Posts tagged John
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

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Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipGrace Christian Fellowship, Bible believing church, Ladson, SC, Darien Gabriel, John
How Can You Have Joy in a Troubled World? | John 16:16-33 | Mikey Brannon
How Can You Have Joy in a Troubled World? | John 16:16-33 | Mikey Brannon

How Can You Have Joy In A Troubled World?

Grace Christian Fellowship

John 16:16-33

Introduction:

Today we will continue and hopefully finish John 16 from where Darien left off

last week. If you recall, we are nearing the end of what we call the farewell

discourse. It is a long section of Scripture taking place in the upper room with

Jesus and his disciples just prior to his arrest, mock trial, conviction, and eventual

crucifixion. It is in these last moments that Jesus pours into his disciples his final

thoughts, his final instructions for what is to come.

I loved the way Darien framed this last week as he talked about a coach who had

trained his team, but all of the sudden before the big game he was gone. In fact I

remember in 2017 when Alabama was playing Clemson for the National

Championship game and Nick Saban fired the offensive coordinator just days

before the game because of distractions around Lane’s newly acquired job at

Florida Atlantic. Here was Lane who was the play caller and the mastermind

behind the offense and in the biggest game of their lives he was gone. Alabama

would go on to lose that game. To a much greater degree this must be how the

disciple feel as Jesus tells them he is going away and that he is going to be killed.

But Jesus is so full of compassion in these verses. He has every right to be focused

on his own task. After all he is the one who is about to go through this agonizing

death, but his focus is on his disciples. He doesn’t want them to worry. He wants

them to have greater faith. He wants them to have true joy that is bigger than their

circumstances. So let’s pick up in verse 16 as we answer the question, How can

you have joy in a trouble world.

In verses 16-21 I want us to see that (I) the sorrow is temporary

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16 "A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you

will see me."

All through the Bible we get the concept of messianic timing. It was the God

ordained time in which things were to occur. We see Jesus say things like “my

time has not yet come”. Jesus is trying to communicate to the disciples that the

time is near for his death. It is but “a little while away”.

I think it is difficult for us to really put ourselves in the place of the disciple

sometimes. These were just common men. Fishermen or tax collectors or whatever

they were. And all they have known to this point is to follow Jesus. They just

followed him. Tried to learn from him. They had no idea what is would be like

when he was gone.

In fact even that they haven’t really accepted. Their minds our clouded by

preconceptions of Judiasm. They don’t always follow what Jesus is teaching. And

they probably deep down hope that Jesus is going to establish some sort of earthly

rule that will provide them some security. We will see this in the garden when

Peter is ready to wage war to prevent Jesus from being taken.

But Jesus also says “in a little while” you will see me (again). Jesus want’s his

disciples to realize that the sorrow is only temporary. One of the things that my

wife, Brooke, always says is I can do anything as long as I know there is an end in

sight. Right, we just need some assurance that the difficult thing won’t last

forever. We need hope.

[Jhn 16:17 ESV] 17 So some of his disciples said to one another, "What is this that

he says to us, 'A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and

you will see me'; and, 'because I am going to the Father'?"

Now stop right here do you see something in verse 17 that was not in verse 16. We

now have this phrase “because I am going to the father”.

3

You see there is some debate around what the little while is. Is Jesus talking about

he is going to die, but the he is going to be resurrected in 3 days? Is that the little

while? Or is he talking about something else. I think the key to understanding is in

that phrase that we get from the disciples “because I am going to the father”. Look

back at verse 6.

[Jhn 16:7 ESV] 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go

away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will

send him to you.

So I believe the “little while and you will see me” is referring to the coming of the

Holy Spirit. That is the context of this entire chapter, the coming of what Paul

calls in Romans as “the Spirit of Christ”. So because I go away to the Father “not

his death, but his ascension”, the Holy Spirit will come like we see in Acts 2 at

Pentecost. Which really fits with the rest of the entire chapter.

Jesus wants them to know that the sorrow they will have is only temporary

18 So they were saying, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We do not know

what he is talking about." 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to

them, "Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, 'A little

while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me'?

Now I’m right on the line of being Gen X and Millennial, and sometimes when I

think back to my childhood I realize just how different we were built. I never

forget on teacher I had in shop class. Much of it was not about shop by the way.

Have you ever heard that there is no such thing as a dumb question? Well he

didn’t subscribe to that. I’ll never forget one day in class this guy in the back of

the room raised his hand and asked a question. I don’t remember what the question

was but it must have been a dumb one, because what I do remember is how that

shop teacher responded. He said real calmly, little man, did you know people

might think you’re a dummy, but they don’t really know for sure. But the moment

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you open your mouth and ask a question like that, everybody knows you’re a

dummy.

Proverbs 17:28: "Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he

closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent".

Now our disciple didn’t have Mr. McCreless but maybe they did read Proverbs

because nobody wants to ask the question. But Jesus is determined to show them

the temporary nature of their sorrow so he gives them an illustration.

[Jhn 16:20 ESV] 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the

world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.

Jesus knows that these disciples are headed for sorrow. The road will not be easy.

But ultimately they will have joy. And you as a believer has this very same

promise.

[Rom 5:2-5 ESV] 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this

grace in which we stand, and we rejoice (definition find deep and abiding joy) in

hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings,

knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character,

and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's

love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given

to us.

God is not allowing us to go through difficult seasons for no reason. He is

sovereign and in control of all things. And while we may not know His exact

purpose we can be assured that He is doing something in and through our trials.

Our sorrow is temporary but our joy is everlasting. Jesus further explains it this

way.

5

[Jhn 16:21 ESV] 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her

hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the

anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.

Jesus compares the suffering and the joy to a woman who is giving birth. Now, I

can tell you I have several children and I am somewhat of an expert you could say

in observing this phenomenon. I can tell you that the process appears from my

vantage point to be very, very difficult. But I will never forget the moment when

the first time in my life I heard the doctor say, I can see her head. It was as if in

that moment for the first time I really understood that I was about to be a Dad. I

was completely and totally responsible for another human being. I was filled with

an overwhelming amount of joy. And I remember when they handed my daughter

to my wife and she held her and she just smiled and cried these tears of joy. As

great as the pain and the suffering was, it was in that moment completely gone and

it was replaced with joy. And that joy of being a parent never goes away. Sure

there are difficult times, but it is lasting.

That brings me to my second point, (II)True Joy is Eternal

[Jhn 16:22 ESV] 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and

your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

This reunioun with Christ or the Spirit of Christ creates in us a joy that cannot be

taken from us by anyone.

Now this Jesus points to 2 characteristics of this Joy. There is joy in having direct

access to God in Prayer.

[Jhn 16:23-24 ESV] 23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say

to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until

now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy

may be full.

6

I will admit that I got hung up a little bit here. What does Jesus mean ask nothing

of me? Is he saying don’t pray to Jesus? No, that’s not it at all. You have to think

about this in the context of the disciples. Up until this point in their lives all they

have known about following Jesus has been to follow him. And if they were in

need they would ask him. Jesus would talk to the Father for them, and then things

would happen. In fact all of John 17 is going to be exactly that, Jesus praying on

behalf of the disciples to the Father.

So Jesus now because I am going away, things are going to be different, you now

have direct access to the Father. And he gives a promise, ask it in my name and

you will receive it. And then we get a “so that”. Why does the Father answer these

prayers? So that your “JOY” may be made full!

Now, what does it mean to pray in Jesus name?

First of all, it is our identity. We recognize and declare that we are in Christ. But

more importantly is aligns our motives. That is to say that if I pray for something

in the name of Jesus I am saying, Father I am asking this because I believe it is the

thing that Jesus would also pray. Not out of selfishness or ambition, but I truly

believe it is a desire of Christ for this thing to happen.

So not only is access to God in prayer a characteristic of joy, but also true Spiritual

Discernment. (25)

[Jhn 16:25 ESV] 25 "I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour

is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you

plainly about the Father.

I think one of the most profound parts of Scripture is in comparing the disciples

that are presented in the gospels. Often they appear confused, without direction,

they don’t understand, they have no vision of the Kingdom. They are being

repremanded for being out of line. But then Acts 2 happens.

And all of the sudden, these disciples are presented in a completely different light.

Teaching with authority. Some are writing Scripture in connection with the Holy

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Spirit. Preaching deep theological Kingdom truths. All of this after Jesus has

ascended!

Remember what Darien said last week in John 16:13

[Jhn 16:12-13 ESV] 12 "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear

them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth,

for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak,

and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

Not only is the Holy Spirit called the Spirit of Christ as we saw in Romans, but he

is called by John in this chapter as the “Spirit of Truth”. And knowing the truth is

a great source of our Joy.

So why does the Father want to answer our prayers, and why does he want us to

know the truth through discernment? Because he loves us. Verse 27.

[Jhn 16:27 ESV] 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me

and have believed that I came from God.

If you want to please the Father, or better yet if you want to be loved by the

Father, then he asks us to love His Son. How do you do you love the Son?

[Jhn 14:15 ESV] 15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

I want to be careful here, because I believe that you are saved by grace through

faith. Not of works lest any man should boast. There is no amount of good deeds

that can get you to heaven or earn one ounce of favor with God. But I do want to

make a connection between faith and obedience in light of John 14:15.

[2Co 13:5 ESV] 5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test

yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in

you?--unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

8

How do you know if you love Christ? How do you know if you are in the Faith?

What is the test. If you love Christ, you will desire to know his Word, and you will

desire to keep his commandments. You will not do it perfectly, you will fail, just

as I fail, but in you will be a desire to love God and to love people. There will be a

desire to flee from Sin. And when you fall into sin you will be broken unto

repentance. You are not saved by obedience, but obedience is an outpouring of a

life that is in Christ.

Some of you this morning may not know if you belong to Christ. Scripture calls us

to examine ourselves. It doesn’t ever say did you pray a prayer. Did you go

through confirmation, were you baptized? None of that. It always lands right here,

is your life bearing the fruit of the Spirit. And if it isn’t then you have cause for

great concern. If this is you then scripture is clear, believe on Jesus Christ today,

and repent and place your faith in him.

[Jhn 16:28-30 ESV] 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and

now I am leaving the world and going to the Father." 29 His disciples said, "Ah,

now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know

that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we

believe that you came from God."

In these verses we can see ourselves. We see the first elements of faith in that they

have an intellectual understanding of what Jesus is saying, but their faith is very

weak. Just like us.

We can read the truth of God, we can write in our journal. We can even pray about

some Scripture that we have read and think. That’s awesome God thank you for

showing my that truth. It can be a delightful experience to have with the Lord, and

I don’t want to take away from that. BUT, when do you really understand a

passage like this?

[Jhn 15:19 ESV] 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its

own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world,

therefore the world hates you.

9

It’s not really when you read it. On a deeper level you understand it when you

experience it. When do you really understand a passage like “Even though I walk

through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me”.

It’s not when you read it, when you understand it, it’s really when you live it.

I think Jesus’ tone in verse 31, is dripping with irony.

[Jhn 16:31 ESV] 31 Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe?

In fact if I were paraphrasing this verse into modern language it might go

something like, “oh do you now?”. They do understand to a degree, but the trials

that lie ahead of them are about to take this small faith and grow it into something

that is unshakable.

Peter who not long after this very moment will go on to deny Jesus 3 times. I don’t

know that man, I never heard of him. Who will hear the rooster crow and realize

that he has failed in his own power. The failed Peter who Jesus would return to

and ask the question, Peter do you love me? Peter do you love me? Peter do you

love me? I can almost here Jesus say after all that? Now Peter, now do you believe

me? And Peter would have said, Oh Lord, now because I have gone through all of

this, now I really believe!

It is that Peter, not failed Peter, but tested Peter, the redeemed Peter who goes on

to write this:

[1Pe 1:6-7 ESV] 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary,

you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your

faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be

found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

The test is coming vs 32.

10

[Jhn 16:32 ESV] 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you

will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not

alone, for the Father is with me.

They will fail. It doesn’t mean they aren’t believers. The test is for a purpose, to

strengthen, to grow.

Why am I telling you all this, Jesus says?

[Jhn 16:33 ESV] 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have

peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the

world."

Listen Church, Jesus doesn’t just speak these words to the disciples in the upper

room. I believe he has in mind, all of you, and me. And any disciple that would be

called to him. To believe in Jesus is to be at odds with the world. And there is a

promise here that in this world. In this evil system that you find yourself a part of.

you will have tribulation. You will have trouble. You will have sorrow.

Jesus says take heart, I have overcome the world. This is the victory. Only Jesus

can say this. Only he has the power. If I say cheer up, buck up, hang it there it is

meaningless, because I don’t have the power to do anything. Not the case with

Jesus. The creator, God himself, says, I know your trouble, but rest in me, because

I am the One that holds it all. We have nothing to worry about because of that.

 Lord’s Supper

 Invitation

o Are you going through a trial? Pray this morning that God would grow

your faith.

o Maybe this morning you know another believer who is going though

trials and God is showing you an opportunity to encourage them and

support them in the midst of it.

o Maybe this morning you have examined yourself and you have

concerns that your faith is not real.

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Guest UserGrace Christian FellowshipJohn, Mikey Brannon, Ladson, SC, Grace Christian Fellowship, bible-believing church, non-denominational church
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

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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
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 Does Jesus Prepare Us for What's Next? | John 13:18-38 | Darien Gabriel
How Does Jesus Prepare Us for What's Next? | John 13:18-38 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: How does Jesus prepare us for what's next?

Subtitle: Learning how to shine together in these dark days.

Scripture: John 13:18-38 NIV

Bottom line: Even (Especially) in dark times, Jesus prepares us to shine together.

Bottom line 2: Jesus prepares us to shine in the dark together by showing us his love, calling us to love one another, and showing us how to love each other even when we fail.

