves towards peace and hope.

  • Unbelief moves towards restlessness and fear.

Truth 3: God is great! Therefore, he's in control so I don't have to be; he is able.

  • I am safer in a famine IN HIS WILL that in a palace OUT OF HIS WILL.

  • "The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you." (A saying)

  • Abe failed his test with God. This lead to more problems!

  • "When you enroll into the 'school of faith' you can't just drop out because of failure." -WW

It was the first nine weeks of my freshman year in high school. I'd just moved to Summerville 3 months before. And I just failed the first nine weeks of Alebra 1. I'd never failed any class or nine weeks before. I was scared to go home that day. My parents were concerned by supportive. We worked harder and I finished the year with a C average. I might have felt it was a little unfair since my teachers name was Mr. Phailer. But I digress...

Abram went down to Egypt moving from trust to scheming/grasping.

  • No altars built in Egypt.

  • No calling on the name of the Lord in Egypt.

  • No worship of God in Egypt.

  • When we stop trusting God's word, we start leaning on man's wisdom. -WW

  • Half-truths are used to deceive. In the 10 commandments, it says do not commit false witness. Do not deceive others. Abram did that.

Abram...

  1. Moves from trust to scheming or grasping

  2. Moves from confidence to fear ("I will" to "they will")

  3. Moves from "others" to self

  4. Moves from bringing blessings to bringing judgment

Truth 4: God keeps his promises. God graciously brought him (them) through it all. Mainly because it would have ruined his promise.

God rescued them from Pharaoh and sent them home well-provisioned.

This foreshadowed the fleecing that would occur when Moses led Israel out of Egypt and through the Red Sea.

Truth 5: Repentance leads to New Beginnings. When you stop trusting God's word and disobey, the only right thing to do is to go back to where you left him and make a new beginning. (1 John 1:9)

  • Abram went back to his tent and altar in the Promised Land; to his life as a sojourner and stranger in this world.

  • What was the big deal?! He came out well-provisioned and safe.

    • It led to other problems with Lot

    • Sarai paid a price

Application: Never abandon your altar. Stay in fellowship with the Lord and his people no matter the crisis. Resist the temptation to run or isolate. Rest in his provision and protection found in his community. This is part of his covenant relationship we made with us. And he is faithful!

CONCLUSION

Bottom line: When we fail God, we return to the place where we left his presence and start again. A new beginning.

God's promises are unshakable. They are for Abraham and they are for us through Jesus Christ.

Will we have times of fear and doubt? Yes.

Will God be there for us no matter what? Yes!

How do we minimize the times of fear and doubt?

We humble ourselves and review God's promises thanking God for them and resting in them. We continue our journey by grace through faith. When we get off track, we return to where we got off track and make another new beginning. We remember these truths and receive his blessings by obeying God's word, worship God himself, and being a blessing in word and deed daily.

INVITATION

Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.

Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)

Pray

NOTES

"Fellow believers (Abram's spiritual seed), when we truly believe the promises that are ours in Christ, when we truly understand and believe that we are seated right now in him in the heavenly places, when we understand that all things are ours in Christ, we will cease our grasping.

As Alexander Maclaren put it:

The less of our energies are consumed in asserting ourselves, and scrambling for our rights, and cutting in before other people, so as to get the best places for ourselves, the more we shall have to spare for better things; and Whereas Abram was living by taith, Lot was living by sight, much as Proram had lived in Egypt."

-Alexander MacLaren, Hughes, pp. 200-201

Illustration from last week:

"I only have eyes for..."

AN EXTRAORDINARY ANECDOTE comes to us from the annals of ancient Mideastern history. As the story goes, Cyrus, the great conqueror of the then known world including Babylon, had a general under his authority whose wife was suspected of treason. She was tried before a great and austere tribunal, found guilty, and sentenced to death. After the sentence was pronounced, the woman’s husband (a general) made his way to Cyrus’s throne and requested, “King Cyrus, please let me take her place.” Cyrus, in awe at what was transpiring before him, said to his court, “Can we terminate a love as great as this?” He then paroled the woman to her husband. As the couple left the court, the general said to his wife, “Did you see the benevolent look in Cyrus’s eyes as he pardoned you?” The wife responded, “I only had eyes for the one who loved me enough that he was willing to die for me.”

OUTLINES

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. What do I want them to know?

  2. Why do I want them to know it?

  3. What do I want them to do?

  4. Why do I want them to do it?

  5. How do they do this?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“Genesis,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in Genesis, by Bethancourt

The Genesis Record, by Henry Morris

The Genesis Factor, by David Helms & Jon Dennis

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

"Genesis" by Briscoe (TCC)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

Willmington’s Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)

Claude.ai

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian Fellowshipnon-denominational church, Ladson, SC, Grace Christian Fellowship, Bible-believing church, Darien Gabriel, Genesis, God's Promises, Our Journey
Will You Trust God Without Knowing the Details? | Genesis 11:27-12:9
Will You Trust God Without Knowing the Details? | Genesis 11:27-12:9

Will You Trust God Without Knowing the Details?
 Genesis 11:27–12:9
Series: God’s Promises, Our Journey
Sermon by Darien R. Gabriel (https://DarienGabriel.com)

What do you do when God calls—but doesn’t give you all the details?

In Genesis 11:27–12:9, God calls Abram to leave what is familiar and follow Him into an unknown future. There is no map, no timeline, and no explanation—only God’s voice, His promises, and a direction to move. This moment becomes a turning point not only in Abram’s life, but in the story of God’s redemption for the world.

In this message, we explore how God initiates redemption, calls His people to trust Him before they understand everything, and blesses them not merely for themselves but for the sake of the nations. God’s promises anchor us in uncertain places, and true faith responds with obedience, worship, and public witness, even when the journey is unclear.

This sermon launches a series through the life of Abraham called God’s Promises, Our Journey (Genesis 12–25) and invites us to wrestle with a question every follower of Jesus must answer: 

Will you trust God without knowing the details?

Key Themes:

  • Trusting God before clarity comes

  • God’s promises and global mission

  • Faith expressed through obedience, worship, and witness

  • Being blessed to be a blessing

  • Living as channels, not reservoirs, of God’s grace

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipGrace Christian Fellowship, Darien Gabriel, Ladson, SC, details, God's Promises, Our Journey, non-denominational church, bible-believing church
What Happens When Jesus Shows Up? | John 20: 1-31 | Darien Gabriel
What Happens When Jesus Shows Up? | John 20: 1-31 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: What happens when Jesus shows up?

Scripture: 📖 John 20:1-31 NIV

Preacher: Darien Roger Gabriel

Bottom Line: Peace like Jesus gives can only come from belief in who Jesus is and what he did.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. 📖 SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  7. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  8. 🎥 YOUTUBE DESCRIPTION

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

⸻

Opening Prayer

Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in Him and leading others to do the same. Amen.

⸻

INTRODUCTION

In 2003, I accepted an invitation to fly to East Asia to encourage and see the mission work being done by a young man from our church in North Carolina. He was serving with Cru on a college campus in central East Asia. His work was simple—friendship evangelism that led to intentional discipleship over time.

I believed I was supposed to go.

So I bought the plane ticket.

I got my passport in order.

I packed my bags.

I drove to RDU.

All evidence of belief.

The first leg of the trip was from Raleigh to Detroit. That’s where I was supposed to meet up with about fifteen others from all over the country—people going to the same place, for the same reason, led by the same group leader.

But when I arrived in Detroit… there was no group.

No leader.

No gathering crowd.

No familiar faces.

Boarding started.

And suddenly belief met resistance.

  • If I got on the plane and was wrong, I would land alone in East Asia without language, contacts, or a plan.

  • If I didn’t get on the plane and was wrong, I would waste thousands of dollars and miss what I genuinely believed God had called me to do.

I was afraid of going.

But I was also afraid of not going.

So I prayed.

And I got on the plane.

After we were airborne, I asked a flight attendant if anyone else was part of a group headed where I was going. She said yes—the group leader had missed the connection, but another leader was already on the plane.

Relief.

Peace.

Joy.

Looking back, the clearest evidence that I truly believed I was supposed to go wasn’t what I felt—it was what I did.

I got on the plane in Detroit.

And in the middle of that crisis of belief, Jesus showed up—not visibly, but powerfully—through a stewardess with good news of great joy.

So I want to ask the question John 20 presses on every one of us:

What happens when Jesus shows up?

⸻

CONTEXT

It’s Sunday morning.

The third day.

Still early—just after sunrise.

The disciples are not celebrating.

They are grieving.

Several women make their way to the tomb expecting to tend a body…

…but nothing about this morning will go the way they expect.

⸻

Takeaways for today:

  • Peace always precedes mission.

  • When Jesus shows up, grief does not get the final word.

Transition: What happens when, in our moment of need, Jesus shows up? Let’s answer that question by looking at 3 times this happened on the first Resurrection Day:

SERMON

I. Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene (John 20:1–18)

Mary comes to the tomb while it’s still dark—both literally and emotionally.

The stone is rolled away.

The body is gone.

Her grief deepens into despair. She weeps. She assumes the worst: someone has taken Jesus’ body away. Even when angels speak to her, grief clouds her vision.

Then Jesus speaks one word.

Her name.

“Mary.”

And everything changes.

The risen Christ meets her personally. She recognizes his voice. Recognition leads to belief. She sees more clearly. Belief leads to obedience. Jesus sends her to tell the others what she has seen. She goes.

When Jesus shows up, grief does not get the final word.

⸻

II. Jesus Appears to the Ten Disciples (John 20:19–23)

That evening, the disciples are together—but not in confidence.

The doors are locked.

Fear fills the room.

Then Jesus shows up.

He doesn’t rebuke them.

He doesn’t shame them.

He says, “Peace be with you.”

Twice.

He shows them His wounds—proof that the same Jesus (fully human) who was crucified now stands alive before them. (Fully alive)

Then He breathes on them and gives them the Holy Spirit. (Fully divine) And only after He gives them peace does He give them purpose:

“As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.”

Jesus never sends fearful disciples.

He sends peaceful ones.

Peace always precedes mission.

When Jesus shows up, grief does not get the final word.

⸻

III. Jesus Appears to Doubting Thomas (John 20:24–29)

Thomas isn’t there the first time.

When the others tell him they’ve seen the Lord, he refuses to believe. He wants more than words. He wants proof.

And Jesus does not reject him for that.

A week later, Jesus shows up again. This time, Thomas is there.

Jesus invites him to examine the wounds. To see. To touch.

And Thomas responds with the strongest confession in the entire Gospel:

“My Lord and my God!”

The doubter becomes a worshiper.

But Thomas’s story doesn’t end in John 20.

Church history tells us that Thomas carried the gospel east—into Persia and India—boldly proclaiming the risen Christ. According to early tradition preserved in Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, Thomas was eventually pierced with spears and killed for his faith.

The man who once doubted died a witness.

The ultimate evidence that Thomas truly believed wasn’t just his confession—it was his faithfulness to the end.

⸻

TRANSITION — John 20:29–31

At this point, John steps forward and tells us exactly why he wrote this Gospel.

Jesus says, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

John recognizes that this is where we enter the story.

  • Some believed because they saw.

  • We believe because of their testimony.

John then tells us that Jesus did many other signs—far more than he recorded. This Gospel is selective, not exhaustive.

And then John gives his purpose statement:

“These are written that you may believe…”

That Jesus is the Christ—Messiah, King, Lord.

That Jesus is the Son of God—fully divine.

And that by believing, you may have life in His name.

Jesus truly lived.

Truly died.

Was buried.

And rose again—bringing abundant and eternal life.

John wants belief to lead to life—Life lived like his was: Sent.

⸻

IV. What Happens When Jesus Shows Up?

We see a clear pattern throughout the chapter.

People move from grief, fear, and doubt…

  • to seeing and believing…

  • to peace and joy…

  • to awe, worship, and a desire to live sent.

Belief in John’s Gospel is never merely intellectual—it is embodied trust.

Peace is not the absence of trouble.

Peace is the presence of the risen Christ.

And Jesus always gives peace before He gives purpose.

⸻

CONCLUSION

So what happens when Jesus shows up?

He replaces grief, fear, and doubt with peace—and a willingness to live sent.

Peace always precedes mission.

When Jesus shows up, grief does not get the final word.

That’s what He did for Mary.

For the disciples.

For Thomas.

That’s what He did for me in Detroit.

And He still does it today.

So let me ask you:

Are you in the middle of a crisis of belief?

Are you carrying grief right now?

Are you living with fear about the future?

Are you struggling with doubt?

Jesus sees you.

Jesus knows.

Jesus cares.

And Jesus is able.

Are you paying attention?

Will you recognize Him when He shows up?

What happens when Jesus shows up?

I hope you’ll be ready to tell that story too.

INVITATION

What about you?

Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.

Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)

Pray

NOTES

The 4 G's

God is great. Therefore, we don't have to be in control, for God is able.

God is gracious. Therefore, we don't have to prove ourselves to other people, for God loves us just as we are.

God is good. Therefore, we don't have to find satisfaction anywhere else. For God is more than enough for me.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. What do I want them to know?

  2. Why do I want them to know it?

  3. What do I want them to do?

  4. Why do I want them to do it?

  5. How do they do this?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh Wredberg

The Gospels & Epistles of John, FF Bruce

John, RC Sproul

John, Köstenberger

The Gospel According to John, DA Carson

Let's Study John, Mark Johnston

The Light Has Come, Leslie Newbigin (TLHC)

The Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner (TVW)

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee (TTB)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

Nicky Gumbel bible reading plan app or via YouVersion

ChatGPT AI

John Foxe, Foxe's Book of Martyrs (FBOM)

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipDarien Gabriel, Ladson, SC, Grace Christian Fellowship, non-denominational church, bible-believing church, John, Signs and Glory, God Shows Up
Why Obey God in Uncertain Times? | John 19:28-42 | Darien Gabriel
Why Obey God in Uncertain Times? | John 19:28-42 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: Why Obey God in Uncertain Times?

Scripture: 📖 John 19:28-42

Preacher: Darien Roger Gabriel

Bottom Line: Obedience doesn't depend on knowing the future. Obedience depends on knowing the One who knows the future.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. 📖 SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  7. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  8. 🎥 YOUTUBE DESCRIPTION

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

Opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

A graduated from college with a civil engineering degree in December of 1987. I began working with a civil engineering consulting firm (KHA) and immediately realized I was on an All-Star team--but I was only a bench warmer in ability.

I graduated with a BS in civil engineering with a C average--the players on this team, in this company, were A students with masters degrees in civil engineering or business.

I struggled for the first 3 to 4 years. Many times I would go home to Anita and say I don't know that I can hack this or if this is what I really wanna do. I was always wrestling with the temptation of "the grass is greener over there" syndrome so each time I would say, "Well I guess I'll give it another year" and I would.

Around year four several good things-positive things-happened to me. First, I passed the PE exam.

Second I was transferred interoffice to work for a friend of mine who was a great mentor to me. I began to thrive under his leadership.

The third thing, I was asked to help pursue a project in the Tampa area of Florida and we won the project. As a result of winning the project, I got my first project to lead. Long story short things were coming together finally.

Ironically, about that time, I got a nudge to reconsider my career choice. But this time it was when things were going good. In response to a companywide memo sent to every employee in the company from the new president of the company, we were each asked to answer the question, "What do we have a burning desire to do or what is my passion." Assuming he wanted a company man answer I gave him one. But God used that memo to provoke me to answer that question more honestly.

That day I went home and said to Anita that I don't think I'm supposed to do this long-term. It was the first time I was saying that when things were going well. It was also the first time she said, "OK I'm ready."

The rest is history. We worked a one year plan and 13 months later we were at seminary beginning my schooling for a new career in full-time ministry.

The reason I share that story with you is because I got to a place--a fork in the road, if you will,--where I had to make a decision to obey, trust and follow...or not.

You see, I believe God was calling me into the full-time ministry at that point. I had a choice, obey and change careers and walk away from all the schooling and experience (and money)I had in any civil engineering. Or disobey. I didn't know the future. I didn't know how it was gonna play out. There were lots of questions and fears and doubts. But I didn't base my obedience based on what I knew about what. I did or didn't know about the future. I based my obedience on the One I know, knows the future, because I trust Him.

This is the point I want to make today. This is what the sermon is all about. We're going see two men who didn't know the future either but chose to trust and obey anyway. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus both were secret Christians who came out of the dark into the light in the wake of the cross of Christ. When they had the most to lose, they stood willfully in the light and revealed themselves as followers of Jesus. They stand as great examples of those who will obey God, even though we don't know the future or even if it seems risky.

CONTEXT

It's the day Christ dies on the cross. We pick it up with Jesus dying and then being buried. It's a dark time in the history of the world.

SERMON OUTLINE

I. "It is finished" 19:28-30

Here we see Jesus say it's finished. Not just he's dead but it's completed. The debt of sin has been paid in full. It's what we want to see stamped on our mortgage paperwork so we never have to make another house payment again.

So what?

