Questions for sermon on 1st October 2023 – John 15:1-17
Intro
What do you find most encouraging to hear at Christian funerals?
v.1-8
How do we know fruit is important to God?
How does that affect how we manage trials?
What does the believer do to bear fruit?
What does Jesus say about what it means to do that?
How practically can we remember that remaining in Jesus is relational?
v.9-17
What does it mean to remain in Jesus’ love (v.9)?
In Jesus instructions to disciples, what analogy does he use?
What does obedience show about a person?
How does that highlight the privilege of being a disciple?
How are you already loving each other as a group (which is a great sign of being Jesus’ disciples)?
What more could you do to love each other and the wider church family as Jesus loves?
Summary
What is vital to remember is the source of all fruit?
What can you keep doing/do for the first time…
…to remain in Jesus’ words?
…to remain in Jesus’ love?
Questions for sermon on 24th September 2023 – John 14:15-31
Intro
What has been your greatest experience of God?
v.15-24
What does Jesus say about…
- who the Holy Spirit is?
- what the Holy Spirit does?
How will it be better for the disciples to receive the Holy Spirit than to be with Jesus?
How can you tell a person who has and who hasn’t received the Holy Spirit?
According to Jesus, what’s the link between love and obedience in the Christian life?
What would you say from these verses to the person who says, ‘I really want to experience God in my life’?
v.25-31
How does Jesus prepare his disciples for his departure?
Why is the Spirit’s help for them so important for us?
When Jesus speaks of ‘peace’, what is he stating and what is he commanding them? Why does that distinction matter for the Christian life?
What does Jesus say are and are not the reasons for him going to the cross?
Why does he tell the disciples that? How does that help us?
Give thanks for the work of the Holy Spirit and Jesus’ provision for disciples.
Questions for sermon on 17th September 2023 –John 14:5-14
v.5-7
Looking at chapter 13 and esp. v.8b, how is Jesus the way?
Looking at 7:16 and 12:29, in what sense is Jesus the truth?
Looking at 1:4, 3:36, 5:26, in what sense is Jesus the life?
When might you be ashamed of Jesus’ words in v.6?
How do Jesus’ words in v.6…
– humble you?
– comfort you?
– motivate you?
v.8-11
What is Philip not understanding?
Why at is Jesus saying about how we ‘see’ God?
What do Jesus’ words say to the person who wants an experience of God?
What would you say to the person, ‘it’s ok for Philip. He saw Jesus face to face’? (see also John 20:30-31)
v.12-14
What does Jesus promise his disciples?
- Read John 5:20-24
How does Jesus help us understand the promise in 14:12?
Why does Jesus say believers will do ‘greater things’?
How does that help us understand when and how the ‘greater things’ will happen?
How do the ‘greater things’ help us understand what it means to ask Jesus for anything ‘in his name’?
How do these verses help with Philip’s question in v.8?
How do these verses change how we think about sharing Jesus words and praying in Jesus’ name?