  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

On September 10th, 2025, thousands of people gathered at Utah Valley University to hear Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA and Turning Point Faith. Just 31 years old, outspoken, and unafraid to share his Christian faith — Charlie was shot and killed in front of a live audience. The news has shocked our country. Whatever you think about his politics, the suddenness of it all reminds us how fragile life really is, and how quickly everything can change.

Moments like this leave us asking: Are we really prepared for what’s ahead?

No doubt his death has shaken not only his followers but many of us who are for civil dialogue in the pursuit of truth and better ideas for our future as a nation. How should they at Turning Point proceed? How should we as Americans proceed? Most importantly, how should we as followers of Jesus Christ proceed?

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: Even (Especially) in dark times, Jesus prepares us to shine together.

CONTEXT

We've reached a turning point in the book of John not only from public ministry (mix of believers and unbelievers) to private (his followers) but even more so as Judas removes himself from The Twelve leaving the group made up solely of those who have been cleansed by belief in Jesus. We see this happen in verse 31.

As a result, and building on his call for them to serve one another, Jesus calls them to love one another as he has loved them. This is the most appropriate response to his cross-centered, obedient love for his Father and for us.

These are dark days, no doubt. And it's weeks like this when we feel like they're darker than ever.

The question is: Are you prepared and preparing yourself and your household (oikos), your family, your friends, your people--those you do life with?

Jesus gives us another example of his love and then sends us out as his ambassadors to shine brightly together in this dark world.

How? Well, let's read this and find out.

OUTLINE (w/ help from Kent Hughes and ChatGPT)

I. Love's Demonstration (18-30)

Jesus loved Judas and gave him every opportunity to embrace him then and there.

A. The Betrayal Foretold (18-30). Jesus reveals his knowledge of a betrayal by one of his 12 to the group. He loves his betrayer to the end giving him every opportunity to repent and believe.

He also expresses his pain in light of Psalm 41.

B. Psalm 41:9--Connection to John 13:

        • Jesus applies Psalm 41:9 to Judas. Just as David experienced betrayal from a trusted friend, so does the Son of David.

        • John presents it not as coincidence but as fulfillment of Scripture (13:18). Judas’ betrayal shows Jesus is the greater David, suffering the righteous one’s fate.

        • Key difference: David prayed for deliverance from his enemies; Jesus embraces betrayal as part of the Father’s plan to glorify Him through the cross.

II. Love's Demand (31-35)

Judas walks in darkness. Jesus willingly let him knowing it will lead to the cross. This willing obedience that will require infinite suffering will bring the Father glory and Jesus glory. It will also bring infinite good to those who trust and follow Jesus.

The demand of love is that we love each other as Jesus loved his disciples and loved us.

Last week we saw Jesus' love for his disciples exemplified in the washing of their feet. He called them to do this to/for one another. He continues this theme of light and love here.

A. The Glory Revealed (31-32)

B. The New Commandment Given (33-35) This "new commandment" is an expansion of his old command from Leviticus which said, "Love your neighbor as yourself."

      1. Love demands a new object: "one another" and not just your neighbor.

        1. Believers

        2. A very diverse group of people

          1. Masters and slaves

          2. Jews and Gentiles

          3. Men and women

          4. Rich and poor

          5. Gay and straight

          6. Strong and weak

          7. And yet the became a community of people held together by their love for God and each other. And this is how people knew they followed Jesus.

      2. Love demands a new means: "as I have loved you" not just as you love yourself.

      3. While it is admittedly difficult to love your neighbor as you love yourself, it's much more difficult to love others as Jesus loves us. (And maybe even harder to love each other this way)

C. The Denial Predicted (36-38)

    • Even our best intentions fail, but Jesus restores us by grace. Our weakness doesn’t cancel His mission.

III. Love's Denial (36-38) - Even our best intentions fail, but Jesus restores us by grace. Our weakness doesn’t cancel His mission.

CONCLUSION

Bottom line: Even (Especially) in dark times, Jesus prepares us to shine together.

King David was betrayed not only by his friend and chief advisor. I mean, you better trust your chief advisor. But he was betrayed by his son. You don't know pain until you've been betrayed by a close family member. (2 Samuel 15-17)

“David felt the sting of Ahithophel’s betrayal, but his greatest grief was for Absalom, his rebellious son. In the same way, Jesus felt the sting of Judas’ kiss, but even more, He bore the grief of a whole world of lost children — and He went to the cross so that rebels could be restored as sons and daughters of God.”

  • When darkness comes, we can hold on to his light and love as seen in:

    • His sovereignty (He knows).

    • His glory (He redeems suffering).

    • His command (love one another).

    • His grace (He restores the weak).

Think of a time when you were betrayed. Picture them. Now, think about God's light and love:

  • He knows about that and knew about that before you. He's sovereignly aware.

  • He redeems suffering. He can work grace into your life in and through the suffering you experienced.

  • He commands that you love them instead of hate; to forgive them and find healing for yourself.

  • His grace restores the weak and brokenhearted. His grace is enough for you.

    • Even in the darkest nights, Jesus prepares us not just to survive, but to shine — and to shine together.

“Friends, this is how Jesus prepares us for what’s next:

  • He knows — nothing surprises Him.

  • He redeems — suffering is never wasted.

  • He commands — love one another deeply.

  • He restores — even our failures can’t stop His grace.

So what’s next for you? Start with loving one another, serving one another, shining together in His light. That’s how we walk through dark days — not alone, but with Jesus, and with each other.”

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

Kent Hughes Outline

I. Love's Demonstration (18-30)

II. Love's Demand (31-35)

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 FellowshipGrace Christian Fellowship, Ladson, SC, John 13, Signs and Glory, John, non denominational church, bible believing church
To Believe or Not Believe... That is the Question | John 12:44-50 | Chris Karpus
To Believe or Not Believe... That is the Question | John 12:44-50 | Chris Karpus

To Believe or Not Believe…That is the Question

John 12:44-50

These verses are a summary of Jesus’ teaching – aimed at those who are still undecided…or unbelieving.

These verses, in some ways, are Jesus’ last verbal response to unbelief – He has already said all of these

things in part or in full elsewhere in the Gospel of John

- Jesus gives us a very clear presentation of the gospel

- Possibly Jesus’ final public address

Last week, Darien discussed why so few people believed in Jesus by going back even further to Isaiah

…God made it such that they could not believe because they would not believe

44  Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent

me.  45  The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me.  46  I have come into the world as a light, so

that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

47  “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to

judge the world, but to save the world.  48  There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not

accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.  49  For I did not speak

on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken.  50  I know that his

command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

- These verses contain a summary of Jesus’ message in which He emphasizes the close

relationship between Himself and His Father and between Himself and His words. He’s making

the point that choosing not to believe in Him means rejecting God Himself.

- Belief in Jesus is equal to embracing God

- To choose unbelief is choosing to willingly reject God

(v.44) to believe in Jesus is to believe in God

(v.45) to see Jesus is to see God

(v49) to listen to Jesus is to listen to God

There is an urgency in the last appeal of Jesus

- We are confronted with having to make an eternal decision about who we believe Jesus is, but we

don’t have eternity to make that decision.

- The implications of turning away from the light of God are so terrible in the extreme that Jesus is

making sure that people are clearly aware of them.

- Sin unrepentant of is sin condemned, and will be when the King returns “a dreadful thing to fall into

the hands of the living God’

Hebrews 10:26-31

26  If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for

sins is left,  27  but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies

of God.  28  Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three

witnesses.  29  How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled

the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified

them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?  30  For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will

repay,” [d]  and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” [e]   31  It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the

living God.

- There are consequences of the decision you make about Jesus – eternal consequences

- 44  Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who

sent me.  45  The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 

o Believe in Jesus – if we submit our lives in allegiance and obedience to Jesus – receive

eternal life – received by grace through faith

 Brought out of darkness and receive eternal life

 Because Jesus is God and one with the Father

John 1:1-3

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2  He was with

God in the beginning.  3  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been

made.

 There is still condemnation for sins, but that is what Jesus took on at the cross

v46: 46  I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

- Not the first time Jesus refers to Himself as light

John 8:12

12  When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will

never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

o Reject Jesus – If you reject Jesus, you are rejecting God – remain in darkness and be

condemned in the judgement on the last day…spiritual darkness…this is your verdict

- What does it mean to stay in darkness?

o Have you seen what’s going on in the world? (praying children murdered by an enabled

mentally ill man)

o Jesus is referring to spiritual darkness which results in wickedness, misery and suffering

o There is no wickedness or injustice in God – those come from man’s darkness – people who

do not know God

Example – walking around your house in the dark, when the light is available

- People might want the darkness because they think it hides their actions

- The problem with that is that everything will be brought into the light

Luke 8:17

17  For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or

brought out into the open.

- The light’s coming on whether you accept it now or not…so why not accept it now…why not accept

HIM now and live the life He has for you IN THE LIGHT?

To remain in darkness, means that the wrath of God remains on you – why would you choose that?

- To keep those idols we talked about a few weeks ago?

- To maintain a lifestyle you know is wrong?

Judgement has already been rendered on sin…sin has been condemned – we were already condemned.

Jesus has given us a choice to receive the pardon for our sin, which Jesus was condemned for… or do we

reject Jesus and His pardon and accept the judgement for our sin.

- Why would we accept the judgement for our sin if Jesus has already received that punishment for

us?

o Why would anyone choose to remain in darkness when the light is available?

Romans 6:23

23  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in [a]  Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus paid the penalty for our sin so that OUR verdict is not death

47  “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to

judge the world, but to save the world. 

Jesus didn’t come to condemn the world because it was already condemned. He came to save us…to

deliver us from death that we had already earned in our sinfulness.

Romans 5:8

8  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Out of God’s great love for us, Jesus came to save us from the wrath of God – the wrath for those

walking in darkness…choosing to walk in darkness

48  There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have

spoken will condemn them at the last day. 

The words of Jesus will serve as additional evidence for condemnation.

- Those who have heard about Jesus (all of us here) knowing what we have heard and seen, if we

choose to reject Him…and thereby reject God, it will convict us.

What about people who have never heard of Jesus and don’t have access to the Bible? They never heard

Jesus’ words…right? Why would God condemn someone for not believing in Jesus when they have never

heard of Him?

- They go to hell because they are sinners. Paul says in Romans 1 that God holds them accountable

for the general revelation of truth through creation and their conscience.

Romans 1:18-20

- 18  The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of

people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,  19  since what may be known about God is plain

to them, because God has made it plain to them.  20  For since the creation of the world God’s

invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood

from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

What Paul may be saying is that Ultimately, people are judged for their sin, not for their ignorance of

Jesus. (ignorance meaning – lack of knowledge of…)

Paul is telling us that God reveals Himself in ways that ALL humanity can and will experience.

The law of God is written on our hearts…even those tribes and communities that have never heard of

Jesus…try stealing something or killing someone…there will be punishment

The fact is…There is only one way to the Father

John 14:6

6  Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through

me.

You cannot say “I believe in the Father”, but don’t believe in Jesus. If you say I believe in God, but not

Jesus, then you don’t really believe in God.

- It’s easy to equate unbelief with indecision

- In this case, our unbelief is not a lack of information – In this passage, the Jews had seen and heard

enough to make a well-informed decision…so have we.

If you fail to turn to Jesus in faith, you will not be accepted by God. – In other words, If you choose not

to believe in Jesus, then God will judge you for your unbelief on the last day. (v.48)

- UNBELIEF is the conscious rejection of God and His word

Jesus draws a close relationship between Himself and His words.

What you do with Jesus’ words now, determine what those words will do to you later.

Jesus did not come into the world to judge it, but when He comes again He will judge

Matthew 25:31-46

31  “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious

throne.  32  All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another

as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  33  He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on

his left.

34  “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your

inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  35  For I was hungry and you

gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you

invited me in,  36  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison

and you came to visit me.’

37  “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and

give you something to drink?  38  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes

and clothe you?  39  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40  “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and

sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41  “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal

fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  42  For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was

thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,  43  I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed

clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44  “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes

or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45  “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do

for me.’

46  “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

A couple more questions…

Why Don’t People Believe in Jesus?

We’ve already talked about the answer to this – in some ways…

- People want to hold on to their idols

- People want to operate in the dark to conceal their actions

- Regarding the Jews who saw Jesus - In spite of overwhelming evidence that substantiated the

claims of Christ, why did most Israelites not believe?

- Unbelief is not due to intellectual deficiency or lack of knowledge. It is a response of a heart in

rebellion against God.

- You cannot coerce or manipulate someone into true belief from unbelief

- At times, the modern American church response to that is coercion…What!?

o We’re not going to overwhelm your senses and emotions and pretend that’s experiencing

God.

 It can happen, but manipulating people into thinking they believe when they

actually don’t is not what the Bible teaches us – it’s the worst thing we can do to

them

 Repent – Believe and Follow Jesus – commit everything you are to Him and walk in

the light…accept the redemption that He offers and change –

o Thank God He can and does use our feeble and misguided attempts

sometimes – He uses us in spite of ourselves – but he doesn’t want

us to use crutches or gimmicks – just the Word of God manifesting

itself through our lives…our words and actions

- That’s also part of why Christianity is not a religion that spreads by the sword – that’s not who Jesus

is. He pushed back on that while He was walking the earth, and pushes back against it now…

- Why Do People who DO believe in Jesus not act like it or share it?

- You’ve choses to walk in light…you’ve made that decision…

It should not be a surprise to the people around you that you follow Jesus

What you say and do reflects on who or what you follow.

Later in John, Jesus said to His Disciples “…As the Father has sent me, I also send you” (John 20:21)

The Lord himself was sent by the Father to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10) and He passed the baton

to His disciples…and to us

- We live in a culture that embraces pluralism and relativism and we are told every day that

proselytizing people or trying to be disciples who make disciples is taboo.