God keeps his word down to the littlest details. Fulfilled prophecy shows up again right here. "I am thirsty." (Ps 69:21)

The work is finished.

  • Sin is paid for

  • Judgment satisfied

  • Scripture fulfilled

  • Redemption complete

Christianity isn't about what must be done for God. It's about what has already been done by Christ for us.

II. More scripture fulfilled 19:31-37

"Not one of his bones will be broken" cf. Exodus 12:46 which says that the Passover lamb must not have any broken bones. Jesus is the lamb that the Passover lambs were pointing to.

"They will look upon the one they have pierced." Zechariah 12:10 mentions this.

So what?

  • God is in control even in the smallest details even when it seems like he isn't

  • Jesus is the true Passover lamb

  • Salvation is finished--but our response is still required

  • you can trust God when things look out of control

III. Secret disciples from dark to light 19:38-42

Both have a lot to lose coming into the light

  • They will likely lose their position in the Sanhedrin. Therefore they will lose financially, religiously, and socially.

  • They will could lose their lives being that they follow someone crucified for sedition and blasphemy going against Rome and the Jewish leadership respectively

  • Did they know the future? No. Even if they knew and believed that Jesus would be resurrected, they didn't know how that would impact them even in general terms, though it likely wouldn't go well.

So what?

They stepped out obediently by faith despite not knowing the future except that doing so would be extremely risky. This is what God calls us to do each day.

INVITATION

What about you?

Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.

Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)

Pray

NOTES

The 4 G's

God is great. Therefore, we don't have to be in control, for God is able.

God is gracious. Therefore, we don't have to prove ourselves to other people, for God loves us just as we are.

God is good. Therefore, we don't have to find satisfaction anywhere else. For God is more than enough for me.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. What do I want them to know?

  2. Why do I want them to know it?

  3. What do I want them to do?

  4. Why do I want them to do it?

  5. How do they do this?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh Wredberg

The Gospels & Epistles of John, FF Bruce

John, RC Sproul

John, Köstenberger

The Gospel According to John, DA Carson

Let's Study John, Mark Johnston

The Light Has Come, Leslie Newbigin (TLHC)

The Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner (TVW)

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee (TTB)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

Nicky Gumbel bible reading plan app or via YouVersion

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipLadson, SC, John, Signs and Glory, non denominational church, bible-believing church, Darien Gabriel, why obey God, Grace Christian Fellowship
Why the Cross Matters at Christmas | John 19:1-27 | Darien Gabriel
Why the Cross Matters at Christmas | John 19:1-27 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: Why the cross matters at Christmas

Scripture: 📖 John 19:1-27

Galatians 2:20

John 18:37

Preacher: Darien Roger Gabriel

Bottom Line: "The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. 📖 SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  7. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  8. 🎥 YOUTUBE DESCRIPTION

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

Opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

Hard seasons for us:

Grandparents funeral as a kid.

Break-ups in high school, college.

Divorce of my parents.

Failure at work; crisis of faith in my career choice.

Calling out of engineering into the ministry.

Children.

4 month old daughter in the hospital.

Marriage challenges.

Car accidents.

Death of my father.

Near death of my mother.

Accident Christmas 3 years ago.

To varying degrees, these have all been crises of faith for me. And while it was not always conscious on my part, my faith in Christ carried me through every one of them.

The one that it carried me through most intentionally was my father's death and funeral services. Because I had to process those quickly enough to speak at both funeral services.

Death is a spiritual sucker punch. You know it's coming but you don't know exactly when it's coming or how it will land...until it does.

When you get sucker-punched, what will you turn to? What will help explain the pain and meaning in life?

I believe it was my faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul put it this way:

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2‬:‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This is what carried me through some dark days.

It can carry you too...if you let it. If you let HIM.

Let's see how.

CONTEXT

At this point in the life of Jesus, he's looking at the cross full-on. It's the first Good Friday, if you will. He's about to die physically, yes. But he's also about to take on the sins of the world. He's about to take on all of my sin (past, present, future) and your sin. And it will kill him and separate him from fellowship with his Father which he's had for all eternity and will never lose again.

SERMON OUTLINE

““You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.””

‭‭John‬ ‭18‬:‭37‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Bottom Line

“The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

The Heart of the Sermon

Christmas only makes sense when viewed through the cross.

Jesus is not simply born to inspire us—

He is born to give Himself.

In John 19, Jesus is crowned, judged, rejected, and lifted up as King.

Not on a throne—but on a cross.

And that kingship explains everything about Christmas.

Simple Movement of the Text

1. Jesus Is Revealed as King (John 19:1–5)

Mocked, beaten, crowned with thorns—

Yet He stands silent, sovereign, unthreatened.

This is what God’s glory looks like.

2. Jesus Is Rejected by the World (John 19:6–16)

Pilate knows the truth but lacks the courage to live by it.

The crowd chooses Caesar over Christ.

Kingship is denied—but not undone.

3. Jesus Is Declared King for All to See (John 19:17–22)

The sign above the cross tells the truth even when no one wants it to.

God writes His verdict where no one can erase it.

Why This Matters at Christmas

Jesus did not come simply to be admired in a manger.

He came to be given on a cross.

That’s why Galatians 2:20 belongs here:

• Christmas answers who Jesus is

• The cross answers why He came

• Faith answers how we now live

Closing Truth

The question of Christmas is not:

Do you believe Jesus was born?

It is:

Will you live the life He died to give you?

Because the King born at Christmas

is the King who loved you

and gave Himself for you.

CONCLUSION

So why does the cross matter at Christmas? Because it matters all the time--even when we celebrate the birth of the Christ child. Especially when we celebrate the Christ child--the one who made it all possible.

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2‬:‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Notice the second part of the verse. "The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

That is what carries me through the darkest days.

That is what can carry you through your darkest days.

INVITATION

What about you?

Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.

Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)

Pray

NOTES

In light of John 18:37, this is a Christmas, Good Friday and Easter verse all in one.

As has been said, ‘Observe the postage stamp; its usefulness depends on the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there.’

The 4 G's

God is great. Therefore, we don't have to be in control, for God is able.

God is gracious. Therefore, we don't have to prove ourselves to other people, for God loves us just as we are.

God is good. Therefore, we don't have to find satisfaction anywhere else. For God is more than enough for me.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. What do I want them to know?

  2. Why do I want them to know it?

  3. What do I want them to do?

  4. Why do I want them to do it?

  5. How do they do this?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

🎥 YouTube Description

Series: Signs & Glory

Sermon Title: Forget the Reason, Misuse the Season

Scripture: 📖 John 18:37

Preacher: Darien Roger Gabriel

Every Christmas we hear the phrase “the reason for the season.”

But what happens when we forget that reason?

In this Christmas Eve message from John 18:37, Jesus tells Pilate plainly why He was born: to testify to the truth. Christmas is not just about receiving a gift—it’s about being reshaped and sent by the gift.

Through a simple but sobering illustration, we’re reminded that good gifts misused can cause real harm. When we forget the purpose of Christmas, we don’t just misunderstand it—we misuse it.

Jesus is the gift God has given the world.

But how does receiving Him change our mission, our lives, and the way we live sent into the world?

Bottom Line: 👉 When we forget the reason, we misuse the season.

This message invites us to move beyond sentimentality and into faithful witness—listening to the voice of the King who was born, crucified, risen, and who now sends His people to live and share the truth.

📖 Scripture Reading

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

— John 18:37 (NIV)

🙏 Opening Prayer

Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in Him and leading others to do the same.

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If this message encouraged or challenged you, consider sharing it—and subscribe for more sermons from the Signs & Glory series through the Gospel of John.

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MAIN REFERENCES USED

“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh Wredberg

The Gospels & Epistles of John, FF Bruce

John, RC Sproul

John, Köstenberger

The Gospel According to John, DA Carson

Let's Study John, Mark Johnston

The Light Has Come, Leslie Newbigin (TLHC)

The Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner (TVW)

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee (TTB)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

Nicky Gumbel bible reading plan app or via YouVersion

ChatGPT AI

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipLadson, SC, Grace Christian Fellowship, Darien Gabriel, bible believing church, non-denominational church, Signs & Glory
Can God Still Use Me After I Fail? | John 18:15-27, 21:15-17 | Darien Gabriel
Can God Still Use Me After I Fail? | John 18:15-27, 21:15-17 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: Can God Still Use Me After I Fail?

Scripture: 📖 John 18:15-27; 21:15-17

Preacher: Darien Roger Gabriel

Bottom Line: Jesus restores Peter not just to relationship but to responsibility—because shepherding the flock is how Jesus continues His mission in the world.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. 📖 SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  7. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  8. 🎥 YOUTUBE DESCRIPTION

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

Opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

Illustration: Chuck Colson—The Question That Haunted Him

When Chuck Colson, one of President Nixon’s top advisors, was arrested during the Watergate scandal, he went from the Oval Office to a federal prison cell almost overnight.

Before he entered prison, he wrote in his journal:

“Everything I’ve built is gone.

My reputation is destroyed.

My family is ashamed.

And God can’t possibly use me now.”

He later said the most painful moment wasn’t the trial—

it was the first night in prison.

He sat alone in a cold cell, staring at concrete walls, and whispered the question that haunted him:

“Lord… is my life over?

Can You still use me after what I’ve done?”

That is the question of a man who has failed.

That is the question of a man who believes he is disqualified.

And that is the same question Peter carried after denying Jesus three times.

Colson thought his future was finished.

But God met him in prison with grace, forgiveness, and a new mission.

When he was released, he founded Prison Fellowship, which today is the largest prison ministry in the world—impacting thousands of inmates and families with the gospel.

He said near the end of his life:

“My greatest failure became God’s greatest assignment.”

Bottom Line: Jesus restores Peter not just to relationship but to responsibility—because shepherding the flock is how Jesus continues His mission in the world.

CONTEXT

It's the night before the cross. The last supper has passed. The betrayal has happened in Jesus and his disciples are separated. Jesus is being interrogated, and Peter awaits outside by the fire.

Bottom Line: Jesus restores Peter not just to relationship but to responsibility—because shepherding the flock is how Jesus continues His mission in the world.

SERMON OUTLINE (with help from ChatGPT and Kent Hughes)

I. PETER’S FAILURE AND JESUS’ GRACE (John 18:15–27; 21:9–14)

A. The charcoal fire of denial

• Night, cold, fear

• Standing with the wrong crowd

• “I am not” vs. Jesus’ “I AM”

B. The charcoal fire of restoration

• Morning, warmth, grace

• Jesus initiates breakfast and fellowship

• Grace confronts the place of failure

Key idea: Jesus breaks Peter to heal Peter, not to shame him.

II. JESUS RESTORES PETER TO A SHEPHERDING MISSION (John 21:15–17)

(Each “Do you love Me?” is followed by a mission task.)

This is the heart of the text.

III. THE FIVE SHEPHERDING TASKS JESUS CALLS PETER (AND US) TO

These reflect Jesus’ own mission in John:

1. Calling the Flock

“Do you love Me?” → “Feed my lambs.”

• Shepherds help others recognize Jesus’ voice (John 10:3–4).

• Jesus calls Peter to invite, gather, initiate discipleship with those who are young in the faith.

Application:

We call people to Jesus out of love for Jesus, not guilt or pressure.

2. Feeding the Flock

“Feed my lambs… feed my sheep.”

• Feeding = teaching truth, giving spiritual nourishment (John 6:35; 8:31–32).

• A church can’t thrive without a steady diet of Jesus’ words.

Application:

We teach the Word—at home, in groups, in relationships—because sheep starve without it.

3. Leading the Flock

“Shepherd my sheep.” (poimaínō)

• Shepherding includes guiding, setting direction, helping people follow Jesus.

• Jesus led His disciples toward obedience, mission, service, and sacrifice.

Application:

Leadership in the church is never about control, but direction toward Jesus.

4. Protecting the Flock

(Implied in poimaínō + the contrast with wolves in John 10.)

• Shepherds guard the sheep against false teaching, spiritual danger, sin patterns, and discouragement.

• Love protects (John 10:12–13).

Application:

Shepherding means stepping in, warning, correcting, and caring.

5. Gathering the Flock

Echo of John 10:16 — “I have other sheep… I must bring them also.”

• Shepherding isn’t only nurture; it’s mission.

• Jesus is still gathering sheep through the shepherding of His people.

Application:

Mission flows from shepherding—a healthy, discipled church becomes a reproducing church.

IV. WHY SHEPHERDING ADVANCES JESUS’ MISSION

Tie in John 20:21 and John 17.

A. Jesus’ mission was shepherding people into life.

B. Peter continues Jesus’ mission by shepherding His church.

C. The church continues Jesus’ mission when we shepherd one another.

Love leads to shepherding; shepherding leads to mission.

V. JESUS’ RESTORATION OF PETER IS OUR STORY (APPLICATION)

A. Jesus restores failures—not to sidelines, but to service.

Your past doesn’t disqualify you; it becomes the place of commissioning.

B. Love for Jesus expresses itself in care for His people.

Not talk, not sentiment—but shepherding.

C. Every Christian is called to shepherd someone.

• Parents shepherd children

• Mentors shepherd younger believers

• Groups shepherd one another

• Leaders shepherd the church

• The church shepherds the city

CONCLUSION

Return to the two fires:

• The first represents what we break.

• The second represents what Jesus builds.

And Jesus still asks:

“Do you love Me?”

Then shepherd My people.

Because that’s how My mission moves forward.”

Bottom Line: Jesus restores Peter not just to relationship but to responsibility—because shepherding the flock is how Jesus continues His mission in the world.

INVITATION

What about you?

Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.

Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)

Pray

NOTES

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. What do I want them to know?

  2. Why do I want them to know it?

  3. What do I want them to do?

  4. Why do I want them to do it?

  5. How do they do this?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

🎥 YOUTUBE DESCRIPTION

Title: Can God Still Use Me After I Fail?

Passages: John 18:15–27; John 21:15–17

Speaker: Pastor Darien Gabriel

Grace Christian Fellowship — Charleston, SC

Failure isn’t the end of your story. In today’s message, we look at one of the most dramatic collapses and one of the most beautiful comebacks in the Bible—the story of Peter.

In John 18, Peter denies Jesus three times. Fear, shame, and pressure overwhelm him.

In John 21, the resurrected Jesus meets Peter—not with condemnation—but with restoration, recommissioning, and a renewed call to shepherd God’s people.

If you’ve ever wondered:

  • Can God still use me after I fail?

  • Does Jesus still want me—after I blew it?

  • Is my calling gone?

Peter’s story gives hope. Jesus isn’t finished with you. He restores us, recommissions us, and invites us back into His mission.

Main Themes:

• Failure doesn’t disqualify you

• Jesus pursues and restores broken disciples

• Shepherding is the heart of following Jesus

• Restoration leads to renewed mission

Whether you’re exploring faith, returning after a fall, or seeking fresh encouragement, this message will help you see Jesus’ grace in a whole new way.

👇 Chapters

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📍 Ladson / Charleston, SC

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MAIN REFERENCES USED

“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh Wredberg

The Gospels & Epistles of John, FF Bruce

John, RC Sproul

John, Köstenberger

The Gospel According to John, DA Carson

Let's Study John, Mark Johnston

The Light Has Come, Leslie Newbigin (TLHC)

The Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner (TVW)

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee (TTB)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

Nicky Gumbel bible reading plan app or via YouVersion

ChatGPT AI

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipDarien Gabriel, Ladson, SC, 29456, Signs and Glory, John 18, non-denominational church, bible-believing church
Why Does Jesus Lead Us Into Dark Places? | John 18:1-14 | Darien Gabriel
Why Does Jesus Lead Us Into Dark Places? | John 18:1-14 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: Why does Jesus lead us into dark places?

Scripture: 📖 John 18:1-14 NIV

Preacher: Darien Roger Gabriel

Bottom Line: Jesus is fully in control even when everything looks out of control. Our best response is FOLLOWING King Jesus over FIGHTing or FLEEing.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. 📖 SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  7. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  8. 🎥 YOUTUBE DESCRIPTION

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

Opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

"With the rise of global terrorism, world leaders have spoken a great deal about vanquishing evil.

But, as one writer in the *Guardian* pointed out, ‘Their rhetoric reveals a failure to accept that cruelty and conflict are basic human traits.’

As Albert Einstein said, ‘I do not fear the explosive power of the atom bomb. What I fear is the explosive power of *evil* in the human heart.'" -Nicky Gumbel

Dark evil in the human heart is why we have murder abortion, human trafficking, genocide, rape, betrayal, abandonment, terrorismand war.

Why does Jesus lead us into dark places when he could lead us to places that are less dark because those are the very places that need his light.

Light that exposes the truth and reveals reality for what it is. Light that speaks of a Hope that comes as light, life and love. And his name is Jesus.

BOTTOM LINE: Jesus is fully in control even when everything looks out of control. Our best response is FOLLOWING King Jesus over FIGHTing or FLEEing.

Our best response is to follow Jesus into our dark circumstances instead of fighting those circumstances or fleeing those circumstances. Let me show you where that comes from in this passage today.