Penn Jillette – well know magician and atheist

“I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize. If you believe that there’s a heaven and hell, and

people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life or whatever…and you think that it’s not really

worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward…and atheists who think that people

shouldn’t proselytize…just leave me alone – keep your religion to yourself…How much do you have to

hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting

life is possible and not tell them that? I mean, if I believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that a truck was

coming at you and you didn’t believe it…that a truck was bearing down on you – there’s a certain point

where I tackle you, and this is more important than that.”

“He cared enough about me to proselytize and give me a Bible”

If you’re walking in the light, act like it…live like it…talk the talk and walk the talk too

Love God – Love people enough to share the gospel…the good news

Matthew 5:14-16

14  “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  15  Neither do people light a

lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the

house.  16  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and

glorify your Father in heaven.

There’s a decision to be made about Jesus… today is the day of salvation…now is the appointed time…

Jesus is reminding us in His final public address that an eternally consequential decision must be made…

2 Corinthians 6

 As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.  2  For he says,

“In the time of my favor I heard you,

    and in the day of salvation I helped you.” [a]

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

If you haven’t trusted in Jesus and chosen to believe in Him and accept His sacrifice for our sin, or

publicly declared Him as Lord of your life – would you do that today?

If you have chosen to make Jesus the focus of your life…I implore you to show that to the world.

Read More
Guest UserGrace Christian Fellowshipnon denominational church, Chris Karpus, Grace Christian Fellowship, Ladson, SC, belief, unbelief, Johbn, John, 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
Is Jesus Worth That Much to You? | John 12:1-11 | Darien Gabriel
Is Jesus Worth That Much to You? | John 12:1-11 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: “Is Jesus Worth That Much to You?"

Subtitle: "Extravagant worship springs from seeing Jesus’ infinite worth."

Scripture: John 12:1–11 (with parallels in Matt. 26:6–13; Mark 14:3–9)

Bottom line: True worship that is worthy of Jesus is costly, humble and lasting because it is the overflow of seeing the worth of Jesus.

  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

“But we have learned to avoid that sort of thing; we say that it just isn’t practical to be too bold in the proclamation of the gospel today. In other words, we have embraced expediency.

It has been said that the church in the United States of America has been placed on a reservation. We’re still allowed to exist; we’re still allowed to practice our faith; we’re still allowed to pray in our churches. But we are tacitly forbidden from moving off the reservation and into the public square to make public proclamations of faith.

For instance, if a Christian is asked to pray at a public event and then prays in Jesus’ name, he is almost certain to be excoriated for having the audacity to pray publicly in the name of Christ. We’re simply not allowed to do that today.”

“But I have noticed that it isn’t just secularists who howl when a Christian wanders off the reservation and proclaims the gospel in the public square. Other Christians also make a fuss. Why? Because when some Christians draw the ire of secular society, everyone who enjoys peace on the reservation becomes frightened that they will become targets of the enemy. Many who claim the name of Christ would rather live peacefully on the reservation than disturb the world with the good news.That’s exactly what happened in Jerusalem”

“ Those to whom God had entrusted the ministry of the truth of His Word compromised again and again so as not to upset the Romans and possibly endanger their positions of prestige. Thus, when Jesus attracted a following, the Jewish leaders said to themselves: “If we leave this man alone, He will stir up so much trouble that the Romans will take action. They’ll come after us because they’ll see that Jesus is a Jew, and we’ll be held responsible for not controlling one of our own. Then our place and our whole nation will be lost. So what are we going to do?” In short, the Jews wanted to prevent Jesus from causing a stir among the people lest they lose their positions of power”

John - An Expositional Commentary, R.C. Sproul

Bottom line: True worship that is worthy of Jesus is costly, humble and lasting because it is the overflow of seeing the worth of Jesus.

OUTLINE (with help from ChatGPT)

Purpose: To challenge believers to examine what Jesus is worth to them—and to act accordingly.

I. The Setting for Costly Worship (vv. 1–2)

• Context:

• Six days before Passover — Jesus’ final week before the cross.

• Dinner in Bethany, hosted in His honor.

• Lazarus, alive because of Jesus, is at the table.

• Application:

• Worship thrives in a context of gratitude (Lazarus alive) and fellowship (friends gathered).

• Do you make space in your life for intentional, focused worship of Jesus?

II. The Act of Costly Worship (v. 3)

• Mary’s Action:

• Amount: About 12 oz. of pure nard (worth a year’s wages).

• Method: She pours it on Jesus’ head and feet (harmonizing with Matt. 26 & Mark 14).

• Posture: Wiping His feet with her hair — humility, vulnerability, cultural scandal.

• Impact: The fragrance fills the whole house.

            • “This was an act of great devotion and humility. We have already seen that John the Baptist declared he was not worthy to untie Jesus’ sandal strap (John 1:27). A rabbi’s disciple was essentially a servant to his teacher, but he was never required to attend to his master’s feet, for that was considered the lowest task of all. When John said he was not worthy to untie Jesus’ sandal strap, he was saying he was lower than a disciple. Mary probably felt the same way, but she gladly cleansed Jesus’ feet” John - An Expositional Commentary, R.C. Sproul

• Application:

• Worship that costs nothing is worth nothing (2 Sam. 24:24).

• What’s your “jar of nard”—the thing of greatest value you would pour out for Him?

• True worship is public, humble, and leaves a lasting influence.

III. The Objection to Costly Worship (vv. 4–6)

• Judas’ Complaint:

• Claims the perfume should have been sold to help the poor.

• Real motive: greed and self-interest (he stole from the money bag).

• Principle:

• Hypocrisy often cloaks itself in noble language.

• There will always be critics when you worship extravagantly.

• Application:

• Don’t let the criticism of others rob you of devotion to Christ.

• Examine your own heart: am I defending a lesser priority over the worth of Jesus?

IV. The Commendation of Costly Worship (vv. 7–8)

• Jesus’ Defense:

• “Leave her alone… It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.”

• Mary’s act is prophetic—she is doing what others will miss after His death.

• “The poor you will always have…” — not dismissing the poor, but highlighting the uniqueness of this moment.

• Application:

• There are moments of obedience and devotion that cannot be delayed—do them now.

• Jesus treasures and defends the worship offered to Him.

V. The Aftermath of Costly Worship (vv. 9–11)

• Crowd Reaction:

• Many come to see both Jesus and Lazarus.

• Religious Leaders’ Reaction:

• They plot to kill Lazarus too, because his life is drawing people to Jesus.

• Application:

• Your devotion may attract some and provoke others.

• A transformed life is a powerful witness—but it may also invite opposition.

CONCLUSION

Bottom line: True worship that is worthy of Jesus is costly, humble and lasting because it is the overflow of seeing the worth of Jesus.

Call to Action:

1. Examine His worth to you — Do your actions match your beliefs about Jesus’ value?

2. Bring your “jar of nard” — What is the most valuable offering you can give Jesus today?

3. Act while you can — Mary seized her moment; so should you.

Closing Illustration:

The missionary widow selling her only cow to fund a church roof, or a believer giving up a career for the sake of ministry—and connect it to Mary’s act.

If Jesus is worth everything, then nothing is wasted when it’s given to Him.

INVITATION

What about you? What is your "jar of nard"?

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

Passion Week Travel Timeline

Friday (before sunset)

  • Jesus travels from Ephraim (John 11:54) toward Bethany.

  • Arrives before Sabbath begins at sundown.

  • Likely stays with Lazarus’ family or nearby.

Saturday (Sabbath)

  • Daytime: Rest and worship (no long travel).

  • After sunset (end of Sabbath): A dinner is held in His honor (John 12:2).

    • Mary anoints Jesus (John 12:3, Matt. 26:6–13; Mark 14:3–9).

Sunday (Palm Sunday)

  • The next morning, Jesus rides into Jerusalem in the Triumphal Entry (John 12:12–15).

“But we have learned to avoid that sort of thing; we say that it just isn’t practical to be too bold in the proclamation of the gospel today. In other words, we have embraced expediency.It has been said that the church in the United States of America has been placed on a reservation. We’re still allowed to exist; we’re still allowed to practice our faith; we’re still allowed to pray in our churches. But we are tacitly forbidden from moving off the reservation and into the public square to make public proclamations of faith. For instance, if a Christian is asked to pray at a public event and then prays in Jesus’ name, he is almost certain to be excoriated for having the audacity to pray publicly in the name of Christ. We’re simply not allowed to do that today.”

“But I have noticed that it isn’t just secularists who howl when a Christian wanders off the reservation and proclaims the gospel in the public square. Other Christians also make a fuss. Why? Because when some Christians draw the ire of secular society, everyone who enjoys peace on the reservation becomes frightened that they will become targets of the enemy. Many who claim the name of Christ would rather live peacefully on the reservation than disturb the world with the good news.That’s exactly what happened in Jerusalem”

“ Those to whom God had entrusted the ministry of the truth of His Word compromised again and again so as not to upset the Romans and possibly endanger their positions of prestige. Thus, when Jesus attracted a following, the Jewish leaders said to themselves: “If we leave this man alone, He will stir up so much trouble that the Romans will take action. They’ll come after us because they’ll see that Jesus is a Jew, and we’ll be held responsible for not controlling one of our own. Then our place and our whole nation will be lost. So what are we going to do?” In short, the Jews wanted to prevent Jesus from causing a stir among the people lest they lose their positions of power”

Excerpt From John - An Expositional Commentary

R.C. Sproul, This material may be protected by copyright.

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 Fellowshipnon denominational church, bible believing church, Darien Gabriel, Grace Christian Fellowshio, Grace Christian Fellowship, John, Mary, perfume, Jesus, Signs and Glory
What Do You Do With Rejection of Evidence? | John 10:22-42 | Ken Dorrity
What Do You Do With Rejection of Evidence? | John 10:22-42 | Ken Dorrity

What Do You Do with Rejection of Evidence?     

John 10:22-42             


John states the purpose in John 20:30-31.  30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.


A.   The Ministry of the Pre-incarnate King (1:1-18)

B.    The Ministry of the Incarnate King (1:19-19:42)

C.   The Ministry of the Risen King (20:1-21:25)


 I.         Jesus Uncovers the Reasons for Their Rejection   John 10:22-26

II.         Jesus Uncovers the Ramifications of Their Rejection John 10:27-31

 III.         Jesus Uncovers the Foolishness of Their Rejection John 10:32-42         


The debate is now on with the gathered Jews, centering around 2 titles:  1.    Messiah (24-30) & 2.  Son of God (31-39)     


Blessing & Privileges of followers

1.    Summoned people – hear the voice v27

2.    Gifted people – eternal life v28

3.    Secured people – v29

Read More
Ken DorrityGrace Christian FellowshipGrace Christian Fellowship, Ladson, SC, non denominational church, bible believing church, John, Signs & Glory, rejection
Am I living in the Light - or just near it? | John 8:12-30 | Darien Gabriel
Am I living in the Light - or just near it? | John 8:12-30 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: “Am I living in the Light--or just near it?

Subtitle:

Scripture: John 8:12-30

Bottom line: Jesus is the Light of the World. To follow Him is to walk in light, know God, and live. To reject Him is to remain in darkness and die in your sin.

  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

"Have you ever tried going through an obstacle course blindfolded? The smallest obstacles become difficult obstructions. If we are not walking in the light of Christ, the obstacles that should not be a problem are great stumbling blocks to us. But when we have that light, we understand how to make our way through this dark world." -Hughes, p. 234

Air Florida Flight ✈️ 90

"Arland Williams and five others knew their situation was hopeless.

Floating in the icy Potomac River, the six survivors of Air Florida Flight 90 knew there was no way to reach the shore just forty yards away.

They could hear the rescuers trying to reach them, but each attempt to cross the icy waters failed. Just as they were giving up hope, they heard the sound of an approaching helicopter. A life ring fell into the hands of one of the survivors, and he was pulled to safety. Next it fell in Arland's hands. He could be saved. But before the helicopter could pull him up, he handed the life ring to someone else. The chopper could only hold two, so it turned toward the shore and sped away. Just a few minutes later it returned. Again the life ring fell into Arland's hands, and again he handed it to someone else. The third time he did the same.

There would be no fourth opportunity. By the time the helicopter had returned, Arland had disappeared below the surface.

In 2007 an article was written about Arland Williams's sacrifice and appeared in Men's Health magazine. After recounting Williams's story, the author of the article asks,

Why would anyone put the lives of strangers ahead of his own?

He couldn't even see the faces of the people he was saving, because they were on the opposite side of the wreckage, yet he made a sacrifice for them that their best friends might have refused. (McDougall, "The Hidden Cost of Heroism")

The concepts of heroism and self-sacrifice puzzle the writer. Why would someone die for someone he didn't know? He tries to analyze it scientifically and concludes,

Extreme heroism springs from something that no scientific theory can fully explain; it's an illogical impulse that flies in the face of biology, psychology, actuarial statistics, and basic common sense. (Ibid.)

He even quotes Charles Darwin, who "couldn't figure out how to crowbar heroism into his survival-of-the-fittest theory" (ibid.). Darwin said,

He who was ready to sacrifice his life, as many a savage has been, rather than betray his comrades, would often leave no offspring to inherit his noble nature. (Ibid.)

After examining the story and different theories, the writer concludes that though the act was heroic, there would be no one to pass down the family name."  Carter, pp. 189-190

More on crash:

https://www.perplexity.ai/search/44ed00c4-9db0-41ca-b62e-70378c94be00#0

OUTLINE (includes some input from ChatGPT)

Bottom line: Jesus is the Light of the World.

To follow Him is to walk in light, know God, and live.

To reject Him is to remain in darkness and die in your sin.

Are You Living in the Light—or Just Near It?

Illustration: “Lost in the Cave”

A few years ago, a soccer team of twelve boys and their coach were trapped deep inside a cave in Thailand. Rising floodwaters had cut off their way out, and they were completely in the dark. One of the greatest challenges rescuers faced wasn’t just the physical danger—it was the total absence of light. In complete darkness, there’s no sense of direction, no way to move forward, no way to know what’s safe or deadly. The first thing rescuers brought them wasn’t food or even water—it was light. Only with light could they begin the journey toward life again.