CONTEXT

Jesus is now moving from active obedience to passive (surrendered) obedience. But this doesn't mean he isn't still in control. He's choosing to drink from "the cup" of God's wrath out of love for his Father and compassion for us. This is the beginning of his deep drink of God's wrath for our sake and God's glory.

BOTTOM LINE: Jesus is fully in control even when everything looks out of control. Our best response is FOLLOWING King Jesus over FIGHTing or FLEEing.

The call of the passage is clear: Follow Jesus by surrendering to the Father’s will, even when it’s painful, confusing, or costly.

SERMON OUTLINE (with help from ChatGPT and several commentaries)

Why does Jesus lead us into dark places?

  • Because we’re in a war against the kingdom of darkness.

  • Because we, as children of light, are how Jesus rescues people from darkness.

⸻

1. Jesus Displays Sovereign Power and Authority in the Dark (vv. 1–9, 12–14)

What the text shows:

• He leads the disciples into the garden (18:1).

• He knows exactly what is coming (18:4).

• He steps forward, not backward (18:4).

• He declares “I AM,” and the soldiers fall (18:5–6). Strong winds (ultimate Monday night) and bright lights.

• He protects His disciples (“Let these men go”) (18:8).

• He submits to arrest not because He is overpowered but because He is obeying the Father’s plan (18:12).

• He is taken to Annas, yet remains the real authority in the room (18:13–14).

2. How We Respond in Dark Circumstances (vv. 10–11 + implied vv. 1–9)

A. Two wrong responses (the disciples):

1. Fight – Peter’s misguided zeal (vv. 10–11)

• He acts in fear, not faith.

• He tries to take control rather than trust God’s plan.

• “Put your sword away”—Jesus rebukes him.

2. Flight – the disciples’ fearful abandonment (implied v. 8; explicit in Synoptics)

• Jesus protects them… yet they still run.

• They panic and scatter in different directions.

• They trust their instincts, not their Savior.

B. One right response (Jesus):

3. Follow - by surrendering to the Father’s will

• “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” (v. 11)

• Jesus models the response His disciples fail to give.

CONCLUSION

“Imagine a father walking beside a railroad track with his three-year-old son. There is danger at hand, so the father holds the child’s hand. If the boy’s safety depends on the strength of his grasp on his father’s hand, he is in grave danger—he could lose his grip and wander into the path of a train. What keeps the child from destruction is not the boy’s grip on his father’s hand but the father’s grip on the child’s hand. That is what Jesus was asking the Father to do—to keep His grip on the disciples.” -Nicky Gumbel

What a great picture of why we can feel good about following Jesus into dark places. We trust him to hold on to us no matter what.

BOTTOM LINE: Jesus is fully in control even when everything looks out of control. Our best response is FOLLOWING King Jesus over FIGHTing or FLEEing.

INVITATION

What about you?

Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.

Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)

Pray

NOTES

When Jesus prays that believers “may be one,” He is asking the Father to create a deep, spiritual unity among His followers—a unity patterned after the perfect oneness of the Father and the Son. This unity is not primarily institutional or organizational; it is the supernatural, Spirit-given unity that flows from our shared union with Christ. Because we belong to Him, we belong to one another.

This oneness is:

1. Spiritual

Rooted in the new birth and the indwelling Spirit. All who are in Christ share one life, one love, and one purpose.

2. Relational

Marked by love, humility, forgiveness, and mutual care—the same love the Father and Son share.

3. Missional

This unity shows the watching world that Jesus truly came from God. Visible love among believers makes the invisible gospel credible.

In short:

“Being one in Christ” means sharing in the life, love, and mission of the Father and Son—so that the world sees Jesus through His people.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. What do I want them to know?

  2. Why do I want them to know it?

  3. What do I want them to do?

  4. Why do I want them to do it?

  5. How do they do this?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

🎥 YOUTUBE DESCRIPTION

Description:

What matters most to Jesus’ heart? In John 17, we overhear the Son of God praying—for His glory, for His disciples, and for every future believer. Just hours before the cross, Jesus prays that we would live for God’s glory, be sanctified by His truth, and be united in His love. This is the prayer that still shapes the world today.

Bottom Line: Jesus prayed for His glory, our sanctification, and our unity—so the world would know His love.

Chapters:

0:00 – Introduction

2:45 – Jesus Prays for His Glory (John 17:1–5)

10:20 – Jesus Prays for Our Sanctification (John 17:6–19)

19:45 – Jesus Prays for Our Unity (John 17:20–26)

28:50 – How We Live as the Answer to Jesus’ Prayer

YOUTUBE DESCRIPTION

📖 Sermon Title: Why Can You Trust Jesus Even When Life Goes Dark?

🕊️ Scripture: John 18:1–14

🎙️ Pastor Darien Gabriel | Grace Christian Fellowship

When Jesus enters the Garden of Gethsemane, everything around Him looks out of control—an armed mob approaches, Judas betrays Him, and His closest disciples fall apart in panic. Yet John shows us something stunning: Jesus is the only one who remains calm, composed, and completely in control.

In this message, we look at how Jesus displays sovereign power in the darkness and how His followers often respond with fight, flight, or faithful surrender. When life gets confusing, frightening, or heartbreaking, this passage answers one core question:

Why can you trust Jesus even when your world feels like it’s falling apart?

Whether you’re facing uncertainty, fear, or the weight of difficult circumstances, this passage offers hope and courage for anyone learning to follow Jesus in the dark.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

  • Jesus’ arrest wasn’t an accident—He leads the moment.

  • Peter fights, the disciples flee, but Jesus faithfully follows the Father’s will.

  • When life gets dark, we can trust Jesus because He never loses control.

If this message encourages you, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for weekly sermons and teaching from GCF.

If you want a shorter or more SEO-optimized version, I can craft that too.

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh Wredberg

The Gospels & Epistles of John, FF Bruce

John, RC Sproul

John, Köstenberger

The Gospel According to John, DA Carson

Let's Study John, Mark Johnston

The Light Has Come, Leslie Newbigin (TLHC)

The Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner (TVW)

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee (TTB)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

Nicky Gumbel bible reading plan app or via YouVersion

ChatGPT AI

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipGrace Christian Fellowship, Bible believing church, Ladson, SC, Darien Gabriel, John
How Does Jesus' Prayer Still Shape the World Today? Part 2 | John 17:20-26 | Darien Gabriel
How Does Jesus' Prayer Still Shape the World Today? Part 2 | John 17:20-26 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: Part 2: How Does Jesus’ Prayer Still Shape the World Today?

Scripture: 📖 John 17:20-26 NIV

Genesis 11:1-7

Preacher: Darien Roger Gabriel

Bottom Line: Jesus’ prayer shapes the world today by forming a unified, loved, and mission-driven people who embody His presence in the world.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. 📖 SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  7. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  8. 🎥 YOUTUBE DESCRIPTION

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

Opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

Bottom Line: Jesus’ prayer shapes the world today by forming a unified, loved, and mission-driven people who embody His presence in the world.

INTRODUCTION

There's something powerful when a group of people are unified in their commitment to the vision and values of their organization.

When a college football team buys into their coaches vision, value, and philosophy, they can be very successful for a long time. We've seen this in college basketball, not to mention other sports.

The US Army has a slogan, "An Army of One." I love that. They share a common mission and values. And they train accordingly.

The Bible even has a powerful example of this in Genesis 11:1-7.

Now imagine what would happen if God supernaturally united his people around his purpose, mission and love.

Pastor Kent Hughes writes:

"Christian unity is supernatural because it comes from God's nature and is only experienced in its fullness as we draw close to him: "That they may be one even as we are one."

That unity, though, does not mean uniformity in everything. In the Trinity there exists a unity in diversity-three distinct Persons, yet they are one.

Suppose, for a moment, that we could bring some of the great Christians of the centuries together under one roof. From the fourth century would come the great intellect Augustine of Hippo. From the tenth century, Bernard of Clairvaux. From the sixteenth, the peerless reformer John Calvin. From the seventeenth century would come John Wesley, the great Methodist advocate of free will, and along with him George Whitefield, the evangelist. From the nineteenth century, the Baptist C. H. Spurgeon and D. L. Moody. And, finally, from the twentieth century, Billy Graham.

If we gathered all these men under one steeple, we would have trouble!

We would be unable to get a unanimous vote on many things. But underneath it all would be unity. And the more the men lifted up Christ and the more they focused on him, the greater their unity would be. There would be unity amid a great diversity of style and opinion.

Christ's prayer for unity does not mean we all should be the same, though many Christians mistakenly assume that. Too many think other believers should be just like them-carry the same Bible, read the same books, promote the same styles, educate their children in the same way, have the same likes and dislikes. That would be uniformity, not unity. We are not called to be Christian clones. In fact, the insistence that others be just like us is one of the most disunifying forces in the church of Jesus Christ. It engenders a judgmental inflexibility that hurls people away from the church with deadly force. One of the gospel's glories is that it hallows our individuality even while bringing us into unity. Unity without uniformity is implicit in Paul's teaching on spiritual gifts." - Hughes, pp. 412-413

Bottom Line: Jesus’ prayer shapes the world today by forming a unified, loved, and mission-driven people who embody His presence in the world.

Let’s listen in on the most powerful prayer ever prayed—and see how it still shapes our world today.

CONTEXT

• This is Jesus’ final recorded prayer before His arrest—called the High Priestly Prayer.

• It concludes His upper room teaching (John 13–17).

• The cross is just hours away.

• Jesus prays for the Father’s glory, the disciples’ protection and holiness, and the church’s unity—all for the sake of the world.

A Lutheran theologian coined this the Lord's high priestly prayer because Jesus both "consecrates himself for the sacrifice in which he is simultaneously both priest and the victim." (Bruce)

SERMON OUTLINE (with help from ChatGPT & Matt Carter)

I. United...(20-21a)

    • Past and present disciples

    • Around "Their message" aka the Gospel; Ex. Found in the Bible Ex. "The Message" paraphrase

    • That we may be one just as we see in the Triune God

      • 1 God

      • 3 Persons unified but also diverse in role and rank

    • Displays Jesus' body or people or way to a wandering world

    • The Church is A Photograph

      • "The church is the visible display of God's goodness to this world. Each local church is the visible display of God's kindness to its community. We don't have any photographs of Jesus. The church is the photograph. The church is the picture of his love and mercy. There's a picture frame around each church and a sign above us that says, "Come, see what God is like."" Matt Carter, p. 349

II. Loved...(22, 24, 26) "To be with me"-- Abiding in Christ; Christ in me/me in Christ like Christ in the Father and the Father in Christ

    • Jesus gave them (and us through them) his glory

    • Transfiguration was a sneak peak as was the resurrection

    • Also demonstrated his power, love, truth and holiness for 3 years

    • His love most demonstrated on the cross

    • His "desire" is to be with us and us with him; to know and be known

    • Heaven is not as much a place as it is a person.

      • Long-distance relationships are hard because we're not together

      • We do what we need to do to be together; it almost doesn't matter where as long as we're together

      • Heaven is the place but what really matters is that we're together

    • And to share more of his glory in the future forever

    • Glory he received because of the Father's love for Jesus and is why Jesus shows it to us

    • Love is the bottom line reason

    • Do you love your neighbor as you love yourself?

    • Do you love your brothers and sisters in Christ sacrificially?

    • Jesus made the Father known to his followers (and will continue to) so that the love the Father has for Jesus may be in us and that Jesus may be in/with us forever

III. Mission-driven people,

    • Why does it matter that the world know God sent Jesus? Because that's when they will believe that Jesus died for them so that they will live for him

    • Jesus revealed God to us

    • Jesus continues to reveal God to us through his spirit

    • We're to reveal God to others like the moon reflects the sun rays to earth; it looks like the source of moonlight but it's not

    • Why? Because he loves us as the Father loves him

    • We are here as Christ-followers because others shared and passed on the love, truth, holiness and message of Jesus.

      • Do you realize that?

    • We are still here because Jesus wants to continue to pass this on to others...through you and me.

      • Do you realize that? Are you on board with that?

    • Jesus' antidote to worry was being mission-driven motivated by love.

      • "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33 NIV

    • Our mission unifies us.

      • A coach of our ultimate frisbee team shared this at our debrief at the end of practice this week:

        • Illustration: A symphony—different instruments, one beautiful sound under one conductor. A symphony—different instruments, one beautiful sound under one conductor.

IV. Who embody His presence in the world. (21b, 23b)

    • The NT tells us that we are "the body of Christ."

      • That means that while they cannot see him like the 12 did, the world can still see Jesus in us.

      • He is most visible when we love one another in unity of mission, truth, holiness and love.

      • Our unity is a witness to the world.

      • He is the head--we are the body. When we are in sync with him, we will be in sync with one another.

    • When we are unified it will be around the things that matter most.

      • The secondary and tertiary things will not matter as much.

      • When we abide in Christ, we will not let those disagreements matter too much.

    • Illustration: The most important rule in Ultimate Frisbee is called the Spirit of the Game rule. It states: "

“Spirit of the Game is a set of principles which places the responsibility for fair play on the player. Highly competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of mutual respect among competitors, adherence to the agreed upon rules, or the basic joy of play.” USAultimate.org

    • This is how we're to view God's most important law--the law of love. Christ-like love. Sacrificial, unconditional love. The only debt we're to really have. The debt to love our neighbors as ourselves and to love each other as Christ loved us. This is The Way. Imagine if everyone at GCF would do this, not perfectly, but, consistently. We'd change this city.

If you've seen a military documentary, then you can probably picture scenes where battalions of soldiers line up, all wearing matching uni-forms, all standing the same way. They are faceless, nameless, and opinionless, but they're uniform. Some believe the church should be a battalion of nondescript soldiers ready to assault the world. This often happens when a leader demands everyone think like he thinks. He often uses the pulpit to bully people into his positions. He's trying to create good soldiers who think, look, and act just like him." -Matt Carter, p. 344   

At the same time, we all have a uniform as well and that is the robes of righteousness that we wear in Jesus. So we actually do wear a uniform of sorts and I think that unifies us it reminds us that we're unique and in his kingdom.

"As John Stott has pointed out, the unity enjoined here is not only a unity among present believers, but a unity with the apostolic church and its teach-ing. Christ says in verse 20:

I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.

Stott goes on:

It is first and foremost a prayer that there may be a historical continuity between the church of the first century and the church of subsequent cen-turies; that the church's faith may not change but remain recognizably the same; that the church of every age may merit the title "apostolic" because it is loyal to the teaching of the apostles.?

The unity for which the Savior prays is a unity that comes from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and grows as we draw nearer to God by being..." Hughes

Application: Our unity in love is God’s greatest apologetic—it shows the world who Jesus really is.

CONCLUSION

Illustration: A broken mirror--each shard reflects only part of the image. And we are broken shards. But when the pieces come together, the reflection becomes whole again. The Church's unity reflects Christ's full image to a watching world.

Jesus ends where he started. He came to show us his glory: his holiness, truth and love. That was his mission. Now he's handing it off to his must trusting disciples to carry-on where he left off. He leaves them equipped and trained. He leaves them with this Holy Spirit so that they are empowered and protected. He leaves them with his word so that they will remember what unifies us without getting off message.

Bottom Line: Jesus’ prayer shapes the world today by forming a unified, loved, and mission-driven people who embody His presence in the world.

INVITATION

What about you?

Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.

Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)

Pray

NOTES

Quote

“If we are distracted from real-time connection with the mercies of God, so that our hearts grow cold and our mouths become reckless and our eyes wayward and our feet wandering, we are only one misstep away from life-shattering catastrophe.  We do not have to give ourselves to raw evil to end up there; we only have to unguard our hearts, we only have to stop being vigilant.  Every one of us is always five minutes away from total disaster.  But if we are receiving by faith the outpouring of Christ’s love in constant supply from his Throne of Grace, we cannot lose our way.”—Ray Ortlund

"Jacques Ellul, the French sociologist, in his book The Meaning of the City, says the driving force behind ancient history was the desire to come together and advance in the face of this disunity. Thus the rise of the city.

However, he points out, with the formation of cities came the practice of laying the foundation stone on the body of a human sacrifice, a practice, he maintains, we moderns have replaced with the sacrifice of millions of souls?

The world's attempts to come together without God are always at the expense of human life." Hughes

I thought this was a good picture of how God works, and how we respond to his work freely, but dependently:

"The disciples were responsible to believe, but even their belief was the result of what God said and did.

Let's say you showed up to church one morning with your beautiful, ten-month old baby, dropped him off at the nursery, and headed in to the service. The nursery worker begins to talk to your ten-month-old.

"You look so nice. Did you take a bath this morning?" He nods his head yes. "It looks like you're full. Did you eat a yummy breakfast?" Once again, he nods his head yes. "I love your outfit. Did you get dressed in your nice clothes?" Again he answers yes. So he has answered yes to all three questions. He took a bath, he ate breakfast, and he got dressed.