In John 8:12, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.” Without Him, we are spiritually trapped—no direction, no hope. But with Him, we not only see clearly—we live.

I. Jesus is the Light of the World (v. 12)

  • Following Jesus means walking no longer in darkness.

  • You receive the light of life—truth, clarity, and direction.

  • Light is essential for spiritual life.

Application:

→ Walk in the light as He is in the light.

→ Shine like stars in a dark and crooked world (Philippians 2:15).

II. To Know Jesus is to Know God (v. 19)

  • Jesus is one with the Father—there is no knowing God apart from Him.

  • Religion without relationship with Jesus is still darkness.

Application:

→ Humble yourself and respond to God’s call to know Him today.

→ Don’t settle for proximity to spiritual things—pursue Christ.

III. Apart from Jesus, You Will Die in Your Sin(s) (vv. 21–24)

  • Those who reject Jesus remain “of this world,” in rebellion.

  • The consequence is not just spiritual wandering—it’s spiritual death.

Application:

→ Believe that Jesus is who He says He is and will do what He promised.

→ Without faith in Him, sin still owns you.

IV. Follow Jesus the Way Jesus Followed the Father (vv. 25–30)

  • Jesus lived sent—submissively, sacrificially, and obediently.

  • He didn’t act independently but responded to the Father in everything.

Application:

→ Follow Jesus in the same way: as a mission-minded, obedient light-bearer.

→ You are now the light of the world on Jesus’ behalf (Matthew 5:14–16).

CONCLUSION

'Crazy Love'

Francis Chan’s mother died giving birth to him. The only affection he can remember receiving from his father lasted about thirty seconds when he was on the way to his stepmother’s funeral aged nine. When he was twelve, his father also died. Francis cried, but also felt relieved. Francis is now a pastor. He and his wife, Lisa, have seven children. When his children were born, his own love for his children and his desire for their love was so strong that it opened his eyes to how much God desires and loves *us*. He said, ‘Through this experience, I came to understand that my desire for my children is only a faint echo of God’s great love for me and for every person he made… I love my kids so much it hurts.’ Calling his first book *Crazy Love*, he wrote, ‘The idea of Crazy Love has to do with our relationship with God. All my life I’ve heard people say, “God loves you.” It’s probably the most insane statement you could make to say that the eternal Creator of this universe is in love with me. There is a response that ought to take place in believers, a crazy reaction to that love. Do you really understand what God has done for you? If so, why is your response so lukewarm?’ The word ‘zeal’ implies an *intense or passionate desire*. It can be misdirected, but as Paul writes, it is right to be zealous provided that the purpose is good (Galatians 4:18). Elsewhere he says, ‘Never be lacking in zeal’ (Romans 12:11). Perhaps a good modern translation of the word ‘zeal’ is ‘crazy love’.

Bottom line: Jesus is the Light of the World.

`To follow Him is to walk in light, know God, and live.

To reject Him is to remain in darkness and die in your sin.

Who do you trust?

"All the time we each decide whom to trust.

When we pick up medicine from the pharmacy, we trust our doctor who prescribed it and our pharmacist who prepared it. We also trust the company that developed it and the government that approved it, plus the people who trained the doctor and pharmacist and the many hands at the drug company who prepared and packaged it.

When it comes to physical life, we trust our care to a lot of people.

When it comes to your spiritual life, whom do you trust?

Your authority is either yourself—what you think, how you feel, what you have experienced—or it's God and what he says.

Do you really want to trust yourself with your eternal future? You are flesh. You didn't exist until thirty or fifty or eighty years ago. You can't keep yourself from getting sick or hurt. You cannot guarantee you will be alive tomorrow.

Do you really think you're the best choice to be the ultimate authority in your life?" -Carter

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

Isaiah 49:6 light

Psalm 27:1 light

Exodus 14:19-20 light

Malachi 4:2 light

Luke 1:78-79 light

Exodus 13:21–22

Ephesians 5:8

Matt 5:14; 13:43

Phil 2:15 stars in the sky

Numbers 6:24-26 benediction

Numbers 9:15-22 cloud & Fire

John 3:14 lifted up

Isaiah 43:11-13 "I am he"

Imagine you’re in a remote cabin deep in the woods. Night falls quickly, and darkness surrounds you. You fumble for a flashlight or a lantern, and there it is—sitting on the table, fully charged and ready.

But instead of turning it on, you leave it sitting there. You try to find your way in the dark—bumping into furniture, stumbling over bags, even hurting yourself. You complain that it’s too dark, that you can’t see where you’re going, that you’re scared.

And all the while… the light is right there.

Jesus is the Light of the World. He’s not a philosophy or an idea—He’s a living Person who brings truth, clarity, and life. But you have to turn to Him. You have to walk in the light—not just be near it.

Don’t go home tonight bumping around in the dark when the Light has already come.

Historical and Liturgical Background: Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot)

  • Timing:

    John 7–8 takes place during or just after the Feast of Tabernacles, one of the three major Jewish pilgrimage festivals. It commemorated Israel’s 40 years in the wilderness after the Exodus, when God provided water, food, and guidance.

  • The Setting of John 8:12:

    Jesus says, “I am the light of the world,” likely in the Temple courts (v. 20 specifies “in the temple treasury,” which was in the Court of Women).

John 8:28 video link

https://youtu.be/CZSlHdEoz40?si=OD54C1Ch0BKCQKc6

The Four Giant Candelabras

During the Feast of Tabernacles, Jewish tradition says that in the Court of Women, the priests lit four huge candelabras (sometimes described as 75 feet tall) every night:

  • Each had four golden bowls at the top, with strong young priests climbing ladders to fill them with oil and light them.

  • The light was so bright, Jewish writings say, that “there was not a courtyard in Jerusalem that did not reflect the light from the Temple.”

  • This lighting ceremony celebrated God’s presence—especially the pillar of fire that guided Israel through the wilderness (Exodus 13:21–22).

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

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, John, Signs and Glory
Why Do People Reject Jesus? | John 7:1-52 | Darien Gabriel
Why Do People Reject Jesus? | John 7:1-52 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: “Why Do People Reject Jesus?”

Subtitle:

Scripture: John 7:1-52

Isaiah 55:1-7

Jeremiah 2:13

Deuteronomy 18:15-18, Acts 3:20-22

Matthew 10:34-35

Look for the drama in scripture

Bottom line: People reject Jesus for many reasons, but He still calls the thirsty to come and receive real life.

  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

Some people in history seem to split the world in two. Say their name, and you immediately stir debate. Martin Luther King Jr.—hero of justice or dangerous disruptor? Galileo—scientific genius or arrogant heretic? Nelson Mandela, Joan of Arc, Malcolm X—each one beloved by some, opposed by others. But history’s most polarizing figure? Jesus. No one sparked more debate, division, or devotion. And in John 7, we see that clearly. The question is: Why do people reject Him—and could we be doing the same?

John Bunyan knew all about that and wrote, "There was a man, the world did think him mad, the more he gave away, the more he had."

Feast of Tabernacles...

  1. Originally a harvest festival coming at the end of the last major harvest of the year (grapes). They celebrated God who brought the rain.

  2. Became a celebration of God's deliverance of Israel through the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness where God had to supernaturally supply them water for the whole nation in the desert.

  3. It had eschatological hopes

    1. For the restoration of the nation of Israel

    2. For the ingathering of all nations under God

  4. Jesus presents himself as God's agent to make these end time events a reality. He does this as the source of life--abundant (like being celebrated during this festival) and eternal (like living water).

Bottom line: People reject Jesus for many reasons, but He still calls the thirsty to come and receive real life.

In his last 6 months, Jesus enters Jerusalem during the Feast of Tabernacles surrounded by confusion, debate and division over who he is and why he matters. This is the context around his famous teaching about the Holy Spirit's role when he ascends and why he's called living water.

 

OUTLINE (input from ChatGPT)

1. Some reject Jesus because He doesn’t follow their expectations.

(John 7:1–10)

  • Jesus’ own brothers didn’t believe because He didn’t fit their agenda or timeline.

  • We still wrestle with disappointment or control when Jesus won’t do what we want, when we want.

2. Some reject Jesus because His truth exposes their hypocrisy.

(John 7:11–24)

  • Jesus confronts those judging Him wrongly, especially for healing on the Sabbath.

  • We resist truth when it challenges our comfort, image, or self-righteousness.

3. Some reject Jesus because of assumptions and incomplete knowledge.

(John 7:25–36)

  • The crowd “knows” where Jesus is from and assumes He can’t be the Christ.

  • Spiritual blindness often comes from thinking we already understand everything.

4. Some reject Jesus because they fear people more than God.

(John 7:40–52)

  • Division rises. Leaders pressure, mock, and dismiss. Nicodemus is silenced.

  • Following Jesus means risking disapproval—but silence is a choice too.

5. But Jesus still calls: If you’re thirsty, come to Me and drink.

(John 7:37–39)

  • On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus invites all to receive living water—the Holy Spirit.

  • Rejection isn’t the end of the story. Jesus still offers Himself to anyone willing to come in faith.

CONCLUSION

Bottom line: People reject Jesus for many reasons, but He still calls the thirsty to come and receive real life.

"For decades one of the first places immigrants to America landed was Ellis Island. They came hoping for a better life, longing for a chance to find happiness. Near Ellis Island was a statue, and the statue was an invitation.

A poem by Emma Lazarus captured the invitation:

"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she With silent lips.

"Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

What a beautiful invitation. "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses."

Jesus extends a better invitation. "Come, weary and broken. Come, thirsty and dying. Come to me and find life."" -Carter, p. 181

The Lion

"How are we to drink this water? Although the offer is free and open to all, there are yet some terms to be met. C. S. Lewis in his children's novel The Silver Chair puts his finger on this in the clearest of terms. Jill, seeing a lion, is scared out of her wits and runs into the forest. She runs so hard that she wears herself out and is just about to die of thirst, or so she thinks, when she hears the gurgling of a brook in the distance. She approaches it and is almost ready to go to the brook when on the grass before her is the same lion.

"Are you not thirsty?" said the Lion.

"I'm dying of thirst," said Jill.

"Then drink, " said the Lion.

"May I— could I-would you mind going away while I do?" said Jill.

The Lion answered this only by a look and a very low growl. And as Jill gazed at its motionless bulk, she realized that she might as well have asked the whole mountain to move aside for her convenience. The delicious rippling noise of the stream was driving her nearly frantic.

"Will you promise not to — do anything to me, if I do come?" said Jill.

"I make no promise,'" said the Lion.

Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer.

"Do you eat girls?" she said.

"I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and em-perors, cities and realms," said the Lion. It didn't say this as if it were boasting, nor as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry. It just said it.

"I daren't come and drink," said Jill.

"Then you will die of thirst," said the Lion.

"Oh dear!" said Jill, coming another step nearer.

"I suppose I must go and look for another stream then."

"There is no other stream," said the Lion.

It never occurred to Jill to disbelieve the Lion —no one who had seen his stern face could do that-and her mind suddenly made itself up. It was the worst thing she had ever had to do, but she went forward to the stream, knelt down, and began scooping up water in her hand. It was the coldest, most refreshing water she had ever tasted.

Do you see what Lewis is saying? When you come to the water, you are coming to a Lion, you must come on the Lion's terms, and you have to yield yourself by faith in order to get the water. Some of us need to realize that we are thirsty, that we need that water so badly that we are going to die without it. We need to step out on faith, yielding to the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and receive the water of eternal life.

INVITATION

What about you?

Are you paralyzed by the confusion, division and debate over who Jesus is and what he came to do?

““Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink— even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk— it’s all free! Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food. “Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David. See how I used him to display my power among the peoples. I made him a leader among the nations. You also will command nations you do not know, and peoples unknown to you will come running to obey, because I, the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious.” Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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

Jesus' brothers believed in Jesus but not the biblical Jesus; we see this all the time

Jesus recognized that his brothers didn't believe in him as the Messiah yet though they'd lived with him for 30+ years; never sinned; Mary knowing who he was; favorite son; perfect son; resentment and sibling rivalry abounds

Does Jesus divide people? (Yes)

Family can be the toughest mission field

Family misunderstands when they don't believe in the biblical Jesus

Religious leaders miss the leader of their religion due to their self-righteousness, ambition and unbelief

"Christ did not want to bring division. But because of the sinfulness of our hearts, because of our fallenness, because of our unwillingness to repent and bow to him, the Prince of Peace is Christ the Divider.

When snow descends upon the Continental Divide, it melts and flows off either to the west or to the east, never to meet again. Christ is the continental divide in our lives. We will either go up with the morning stars or, to use Eliot's phrase, join the valley of the dying stars. Christ brings division to everyday life." -Hughes, p. 226

Water

"On the seven days of the Feast, a golden flagon was filled with water from the pool of Siloam and was carried in a procession led by the High Priest back to the temple. As the procession approached the watergate on the south side of the inner court three blasts from the shôphar - a trumpet connected with joyful occasions - were sounded. While the pilgrims watched, the priests processed around the altar with the flagon, the temple choir singing the Hallel (Pss. 113 - 118). When the choir reached Psalm 118, every male pilgrim shook a lulab (willow and myrtle twigs tied with palm) in his right hand, while his left raised a piece of citrus fruit (a sign of the ingathered harvest), and all cried 'Give thanks to the LORD!' three times. The water was offered to God at the time of the morning sacrifice, along with the daily drink-offering (of wine). The wine and the water were poured into their respective silver bowls, and then poured out before the LORD. Moreover, these ceremonies of the Feast of Tabernacles were related in Jewish thought both to the LorD's provision of water in the desert and to the Lord's pouring out of the Spirit in the last days. Pouring at the Feast of Tabernacles refers symbolically to the messianic age in which a stream from the sacred rock would flow over the whole earth." -Carson, p. 321-322

"In general terms, then, Jesus' pronouncement is clear: he is the fulfil-ment of all that the Feast of Tabernacles anticipated." -Carson, p. 322

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

The Light Has Come, Leslie Newbigin

The Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner

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

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

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

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

Google Gemini

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian Fellowshipnon denominational church, Ladson, SC, Darien Gabriel, bible believing church, John, Signs & Glory
Does Jesus Ask Too Much of Me? | John 6:22-51
Does Jesus Ask Too Much of Me? | John 6:22-51

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: “Does Jesus ask too much of me?"