But that's not the whole picture. As his parent, you drew the bathwater, lathered him with soap, and rinsed him off. You fixed breakfast, fed it to him, and cleaned up his mess. You washed his clothes, changed his diaper, and then got him dressed. It's true he took a bath, ate breakfast, and got dressed but only because of what you did. You did the work he couldn't do himself. He simply responded. God does the work of calling sinners to salvation. Our responsibility is to respond to what God does.

Let's summarize two principles from verses 6-11: God did the work.

Everything the disciples did was in response to what God had done. The disciples kept the word, but who gave them the word? God. The disciples believed on Jesus, but who sent Jesus? God. And behind all of this was God's choice of them and gift of them to the Son. God not only did the work, but God used his word. The way God brought them to faith was through his words. He didn't use visions or apparitions. He didn't open the heavens or rain down fire and brimstone. He created new life in the disciples simply through his words."

Matt Carter, pp. 338-339

John Knox

"John Knox, on his death-bed in 1572, asked his wife to read to him John 17, 'where' , he said, 'I cast my first anchor." And almost

his last words show how much his mind dwelt on this chapter, with its implications for 'the troubled church of God, the spouse of Jesus Christ, despised of the world but precious in his sight.* He clearly appreciated that the church's true life is lived on a higher plane than the turbulent political stage in which he had been so much involved and with which he was by now so thoroughly disillusioned"

That’s a great quote from F. F. Bruce, and it captures both John Knox’s turbulent life and the spiritual depth that marked his final days.

Here’s the background Bruce is referring to:

1. Knox’s early life and conversion.

John Knox (c. 1514–1572) was born in Scotland and originally trained as a Catholic priest and notary. In his thirties he was deeply influenced by the reformer George Wishart, whose preaching of salvation by faith in Christ alone cost him his life. Wishart’s martyrdom in 1546 marked Knox profoundly; soon afterward Knox openly embraced the Reformation and became a fiery preacher of the gospel.

2. Years of persecution and exile.

After the fall of the Protestant stronghold at St Andrews Castle, Knox was captured by French forces in 1547 and spent nearly nineteen months as a galley slave—a brutal experience that left him ill for the rest of his life. He was eventually released and went to England, where under Edward VI he served as a royal chaplain and helped shape the Protestant Church of England. When Mary Tudor (“Bloody Mary”) came to the throne, Knox fled to the Continent, spending several years in Geneva with John Calvin. There he found a model for what he later called “the most perfect school of Christ that ever was in the earth since the days of the apostles.”

3. Return to Scotland and political storms.

Knox returned to Scotland in 1559 and became the leading voice of the Scottish Reformation. His preaching and leadership were instrumental in overthrowing papal authority and establishing the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. But his ministry was constantly entangled with the intense political struggles of his time—especially his confrontations with Mary, Queen of Scots. He championed the sovereignty of God over kings, the authority of Scripture over tradition, and the independence of the church from civil control.

All this conflict took a toll. By the time of his death in 1572, Knox was weary and disillusioned with politics and with the divisions and corruption he still saw in Scotland’s church and government.

4. Why John 17 mattered so deeply to Knox.

On his deathbed he asked his wife to read John 17—the prayer where Jesus intercedes for His disciples and all believers, emphasizing their unity, sanctification, and eternal fellowship with Him. Knox said, “There I cast my first anchor.” That chapter had been his spiritual foundation from the beginning of his ministry, reminding him that the true church lives not by political triumphs but by Christ’s intercession.

Bruce’s comment highlights that contrast: after a life of public controversy and political entanglement, Knox’s mind rested on the heavenly reality of Christ’s prayer for His people—a church “despised of the world but precious in His sight.”

Would you like me to summarize how John 17 specifically connected to Knox’s theology of the church and his hope for Scotland?

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. What do I want them to know?

  2. Why do I want them to know it?

  3. What do I want them to do?

  4. Why do I want them to do it?

  5. How do they do this?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

🎥 YOUTUBE DESCRIPTION

Description:

What matters most to Jesus’ heart? In John 17, we overhear the Son of God praying—for His glory, for His disciples, and for every future believer. Just hours before the cross, Jesus prays that we would live for God’s glory, be sanctified by His truth, and be united in His love. This is the prayer that still shapes the world today.

Bottom Line: Jesus prayed for His glory, our sanctification, and our unity—so the world would know His love.

Chapters:

0:00 – Introduction

2:45 – Jesus Prays for His Glory (John 17:1–5)

10:20 – Jesus Prays for Our Sanctification (John 17:6–19)

19:45 – Jesus Prays for Our Unity (John 17:20–26)

28:50 – How We Live as the Answer to Jesus’ Prayer

Subscribe for more messages from the Signs & Glory series and other teachings from Grace Christian Fellowship.

🕊️ Watch, share, and join us as we learn to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in Him and leading others to do the same.

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh Wredberg

The Gospels & Epistles of John, FF Bruce

John, RC Sproul

John, Köstenberger

The Gospel According to John, DA Carson

Let's Study John, Mark Johnston

The Light Has Come, Leslie Newbigin (TLHC)

The Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner (TVW)

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee (TTB)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

Nicky Gumbel bible reading plan app or via YouVersion

ChatGPT AI

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipLadson, SC, Darien Gabriel, bible-believing church, non-denominational church, Signs & Glory, Jesus' prayer, John 17
Why It's Good that Jesus Went Away | John 16:5-15 | Darien Gabriel
Why It's Good that Jesus Went Away | John 16:5-15 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: Why it's good that Jesus went away

Scripture: 📖 John 16:5-15

Bottom Line: It's better that Jesus left his disciples when he did, because His Spirit continues and completes His work in qand through us.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. 📖 SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  7. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  8. 🎥 YOUTUBE DESCRIPTION

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

Opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

The Coach Who Steps Off the Field”

When Clemson football fans think about Dabo Swinney, they picture a passionate coach who seems everywhere at once — shouting encouragement, correcting mistakes, celebrating victories. But imagine if, before a national championship game, Coach Swinney told his team, “I won’t be on the sidelines today. I’m sending someone in my place — the spirit of what I’ve taught you.”

At first, players would panic. “Coach, we need you!” But what if that coach had spent years embedding his playbook, his mindset, his values into them? When he steps off the field, they finally step up. His spirit fills the team — and they play like him, think like him, and carry his mission forward.

That’s what Jesus is preparing His disciples for in John 16. He’s about to leave — not abandon them, but empower them. His leaving isn’t a setback; it’s a setup for the Spirit to come.

Or

“Chasing Relics of the Presence”

Throughout history, Christians have gone to great lengths to hold on to something physical that connects them to Jesus.

Pilgrims have traveled thousands of miles to see what’s believed to be a fragment of the True Cross, a splinter of the manger, a nail from the crucifixion, or even the Shroud of Turin.

Whether authentic or not, these relics reveal a deep longing: “If I could just be closer to something that touched Jesus, maybe I could feel closer to Him.”

That desire is understandable — who wouldn’t want to see or touch what He touched? But in John 16, Jesus says something astonishing: “It’s for your good that I’m going away.”

Why? Because He would send the Holy Spirit.

We don’t need a relic or a sacred site to be close to Christ. The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead now lives in us. What many travel the world to find, God has already placed within His people.

Bottom Line: It's better that Jesus left his disciples when he did, because His Spirit continues and completes His work in us and through us.

CONTEXT

Jesus continues to prepare his disciples for a mission way bigger than themselves. He's trying to help them shift their eyes from themselves and their personal circumstances to Jesus and his global mission that starts with him and he's passing along to them.

They haven't grasped yet all that the Holy Spirit brings to the table. But they will.

In vv. 4-5, Jesus says, "I have told you THIS, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you THIS from the beginning because I was with you, but now I am going to him who sent me." (Emphasis mine)

What is "THIS"?

THIS is him handing off his mission to them to do in the power of the Holy Spirit. THIS is his Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20). THIS is us being chosen to bear fruit that will last.

In summary, Jesus says to them:

1. I'm leaving,

2. People will hate you, and

3. You still need to tell them about Me.

But they aren't ready yet. They're consumed with how this will affect them.

SERMON OUTLINE (w/ help from ChatGPT)

Bottom Line: It's better that Jesus left his disciples when he did, because His Spirit continues and completes His work in us and through us.

Why it's good that Jesus went away:

I. The Advantage of Jesus’ Departure - we get another Advicate/Helper/Counselor (vv. 5–7)

• The disciples grieve His leaving, but Jesus says His departure is for their good.

• The Spirit cannot come unless He goes.

• Application: Sometimes what feels like loss is actually God preparing us for more.

Pyramids

"They're like the traveler who visits the pyramids in Egypt, turns his camera around to get a picture of himself in front of this wonder of the world, and when he gets home, he realizes all you can see in the picture is his face. He's completely blocked the focal point. The disciples are so focused on themselves they don't even ask Jesus where he's going." -Matt Carter

II. The Holy Spirit’s Work in the World (vv. 8–11)

• The Spirit convicts the world of three things:

1. Sin – because people don’t believe in Jesus.

2. Righteousness – because Jesus is vindicated as He returns to the Father.

3. Judgment – because the ruler of this world stands condemned.

• Application: The Spirit exposes falsehood, reveals true righteousness, and declares Satan’s defeat.

III. The Holy Spirit’s Work in Believers (vv. 12–15)

• The Spirit guides believers into all truth.

• The Spirit glorifies Jesus — He never points to Himself.

• The Spirit shares what belongs to the Son and the Father with us.

• Application: The Spirit keeps Jesus’ presence and power active in His people today.

Conclusion

Applications in summary:

  • Sometimes what feels like loss is actually God preparing us for more.

  • The Spirit exposes falsehood, reveals true righteousness, and declares Satan’s defeat.

  • The Spirit keeps Jesus’ presence and power active in His people today.

“The Power That Stayed Behind”

Thomas Edison was one of the most creative minds the world has ever seen. People called him the Wizard of Menlo Park because of the way his ideas seemed almost magical. He didn’t just invent things — he changed the way people lived. The light bulb, the phonograph, motion pictures — these weren’t just clever gadgets; they transformed daily life around the world.

But what made Edison truly remarkable wasn’t just his inventions — it was his spirit of relentless creativity. He failed thousands of times, but he never stopped experimenting, learning, and creating. He once said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

When Edison died, his lab assistants sealed a test tube containing what they believed was his final breath. They said it was “the breath of genius” — the last of his creative spirit. Of course, they couldn’t really capture what made him great. His creativity, his ideas, his influence — those couldn’t be sealed in glass. They lived on in the world he helped shape and in the people he inspired.

In the same way, when Jesus left this world, He didn’t leave us a relic or a memory. He left us His very breath — the Holy Spirit — the living presence of God Himself. Not sealed away in a museum, but alive in every believer. The same Spirit who empowered Jesus now empowers His people. That’s why it was good that He went away. His life, power, and presence didn’t end — they multiplied.

INVITATION

What about you?

Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.

Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)

Pray

NOTES

SERMON OUTLINE (w/ help from Matt Carter)

"A good mission statement shapes the priorities of a company and provides a great framework for decision making. If an employee understands the big picture--the mission of the organization--it places his small, daily actions in the context of a grander agenda. A clear mission gives purpose to the mundane. As Christians, what is our mission? Our mission revolves around the gospel. We have been chosen by Jesus to bear the fruit of the gospel in our lives and share the message of the gospel with our lips. We are here to continue the mission of Jesus by spreading the message of Jesus." -Matt Carter

At Grace CF,

Our purpose is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. This purpose never ends. It's why we were created.

Our mission is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and people as we love ourselves. This is the mission of every church. We do this until we go home.

We believe that the key task of our mission is to make disciples who make disciples around the corner and around the world.

Everything we do runs through this filter.

This is consistent with John 15:16 where Jesus tells his disciples, "You did not choose me but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will last."

This is another way of saying our mission as a church.

We express this mission with our lips and our lives.

I. The Disciples' Mission is Bigger Than Themselves (16:4b-6). What is "This" in 4b? In summary, 1. I'm leaving, 2. People will hate you, 3. You still need to tell them about Me.

A. He has not fully revealed his departure. (Death, burial, resurrection) He waited until Judas Iscariot left.

B. He has not fully revealed their mission. The way of the cross. How they will carry out this mission to the nations. This is WAY BIGGER than them! And it will consume their very lives!

C. He has not fully revealed the world's reaction to the Message. That the world hated him and will therefore hate and oppose them as well. They'll bear witness in the face of persecution and rejection.

II. The Disciples' Mission Requires Supernatural Help (16:7-15). It's good that Jesus is leaving. Only then will he send the Holy Spirit. And, in the context, the reason is to empower them (and us) to carry out the mission Jesus started with them.

John highlights two ways the Holy Spirit empowers them to carry out their mission:

A. The Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin (16:8-11). Of sin (9), righteousness...self-righteousness (10), that is...and judgment. (11)

      • When I visited Africa, I was invited to eat at the home of one of the local men. We sat in his backyard and ate a dinner of boiled yams and peanuts. At one point one of his daughters brought out a pitcher of water and began to pour us glasses. He stopped her, took my glass, and poured it out on the ground. She was doing her best to be kind to me, but her best wasn't good enough. He knew if I drank that water, I'd get sick. Her gift of water was a polluted offering.

      • God calls our best efforts to please him "polluted" (Isa 64:6). They're unacceptable. They're tainted by sin and will be poured out as worth-less. No one can come to God based on good works.

      • "The word translated 'convict' (8) has the goal of convincing a person to turn from his or her sin." -Carter

      • How does the Holy Spirit convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment? Through his disciples--agents of the Holy Spirit.

        • In John 15, Jesus tells his disciples to join him in his mission followed by his reminder that the Holy Spirit will bear witness through them.

        • In John 16, Jesus warns them of the opposition and persecution that they will face that will be so difficult they'll need the power of the Holy Spirit to bear witness in the midst of that.

        • In summary, "The Spirit convicts the world by empowering the disciples to bear witness about Jesus. The Spirit brings conviction to the world through the message of the disciples."  -Carter

        • Our role is to "faithfully bear witness to Jesus, and the role of the HOly S;Iris is to make that witness spiritually effective." - Carter

      • Maybe we don't realize that the Spirit's power is in you because we're not busy doing things that only he can accomplish. Things like:

        • Love people who are like you

        • Go to church

        • Go to home group or bible study

        • Give some money

      • Maybe try something that requires the Spirit's power like

        • Love someone antagonistic to the gospel

        • Be on call 24/7 for a person in need

        • Meet weekly with a brother or sister to help bear their burdens

        • Plead with your unbelieving friends or family to repent and believe

        • Give your hard-earned money when there's not much left

        • Move your family around the world for the sake of the gospel

      • We need the Holy Spirit to carry out his mission!

B. The Holy Spirit will guide the disciples into truth (16:12-15). "Jesus describes a mission that will take an entire lifetime and might require them to give their lives. He unfolds a new community unique in the way it lives together." -Carter

      • They have many questions. Jesus doesn't give them answers.

      • Jesus gives them a promise. The Holy Spirit will guide them (12-15). That's where their answers will come from.

      • The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Truth.

        • He only speaks the truth.

        • He only speaks what God wants spoken.

        • He passes the truth on to his disciples on mission with him.

        • He will guide his disciples with the truth that sets us free.

C. It's good that Jesus is leaving to go to work at his Father's side...

“It’s like a newly elected president saying on election night, ‘This is great — let’s just stay at the party forever.’ His supporters would respond, ‘No, you have to go to Washington — that’s where the real work begins!’ In the same way, Jesus had to go—not to a capital city, but to the right hand of God—so He could send His Spirit to us. His leaving wasn’t the end of His ministry; it was the beginning of ours.”

“All of us, even the most pious Christians among us, are overwhelmingly influenced by the cultural customs and conventions of the societies in which we live. It starts in school, where popularity means “being with it,” that is, being in line with the morality of the society, even if that morality includes things of which God does not approve. That’s what our innate struggle with sin is all about. We listen every day to the voices of the culture around us that tell us what’s politically correct and what isn’t, what is socially acceptable and what isn’t. Then, for a few minutes on Sunday morning, we hear the law of God. We know they don’t match up, but unless or until the Holy Spirit takes the law and pierces our souls with it and convicts us of sin, we don’t really pay attention to it.Real conversion is an experience of repentance and forgiveness before God. It is not merely praying a prayer, joining a Christian church, or receiving a sacrament. It is being brought to our knees by the conviction of God the Holy Spirit. The Spirit then convinces us of what true righteousness is and shows us we[…]”

Excerpt From

John - An Expositional Commentary

R.C. Sproul

This material may be protected by copyright.

“Just imagine if he were to say: “Hey, this is great. Let’s stay here. This celebration is so much fun, I don’t think I’ll ever go to Washington.” The candidate’s supporters would be sure to say: “Oh, yes, you will. That’s why we elected you. We want you in Washington to work for us.”Jesus was going to a much more important place than Washington. He was going to the right hand of God. It was far better for Him to go there than to stay in Jerusalem. There He would be in a position of power, and one of His first acts would be to send the Holy Spirit to minister to the disciples.”  -RC Sproul

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. What do I want them to know?