Subtitle: The hard call of following Jesus.

Scripture: John 6:22-51

Exodus 3:14 "I am who I am"

Isaiah 52:13-53:12 "Suffering servant"

Luke 23:42 "Remember me when you come into your kingdom"

Bottom line: Jesus gave all his life, to give us all life. That's hard because he calls us to live our lives the same way.

"If anyone come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23

"Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness" Matthew 6:33

"Be perfect as my Father in heaven is perfect." -Jesus

"Come and see" -Jesus to his followers

"Come and follow" -Jesus to his followers

"Come and die" -Jesus to his followers

Is Jesus asking too much of me?

  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

If you knew you couldn't die, would you live this life differently?

What would you do with your life?

How would you live differently?

I ask this because, as a Christ-follower, I will never die. Oh, yes, this body--this costume I call me--will die. But I will live forever. When this body dies, I will go home and live forever there.

When I truly believe this, it impacts how I live. Truly. It changes how I see the so-called dangers of this world. It affects how I see death so it affects what I fear.

What would it have been like for Adam to feel hunger and thirst for the first time? We hunger and thirst for

  • food and drink

  • Grace, mercy, compassion, justice, knowledge, honesty, friendship

  • Love, holiness, wisdom, truth, relationship

God has put these desires in us to tell us that something exists to satisfy these desires. Otherwise, God would be cruel.

"The language of John 6, they say, is metaphorical, and the theology is anti-sacramentarian. In many respects this argument is sound.

Eating the flesh of the Son of Man is a striking, metaphorical way of saying that the gift of God's real bread of life' (v. 35) is appropriated by faith (v. 47).

We must appropriate him into our inmost being. Indeed, as Beasley-Murray (p. 99) points out, we are more familiar with this kind of 'eating' metaphor than we may realize:

we devour books,

drink in lectures,

swallow stories,

ruminate on ideas,

chew over a matter, and

eat our own words.

Doting grandparents declare they could eat up their grandchildren.

On the very face of it, 'The theme of John 6 is Christology.'" -DA Carson

Bottom line: Jesus gave all his life, to give us all life. That's good. But it's hard too, because he calls us to live our lives the same way.

Is Jesus asking too much of me?

Outline Bible (Willmington) -- SECTION OUTLINE SIX JOHN 6 Jesus feeds the 5,000 and walks on water. He teaches that he is the "bread from heaven" and that all who wish to have eternal life must eat his flesh and drink his blood. Many of his followers, unable to accept this difficult symbolism, desert him.

I. TWO MIRACLES (6:1-24)

A. First miracle (6:1-15): Jesus feeds the 5,000.

B. Second miracle (6:16-24): Jesus walks on water.

II. Two MESSAGES (6:25-71)

A. Public comments (6:25-66)

  1. Christ and the curious (6:25-40)

a. He speaks concerning God's salvation (6:25-36).     (1) Their confusion (6:25-26, 28, 30-31, 36)         (a) They want to know how he got there (6:25).         (a) They seek him only for physical bread (6:26).         (b) They don't know how to please God (6:28).         (c) They assume the Old Testament manna came from Moses (6:30-31).         (d) They don't believe in him even though they have seen him (6:36).     (2) His correction (6:27, 29, 32-35)         (a) They are to seek him for spiritual bread (6:27, 33-35).         (b) They will please God by believing in him (6:29).         (c) He says the Old Testament manna came from God (6:32). b. He speaks concerning God's sovereignty (6:37-40).     (1) Guaranteeing that all the elect will come to Christ (6:37): They will never be rejected     (2) Guaranteeing that all the elect will continue in Christ (6:38-40): All who believe in him will be raised at the last day.

2. Christ and the critical (6:41-59)     a. Their criticism (6:41-42, 52)         (1) He is simply the son of Joseph (6:41-42).         (2) No one can (physically) eat his flesh and drink his blood (6:52).     b. His correction (6:43-51, 53-59)         (1) Jesus says he is the bread of life (6:43-51).         (2) Jesus says that anyone who wants eternal life must (spiritually) eat his flesh and drink his blood (6:53-59). 3. Christ and the carnal (6:60-66)     a. Many of his followers now decide against him (6:60-65).     b. Many of his followers now depart from him (60:66).

Conclusion:

Bottom line: Jesus gave all his life, to give us all life. That's good. But it's hard too, because he calls us to live our lives the same way.

Is Jesus asking too much of me?

This poem is what could happen to you and me if we fully embrace and believe Jesus is who he says he is and will do all he's promised to do:

''Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer Thought it scarcely worth his while

To waste much time on the old violin But held it up with a smile.

"What am I bid, good folks," he cried, "Who'll start the bidding for me?

A dollar, a dollar—now two, only two-Two dollars, and who'll make it three?

"Three dollars once, three dollars twice, Going for three"-but no!

From the room far back a gray-haired man Came forward and picked up the bow;

Then wiping the dust from the old violin And tightening up the strings,

He played a melody, pure and sweet. As sweet as an angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer With a voice that was quiet and low,

Said: "What am I bid for the old violin?" And he held it up with the bow.

"A thousand dollars—and who'll make it two? Two thousand—and who'll make it three?

Three thousand once and three thousand twice And going and gone," said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried, "We do not quite understand

What changed its worth?" The man replied, "THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER'S HAND."

And many a man with a life out of tune, And battered and torn with sin.

Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, Much like the old violin.

A "mess of pottage," a glass of wine, A game and he travels on.

He's going once and going twice, He's going—and almost—gone!

But the MASTER comes, and the foolish crowd Never can quite understand

The worth of a soul, and the change that's wrought By the TOUCH OF THE MASTER'S HAND.

Myra Brooks-Welch

Has he touched you?

Bottom line: Jesus gave all his life, to give us all life. That's good. But it's hard too, because he calls us to live our lives the same way.

Is Jesus asking too much of me?

When your life has been touched by the Master's hand, you'll willingly give all to him.

"Receiving Christ's Satisfaction (vv. 53-58)

So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you." (v. 53)

Our Savior meant there must be a deep partaking of him. How do we do that? We must live depending on him as the bread of life. As James Boice says:

Is he as real to you spiritually as something you can taste or handle? Is he as much a part of you as that which you eat? Do not think me blasphemous when I say that he must be as real and as useful to you as a hamburger and french fries. I say this because, although he is obviously far more real and useful than these, the unfortunate thing is that for many people he is much less.

Is he substantially real to you? That is what is involved in treating him as the bread of life. This is one of the continental divides in the life of the soul, and this is where thousands flounder." -Hughes

What about you?

“Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭23‬:‭42‬ ‭NIV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/111/luk.23.42.NIV

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

Invitation

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

V. 43 ἑλκύω helkyō draw; haul

A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible   

DBL Greek    pull in; lead by force

A Pocket Lexicon to the Greek New Testament

The Greek Word: ἕλκω (helkō)

Basic range of meaning:

  • “to draw, drag, pull”—sometimes with force

  • Used both literally (dragging a net of fish) and figuratively (drawing someone to a decision or relationship)

Key uses:

  1. John 6:44 – The Father draws individuals to Jesus

  2. John 12:32 – Jesus draws all people to Himself

  3. John 21:6, 11 – Nets full of fish being dragged

  4. Acts 16:19 – Paul and Silas are dragged into the marketplace

  5. James 2:6 – The rich drag people into court

So yes—helkō often implies strong action, and sometimes even resistance. But context is everything.

Does “draw” mean “compel”?

Some interpret helkō in John 6:44 as “compel” in a deterministic sense—that is:

God irresistibly pulls the elect to Jesus. They don’t choose Him; He causes them to come.

This view often aligns with Reformed theology (i.e., Calvinism) and supports the doctrine of effectual calling: that those whom God draws will come to Jesus, and only those are drawn.

This interpretation emphasizes:

  • The initiative of God

  • The inability of humans to come on their own

  • That “draw” is not mere persuasion or invitation, but a decisive, effective action

Support from the text:

  • John 6:37: “All that the Father gives me will come to me”

  • John 6:44: “No one can come… unless the Father… draws”

  • John 6:65: “No one can come unless it is granted by the Father”

From this perspective, helkō doesn’t mean dragging against someone’s will—but it does mean that God changes the will so that the person now freely wants to come. It’s not coercion, but a gracious, inward transformation that leads inevitably to faith.

But is that the only possible reading?

Not necessarily. Others (including many Arminians and non-Calvinists) argue:

  • Helkō does not mean “compel” in the sense of removing human response.

  • It can mean strong persuasion or wooing, but leaves room for rejection.

  • Example: John 12:32—Jesus says He will draw all people to Himself, but not all respond. So, the drawing can be resisted.

This interpretation emphasizes:

  • God initiates, but humans can still respond freely

  • Not all who are drawn necessarily come

  • The term “draw” is strong, but not irresistible

So, is it accurate to say “God compels the elect to come” based on John 6:44?

That depends on what is meant by “compel”:

  • If you mean God changes their hearts so that they want to come, yes—that’s a fair representation of effectual grace in Reformed theology.

  • If you mean God drags people against their will, no—that’s not the biblical picture. The will is transformed, not violated.

  • If you mean God draws only the elect, and they always come—yes, that’s how many Reformed interpreters understand it.

  • If you mean God draws everyone but only some respond, then you’d be in a different theological camp—seeing helkō as strong but resistible grace.

In Summary:

View

Draw =

Who is drawn?

Result

Reformed (Calvinist)

Effectual grace; God changes the heart

Only the elect

They will come

Arminian / Non-Calvinist

Strong persuasion; resistible grace

All people

Some respond

Universalist

God draws all and all eventually come

All people

All are saved (not supported by John 6:44)

So yes—saying that in John 6:44, draw means God effectively brings certain people to Himself is a legitimate reading within a Reformed theological framework. But other faithful, scholarly readings see helkō as powerful yet resistible—emphasizing human response within God’s initiating grace."

Here’s a simplified, congregation-friendly version of the chart, with plain language and trimmed content. This could be used in a handout, slide, or teaching note:

What Does “Draw” Mean in John 6:44?

View

What It Means

Who Is Drawn?

What Happens?

Key Verses

Reformed

God powerfully changes hearts so people come

Only those chosen

They will believe in Jesus

John 6:37, 6:44, Rom. 8:30

Arminian

God strongly invites, but people can resist

Everyone

Some believe, some don’t

John 12:32, Acts 7:51

Universalist

Jesus draws all, and all will eventually respond

Everyone

Everyone is saved

John 12:32, 1 Tim. 2:4

OUTLINES

Simple Outline of John 6:22–60 (ChatGPT)

1. The Crowd Searches for Jesus (vv. 22–25)

  • The crowd realizes Jesus is no longer near them.

  • They cross the sea to Capernaum, looking for Him.

  • They find Him and ask, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

2. Jesus Confronts Their Motives (vv. 26–27)

  • Jesus exposes their motivation: they are seeking Him because of the miraculous feeding, not for true understanding.

  • He urges them to seek the food that endures to eternal life.

3. The Crowd Asks About God’s Work (vv. 28–29)

  • They ask, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

  • Jesus replies: believe in the one He has sent.

4. The Crowd Demands a Sign (vv. 30–31)

  • They ask for another sign, referencing the manna their ancestors ate in the wilderness.

5. Jesus Declares He Is the Bread of Life (vv. 32–40)

  • Jesus contrasts the manna with Himself—the true bread from heaven.

  • He promises that whoever comes to Him will never hunger or thirst.

  • He explains His mission: to do the Father’s will and give eternal life to those who believe.

6. The Crowd Grumbles (vv. 41–42)

  • They murmur because Jesus claims to have come down from heaven.

  • They question how He could say that, since they know His earthly family.

7. Jesus Reiterates the Father’s Role and the Gift of Life (vv. 43–51)

  • Jesus emphasizes that only those drawn by the Father come to Him.

  • He again identifies Himself as the living bread that came down from heaven.

  • He says, “Whoever eats this bread will live forever.”

8. Jesus Intensifies the Language (vv. 52–59)

  • The crowd disputes among themselves: “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

  • Jesus presses the metaphor further: unless they eat His flesh and drink His blood, they have no life in them.

  • He speaks of real food and real drink—His flesh and blood—and promises eternal life and resurrection.

9. The Disciples React (v. 60)

  • Many of His disciples say, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”

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

The Light Has Come, Leslie Newbigin

The Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner

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

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

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

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

Google Gemini

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipGrace Christian Fellowship, Ladson, SC, Darien Gabriel, bible believing church, non denominational church, John, Signs & Glory, I Am
Are We Ready to Celebrate and Surrender to Jesus? | John 12:9-25 | Darien Gabriel
Are We Ready to Celebrate and Surrender to Jesus? | John 12:9-25 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: “Are we ready to celebrate AND surrender to Jesus?"

Scripture: John 12:9-25

11:47-48,

Psalm 118:19-26,

Zechariah 9:9-10,

Luke 14:25-33,

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Bottom line: We will follow Jesus is celebration AND surrender when we see him clearly.

  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

Titanic compartmentalization.

Bottom line: We will follow Jesus is celebration AND surrender when we see him clearly.