  2. Why do I want them to know it?

  3. What do I want them to do?

  4. Why do I want them to do it?

  5. How do they do this?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

🎥 YOUTUBE DESCRIPTION

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh Wredberg

The Gospels & Epistles of John, FF Bruce

John, RC Sproul

John, Köstenberger

The Gospel According to John, DA Carson

Let's Study John, Mark Johnston

The Light Has Come, Leslie Newbigin (TLHC)

The Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner (TVW)

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee (TTB)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

Nicky Gumbel bible reading plan app or via YouVersion

ChatGPT AI

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipDarien Gabriel, Ladson, SC, non-denominational church, bible-believing church, Grace Christian Fellowship, Signs and Glory, John, Jesus
What to do When You're Canceled for Being a Christian | John 15:18-16:4 | Darien Gabriel
What to do When You're Canceled for Being a Christian | John 15:18-16:4 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: What to Do When You’re Canceled for Being a Christian

Scripture: 📖 John 15:18-16:4 NIV

Cf. Matthew 10:16-25

Bottom Line: Because the world hated Jesus, it will also hate & oppose his followers. But the Holy Spirit empowers us to stand firm and bear witness in the face of persecution & rejection.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. 📖 SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  7. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  8. 🎥 YOUTUBE DESCRIPTION

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

Opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

“The Student Who Spoke Up”

A few years ago, a high school student in California stood up during a class discussion on morality. The teacher asked what determines right and wrong, and the student quietly said, “For me, I believe what Jesus teaches in the Bible.”

The class went silent. Then came laughter. Someone videoed it and posted it online. Comments poured in — “bigot,” “brainwashed,” “religious nut.”

The student didn’t argue back. He just said later, “It hurt, but I’d rather be known for following Jesus than for fitting in.”

We live in a world where you can be canceled just for believing what Jesus said.

That’s not new — Jesus told His disciples 2,000 years ago, “If the world hates you, remember it hated Me first.”

Transition: Jesus wasn’t shocked by this. He prepared His disciples for it. The night before His crucifixion, He told them what to do when the world turns against them.

So the question for us today is: What do we do when the world turns against us for following Jesus?

Bottom Line: Because the world hated Jesus, it will also hate & oppose his followers. But the Holy Spirit empowers us to stand firm and bear witness in the face of persecution & rejection.

CONTEXT

In the wake of teaching the disciples about the coming community of faith he was building in and through them, he warned them that the world would hate and oppose them because they hated and opposed him. This would rattle them but also prepare them from what was to come. This was why Jesus was telling them.

SERMON OUTLINE (w/ help from ChatGPT, Matt Carter, Hughes, Johnston)

What do we do when we're being canceled for following Jesus Christ?

1. Expect Opposition, Not Acceptance 📖 John 15:18–20

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first… If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”

➡️ Jesus prepares His followers by showing that persecution is not a sign of failure but of faithfulness. The world’s hatred is rooted in its rejection of Him.

2. Remember Your Identity and Mission 📖 John 15:19

“If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.”

➡️ Our calling and identity come from Jesus’ choice of us, not the world’s approval. This gives courage to stand firm when we’re misunderstood or opposed.

3. Rely on the Holy Spirit for Strength and Witness 📖 John 15:26–27

“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father… he will testify about me. And you also must testify.”

➡️ The Spirit empowers believers to bear witness even in hostile conditions. We are never alone in our suffering or mission.

4. Persevere in Faithfulness 📖 John 16:1–4

“All this I have told you so that you will not fall away… They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God.”

➡️ Jesus’ warning is meant to build resilience. Opposition will come—even from religious people—but forewarning strengthens faith rather than fear.

“The Quiet Faith of Coach Joseph Kennedy”

High school football coach Joseph Kennedy used to kneel and pray for 15 seconds after each game. No speeches, no shouting — just quiet thanks to God. When the school district ordered him to stop, he refused. They fired him. The story made national news, and years later the Supreme Court ruled in his favor.

But when asked what he learned through it all, Coach Kennedy said:

“Faithfulness is never wasted. Even if I’d lost everything, I’d still do it again — because I wasn’t kneeling for the crowd. I was kneeling for Christ.”

That’s what Jesus was preparing His disciples for — not comfort, but courage. When the world cancels you for following Him, you don’t lose your value — you prove your loyalty. You may be canceled by culture, but you are chosen by Christ. And that’s what matters most.

Tertullian

The famous quote from Tertullian (early church father, c. 160–225 A.D.) is:

“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”

Tertullian wrote this line in his work Apologeticus (Apology), Chapter 50. He was defending Christians against Roman persecution and pointing out that the more Rome tried to destroy the Church through violence, the more it grew.

Here’s the fuller context from his argument:

“We multiply whenever we are mown down by you;

the blood of Christians is seed.”

(Apologeticus, ch. 50)

In essence, Tertullian was saying: Persecution doesn’t stop the Church — it strengthens it. Every act of violence against believers becomes a testimony that draws more people to faith.

Have we not witnessed this in the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination?

“Canceled Before Cancel Culture”

In 1555, two men were chained to a stake in Oxford, England — Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley. Their “crime”? Preaching that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone.

As the flames were lit, Latimer cried out to Ridley, “Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man; we shall this day light such a candle by God’s grace in England as I trust shall never be put out.”

The world tried to cancel them, but God used their courage to ignite revival.

Cancel culture isn’t new. The world has been trying to silence faithful followers of Jesus since the first century. Jesus told His disciples this would happen — not to frighten them, but to prepare them.

“The Backlash and the Blessing”

In 2017, when a Christian baker in Colorado refused to design a custom cake celebrating something that violated his Biblical convictions, he faced lawsuits, death threats, and nationwide scorn. He lost income, reputation, and peace of mind — but he didn’t lose his faith.

Years later, he said, “If I had to do it all over again, I would still follow my conscience. I would still follow Jesus.”

Jesus said, “All this I have told you so that you will not fall away.” When the world cancels you, don’t crumble — stand firm, speak truth, and trust the Spirit. The world may cancel you, but Christ has already chosen you. And that can never be undone.

Bottom Line: Because the world hated Jesus, it will also hate & oppose his followers. But the Holy Spirit empowers us to stand firm and bear witness in the face of persecution & rejection.

  • Jesus didn’t call us to comfort; He called us to courage.

  • The same Spirit who empowered the disciples empowers us today.

  • When you’re “canceled” for Christ, remember — He chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will last.

Challenge:

Don’t retreat. Reveal Jesus. When the world cancels you, keep pointing people to the cross — because that’s where true freedom begins.

Closing Line:

You may be canceled by the world, but you are chosen by Christ.

INVITATION

What about you?

Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.

Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)

Pray

NOTES

None

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. What do I want them to know?

  2. Why do I want them to know it?

  3. What do I want them to do?

  4. Why do I want them to do it?

  5. How do they do this?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

🎥 YOUTUBE DESCRIPTION

Title: What to Do When You’re Canceled for Being a Christian

Scripture: John 15:18–16:4 NIV

Preacher: Darien Roger Gabriel

Series: Signs & Glory

When you stand for Jesus, don’t be surprised if the world stands against you.

In this message, Pastor Darien Gabriel unpacks Jesus’ words from John 15:18–16:4, where He warned His disciples about opposition, rejection, and persecution — and gave them the key to stand strong through it all.

Bottom Line:

Because the world hated Jesus, it will also oppose His followers — but the Holy Spirit empowers us to stand firm and bear witness in the face of rejection.

If you’ve ever felt misunderstood, mocked, or “canceled” for following Christ, this message will remind you that you’re not alone, and you’re not without help.

Watch now and learn what it means to stay faithful, courageous, and Spirit-empowered when the world pushes back.

👉 Subscribe for more messages and short clips from Grace Christian Fellowship.

📍 Visit: gracetoday.net

#John15 #Persecution #Faith #HolySpirit #Jesus #Discipleship #DarienGabriel #GraceChristianFellowship

🖼️

Thumbnail Text Ideas

(Choose one bold main line with a short subline)

  1. CANCELED for CHRIST

    How to Stand Strong When the World Turns Against You

  2. When Faith Costs You

    Jesus Warned Us About This

  3. Rejected — But Not Alone

    The Spirit Gives Courage When the World Hates You

  4. Following Jesus Isn’t Always Popular

    But It’s Always Worth It

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh Wredberg

The Gospels & Epistles of John, FF Bruce

John, RC Sproul

John, Köstenberger

The Gospel According to John, DA Carson

Let's Study John, Mark Johnston

The Light Has Come, Leslie Newbigin (TLHC)

The Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner (TVW)

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee (TTB)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

Nicky Gumbel bible reading plan app or via YouVersion

Claude.ai

ChatGPT AI

Grok AI

Perplexity.ai

Google Gemini AI

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipLadson, SC, non-denominational church, bible-believing church, Darien Gabriel, JOhn, John, Signs & Glory, Grace Christian Fellowship
How Do I Live as a Disciple of Jesus Today? Part 2 | John 15:7-17 | Darien Gabriel
How Do I Live as a Disciple of Jesus Today? Part 2 | John 15:7-17 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: How do I live as a disciple of Jesus today?

Subtitle: Part 2

Scripture: John 15:7-17 NIV, Isaiah 5, Psalm 80

Bottom Line: A disciple of Jesus today is growing to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him, and leading others to do the same.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  7. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  8. MAIN REFERENCES USED

Opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

What does a disciple of Jesus look like today? Well, these examples are a good place to start. They loved their enemies and forgave them.

Bottom Line: A disciple of Jesus today is growing to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him, and leading others to do the same.

CONTEXT

Jesus's disciples are deeply troubled because they have just heard 3 things:

  1. One of them will betray Jesus,

  2. Jesus is about to leave them and go where they cannot go, and

  3. Peter will deny Jesus 3 times that night.

  4. He's taught them again to love each other as he has loved them

  5. He's told them his spirit will come and empower them to do all that he's taught them to do

  6. He's coming back (resurrected, as his spirit, second coming)

They leave the upper room where they've had their feet washed, heard all of this, and now they're heading to the garden of gethsamene to pray and be arrested.

Sub questions for today:

Q. What does spiritual fruit look like?

Q. How do I bear spiritual fruit that will last?

OUTLINE (w/ help from Matt Carter & ChatGPT)

Transition: This passage breaks down into 2 sections: 1) True disciples bear fruit, and 2) What that fruit looks like. Today we'll focus on part 2: What does true spiritual fruit look like and how do we bear it?

Let's ask some questions:

Q. What do I want you to know today?

A. What the fruit of a true disciple of Jesus Christ looks like.

Spiritual fruit

  • Is from God through his spirit

  • Lasts forever

What does this fruit look like according to this passage?

  1. Answered prayer. God tells us to ask whatever we want in Jesus' name and it will be given to us. (15:7, 16)

  2. Proof that we're true disciples of Jesus. (15:8, 14)

  3. Glorify God (15:8) which is why we were created.

  4. Overflowing with his joy (> happiness, which is based solely on circumstances). (15:11)

  5. Love of God (in obeying his commands) and people (in obeying his commands). (15:10, 12, 14, 17)

  6. Friendship with God through Jesus. (15:14-15)

  7. Security in your salvation:

    1. "Already clean" (15:3)

    2. "I chose you" (15:16)

Q. Why do I want you to know this?

A. Because you will know where you stand as a disciple of Jesus Christ: true or false; fruit-bearing or not.

Q. What do I want you to do?

A. Bear spiritual fruit that will last forever.

Q. Why?

A. Because Jesus says this is why he chose you and me. Therefore, we should do this.

Q. How?

A. By training to remain in Christ. Here are 4 training regiments that will help:

  1. Know, believe, and obey God's word.

  2. Pray bold, specific, and believing prayers in Jesus' name.

  3. Love each other sacrificially ("As I have loved you").

  4. Recognizing and embracing the principle of pruning requires suffering, trials and testing.

Conclusion

Bottom Line: A disciple of Jesus today is growing to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him, and leading others to do the same.

When we train to remain/abide in Christ, we will grow in the character and competencies of Jesus Christ, in his power (not ours), and we will lead others to do this as well.

Q. How do I know I'm doing this?

A. You'll multiply yourself.

  1. You'll lead people to Christ deep and wide.

  2. You'll help others lead people to Christ deep and wide.

  3. You'll see God's love spread through his word in you.

Q. What's next?

A. Commit to getting a good grip on God's word by reading it daily, praying it daily, and obeying it daily.

B. Consider H.E.A.R. Method. https://www.lifeway.com/en/articles/bible-journaling-method-to-hear-god-speak

INVITATION

What about you?

Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.

Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)

Pray

NOTES

Outline with help from Matt Carter and ChatGPT

II. Spiritual Fruit in a Disciple of Jesus today looks like this: (15:7-17)

A. Answered prayer--this happens because of the union with Jesus. The "sap" is the back and forth communication. "My words remain in you" (7)

      1. Jesus speaks through his word. God prunes and cleans through his word (3).

      2. We respond in prayer. Where there is prayer, there are answers. God listens to his people.

      3. It looks like breathing. "When the Holy Spirit is pulsing through you, you pray without thinking. You just talk to God." -Carter

      4. Prayer is as important to the soul as breathing to the body.

B. Obedient love--we obey because we love.

    • Our love flows from our obedience. Obedience is the evidence of love.

    • A persistently, willfully, disobedient person is not a Christian.

    • What's cool here is that even though Jesus is our King and has every right to demand our obedience, he doesn't treat us like slaves. He sees us as friends. Slaves are given commands without explanation. Jesus invites us into his inner circle. He shares his friendship and explains what he's doing. Not always as much as we'd like but he tells us what the Father says to him. (14-15)

C. Inexhaustible joy--Jesus, who fills our Dixie cup/cone cup with joy, immerses our Dixie cup of joy into his ocean of joy.

    • Happiness is dependent on your circumstances. Joy transcends your circumstances.

      • Examples

        • Paul in Prison (Philippians 1:12–21; 4:4)

        • Happiness: No one would be happy about being chained up, falsely accused, and awaiting trial. His circumstances were bleak.

        • Joy: Paul still wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice” (Phil. 4:4). His joy was rooted in Christ being proclaimed and in knowing that “to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” His joy transcended his imprisonment.

      • The Apostles Beaten (Acts 5:40–42)

        • Happiness: After being flogged by the Sanhedrin, they weren’t happy about the pain or humiliation.

        • Joy: They “rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.” Joy came from sharing in Christ’s sufferings and being faithful witnesses.

      • Jesus on the Cross (Hebrews 12:2)

        • Happiness: The cross was excruciating, shameful, and horrific—nothing about it was happy.

        • Joy: Yet Hebrews says Jesus endured it “for the joy set before him”—the joy of redeeming us, glorifying the Father, and sitting down at His right hand.

      • Job Loss

        • Happiness: Losing your job doesn’t make you happy. The stress, loss of income, and uncertainty feel heavy.

        • Joy: A believer can still have joy by trusting God’s provision, remembering His past faithfulness, and resting in His promises. Joy looks like saying, “This is hard, but I know God is still with me and will provide,” even while updating your résumé.

      • It's no coincidence that Jesus follows, "If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love" (10) with, "I have told you this so that my joy may be in your and that your joy may be complete." (11) "Joy comes through obedience." -Carter

    • 👉 In short: Happiness is when circumstances go your way. Joy is when your heart goes God’s way—even when circumstances don’t.

D. Sacrificial love--how is this demonstrated? Well, in a way that costs us.

    • Jesus loved his Father as demonstrated in his perfect obedience to go and die on the cross for the sins of the world.

    • Jesus calls us to love one another in this way--as he has loved us.

    • An apple tree bears apples.

    • An orange tree bears oranges.

    • A follower of Jesus Christ bears loves, prays and obeys Jesus.

E. Friendship with Jesus. No longer slaves.

F. Desire to bear fruit that will last forever.

III. How do we bear spiritual fruit that will last?

  • We train to remain (abide) in Jesus Christ by:

    • Leaning into his pruning (2)

    • Remembering he picked me!

    • Obeying his word

      • Hear it regularly

      • Read it daily

      • Study it (reading with a pencil/pen or highlighter)

      • Memorize it (Ps 119:11)

      • Meditate on it (focused thinking)

    • Loving Jesus obediently

    • Loving Jesus sacrificially

    • Praying with confidence that he hears and answers our prayers

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. What do I want them to know?

  2. Why do I want them to know it?

  3. What do I want them to do?

  4. Why do I want them to do it?

  5. How do they do this?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh Wredberg

The Gospels & Epistles of John, FF Bruce

John, RC Sproul

John, Köstenberger

The Gospel According to John, DA Carson

Let's Study John, Mark Johnston

The Light Has Come, Leslie Newbigin (TLHC)

The Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner (TVW)

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee (TTB)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

Nicky Gumbel bible reading plan app or via YouVersion

Claude.ai

ChatGPT AI

Grok AI

Perplexity.ai

Google Gemini AI

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipLadson, SC, non-denominational church, bible-believing church, Darien Gabriel, John, Grace Christian Fellowship
How Do I Live as a Disciple of Jesus Today? Part 1 | John 15:1-6 | Darien Gabriel
How Do I Live as a Disciple of Jesus Today? Part 1 | John 15:1-6 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: How do I live as a disciple of Jesus today?

Subtitle: Part 1

Scripture: John 15:1-6 NIV, Isaiah 5, Psalm 80

Bottom Line: A disciple of Jesus today is growing to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him, and leading others to do the same.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  7. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  8. MAIN REFERENCES USED

Opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

"(Jesus said from the cross), 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.' That young man—I forgive him. I forgive him, because it is what Christ did, and it is what Charlie would do." Erika Kirk

Cf. Members of Mother Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston forgave the murderer of their family members (Dylan Roof). (2015)

Cf. Tim Allen forgiving his father after hearing Erika Kirk forgiving the young man who assassinated her husband Charlie.

Jesus loved and forgave his enemies as they were executing him.

What does a disciple of Jesus look like today? Well, these examples are a good place to start. They loved their enemies and forgave them.

Bottom Line: A disciple of Jesus today is growing to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him, and leading others to do the same.

Draw the matrix showing that high or Christlike character and high competency results in spiritual fruitfulness forever.

CONTEXT

Jesus's disciples are deeply troubled because they have just heard 3 things:

  1. One of them will betray Jesus,

  2. Jesus is about to leave them and go where they cannot go, and

  3. Peter will deny Jesus 3 times that night.

  4. He's taught them again to love each other as he has loved them

  5. He's told them his spirit will come and empower them to do all that he's taught them to do

  6. He's coming back (resurrected, as his spirit, second coming)

They leave the upper room where they've had their feet washed, heard all of this, and now they're heading to the garden of gethsamene to pray and be arrested.

OUTLINE (w/ help from Matt Carter & ChatGPT)

Bottom Line: A disciple of Jesus today is growing to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him, and leading others to do the same.

Transition: This passage breaks down into 2 sections: 1) True disciples bear fruit, and 2) What that fruit looks like. We'll follow that with how we bear this spiritual fruit that lasts.

I. True Disciples of Jesus Today Bear Spiritual Fruit that will last. (15:-1-6)

    • 7th of 7 "I am" statements

      • I am the bread of life

      • I am the light of the world

      • I am the gate

      • I am the good shepherd

      • I am the resurrection and the life

      • I am the way, the truth and the life

      • I am the true vine

    • Not "a" but "the"

    • "True vine" implies that there are "false vines"

    • While the vineyard was a picture of Israel (Isaiah 5, Psalm 80), Jesus says it's a false vine because they produced "sour, inedible grapes". Jesus is the True Vine.

    • Jesus is also the true Israel or God and man in fellowship through Jesus Christ. -Johnston

    • Fruitfulness = Living to our God-given potential out of the overflow of our relationship with Jesus.

    • God calls Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply. (Genesis 1:28) "The fruitfulness that was lost thorugh the Fall, is recovered through Christ and his redemption." -Johnston

    • "The recovery of true fruitfulness in life is bound up in the recovery of fellowship with God through Jesus Christ." -Johnston

    • Jesus connects fruitfulness to fellowship.

    • We are Grace Christian FELLOWSHIP. That is we are a people connected in fellowship to one another through our fellowship with Jesus Christ.

    • The Point: "The path to God doesn't go through the nation of Israel; it goes through Jesus." -Carter

    • It's about union with Jesus. (Connection to the true vine)

    • Jesus is the True Vine, Father is the Vinedresser, we are the branches.

    • 2 types of disciples:

      • Living and (alive in Christ)

      • Dead (never exercised saving faith; Ex. Judas Iscariot); "They hang around Jesus without a genuine, life-giving relationship with him." False disciples will be cut off and burned in judgment.

    • If you are alive in Christ, God will do his part to insure you are fruitful--pruning is key:

      • Dead wood

      • Good wood that will decrease fruitfulness if not removed

    • God's commitment to your fruit-bearing > Your commitment to comfort

    • "God will do whatever it takes for you to bear fruit. John Newton, the great eighteenth-century English pastor and songwriter, began a letter this way:

      • 'At length, and without further apology for my silence, I sit down to ask you how you fare. Afflictions I hear have been your lot; and if I had not heard so, I should have taken it for granted: for I believe the Lord loves you, and as many as He loves He chastens.

      • I think you can say, afflictions have been good for you, and I doubt not but you have found strength according to your day; so that, though you may have been sharply tried, you have not been overpowered.'" -Newton, Amazing Works, 156-57

    • True disciples abide or remain connected to Jesus. Ex. Like a branch drawing life-giving sap from the vine is essential to life and fruit-bearing.

    • “Here Jesus introduced that rich word abide, which has to do with remaining close to Him. Jesus declared that our productivity, our fruitfulness, is directly linked to our abiding in Him. As Christians, we will bear fruit, but it will vary in degree. The closer we stay to Christ, the more fruit we will bear. The more we wander out from the center and neglect the means of grace that He has given to us, the less fruit we will produce” -RC Sproul

    • "People who claim to be Christians but do not show evidence of his life flowing through them will be cut off, gathered up nd burned." V. 6

    • "A fruitless disciple is not a disciple at all."- Carter

    • How does God cause us to bear spiritual fruit? Through his word.

II. Spiritual Fruit in a Disciple of Jesus today looks like this: (15:7-17)

A. Answered prayer--this happens because of the union with Jesus. The "sap" is the back and forth communication. "My words remain in you" (7)

      1. Jesus speaks through his word. God prunes and cleans through his word (3).

      2. We respond in prayer. Where there is prayer, there are answers. God listens to his people.

      3. It looks like breathing. "When the Holy Spirit is pulsing through you, you pray without thinking. You just talk to God." -Carter

      4. Prayer is as important to the soul as breathing to the body.

B. Obedient love--we obey because we love.

    • Our love flows from our obedience. Obedience is the evidence of love.

    • A persistently, willfully, disobedient person is not a Christian.

    • What's cool here is that even though Jesus is our King and has every right to demand our obedience, he doesn't treat us like slaves. He sees us as friends. Slaves are given commands without explanation. Jesus invites us into his inner circle. He shares his friendship and explains what he's doing. Not always as much as we'd like but he tells us what the Father says to him. (14-15)

C. Inexhaustible joy--Jesus, who fills our Dixie cup/cone cup with joy, immerses our Dixie cup of joy into his ocean of joy.

    • Happiness is dependent on your circumstances. Joy transcends your circumstances.

      • Examples

        • Paul in Prison (Philippians 1:12–21; 4:4)

        • Happiness: No one would be happy about being chained up, falsely accused, and awaiting trial. His circumstances were bleak.

        • Joy: Paul still wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice” (Phil. 4:4). His joy was rooted in Christ being proclaimed and in knowing that “to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” His joy transcended his imprisonment.

      • The Apostles Beaten (Acts 5:40–42)

        • Happiness: After being flogged by the Sanhedrin, they weren’t happy about the pain or humiliation.

        • Joy: They “rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.” Joy came from sharing in Christ’s sufferings and being faithful witnesses.

      • Jesus on the Cross (Hebrews 12:2)

        • Happiness: The cross was excruciating, shameful, and horrific—nothing about it was happy.

        • Joy: Yet Hebrews says Jesus endured it “for the joy set before him”—the joy of redeeming us, glorifying the Father, and sitting down at His right hand.

      • Job Loss

        • Happiness: Losing your job doesn’t make you happy. The stress, loss of income, and uncertainty feel heavy.

        • Joy: A believer can still have joy by trusting God’s provision, remembering His past faithfulness, and resting in His promises. Joy looks like saying, “This is hard, but I know God is still with me and will provide,” even while updating your résumé.

      • It's no coincidence that Jesus follows, "If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love" (10) with, "I have told you this so that my joy may be in your and that your joy may be complete." (11) "Joy comes through obedience." -Carter

    • 👉 In short: Happiness is when circumstances go your way. Joy is when your heart goes God’s way—even when circumstances don’t.

D. Sacrificial love--how is this demonstrated? Well, in a way that costs us.

    • Jesus loved his Father as demonstrated in his perfect obedience to go and die on the cross for the sins of the world.

    • Jesus calls us to love one another in this way--as he has loved us.

    • An apple tree bears apples.

    • An orange tree bears oranges.

    • A follower of Jesus Christ bears loves, prays and obeys Jesus.

E. Friendship with Jesus. No longer slaves.

F. Desire to bear fruit that will last forever.

III. How do we bear spiritual fruit that will last?

  • We train to remain (abide) in Jesus Christ by:

    • Leaning into his pruning (2)

    • Remembering he picked me!

    • Obeying his word

      • Hear it regularly

      • Read it daily

      • Study it (reading with a pencil/pen or highlighter)

      • Memorize it (Ps 119:11)

      • Meditate on it (focused thinking)

    • Loving Jesus obediently

    • Loving Jesus sacrificially

    • Praying with confidence that he hears and answers our prayers

Bottom Line: A disciple of Jesus today is growing to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him, and leading others to do the same.

Conclusion

As I said before one fruit of the spirit is answered prayer. And God answers specific prayer specifically. Try him on this. Ask for specific prayers to be answered this week in accordance with his Will with a heart that is bent towards his desires. Watching him work!

God's Benefit Package by Nicky Gumbel

I rediscovered one of my prayer diaries in which I recorded some of my early experiences of answered prayer.

On 26 September 1976, I wrote about a prayer for my mother: ‘Prayed for the Lord to heal her insomnia.’ (I did not tell her I was praying for her.)

Exactly three months later, on 26 December 1976, I wrote that my mother ‘says she has slept better in the last few weeks than for four years and it is no longer a problem’.

Of course, it is not possible to prove Christianity on the basis of answers to prayer, because cynics can always explain them away as coincidence.

But as former Archbishop of Canterbury William Temple said, ‘When I pray, coincidences happen; when I don’t, they don’t.’

The cumulative effect of answered prayer is to reinforce our faith in God.

Over the last thirty years, I have written by the New Testament passage for today some of my prayers for the year ahead. It is amazing to think back and remember the ways in which God has answered so many of these prayers. I find it very easy to forget all the answers to prayer. It is so easy to forget blessings. David reminds himself in the psalm for today *not to forget* ‘*all his benefits*’ (Psalm 103:2). Many are conscious of the ‘benefits’ they receive associated with their employment, or from the state. But what about the ‘benefits’ that we receive from our loving heavenly Father?

INVITATION

What about you?

Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.

Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)

Pray

NOTES

“I’m sure that everyone reading this book has been touched by the death of a loved one. I have; by the mercy of God, both of my parents died at home in bed. My mother slipped away at night when I was asleep, but I was next to the bed, more than fifty years ago, when my father breathed his last. I watched death in front of my eyes, and in that moment I lost the person who meant more to me than any person on the face of the earth. When it happened, something stabbed my soul, causing me to say: “This is insane. This can’t be real. He must merely be sleeping. O God, will he live again?”

R.C. Sproul

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. What do I want them to know?

  2. Why do I want them to know it?

  3. What do I want them to do?

  4. Why do I want them to do it?

  5. How do they do this?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh Wredberg

The Gospels & Epistles of John, FF Bruce

John, RC Sproul

John, Köstenberger

The Gospel According to John, DA Carson

Let's Study John, Mark Johnston

The Light Has Come, Leslie Newbigin (TLHC)

The Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner (TVW)

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee (TTB)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

Nicky Gumbel bible reading plan app or via YouVersion

Claude.ai

ChatGPT AI

Grok AI

Perplexity.ai

Google Gemini AI

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipLadson, SC, non-denominational church, bible-believing church, Darien Gabriel, Signs & Glory, John, disciple
What Assurances Do We Have in Jesus' Absence? | John 14:15-31 | Darien Gabriel
What Assurances Do We Have in Jesus' Absence? | John 14:15-31 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: What assurances do we have in Jesus’ absence?

Scripture: John 14:15-31 NIV

Bottom Line: Even though Jesus is leaving, the relationship between Jesus and His Disciples will continue to be defined by love.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  7. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  8. MAIN REFERENCES USED

Opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

In my college days, I couldn't wait to go home. Now I didn't go home every weekend as I was 4 hours away. But I always looked forward to seeing family, friends and familiar surroundings.

But, I'll admit, I also couldn't wait to go back to school. My newer friends and life there was also great. (Most of the time)

Some of that can be chalked up to a lack of contentment where I was at the time. An on-going challenge in my life, to be sure.

But what made is easy for me to go back to school, in part, was because I knew I was loved at home. I was loved, supported and provided for by my parents. They and my brother were there for me. This was a great comfort to me during my college years.

Jesus is about to leave his disciples behind. For a while. 3 days actually. Then, after 40 days, he'd leave them for good. And, yet, not at all at the same time.

What assurances did they have from Jesus in his absence? He gives them 3. But they are possible because of a relationship defined by love both ways.

The love Jesus had for his disciples held them in union with him. His love for them and their love for him is the defining ingredient to knowing God.

Their obedience to his words, ways and works showed their love for him.

Bottom Line: Even though Jesus is leaving, the relationship between Jesus and His Disciples will continue to be defined by love.

CONTEXT

Jesus's disciples are deeply troubled because they have just heard 3 things:

  1. One of them will betray Jesus,

  2. Jesus is about to leave them and go where they cannot go, and

  3. Peter will deny Jesus 3 times that night.

On top of all of this, Jesus is still wanted for arrest and likely crucifixion for treason and blasphemy. If they are looking for him, they are likely looking for them as well. They're terrified.

OUTLINE (w/ help from ChatGPT)

Bottom Line: Even though Jesus is leaving, the relationship between Jesus and His Disciples will continue to be defined by love.

I. The Disciples’ love for Jesus

• Verses 15, 21, 23–24, 28, 31

• Love for Jesus is expressed in obedience (vv. 15, 21, 23–24, 31).

• Their grief at his leaving should be transformed into joy if they truly love him (v. 28).

II. Jesus’ love for His Disciples

A. The assurance of his resurrection

• Verses 18–20

• He will not leave them as orphans but will come to them.

• They will see him again because he lives, and so will they.

• Their union with him and the Father will be made clear.

B. The assurance of his Spirit

• Verses 16–17, 25–26

• The Father will send another Helper, the Spirit of truth, to dwell in them.

• The Spirit will teach them all things and remind them of Jesus’ words.

C. The assurance of his peace

• Verses 27–29

• Jesus leaves them his peace—not as the world gives.

• This peace should quiet their troubled hearts.

• His return to the Father is part of God’s plan and a cause for joy.

III. Conclusion (Transition to Gethsemane)

• Verses 30–31

• The ruler of this world is coming, but he has no claim on Jesus.

• Jesus goes willingly out of love for the Father, modeling the love/obedience relationship he calls his disciples into.

Bottom Line: Even though Jesus is leaving, the relationship between Jesus and His Disciples will continue to be defined by love.

One of the most popular Christian anthems is also the simplest. It says,

"Jesus loves me! This I know, for the Bible tells me so" (Anna B. Warner, "Jesus Loves Me").

At the height of persecution in Communist China, a Christian sent a message to a friend. The message escaped the attention of the censors, because it said simply:

"The this I know people are well"—but that phrase, the "this I know people" clearly identified the Christian community in China. (Donovan, "Jesus Loves Me"; emphasis original)

"This I know people."

Our confidence is in the love of Jesus. We know he loves us because we've experienced his love. His love defines us individually and as a community. -Matt Carter

So what assurances do we have in Jesus's absence?

We're sure of his resurrection that will be together with him again. We're assured of his Holy Spirit, the advocate. And we're assured of his peace that surpasses all understanding and will guide our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:7)

This assurance reminds us of why we love Jesus and that he loves us. May we be found faithful to rest in this love.

INVITATION

What about you?

Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.

Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)

Pray

NOTES

“I’m sure that everyone reading this book has been touched by the death of a loved one. I have; by the mercy of God, both of my parents died at home in bed. My mother slipped away at night when I was asleep, but I was next to the bed, more than fifty years ago, when my father breathed his last. I watched death in front of my eyes, and in that moment I lost the person who meant more to me than any person on the face of the earth. When it happened, something stabbed my soul, causing me to say: “This is insane. This can’t be real. He must merely be sleeping. O God, will he live again?”

R.C. Sproul

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. What do I want them to know?

  2. Why do I want them to know it?

  3. What do I want them to do?

  4. Why do I want them to do it?

  5. How do they do this?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh Wredberg

The Gospels & Epistles of John, FF Bruce

John, RC Sproul

John, Köstenberger

The Gospel According to John, DA Carson

Let's Study John, Mark Johnston

The Light Has Come, Leslie Newbigin (TLHC)

The Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner (TVW)

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee (TTB)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

Nicky Gumbel bible reading plan app or via YouVersion

Claude.ai

ChatGPT AI

Grok AI

Perplexity.ai

Google Gemini AI

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipDarien Gabriel, Ladson, SC, Assurances, Signs & Glory, John 14, Grace Christian Fellowship, non-denominational church, bible-believing church
How Can I Know the Way of Jesus? | John 14:1-14 | Darien Gabriel
How Can I Know the Way of Jesus? | John 14:1-14 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: How can I know the way of Jesus?