Outline (Kent Hughes)

I. The King Presented (12-19)

  • Context - 3 groups come and intercept Jesus and his followers

    • Pilgrims coming to purify themselves before the Passover

    • Locals and pilgrims who saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead

    • Religious leaders furious and bent on execution for blasphemy

  • "Hosanna" = Save! (Ps 118)

  • Donkey's colt (Zech 9:9-10)

  • Delayed understanding

  • "The whole world has gone after him."

II. The King Pursed (20-22)

  • Greeks = Gentile truth seekers

  • "We would like to see Jesus" --continuous sense

III. The King's Proclamation (12:24-26)

  • Jesus' response to their inquiry but to everyone

    • To live you must die--to do this life that you will live in this life and beyond

    • Dies "alone" - “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” ‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭24‬ ‭ESV‬‬

    • To die alone is to die but not be buried in the ground. To die and be put into the ground leads to life in this parable.

    • https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.12.24.ESV

    • No exceptions

    • Die => Follow => Serve => Honor

    • Crown preceded by the cross/crucifixion

      • For Jesus

      • For us

Additional

The Triumphal Entry of Jesus is one of the most well-known events in the Gospels, and it’s rich with meaning. It’s recorded in all four Gospels: Matthew 21:1–11, Mark 11:1–11, Luke 19:28–44, and John 12:12–19.

Here’s the basic scene:

It happens at the beginning of what we now call Holy Week, (Sunday) just a few days before Jesus’ crucifixion (Friday). Jesus is approaching Jerusalem, and as He nears the city, He sends two of His disciples to find a donkey and her colt, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9 — “See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey.”

Riding a donkey (instead of a war horse) was deeply symbolic. It showed that He came not as a conquering military leader but as the humble, peaceful Messiah. As He rides into Jerusalem, crowds gather and spread their cloaks and palm branches on the road. They shout:

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

“Hosanna” means “save us,” so they were both praising Him and calling out for deliverance. The crowd was hoping for a political savior to overthrow Roman rule, but Jesus had come to bring a far greater salvation — freedom from sin and death.

This moment is full of contrasts:

  • He’s welcomed as a king, but within days, He will be rejected and crucified.

  • The crowds are shouting praise, but soon many will shout, “Crucify Him!”

  • It fulfills prophecy and shows Jesus embracing His mission, knowing exactly where it will lead.

It’s called the “Triumphal Entry,” but the triumph is not in immediate victory — it’s in Jesus walking the path of suffering for our salvation.

The Triumphal Entry is saturated with Old Testament echoes and themes that quietly (or loudly!) proclaim Jesus as the true King, the Messiah, and the sacrificial Lamb. Let’s unpack a few:

  1. Zechariah 9:9 — King Comes on a Donkey

“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

Jesus intentionally fulfills this prophecy. Kings sometimes rode donkeys in the ancient Near East to symbolize peace. When Solomon was crowned, he rode King David’s mule (1 Kings 1:33–35). So Jesus riding a donkey is a royal claim — but a humble, peaceful one. He’s not coming as a warlord; He’s coming as the Prince of Peace.

  1. Psalm 118:25–26 — The Hosanna Psalm

The crowd shouts:

“Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

This is a direct quote from Psalm 118, a psalm used in pilgrim festivals, especially Passover. “Hosanna” originally meant “save us now!” — it’s a plea for salvation and a cry of praise. Psalm 118 also speaks of the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone, which Jesus applies to Himself later in the week (Matthew 21:42).

  1. Palm Branches — Victory and Kingship

Palm branches were symbols of victory and kingship, often associated with Jewish nationalism (think of the Maccabean Revolt about 150 years earlier, where palm branches celebrated military victory). The crowd is treating Jesus like a conquering hero, anticipating national deliverance from Rome.

(See notes below for more)

Transition:

"So, when Jesus rides into Jerusalem, He’s not just making a political statement — He’s weaving together centuries of prophecy, promise, and hope. He is the promised King, the humble servant, the Passover Lamb, the cornerstone, and the very presence of God returning to His people.

And of course, all of this sets the stage for the cross. The King enters not to take power by force, but to lay down His life." -ChatGPT

Conclusion:

Bottom line: I can trust God with everything, even when in need, because he provides, he cares, and he is with us.

George Mueller, champion of orphans in England when asked, "What has been the secret of your life?" hung his head and said, "There was a day when I died." Then he bent lower and said, "Died to George Müller, his opinions, preferences, tastes, and will; died to the world, its approval or censure; died to the approval or blame even of brethren or friends." -Hughes, p. 307-308

What about you?

Do you celebrate Jesus but not surrender to his rule and reign? The latter undoes the former.

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

Invitation

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

"George Müller (1805–1898) was a Christian evangelist and the founder of the Ashley Down orphanages in Bristol, England. Originally from Prussia (modern-day Germany), Müller lived a rebellious youth but experienced a profound conversion in his early twenties. Moved by compassion and a deep trust in God’s provision, he established homes for orphaned children at a time when many were homeless and destitute.

What set Müller apart was his radical reliance on prayer. He famously never solicited funds directly but trusted God to provide for the needs of thousands of children under his care. Over his lifetime, Müller cared for over 10,000 orphans, established schools, and distributed vast numbers of Bibles and tracts. His legacy continues as a testimony to God’s faithfulness and the power of prayerful dependence.

If you want, I can also give you some powerful quotes or stories from his life!Of course — here’s a quick bio on George Müller:

George Müller (1805–1898) was a Christian evangelist and the founder of the Ashley Down orphanages in Bristol, England. Originally from Prussia (modern-day Germany), Müller lived a rebellious youth but experienced a profound conversion in his early twenties. Moved by compassion and a deep trust in God’s provision, he established homes for orphaned children at a time when many were homeless and destitute.

What set Müller apart was his radical reliance on prayer. He famously never solicited funds directly but trusted God to provide for the needs of thousands of children under his care. Over his lifetime, Müller cared for over 10,000 orphans, established schools, and distributed vast numbers of Bibles and tracts. His legacy continues as a testimony to God’s faithfulness and the power of prayerful dependence." -ChatGPT

Key Themes in the Passage

  • Jesus’ fame is peaking — His miracle with Lazarus draws crowds and stirs belief.

  • Conflict intensifies — The religious leaders feel threatened and plan to destroy both Lazarus and Jesus.

  • Messianic hopes rise — The crowd greets Jesus as King, but their expectations are political and immediate.

  • Fulfillment of prophecy — Jesus knowingly fulfills Scripture, showing He is the promised King, though His kingdom is not what they expect.

  • Misunderstood glory — Even the disciples don’t grasp the full meaning until after the resurrection. -ChatGPT

  1. Genesis 49:10–11 — The King from Judah

Jacob’s blessing over Judah includes a fascinating image:

“The scepter will not depart from Judah… He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch.”

The image of the donkey and colt ties Jesus back to this prophecy of a ruler from the tribe of Judah — which Jesus is.

  1. Timing: Passover Lamb Selection Day

This one is stunning. Jesus enters Jerusalem on the 10th of Nisan, the day Jewish families selected their Passover lambs (Exodus 12:3). He is, in effect, presenting Himself as the Lamb of God, chosen for sacrifice. John the Baptist had already called Him this in John 1:29 — “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

  1. God’s Glory Returning to the Temple (Ezekiel 43:1–5)

Ezekiel saw a vision of God’s glory returning to the temple from the east. Jesus, the embodiment of God’s glory, approaches Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives to the east (Luke 19:37). There’s a sense that God is coming back to His house — though, heartbreakingly, many will not recognize Him.

-RC Sproul

From RC Sproul

“In the intertestamental period, something took place that would define the Jewish people in terms of their national identity for centuries to come. In the second century BC, the temple was desecrated by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, leader of the Seleucid Empire. In response, a Jewish man named Mattathias, who was committed to the ancient covenant of Israel, determined to rescue the temple and the nation from the invasion of the Seleucids. Mattathias became the leader of a guerrilla group that fought against the Seleucids.

When he died, the leadership of this insurrectionist movement passed to his son Judas, who became known as Judas Maccabaeus, which means “the hammer.” Judas Maccabaeus became a national hero, a Hebrew Robin Hood, who wreaked havoc among the troops of the Seleucids. He put so much pressure on the Seleucids that in 164 BC they released the temple for the Jews to practice their own faith.

That event was met with so much celebration that a new feast was instituted called the Feast of Dedication or the Feast of Lights. We know it as Hanukkah, which is celebrated even to this day.

Later, Judas’ brother Simon Maccabaeus actually drove the Seleucids out of Jerusalem altogether, and when that happened he was acclaimed a national hero and was celebrated with a parade, something like a ticker-tape parade in New York. In that parade, the Jews celebrated his victory with music and with the waving of palm branches.

At that point in Jewish history, the palm branch became significant .. as a sign and symbol of a military victory, of a triumph.

In fact, that symbolism became so deeply rooted in the Jewish consciousness that when the Jews revolted against the Romans in the decade of the sixties AD, they dared to mint their own coins with the image of a palm branch, because it is their national symbol of victory.

When the people waved their palm branches to welcome Jesus, they cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ The King of Israel!” (v. 13b) Why did they say this? The word hosanna is derived from a Hebrew word that literally means “save now.” Both this plea and “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD” are found in the hallel, a series of psalms that were sung every morning at the Feast of Tabernacles.

The series starts with Psalm 113 and goes through Psalm 118. In Psalm 118, we find these words: Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, And I will praise the LORD. This is the gate of the LORD, through which the righteous shall enter. I will praise You, for You have answered me, and have become my salvation. The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We have blessed you from the house of the LORD. (vv. 19–26)

Every Jewish pilgrim was familiar with the words from the hallel, so when the crowds came out to see Jesus, they naturally used those words. The plea “Save now” near the end of the quoted passage is the English translation of the root word of hosanna. The words “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD” and the additional description shouted by the people, “the King of Israel!” indicate that the people looked to Jesus for salvation, though most likely in a military sense.”

John - An Expositional Commentary

R.C. Sproul

OUTLINES

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

The Light Has Come, Leslie Newbigin

The Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner

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

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

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

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

Google Gemini

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipDarien Gabriel, Grace Christian Fellowship, Ladson, SC, non denominational church, bible believing church, John, Signs and Glory
Do You Hear God's Warning? | John 5:19-29 | Darien Gabriel
Do You Hear God's Warning? | John 5:19-29 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: "Do you hear God's warning?

Scripture: John 5:19-29

Daniel 7:13-14; Acts 2:36-39

Bottom line: In a world that is good at ignoring warnings, God sent his son into the world to warn us personally. This is so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, one with God, life-giver and judge over all, and that by believing have life in his name.

  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

Last year, I ignored God's first warning.

It was September and my blood tests showed that my chloestoral was 210. It should be less than 100. Still, I felt fine. I didn't remember at the time that my family has a history of high chlorestal and related heart and artery issues. I just never occurred to me that I might have any of those issues. I felt fine. I exercise regularly. I didn't eat healthy at the time but I was better than most. (As if that were a good standard)

I ignored my first warning from God. Ignoring my doctor's plan for health, I didn't agree to start taking chlorestoral meds because I wanted to try and exercise and change my diet so that I could naturally bring my cholesterol down.

Mercifully, I got a second warning. I got a second chance. On October 8th of last year, while working on a disaster relief project in western NC after a major hurricane, I had a TIA (mini-stroke) while on site. God mercifully put a medical missionary on our team who quickly diagnosed my symptoms and sent me to the ER where I received excellent treatment at Pardee Hospital in Hendersonville. My second warning.

This was a mercy. I deserved a TIA, stroke or worse because I ignored the doctor's advice. As I was being triaged, I remembered I had my cholesterol numbers from 3 weeks earlier and showed them to the medical team. This helped them confirm their diagnosis.

God chose to be rich in love and mercy towards me that day. I woke up "heard his voice" and began taking his warning seriously. Since then, I am much more willing to heed the medical advice given to me on this life-threatening journey. I still ask questions and sometimes push back. But because God humbled me while giving me another chance, I'm in a better place medically.

I finally heard and heeded God's warning.

What about you?

Has God been warning you?

God warns us about things in this life and about things that affect the next.

What has God been warning you about?

What warnings are you ignoring?

"I remember hearing a knock on our front door. When I opened the door, I saw two ladies standing on my step holding Bibles and some religious literature. My suspicion was soon confirmed: these two ladies were Jehovah's Witnesses going from door to door sharing their false gospel.

As rapidly as I could, I told them we believed differently about Jesus, and the Bible clearly says Jesus is truly God. "Oh, we believe he's God," they said. "No, you don't. You believe he's a god, but you do not believe he's of the same essence as the Father. You do not believe he's one with the Father." At that point they admitted they viewed Jesus differently, and the conversation ended a few moments later. Those two ladies, as sweet as they were, standing on my porch with Bibles in hand, were rebelling against God. Anyone who does not submit to Jesus Christ—anyone who dishonors the Son-does not honor the Father." -Matt Carter

CONTEXT

John moves forward in chapters 5-10 highlighting the escalating conflict between Jesus and the Jewish leadership. John will use Jesus' encounters with others to escalate and teach/reveal who he is leading the Jewish leaders to grow more insistent on his execution for blasphemy. They are convinced that he is claiming to be another god equal to God the Father and they cannot rest until he is dealt with. For they think that he is leading the people astray.

SERMON

Bottom line: In a world that is good at ignoring warnings, God sent his son into the world to warn us personally. This is so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, one with God, life-giver and judge over all, and that by believing have life in his name.

Kent Hughes says that Jesus makes 3 claims that we all should take seriously. I'll pair them up with how other commentators saw this.

  1. Jesus is one with the Father. (19-20)(Hughes)

    1. Jesus' unity with the Father. (19-23)(ChatGPT)

    2. Jesus does what only God can do. (19-22)(Carter)

  2. Jesus has the power to give and sustain life. (21, 24-26)(Hughes)

    1. Jesus gives spiritual life (eternal life) through belief. (24-25)(Chat GPT)

    2. Jesus receives honor only God deserves. (23-24)(Carter)

  3. Jesus has the authority to judge. (27-30)(Hughes)

    1. Jesus brings future resurrection and judgment. (25-29) (ChatGPT)

    2. Jesus has power only God can claim. (25-29)(Carter)

Hughes adds here, "These claims are eternal and they call for action."