Scripture: John 14:1-14 NIV

Bottom Line: Because Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, we can trust His promises in the midst of our fears, follow His words, ways, and wisdom with confidence, see the Father clearly, and rely on Him to provide all we need for the mission.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  7. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  8. MAIN REFERENCES USED

Opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

“I’m sure that everyone reading this book has been touched by the death of a loved one. I have; by the mercy of God, both of my parents died at home in bed. My mother slipped away at night when I was asleep, but I was next to the bed, more than fifty years ago, when my father breathed his last. I watched death in front of my eyes, and in that moment I lost the person who meant more to me than any person on the face of the earth. When it happened, something stabbed my soul, causing me to say: “This is insane. This can’t be real. He must merely be sleeping. O God, will he live again?” -R.C. Sproul

Moments like this leave us asking: Are we really prepared for what’s ahead?

His disciples faced a similar challenge 2,000 years ago, beginning with a turning point of cosmic proportions with the betrayal of Judas Iscariot.

I submit that we should proceed as Jesus led his disciples to on the night of his arrest and the eve of his crucifixion.

Bottom line:

CONTEXT

Jesus's disciples are deeply troubled because they have just heard 3 things:

  1. One of them will betray Jesus,

  2. Jesus is about to leave them and go where they cannot go, and

  3. Peter will deny Jesus 3 times that night.

On top of all of this, Jesus is still wanted for arrest and likely crucifixion for treason and blasphemy. If they are looking for him, they are likely looking for them as well. They're terrified.

OUTLINE (w/ help from ChatGPT)

Bottom Line: Because Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, we can trust His promises in the midst of our fears, follow His words, ways, and wisdom with confidence, see the Father clearly, and rely on Him to provide all we need for the mission.

1. Jesus Calms Troubled Hearts (vv. 1–3)

• Context: Jesus has announced His departure (13:33) and Peter’s denial (13:38). The disciples are shaken.

• Truth: “Let not your hearts be troubled.” The antidote to fear is faith.

• Explanation:

• Believe in God; believe also in Me → Jesus calls for the same trust we give to God.

• In My Father’s house are many rooms → heaven is real, personal, and prepared.

• I will come again → the return of Christ guarantees our eternal presence with Him.

• Application:

• When anxiety rises, put your weight down on His promises.

• We don’t just long for a place (heaven) but a Person (Jesus).

Illustration: A child afraid of the dark sleeps peacefully when she lies next to her parents bed because they are with her.

2. Jesus Is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (vv. 4–7)

• Thomas: “We don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” (v. 5)

• Jesus’ Answer: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (v. 6)

• Explanation:

• The Way → He doesn’t show the way; He is the way. The cross and resurrection open the road.

• The Truth → Not one truth among many; the full reality of God revealed in Him.

• The Life → Eternal life is only in Him (cf. John 11:25; 1 John 5:11–12).

• Application:

• In a culture that says “all paths lead to God,” Jesus insists: only one does.

• Jesus is not just useful; He is essential.

Illustration: GPS apps give different routes to the destination. Some take longer while others are easier. We won't all follow exactly the same way. But we do follow him his way rooted in his truth to true and lasting life.

3. Jesus Reveals the Father (vv. 8–11)

• Philip: “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” (v. 8)

• Jesus’ Reply: “Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father.” (v. 9)

• Truth: Jesus is the full disclosure of God (cf. Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3).

• Application:

• You don’t have to wonder what God is like—look at Jesus.

• If we’re confused about God’s character, we must return to Jesus’ words and works.

Illustration: Like a high-resolution picture bringing clarity where once it was blurry, Jesus brings the Father into perfect focus.

4. Jesus Empowers His Followers (vv. 12–14)

• Promise: “Whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do.” (v. 12)

• Explanation:

• Not greater in quality but in extent—global reach through the Spirit.

• Through prayer “in My name,” Jesus continues His work through us.

• Application:

• We are not powerless—we are prayerful participants in Jesus’ mission.

• Ask boldly in His name, aligning with His will.

Illustration: A relay race—the baton of Jesus’ mission is passed on, but with Spirit-powered expansion beyond what the disciples could imagine.

Conclusion: Bringing It All Together

• When your heart is troubled → Trust His promise (vv. 1–3).

• When you wonder about the way → Follow Him as the only way (vv. 4–7).

• When you want to know what God is like → Look to Jesus (vv. 8–11).

• When you feel powerless → Pray in His name and live on His mission (vv. 12–14).

Bottom Line: Because Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, we can trust His promises in the midst of our fears, follow His words, ways, and wisdom with confidence, see the Father clearly, and rely on Him to provide all we need for the mission.

CONCLUSION

Bottom Line: Because Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, we can trust His promises in the midst of our fears, follow His words, ways, and wisdom with confidence, see the Father clearly, and rely on Him to provide all we need for the mission.

INVITATION

What about you?

Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.

Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)

Pray

NOTES

“I’m sure that everyone reading this book has been touched by the death of a loved one. I have; by the mercy of God, both of my parents died at home in bed. My mother slipped away at night when I was asleep, but I was next to the bed, more than fifty years ago, when my father breathed his last. I watched death in front of my eyes, and in that moment I lost the person who meant more to me than any person on the face of the earth. When it happened, something stabbed my soul, causing me to say: “This is insane. This can’t be real. He must merely be sleeping. O God, will he live again?”

R.C. Sproul

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. What do I want them to know?

  2. Why do I want them to know it?

  3. What do I want them to do?

  4. Why do I want them to do it?

  5. How do they do this?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh Wredberg

The Gospels & Epistles of John, FF Bruce

John, RC Sproul

John, Köstenberger

The Gospel According to John, DA Carson

Let's Study John, Mark Johnston

The Light Has Come, Leslie Newbigin (TLHC)

The Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner (TVW)

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee (TTB)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

Nicky Gumbel bible reading plan app or via YouVersion

Claude.ai

ChatGPT AI

Grok AI

Perplexity.ai

Google Gemini AI

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian Fellowshipnon denominational church, Ladson, SC, bible believing church, Jesus, John, Signs and Glory, Darien Gabriel, Grace Christian Fellowship
How Do We Become People of the Towel? | John 13:1-17
How Do We Become People of the Towel? | John 13:1-17

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: How Do We Become People of the Towel?

Subtitle:

Scripture: John 13:1-17

Philippians 2:6-8

Mark 10:45

Bottom line: We become people of the towel when we believe Jesus' love, receive his cleansing, and follow his example.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. OUTLINES

  7. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  8. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

Opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

“In 2003, when the United States invaded Iraq, I sat glued to my television set for days and watched the amazing footage that was broadcast.

One scene that stands out in my mind from those days was the jubilant celebration of the Iraqi people as U.S. Marines pulled down a forty-foot statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad. The statue was torn from its pedestal and dragged through the streets, and children were shown riding on the head of the statue as if it were a sled.

But I also remember the way in which the people of Iraq used their shoes or their sandals to pound against the statue and the posters of Saddam that were still being displayed in Baghdad. The commentators explained that among the Iraqi people, to beat a person or even a person’s image with one’s shoe is to show the deepest possible form of contempt for that person...

The Iraqi people’s actions helped me understand the depth of lowliness to which Jesus stooped when He handled His disciples’ filthy feet in this ritual of cleansing.

We have already discussed the fact that in antiquity, when a rabbi had disciples, they typically acted as his servants. However, they were never required to wash the rabbi’s feet; that task was reserved for slaves.

But even some slaves were spared this task. Within Israel, if a Jewish person had a Jewish slave, the slave owner was not permitted to require that slave to wash his feet. Only a Gentile slave could be required to perform such a menial task.

So the fact that Jesus Himself undertook this task, and that He did it during Holy Week, fills this narrative with theological and ethical significance for us.”

John - An Expositional Commentary, R.C. Sproul

Bottom line: We become people of the towel when we believe Jesus' love, receive his cleansing, and follow his example.

CONTEXT

"Jesus had entered Jerusalem on Sunday, and on Monday had cleansed the temple.

Tuesday was a day of conflict as the religious leaders sought to trip Him up and get evidence to arrest Him. These events are recorded in Matthew 21–25.

Wednesday was probably a day of rest, but on Thursday He met in the Upper Room with His disciples in order to observe Passover...What was this divinely appointed “hour”? It was the time when He would be glorified through His death, resurrection, and ascension.

From the human point of view, it meant suffering; but from the divine point of view, it meant glory."

Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 344). Victor Books.

OUTLINE (w/ help from Kent Hughes and ChatGPT)

I. Believe the Heart of His Love (John 13:1–3)

• Jesus loved His own “to the end” — pointing to the cross (Romans 5:8).

• His mission has always been loving service: "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45

• Application: You cannot serve others well until you rest secure in Jesus’ agape love for you.

II. Be Washed by His Cleansing (John 13:4–11)

• Jesus lays aside His garment and stoops to wash dirty feet — a preview of the cross.

• Peter resists, but Jesus insists: “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.”

• Only the Servant who came to save (Luke 19:10) can cleanse us fully.

• Application: Humble service flows only from hearts first cleansed by Jesus’ sacrifice.

III. Follow His Example in Humble Service (John 13:12–17)

• After washing, He asks: “Do you understand what I have done to you?”

• If the Lord and Teacher has washed feet, we must do likewise.

• Paul echoes this: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus… He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:5–8).

• Application: Knowing His love and cleansing, we pick up the towel and bless others through ordinary, humble acts of service.

⸻

"The Upper Room Discourse begins with a dramatic call to follow Christ's example as a servant--to be people of the towel." -Hughes

"How do we become people of the towel?

  1. We must observe the marvelous example of our foot-washing Lord and Savior and then listen to Jesus' challenge: 'If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.'

  2. Perhaps most important, we must have the quality of Jesus' heart. 'Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.'

  3. Finally, we become people of the towel by realizing who we are. The power, the impetus, and the grace to wash one another's feet is proportionate not only to how we see Jesus but how we see ourselves. Our Lord saw himself as King of kings, and he washed the disciples' feet. Recovery of a kingly consciousness will hallow and refine our entire lives. We are 'a royal priesthood.' (1 Peter 2:9)" -Hughes

"If you know these things, blessed areyou if you do them." John 13:17

The Heart of the Servant (13:1-3)

"The final sentence gives us his heart: "Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end." The servant's heart is a heart of love.

A story about Czar Nicholas I of Russia tells us something of that love. The czar was greatly interested in a young man because he had been friends with the young man's father. When that young man came of age, Czar Nicholas gave him a fine position in the army. He also stationed him in a place of responsibility at one of the great fortresses of Russia. The young man was responsible for the monies and finances of a particular division of the army.

The young man did quite well at first, but as time went along, he became quite a gambler. Before long he had gambled his entire fortune away. He borrowed from the treasury and also gambled that away, a few rubles at a time.

One day he heard there was going to be an audit of the books the next day. He went to the safe, took out his ledger, and figured out how much money he had, then subtracted the amount he had taken. As he sat at the table, overwhelmed at the astronomical debt, he took out his pen and wrote, "A great debt, who can pay?" Not willing to go through the shame of what would happen the next day, he took out his revolver and covenanted with himself that at the stroke of midnight he would take his life.

It was a warm and drowsy night, and as the young man sat at the table, he dozed off. Now, Czar Nicholas had a habit of putting on a common soldier's uniform and visiting some of his outposts. On that very night he came to that particular great fortress, and as he inspected it, he saw a light on in one of the rooms. He knocked on the door, but no one answered. He tried the latch, opened the door, and went in. There was the young man. The czar recognized him immediately. When he saw the note on the table and the ledgers laid out, his first impulse was to wake the young man and arrest him. But, overtaken with a wave of generosity, he instead took the pen that had fallen out of the soldier's hand and wrote one word on the paper, then tiptoed out of the room.

About an hour later the young man woke up and reached for his revolver, realizing that it was much after twelve. Then his eyes fell upon his note: "A great debt, who can pay?" He saw immediately that one word had been added -"Nicholas." The young man dropped the gun, ran to the files, thumbed through some correspondence, and found the czar's signature. The note was authentic! The realization struck him —"The czar has been here and knows all my guilt. But he has undertaken my debt, and I will not have to die." The young man trusted in the czar's word, and sure enough, the needed monies came?

The czar's love, paying the price for his guilty young friend, was only a faint shadow of the atoning love of Christ. Nicholas's deed was an easy matter for him —as easy as signing his name. But the atoning love of Jesus cost him everything!

The tenses at the end of verse 1, "having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end," means that in the whole range of Christ's contact with his disciples he loved them!" -Hughes

The Example of the Servant (13:4-11)

The Challenge of the Servant (13:12-17)

"According to John, the Lord gave the disciples two explanations of his washing of their feet - one while he was engaged in washing them, and the other after he had taken his place with them at the supper table again.

The former, as we have seen, is theological in character: the foot-washing symbolizes Jesus' humbling himself to endure the death of the cross and the cleansing efficacy of his death for the believer.

The latter, unfolded in verses 12-17, is practical in character: Jesus has washed their feet in order that from his example they may learn to perform similar service one for another.

There is no incongruity between the two explanations; it is quite unnecessary to suppose that they must be due to two different authors. The second explanation is very much in line with Luke's account of the conversation which took place between the Lord and the disciples at the Last Supper (Luke 22:24-27), in which he drew their attention to his own example; but in Mark's counterpart to that conversation, which appears in an earlier context (Mark 10:35-45), Jesus' example of lowly service is brought into the closest association with the sacrifice of the cross: if any one of their number wants to be first, he 'must be slave of all' - because 'the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many'. The close association of the two themes in this Johannine context, accordingly, is perfectly natural`..." -FF Bruce

Judas was an unbeliever (John 6:64–71), so he did not have a “shield of faith” to use to ward off Satan’s attacks...

Even in His humiliation, our Lord had all things through His Father. He was poor and yet He was rich. Because Jesus knew who He was, where He came from, what He had, and where He was going, He was complete master of the situation. You and I as believers know that we have been born of God, that we are one day going to God, and that in Christ we have all things; therefore, we ought to be able to follow our Lord’s example and serve others...

What Jesus knew helped determine what Jesus did (John 13:4–5)...

The Father had put all things into the Son’s hands, yet Jesus picked up a towel and a basin! His humility was not born of poverty, but of riches. He was rich, yet He became poor (2 Cor. 8:9). A Malay proverb says, “The fuller the ear is of rice-grain, the lower it bends.”

...Jesus was the Sovereign, yet He took the place of a servant. He had all things in His hands, yet He picked up a towel...

It has well been said that humility is not thinking meanly of yourself; it is simply not thinking of yourself at all. True humility grows out of our relationship with the Father.

Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 345). Victor Books.

Rick Warren used to say, "Humility isn't thinking less of yourself. It's thinking of yourself less."

We today, just like the disciples that night, desperately need this lesson on humility. The church is filled with a worldly spirit of competition and criticism as believers vie with one another to see who is the greatest. We are growing in knowledge, but not in grace (see 2 Peter 3:18). “Humility is the only soil in which the graces root,” wrote Andrew Murray. “The lack of humility is the sufficient explanation of every defect and failure.”

The word translated “wash” in John 13:5–6, 8, 12, and 14 is nipto and means “to wash a part of the body.” But the word translated “washed” in John 13:10 is louo and means “to bathe all over.” The distinction is important, for Jesus was trying to teach His disciples the importance of a holy walk.

When the sinner trusts the Saviour, he is “bathed all over” and his sins are washed away and forgiven (see 1 Cor. 6:9–11; Titus 3:3–7; and Rev. 1:5). “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more” (Heb. 10:17). However, as the believer walks in this world, it is easy to become defiled. He does not need to be bathed all over again; he simply needs to have that defilement cleansed away. God promises to cleanse us when we confess our sins to Him (1 John 1:9).

But why is it so important that we “keep our feet clean”? Because if we are defiled, we cannot have communion with our Lord. “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me” (John 13:8). The word translated “part” is meros, and it carries the meaning here of “participation, having a share in someone or something.” When God “bathes us all over” in salvation, He brings about our union with Christ; and that is a settled relationship that cannot change. (The verb wash in John 13:10 is in the perfect tense. It is settled once and for all.) However, our communion with Christ depends on our keeping ourselves “unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). If we permit unconfessed sin in our lives, we hinder our walk with the Lord; and that is when we need to have our feet washed.

Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 346). Victor Books.

Referring to Jesus humbling himself and cf. to Philippians 2:5-9, RC Sproul writes, “It was not His deity but His dignity that Jesus laid aside. He emptied Himself of the glory that He enjoyed with His Father from all eternity. He laid aside His prerogatives as the second person of the Trinity. For the sake of His people, He descended from glory to lay down His life.”

“That is proper, for Jesus was not instituting a sacrament that was to be repeated on a regular basis among the people of God, and we know that for this reason: the central significance of Jesus’ washing of His disciples’ feet has to do with baptism, which is the sacrament of the entrance into the new covenant. Baptism signifies many things, but at the very heart of the symbolism of baptism is the idea of cleansing” -R.C. Sproul

“He knew who would betray him, but He washed all their feet, even the feet of Judas, but not without the warning that the cleansing He spoke of would not apply to every one of them.”

“Those who give themselves in service to others find deep joy in it.”

Excerpt From

John - An Expositional Commentary

R.C. Sproul

CONCLUSION

"The Upper Room Discourse begins with a dramatic call to follow Christ's example as a servant--to be people of the towel." -Hughes

How do we become people of the towel?

  1. We must observe the marvelous example of our foot-washing Lord and Savior and then listen to Jesus' challenge: 'If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.'

  2. Perhaps most important, we must have gthe quality of Jesus' heart. 'Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.'

  3. Finally, we become people of the towel by realizing who we are. The power, the impetus, and the grace to wash one another's feet is proportionate not only to how we see Jesus but how we see ourselves. Our Lord saw himself as King of kings, and he washed the disciples' feet. Recovery of a kingly consciousness will hallow and refine our entire lives. We are 'a royal priesthood.' (1 Peter 2:9)

"If you know these things, blessed areyou if you do them." John 13:17

This basic truth of Christian living is beautifully illustrated in the Old Testament priesthood. When the priest was consecrated, he was bathed all over (Ex. 29:4), and that experience was never repeated. However, during his daily ministry, he became defiled; so it was necessary that he wash his hands and feet at the brass laver in the courtyard (Ex. 30:18–21). Only then could he enter the holy place and trim the lamps, eat the holy bread, or burn the incense...

We can learn an important lesson from Peter: don’t question the Lord’s will or work, and don’t try to change it. He knows what He is doing...

John was careful to point out that Peter and Judas were in a different relationship with Jesus. Yes, Jesus washed Judas’ feet! But it did Judas no good because he had not been bathed all over. Some people teach that Judas was a saved man who sinned away his salvation, but that is not what Jesus said. Our Lord made it very clear that Judas had never been cleansed from his sins and was an unbeliever (John 6:64–71)...

John 13:17 is the key—“If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” The sequence is important: humbleness, holiness, then happiness. Aristotle defined happiness as “good fortune joined to virtue … a life that is both agreeable and secure.” That might do for a philosopher, but it will never do for a Christian believer! Happiness is the by-product of a life that is lived in the will of God. When we humbly serve others, walk in God’s paths of holiness, and do what He tells us, then we will enjoy happiness...

The servant (slave) is not greater than his master; so, if the master becomes a slave, where does that put the slave? On the same level as the master! By becoming a servant, our Lord did not push us down: He lifted us up! He dignified sacrifice and service. You must keep in mind that the Romans had no use for humility, and the Greeks despised manual labor. Jesus combined these two when He washed the disciples’ feet. The world asks, “How many people work for you?” but the Lord asks, “For how many people do you work?"

When I was ministering at a conference in Kenya, an African believer shared one of their proverbs with me: “The chief is servant of all.” How true it is that we need leaders who will serve and servants who will lead. G.K. Chesterton said that a really great man is one who makes others feel great, and Jesus did this with His disciples by teaching them to serve...

Be sure to keep these lessons in their proper sequence: humbleness, holiness, happiness. Submit to the Father, keep your life clean, and serve others. This is God’s formula for true spiritual joy.

Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 347). Victor Books.

“We can transfer that warning to everyone reading this book. If you are reading this and have not been washed by Christ, you will have no part with Him in the Father’s house. Jesus was preparing His disciples for that cleansing that would once and for all deliver them from their sin” -R.C. Sproul

“We’ve already seen Jesus making the point in the final weeks of His life, “Unless you’re willing to participate in My humiliation, you have no part in My exaltation.” Our very baptism is a sign not only of our being raised with Christ, but of our being buried with Christ. It is a sign that we join Him in His humiliation so that we may have a part in His glory.”

“Jesus told Simon, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean” (v. 10a). In the ancient world, when a person took a bath, he was clean until he walked outside in the dust in his bare feet or in open sandals. He could keep the rest of his body relatively clean, but his feet got dirty quickly. That’s why there was the ritual of the cleansing of the feet without having to take a complete bath. Jesus told Peter, “When I wash your feet, I make you clean all over.” One touch of the cleansing power of Christ cleanses us from all sin.” -RC Sproul

Illustration:

In 1912, when the Titanic struck the iceberg, there weren’t enough lifeboats. Hundreds were left in the freezing Atlantic waters. One survivor later testified that while clinging to debris, she heard a man swimming from person to person, shouting, “Are you saved? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!” That man was John Harper, a Scottish pastor. He gave away his life jacket to another passenger, and with his last breaths he pleaded with people to turn to Christ before they slipped under the waves.

Connection to Sermon:

Like those passengers, every one of us is sinking without Christ. The signs have been given, the call is clear—Jesus is the light of the world, sent not to condemn but to save. His words are life, but they will also be our judge. Don’t harden your heart. Step into His light today while there is still time.

INVITATION

What about you?

Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.

Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)

Pray

NOTES

"In 1970 I was among 12,300 delegates to Inter-Varsity's Urbana conven-tion, where we heard John Stott give a masterful application of the truth of this passage. He told a story about Samuel Logan Brengle:

In 1878 when William Booth's Salvation Army had just been so named, men from all over the world began to enlist. One man, who had once dreamed of himself as a bishop, crossed the Atlantic from America to England to enlist. He was a Methodist minister, Samuel Logan Brengle. And he now turned from a fine pastorate to join Booth's Salvation Army. Brengle later became the Army's first American-born commissioner. But at first Booth accepted his services reluctantly and grudgingly. Booth said to Brengle, "You've been your own boss too long." And in order to instill humility into Brengle, he set him to work cleaning the boots of the other trainees. And Brengle said to himself, "Have I followed my own fancy across the Atlantic in order to black boots?" And then as in a vision he saw Jesus bending over the feet of rough, unlettered fishermen. "Lord," he whispered, "You washed their feet: I will black their boots."

If we are to count ourselves as followers of Christ, there must be humble service in our lives. We must be people of the towel." -Hughes

"Perhaps as good a commentary as any on our passage is supplied by the following paragraph from the biography of Robert Cleaver Chapman:

No task was too lowly for Chapman. Visitors were particularly impressed by his habit of cleaning the boots and shoes of his guests.

Indeed, it was on this point he met with most resistance, for those who stayed with him were conscious that despite the simplicity of his house he was a man of good breeding, and when they had heard him minister the Word with gracious authority, they were extremely sensitive about allowing him to perform so menial a task for them. But he was not to be resisted. On one occasion a gentleman, having regard no doubt to his host's gentle birth and high spiritual standing, refused at first to let him take away his boots. 'T insist', was the firm reply. 'In former days it was the practice to wash the saints' feet. Now that this is no longer the custom, I do the nearest thing, and clean their shoes." -FF Bruce

OUTLINE

See above

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. What do I want them to know?

  2. Why do I want them to know it?

  3. What do I want them to do?

  4. Why do I want them to do it?

  5. How do they do this?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh Wredberg

The Gospels & Epistles of John, FF Bruce

John, RC Sproul

John, Köstenberger

The Gospel According to John, DA Carson

Let's Study John, Mark Johnston

The Light Has Come, Leslie Newbigin (TLHC)

The Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner (TVW)

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee (TTB)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

Nicky Gumbel bible reading plan app or via YouVersion

Claude.ai

ChatGPT AI

Grok AI

Perplexity.ai

Google Gemini AI

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipDarien Gabriel, Ladson, SC, non denominational church, bible believing church, Signs and Glory
What Jesus Says About Belief & Unbelief | John 12:37-50 | Darien Gabriel
What Jesus Says About Belief & Unbelief | John 12:37-50 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: What Jesus says about belief & unbelief

Scripture: John 12:37-50

Isaiah 6:1-11; 10:16-21; 52:13-15; 53:1

Mark 4:9-12

John 1:9-12; 3:16-18

Acts 2:23; 28:26

Romans 11:7-25

Bottom line: Jesus tells us that belief requires God to sovereignly act and people to respond by grace through faith.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. OUTLINES

  7. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  8. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

Opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

Imagine a chess grandmaster playing against an amateur.

  • The amateur makes his own moves—freely, willingly, even thinking he’s clever.

  • Yet every move he makes only brings about the outcome the grandmaster already foresaw and planned.

  • The grandmaster isn’t forcing the amateur’s hand; the amateur plays by his own desires. But every move still accomplishes the grandmaster’s strategy.

In the same way:

  • The people in John 12 made real choices—they saw the signs and would not believe (responsibility).

  • Yet their choices fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy, because God had already declared the outcome—they could not believe apart from His sovereign purpose (sovereignty).

  • Like the master chess player, God is never surprised. Even unbelief fits into His strategy to reveal His glory in Christ.

Bottom line: Jesus tells us that belief requires God to sovereignly act and people to respond by grace through faith.

OUTLINE (w/ help from Outline Bible)

Jesus & the Passover Crowd (12:30-50)

    • The first session (12:30-36) LAST WEEK

      • Jesus tells them both the world and Satan will soon be judged (12:30-31)

      • He will save men by way of the cross (12:32-34)

      • They need to accept him before it is too late (12:35-36)

    • The second session (12:37-50) THIS WEEK

      • The prophecy (12:37-41): Jesus tells the Jewish crowd their unbelief was predicted centuries before by Isaiah (Isaiah 53:1; 6:10)

      • The praise seekers (12:42-43): Some Jewish leaders believe Jesus is the Messiah but will not confess him, for they love men's praise more than God's praise.

      • The promise (12:44-50): To accept Christ is to accept the Father, which leads to life everlasting.

        • NOTE: FF Bruce says that John is summarizing the main themes of Jesus' public ministry in 44-50 and

        • Reflects the lack of positive response he had from the Jews.

        • Jesus explains why this happened--it was prophesied to.

        • He withdraws now to prepare for his inner circle--those who do believe.

        • John prepares the reader for this lack of positive response in John 1:11.

        • It's not Jesus' purpose to judge but judgment is coming. "It's not the purpose of the sun's shining to cast shadows, but when the sun shines, shadows are inevitable."

CONCLUSION

How to break a hard heart according to Ray Comfort: Use the 10 Commandments.

Chat GPT says, "Ray Comfort’s style is very direct, urgent, and law-to-gospel focused. He often uses the Ten Commandments to expose sin, then pivots quickly to the cross of Christ. Here’s a summary of how he might say it:

Many people think they’re good enough for God. But let’s test that by the Ten Commandments. Have you ever told a lie? That makes you a liar. Have you ever stolen anything, no matter how small? That makes you a thief. Have you ever used God’s name in vain? That’s blasphemy. Jesus said if you look with lust, you’ve committed adultery in your heart. By your own admission, you’re a lying, thieving, blasphemous adulterer at heart—and that’s just four of the commandments.

When you stand before a holy God, will you be innocent or guilty? Guilty. And if God is just, He must punish sin. The punishment is eternal separation from Him in Hell.

But here’s the good news: God loved you so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take your punishment. He lived the perfect life you could not live, and then died the death you deserve. On the cross, He bore your guilt, and then He rose from the dead, defeating sin and death.

If you repent—turn from your sin—and put your trust in Jesus alone, God will forgive you, give you a new heart, and grant you eternal life. Not because you’re good, but because Jesus is good, and He paid it all. That’s the mercy He offers you today.”

Illustration:

In 1912, when the Titanic struck the iceberg, there weren’t enough lifeboats. Hundreds were left in the freezing Atlantic waters. One survivor later testified that while clinging to debris, she heard a man swimming from person to person, shouting, “Are you saved? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!” That man was John Harper, a Scottish pastor. He gave away his life jacket to another passenger, and with his last breaths he pleaded with people to turn to Christ before they slipped under the waves.

Connection to Sermon:

Like those passengers, every one of us is sinking without Christ. The signs have been given, the call is clear—Jesus is the light of the world, sent not to condemn but to save. His words are life, but they will also be our judge. Don’t harden your heart. Step into His light today while there is still time.

INVITATION

What about you?

Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.

Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)

Pray

NOTES

Passage Flow

  1. Persistent Unbelief (vv. 37–41)

    • Despite so many miraculous signs, people still don’t believe.

    • John interprets this through Isaiah 53:1 and Isaiah 6:10—hard hearts, blinded eyes.

    • Even some leaders believe but won’t confess, because they love human praise more than God’s glory.

  1. Jesus’ Final Appeal (vv. 44–50)

    • Jesus cries out publicly one last time.

    • To believe in Him is to believe in the Father who sent Him.

    • He came as light, not to judge, but to save.

    • Yet His word will judge those who reject Him.

    • His words are the Father’s words—life-giving and eternal.

Major Themes

  • The Tragedy of Unbelief: Signs are not enough if hearts are hardened.

  • The Cost of Secret Faith: Loving human approval more than God’s glory leads to compromise.

  • Jesus’ Mission and Authority: He came as light to save, but rejection of His word brings judgment.

  • The Father’s Voice in Jesus’ Words: To receive Jesus is to receive the Father Himself.

"These words from Isa. 6:10 constitute one of the most primitive Christian 'testimonies' from the OT, adduced at an early date to account for the problem of Jewish unresponsiveness to the gospel.

In Mark 4:12 and the two Synoptic parallels the passage is associated with our Lord's choice of the parabolic method in teaching; in Acts 28:26 f. it is quoted by Paul to the leaders of the Jewish colony in Rome, while its thought (and possibly its language) underlies Paul's exposition in Rome. II:7-2s of the partial and temporary 'hardening' which has befallen Israel. (Paul there uses the same word for 'hardening' or 'making obtuse' - G. poroo - as John uses here to render Heb. hashmen, strictly 'make fat', which is rendered more literally in the xx.

When Isaiah was commissioned to undertake his prophetic min-istry, he was warned in advance that the people to whom he was sent would pay no attention to him - that indeed all his words would be counter-productive and make them close their ears the more decisively. This would be the effect of his ministry, but it was not its purpose (its purpose was that they might turn and be healed'); it is expressed, however, as though God were actually sending him in order that his hearers would not listen to him. This Hebraic fashion of expressing result as though it were purpose has influenced John's wording - both in the introductory formula in order that the saying of Isaiah might be fulfilled' in verse 38 and again in the words "This is the reason they were unable to believe' in verse 39. Not one of them was fated to be incapable of belief; it is made plain below (verse 42) that some did in fact believe. But the OT prediction had to be fulfilled, and fulfilled it was in those who, as a matter of fact, did not believe. From the NT writers' point of view, the unreceptive hearing which Isaiah was promised was not exhausted in the circumstances of his personal ministry: it was experienced by one prophet after another and found its..." -FF Bruce

"In that sense God himself, through the prophet, hardens the heart of people - a point later recognized by the prophet when he begs the Almighty to display himself in more merciful ways (Is. 63:15-19). The assumption that God may judicially harden men and women frequently surfaces in the New Testament (e.g. Rom. 9:18; 2 Thes. 2:11).

If a superficial reading finds this harsh, manipulative, even robotic, four things must constantly be borne in mind:

(1) God's sovereignty in these matters is never pitted against human responsibility (cf. notes on v. 38);

(2) God's judicial hardening is not presented as the capricious manipulation of an arbitrary potentate cursing morally neutral or even morally pure beings, but as a holy condemnation of a guilty people who are condemned to do and be what they themselves have chosen;

(3) God's sovereignty in these matters can also be a cause tor hope, for if he is not sovereign in these areas there is little point in petitioning him for help, while if he is sovereign the anguished pleas of the prophet (Is. 63:15-19) - and of believers throughout the history of the church - make sense;

(4) God's sovereign hardening of the people in Isaiah's day, his commissioning of Isaiah to apparently fruitless ministry, is a stage in God's 'strange work' (Is. 28:21-22) that brings God's ultimate redemptive purposes to pass. Paul argues rather similarly in Romans 9:22-33." -DA Carson

OUTLINE

See above

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. What do I want them to know?

  2. Why do I want them to know it?

  3. What do I want them to do?

  4. Why do I want them to do it?

  5. How do they do this?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh Wredberg

The Gospels & Epistles of John, FF Bruce

John, RC Sproul

John, Köstenberger

The Gospel According to John, DA Carson

Let's Study John, Mark Johnston

The Light Has Come, Leslie Newbigin (TLHC)

The Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner (TVW)

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee (TTB)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

Nicky Gumbel bible reading plan app or via YouVersion

Claude.ai

ChatGPT AI

Grok AI

Perplexity.ai

Google Gemini AI

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipLadson, SC, non denominational church, bible believing church, Darien Gabriel, Grace Christian Fellowship, Signs and Glory, John, belief, unbelief