Applications for Believers

  1. Trust in Jesus' authority as if God (because he is). (19-23)

    1. He is fully aligned and in sync with His Father. (19-20)

    2. He is the source and sustainer of life. (Now and future) (21)

    3. He is the judge of all people. (Now and in the future) (22)

    4. He is God, so, honor (worship) Him accordingly. (23)

  2. Rest in eternal life now. (24)

    1. Rest as in fully rely on Him.

    2. Eternal life--abundant life forever.

    3. Now--it starts when you rest fully in Him.

  3. Live with resurrection hope. (25-29) Live in light of eternity!

    1. Listening for Jesus to speak. (25)

    2. Embrace life as a gift. (26)

    3. Live grateful for the mercy. (27)

    4. Live in light of his imminent return. (28-29)

Applications for Not-yet believers

  1. Believe/trust that Jesus as your pathway to life abundant and eternal starting today. (24-25)

  2. Judgment is certain. No exceptions. (27-29)

  3. There is still time to respond. (25)

For believers, this gives assurance, hope and a call to live in light of eternity.

For not-yet believers, this is a wake-up call to take Jesus' words seriously--life and judgment are in his hands.

CONCLUSION

Hughes or Carter write:

"It is hardly surprising therefore that controversy features prominently in the life and ministry of Jesus as he reveals the truth about himself.

The intriguing thing about the controversy that surrounded Jesus during his public ministry on earth is that it is not so much his teaching and ideas that were in dispute, but the claims that he made about himself. It was this fact that led C.S. Lewis to make his much-quoted remark,

Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman, or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him or kill him as a demon; or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come to him with any patronising nonsense about him being a great human teacher. He has not left that option open to us. He did not intend to.

Mere Christianity (New York, Macmillan: 1943), pp. 55-56

I've always heard it summarized as Jesus was either...

A lunatic, crazy for thinking he was God,

A liar, out to deceive for his own glory, or

The Lord, because all that he claimed is true.

But, no matter what, you cannot call him just a great teacher or a great man or a great prophet. For he could not be any of those if he lied or was crazy. You can't have it both ways.

Bottom line: In a world that is good at ignoring warnings, God sent his son into the world to warn us personally. This is so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, one with God, life-giver and judge over all, and that by believing have life in his name.

What about you?

Has God warned you?

Do you hear his warning?   

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

Invitation

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

Possible titles and questions:

Are you listening to God's warning?

Is Jesus worth listening to?

Who does Jesus think he is?

Who has the final say over your future?

Are you alive or just breathing?

Did you hear God's warning?

Throughout history this is how people have responded to Jesus: there is no room for neutrality." -Mark Johnston

OUTLINES

N/A

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

The Light Has Come, Leslie Newbigin

The Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner

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

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

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

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

Google Gemini

Read More
Darien Gabrielnon denominational church, bible believing church, Ladson, SC, Darien Gabriel, Signs and Glory, John
Do You Want to Get Well? | John 5:1-18 | Darien Gabriel
Do You Want to Get Well? | John 5:1-18 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: "Do you want to get well?"

Scripture: John 5:1-18

Bottom line: To find healing and salvation, we must 1) be willing to change,  2) find hope to change, and 3) surrender to change.

  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

“There was an occasion when the army of Alexander the Great was engaged in a very serious battle, and in the course of the battle, one of the soldiers fled the scene. He was a coward.

After the battle, the coward was apprehended and brought to Alexander’s tent. As the man stood trembling before his general, Alexander looked at him and said, “Why did you run?” The soldier said, “I was afraid.”

Alexander said: “So I see. What is your name?” The soldier mumbled his answer so that Alexander couldn’t hear him, so the great warrior said: “Speak up. What is your name?” The young soldier looked at him and said, “My name is Alexander.” Alexander the Great replied, “Either change your behavior or change your name.”

CONTEXT

John moves forward in chapters 5-10 highlighting the escalating conflict between Jesus and the Jewish leadership. John will use Jesus' encounters with others to escalate and teach/reveal who he is leading the Jewish leaders to grow more insistent on his execution for blashemy. They are convinced that he is claiming to be another god equal to God the Father and they cannot rest until he is dealt with. For he is leading the people astray.

These encounters will include several "I am" statements designed to reveal who Jesus really is. It's at this point that I'd like to share with you how someone described Jesus. After all, many of us struggle with following Jesus because we also are unclear about who healed us. Lesslie Newbigin, British pastor and missionary from the past wrote:

"The one of whom we are reading is the one who was finally rejected with unique unanimity by the representatives of all the forces that control human behavior (cf. I Cor. 2:8), was subjected to that death which implied the curse of God as well as of men, was raised to new life, and became the author of new life for all who believed. It is this man whose identity is being defined in these passages." -Lesslie Newbigin

He says that we cannot understand what John is doing and writing without remembering that this is all about believing that Jesus is the Messiah, the king of kings, the Son of man and the son of God and that by believing have life in his name who died for our sins and was raised to prove his atoning sacrifice for us works in his Father's eyes. We are forgiven because of him!

SERMON

Bottom line: To find healing and salvation, we must 1) be willing to change,  2) find hope to change, and 3) surrender to change.

According to Pastor Mark Johnston, Jesus' question, and the impact it makes, raises at least four major issues for this man and for all people.

  1. WANT TO CHANGE? The truth about our life--do we even want to change?

  2. HELPLESS TO CHANGE. The fact of our own helplessness--can we even change without outside help?

  3. SIN KEEPS US FROM CHANGE. The cause of all our trouble--do we realize what causes our sickness is sin? (Generally or specifically)

  4. HOPE FOR CHANGE IS FOUND IN JESUS. The hope that is found in Jesus--Healing and salvation are made possible by Jesus sovereignly initiating compassionately.

CONCLUSION

Bottom line: To find healing and salvation, we must 1) be willing to change,  2) find hope to change, and 3) surrender to change.

Do I want to get well even if it means change?

Do I acknowledge that I cannot change myself?

Do I realize that the reason I cannot change on my own is sin?

Am I ready and willing to surrender to Jesus so that I can change?

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

Invitation

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 reality should motivate us to labor with all our might to make Jesus Christ and his gospel known and loved throughout the world. Augustine wrote this beautiful reflection about Jesus Christ:

You are ever active, yet always at rest. You gather all things to yourself, though you suffer no need. ... You welcome those who come to you, though you never lost them. You release us from our debts, but you lose nothing thereby. You are my God, my Life, my holy Delight, but is this enough to say of you? Can any man say enough when he speaks of you? Yet woe betide those who are silent about you! (Confessions [IX 1], 181)

May we, by the grace of God, never be silent." -Matt Carter

  1. "I'll Do It Later (v. 35):

    1. Jesus asks the disciples a pointed question: "Don't you say, 'There are still four more months, and then comes the harvest'?" (v. 35). He's saying, "Do you guys think you need to wait before reaping the fruit of the gospel? Are you hoping it will come later? You're wrong; look at the Samaritans coming right now. What are you waiting for? The time is now!" Jesus is driving the urgency of the gospel home to the hearts of his disciples. We don't wait for a different time or a better time; the harvest is now. Go, do the work of sharing the gospel right now. Charles Spurgeon, preaching on this passage, challenged his congregation:

    2. Some of you good people, who do nothing except go to public meetings, the Bible readings, and prophetic conferences, and other forms of spiritual [indulgence], would be a good deal better Christians if you would look after the poor and needy around you. If you would just tuck up your sleeves for work, and go and tell the gospel to dying men, you would find your spiritual health mightily restored, for very much of the sickness of Christians comes through their having nothing to do. All feeding and no working gives men spiritual indigestion. Be idle, careless, with nothing to live for, nothing to care for, no sinner to pray for, no backslider to lead back to the cross, no trembler to encourage, no little child to tell of a Savior, no grey-headed man to enlighten in the things of God, no object, in fact, to live for; and who wonders if you begin to groan, and to murmur, and to look within, until you are ready to die of despair? (Cited in Hughes, John, 132) - Matt Carter

OUTLINES

N/A

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

The Light Has Come, Leslie Newbigin

The Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner

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

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

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

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

Google Gemini

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipGrace Christian Fellowship, Ladson, SC, John, Signs & Glory, non denominational church, bible believing church
What Does Authentic Faith Look Like? | John 4:43-52 | Darien Gabriel
What Does Authentic Faith Look Like? | John 4:43-52 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: "What does authentic faith look like?

Scripture: John 4:43-54

John 1:9-12; 8:31-32

Bottom line: Authentic faith looks like an actual commitment, built on an informed belief, and a growing dependency of God.

  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

Today we're answer the question, "What does authentic faith look like?"

When I think of the word authentic, I think of collections where value is based on the something rare being authenticated or declared the real thing.

The most valuable American coin today is a 1794 silver dollar called the Flowing Hair Silver Dollar. It has lady liberty on one side and an American eagle on the other. Many believe that it was the first coin minted by the US government. There were only 1800 made and experts think only about 120 remain. It last sold for 12 million dollars.

But it's only worth 12 million dollars if it's an authentic Flowing Hair Silver Dollar.

The question today is what does authentic faith look like. We're asking this question to setup the more important question, "Is my faith authentic?"

CONTEXT

Jesus has been talking with the woman at the well. He and the 12 got to see a whole town come to Christ. It has been an amazing day. The enemies of the Jews (the Samaritans) have trusted the Jewish Messiah! There is no earthly reason why they would do this. Only God.

John will use this town of people in Sychar to expose the contrast with the way the Jews are responding (en masse) to Jesus. (Cf. John 1:11-12)

John will also contrast the nobleman's growing faith with the hesitant faith of Nicodemus.

What does authentic faith look like?

Is my faith authentic?

SERMON

Bottom line: Authentic faith looks like an actual commitment, built on an informed belief, and a growing dependency on God.

What does authentic faith look like? (Help from Matt Carter's commentary)

I. Actual commitment--not just spiritual curiosity.

II. Informed belief--not just emotional feelings.

III. Growing dependence--not just a single decision.

Applications/questions:

  1. Are you spiritually curious? That's fine. Just don't think you're secure and good with the Lord just because you're spiritual or open. Christ calls us to follow him the rest of our life. Until you surrender to that, you're just curious. It's not a convenient faith that he calls us to--it's a costly faith. He calls us to ultimately come and die.

  2. Is your faith rooted on how you feel? I feel close to God today but not tomorrow. Emotions are a legitimate part of the human experience--even in our spiritual life. But we root our faith in truth--God's word is truth. Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth..." We have an informed faith; a reasonable faith; not a blind faith.

  3. Is your faith growing? Are you abiding in Jesus daily? Are you walking with God daily? These are different ways of asking the question, am I growing in dependence on the Lord?

CONCLUSION

Bottom line: Authentic faith starts with an actual commitment, and an informed belief on the word, and a growing dependence.

What about you? Is your faith authentic?

Here's another way to look at it.

How do you know that you're married?

Well, you might say, I have a wedding ring and a marriage license.

I could respond, well, I know people who have a marriage license and maybe even still wear their wedding ring. But they are no longer married.

The only way to truly know you're married is because you live the married life with your spouse. You raise the kids together. You take care of the house together. You do life together.

The same is true with authentic faith. What does authentic faith look like? It looks like an actual commitment, built on an informed faith, and a growing dependence.

What about you? Is your faith authentic?

If not, what can you do?

Repent--turn from the way you're living life and turn back to the trust and follow Jesus' words, ways and works.

Believe--Rest on the calling you've received; build on the word of God; pray towards growing in Christ.`

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

Invitation

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

"Jesus was saying, "Your experience with the Samaritans is one of reaping where you did not sow," and that surely was the case. They had not sowed, but they reaped. In our age some of us may sow, and some of us may reap. The thrust of these verses is that there is going to be a good deal of reaping, but the implication also is that sometimes we may sow and never see the results. I am reminded of the story of George Müller who founded many orphanages in the last century. Early in his life Müller made the acquaintance of three men, and he began to pray for their salvation. Müller lived a long time, but when he died, none of those men had yet trusted Christ. It is recorded in his diary that he prayed for these men daily during all those years. But that is not the end! The glorious fact is that all three of those men did meet Christ-two of them in their seventies and one in his eighties! Müller sowed, but someone else reaped. Whether we find ourselves sowing or reaping, our lives are to be permeated with a sense of urgency. Jesus' harvest mentality was part of the secret of his life. We also are meant to be harvesting!" -Kent Hughes, p. 139

"This reality should motivate us to labor with all our might to make Jesus Christ and his gospel known and loved throughout the world. Augustine wrote this beautiful reflection about Jesus Christ:

You are ever active, yet always at rest. You gather all things to yourself, though you suffer no need. ... You welcome those who come to you, though you never lost them. You release us from our debts, but you lose nothing thereby. You are my God, my Life, my holy Delight, but is this enough to say of you? Can any man say enough when he speaks of you? Yet woe betide those who are silent about you! (Confessions [IX 1], 181)

May we, by the grace of God, never be silent." -Matt Carter

  1. "I'll Do It Later (v. 35):

    1. Jesus asks the disciples a pointed question: "Don't you say, 'There are still four more months, and then comes the harvest'?" (v. 35). He's saying, "Do you guys think you need to wait before reaping the fruit of the gospel? Are you hoping it will come later? You're wrong; look at the Samaritans coming right now. What are you waiting for? The time is now!" Jesus is driving the urgency of the gospel home to the hearts of his disciples. We don't wait for a different time or a better time; the harvest is now. Go, do the work of sharing the gospel right now. Charles Spurgeon, preaching on this passage, challenged his congregation:

    2. Some of you good people, who do nothing except go to public meetings, the Bible readings, and prophetic conferences, and other forms of spiritual [indulgence], would be a good deal better Christians if you would look after the poor and needy around you. If you would just tuck up your sleeves for work, and go and tell the gospel to dying men, you would find your spiritual health mightily restored, for very much of the sickness of Christians comes through their having nothing to do. All feeding and no working gives men spiritual indigestion. Be idle, careless, with nothing to live for, nothing to care for, no sinner to pray for, no backslider to lead back to the cross, no trembler to encourage, no little child to tell of a Savior, no grey-headed man to enlighten in the things of God, no object, in fact, to live for; and who wonders if you begin to groan, and to murmur, and to look within, until you are ready to die of despair? (Cited in Hughes, John, 132) - Matt Carter

OUTLINES

N/A

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)

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

The Light Has Come, Leslie Newbigin

The Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner

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

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

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

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

Google Gemini

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipDarien Gabriel, authentic faith, John, Signs & Glory, Ladson, SC, Grace Christian Fellowship, Bible believing church, non denominational church
Why Do Our Relationships Suffer? Part 1 | John 4:10-26 | Darien Gabriel
Why Do Our Relationships Suffer? Part 1 | John 4:10-26 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: "Why do our relationships suffer? Part 1

Scripture: John 4:10-26

Bottom line: Christians can have great relationships. They inevitably suffer, however, when we prioritize them over our ultimate relationship-Jesus 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

A great follow on Twitter/X is Gretchen Ronnevik. She's a middle-aged wife and mom of a large family raised on a farm. Homeschools, writes books, is biblically astute, and drops some great wisdom on Twitter/X.

She recently shared this:

“I watched the father who sat in front of us today (in church) manage his squirrelly kids by not reprimanding them, but rearranging the seating so he was sitting in the middle of them, and they all just leaned into him and relaxed, and there’s just a whole sermon there.” @GretchenRonnevikon X

I share this beautiful scene as an example of a healthy human relational interaction between a father and his "squirrelly kids". How was he able to do that without getting frustrated or angry with them?

I don't know this man at all but I would suggest that perhaps it's because he prioritized his relationship with Jesus even above his relationship with his children. This is what I'm getting at today when I ask the question of Christians especially, "Why do our relationships with other people suffer so?"

Prioritizing Jesus doesn't guarantee anything. But like the Proverbs, which are not promises or guarantees, they are rules of thumb that indicate that when you follow the proverb, you'll usually reap the reward the proverb says generally happens.

Ex. "Train up a child (Discipleship) in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." This is not a promise. It is a rule of thumb that parents would be wise to follow. But we all know parents who did this and yet their children did not walk in the way of their parents and the Lord.

But, usually, they do.

Andy Stanley, a pastor in Atlanta, shared one time at his Drive Conference their parenting goal:

Raise up their kids in such a way that when they are grown, and have a choice, they will still want to come home to see you.

The Leaky Cup

• Imagine trying to fill a cup with a hole in the bottom. No matter how much you pour in, it keeps draining out. That's what happens when we expect people to do what only Jesus can--our relationships suffer under that pressure.

The Misdirected GPS

• A GPS set to the wrong destination can take you miles off course. In the same way, when we center our lives on anything other than Jesus, we end up lost— and so do our relationships.

How many times have we seen a dating relationship cause a friend to leave his personal convictions and even his or her friends and forget who they are all for the sake of that one, unhealthy relationship. They forget who they are and how they lived.

The Unanswered Text

• Imagine a friend pouring their heart out in a text message, but you never reply because you're too distracted. This is how we often treat people around us— missing opportunities to love, serve, and share Jesus because we're too focused on ourselves.

The Wilted Garden

• A garden neglected will wither, no matter how good the soil was at first.

Relationships suffer when we don't invest in them, just like our relationship with Jesus weakens when we neglect time with Him. But with care and attention, both can flourish.

Nicky Gumbel reminded me this week about the illustration the teacher of Ecclesiastes teaches us about the 3 cords of a healthy relationship. This is how Nicky described it:

"Better Together

I have never been very good at using visual aids. I am not a very practical person. On the other hand, my great friend, Nicky Lee (who, together with his wife Sila, has pioneered [The Marriage Course](http://www.themarriagecourses.org/try/the-marriage-course) and other courses for couples and parents), is extremely practical and often uses visual aids. When he is speaking at weddings he sometimes uses a visual aid to illustrate the passage in Ecclesiastes 4, where the writer says, ‘*Two are better than one*… A cord of three strands is not quickly broken’ (vv.9,12). As a picture of marriage, Nicky takes two strands of different coloured wool and weaves them together. Together they are stronger and yet they can quite easily be broken. Then he takes a third strand of nearly invisible fishing line. With this third strand, it is almost impossible to break the two pieces of wool. (I did try to use this illustration once but, for reasons I cannot remember, it went horribly wrong!) The point that he makes so well, and that comes out of the passage in Ecclesiastes, is that while friendships and marriages are wonderful gifts, having God at the centre of a friendship or marriage provides an invisible thread of enormous strength. In today’s passages, we see how two are stronger than one in marriage, mission and ministry."

The Bible with Nicky and Pippa Gumbel, Classic Version, 2025: Day 52 • Devotional

Every relationship's success and health depends on this fine, infinite cord of unconditional, sacrificial love. Our relationships inevitably suffer when we do not prioritize this eternal relationship above all others. John will illustrate this several ways in this passage.

Last week, he showed us that when we prioritize our relationship with Jesus, we'll cross all kinds of barriers that prevent us from having healthy relationships with those who are different than us: race, ethnicity, nationality, political preferences, economic class, social class, education, language, gender preferences and disphoria, fashion, sense of humor, and even college football team preferences.

CONTEXT

Jesus left Jerusalem to keep the peace with the disciples of John the Baptist and throw water on the religious leader's attempt to divide and conquer.

Jesus heads back towards his home region but chooses to take the shorter but more contentious route--through Samaria. It is in Samaria where the half-Jews live that centuries of hostility remain. John writes that Jesus "had to go" this route for he only did what his Father led him to do. Clearly, his Father had work for him to do among the Samaritans...and Jesus' 12 disciples.

Jesus is heading towards his public, Galilean ministry. John is now walking us through a series of encounters Jesus has with individuals. Nicodemus was first. Now, as Mikey showed us last week, he meets with the unnamed woman at the well. The comparisons and contrasts are stunning and show us that Jesus' mission of mercy and hope is for all--not just the Jews. Not just the wealthy. Not just the educated. Not just the religious. Not just the men. Not just the healthy. Not just those who think they have it all together...but I digress.

We will continue in this passage for 3 weeks total. Last week and next week, along with this week, will help us answer the question, "Why do our relationships suffer so?"

This is a valid question for anybody. But it's especially relevant for Christians. After all, aren't Christians supposed to have healthy relationships? Isn't that a fruit of the Spirit? If so, then why don't we? That's what I hope to uncover this week and next.

SERMON

Bottom line: Christians can have great relationships. They inevitably suffer, however, when we prioritize them over our ultimate relationship-Jesus Christ.

Why do our relationships suffer? In other words, how do we prioritize them over our ultimate relationship in Jesus Christ?

Because...

  1. [LAST WEEK] We let cultural barriers keep us from having them. (1-9) We are afraid to relate to people different than we are. (This was PART 1, last week) Instead, we should

    1. Cross ethnic barriers (Latino, black, Asian, white, European)

    2. Cross nationalistic barriers (USA, Canada, Mexico)

    3. Cross political barriers (Independent, Democrat, Republican)

    4. Cross language barriers (Hispanic, Portuguese, ASL)

    5. Cross societal expectation barriers (traditional like opening the door for others; men wearing hats inside, white collar, blue collar workers)

    6. Cross gender barriers (men, women, trans, LGBTQIA's)

    7. Cross economic barriers (poor, rich, middle class)

    8. Cross professional barriers (retail, hospitality industry vs medical field, financial services)

    9. Cross educational barriers (USC/Clemson; college degrees, advanced degrees, tech college, no degrees)

  2. [THIS WEEK] We seek true satisfaction in places it cannot be found (or we settle for less than)(10-15)(PART 1)

    1. It's only found with people in a faithful community of Jesus Christ

    2. You personal relationships cannot live up to your expectations ultimately

  3. We respond to conviction with excuses instead of humility, repentance and faith. (16-18)

  4. We worship without knowing the truth. (20-26) The truth is...

    1. The written word.

    2. The living word. (Cf. John 14:6)

  5. [NEXT WEEK] We ignore or get distracted from the Harvest. (27-38)(PART 2)

  6. We don't embrace and/or share our story/testimony. (39-42)

CONCLUSION

"This interruption to the encounter provides an opportunity for us to consider the situation from the perspective of the church and its failures. The disciples were already beginning to fall into the trap of allowing their view of 'church' to be conditioned by the cultural and ethnic baggage of their day. Jesus therefore makes them think again. Their surprise at the conversation they had observed was a symptom of the prejudice that lurked in their hearts and of their failure to grasp what Christ's mission entailed.

Jesus' response is to ignore the food they had taken the trouble to bring and to express, in startling fashion, that the 'bread and butter' of his existence was to do his Father's will (4:34). If they became less, concerned about their stomachs and more concerned about the souls of the lost, then they too would share in that work. With a measure of rebuke, he says to them,

Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest' (4:35). That rebuke to the. professing church reverberates down to the present day. We too need to be less preoccupied with ourselves and our own petty concerns and more concerned with the eternal needs of a lost humanity.

It may well be that there is some significance in the fact that Jesus speaks of the fields being 'white' for harvest. There are no Middle Eastern crops in fact that are actually white when ready for reaping!

However, the first thing the disciples saw when they looked up was a crowd of people - clothed for the most part, probably, in white robes - coming towards them (4:30). This immediately made them appreciate what Jesus was saying. It was in a human harvest that they were to be involved - and one that was to include even their traditional enemies! The amazing sight of almost an entire village of Samaritans coming to faith in Christ, and their more amazing testimony - 'we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Saviour of the world' (4:42) - is an unprecedented witness to the fact that Jesus is the Christ. The end-point of this circuitous diversion in Jesus' itinerary has been to bring two groups of people - the residents of Sychar and the twelve disciples - face to face with themselves, with God, and ultimately with Jesus in his true Messianic credentials. This also is the end-point of the gospel."

Let's Atudy John, Mark Johnston, pp. 64-65

The bottom line is that...

Bottom line: Christians can have great relationships. They inevitably suffer, however, when we prioritize them over our ultimate relationship-Jesus Christ.

Our marriage would have failed long ago if I hadn't prioritized my relationship with Jesus over even her. By learning to love him more, my capacity to love her has only increased. He's still making me less selfish and entitled.

Our now-grown children would not come home now that they have a choice. And when they come, they bring their own children. (Sometimes they even leave them with you!)

Andy Stanley shared one time their parenting goal: Raise up their kids in such a way that when they are grown and have a choice, they will still want to come home to see you.

My relationship with my dad could get bumpy depending on how much advice he insisted on giving our kids. I remember one time blowing up at him because he was leaning hard on one of our daughters about her future plans. He wouldn't let up and I lost it. Because of Christ, that was not normal for me. So he was able to forgive me and we were able to move forward without long-term hurt or drama.

My relationship with my mom used to be tenuous because while I was in seminary I confronted her on her faith in a pretty harsh way. My desire was a good one (make sure she knew Christ). But my execution was not good. Over time, however, as I let Christ shape me into a more gentle, patient, trusting-in-Jesus person, she was able to see Christ in me and that overcame my clumsy, insensitive sharing with her. Now we have an amazing relationship that I cherish dearly.

Those things didn't happen because I'm such a great guy or we're such great parents. Those relationships have gone well, overall, because we prioritize our relationship with Christ over all others.

As a result, we cross barriers to have relationships with people who are different than us.

We seek true satisfaction in the living water of the Spirit of Christ over any one person or family.

We respond to conviction to sin with humility and openness to what he would have us learn.

We don't limit our worship to a place, liturgy, style, time, building because to truly worship the Lord is to do so in spirit and in truth. We make knowing him through the word a priority because that's our best source of truth about who God is and what he's doing.

We lift up our eyes to the harvest that matters most to Jesus. We have a vision for our lives that puts our relationship with him at such a place, that what matters most to him matters most to us as well. This is where our true priorities are revealed. Do we love the least, the last and the lost around us enough to enter into a relationship with some of them?

We share our story with others. We prayer-care-share like the Lighthouse Movement teaches. We pray for others who are in our personal circles of influence. We care for them as God gives us opportunity. Then we share with them our story and how they can have a better story through Jesus as God opens those doors.

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

Invitation

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 phrase “lift up your eyes” appears multiple times in the Bible. Here are some key passages in the ESV translation:

1. Genesis 13:14 – The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward,”

2. Genesis 31:12 – And he said, ‘Lift up your eyes and see, all the goats that mate with the flock are striped, spotted, and mottled, for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you.’

3. Isaiah 40:26 – Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might and because he is strong in power, not one is missing.

4. John 4:35 – Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.

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

R. Kent Hughes, "John: Preaching the Word" Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Matt Carter & Josh Wredberg, "Exalting Jesus in John"

FF Bruce, "The Gospels & Epistles of John"

RC Sproul, "John"

Köstenberger, "John"

DA Carson, "The Gospel According to John"

Mark Johnston, "Let's Study John"

Leslie Newbigin, "The Light Has Come"

Patrick Schreiner, "The Visual Word"

John Piper, “Look at the Book”

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

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

D Willmington, "The Outline Bible" (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 & Pippa Gumbel bible reading plan app or via YouVersion

Claude.ai

ChatGPT

Perplexity AI

Google Gemini

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Darien GabrielGrace Christian Fellowshipnon denominational church, bible believing church, Ladosn, Ladson, S, SC, Darien Gabriel, John, relationships suffer