Crosstalk – May 24th, 2009
This week in the church year: year b, easter 7
This week’s scripture focus: John 17:6-19
Review:
John is the fourth account of the life of Christ, and was written much later than the other three. It was authored by the apostle John, one of Jesus’ “inner circle” while He was on earth. It is a book of signs, including miracles and sayings of Jesus that point to His divinity.
Background:
For the last two weeks, we’ve journeyed with Jesus and the disciples from the upper room to the garden, where Jesus will be betrayed and arrested. On this journey, Jesus gives His final sermon to His followers before He completes the work He came to do. Today’s scripture focus finds Jesus having arrived in the garden.
Having spoken to the disciples for God, Jesus now speaks to God for the disciples. This is known as Jesus’ “high priestly prayer” because of His deep intercession on behalf of His current followers and those who will follow Him in the future. Jesus first prays for Himself, then His closest friends, then future disciples, and finally, those in the world.
Jesus asks the Father to do four things for the disciples: 1) make them one, 2) give them joy, 3) protect them, and 4) sanctify them (set them apart) to continue the mission.
Today’s sermon will teach us the importance of praying for ourselves and one another.
Five Questions:
1. Do you have any Memorial Day plans?
2. How many days last week did you read your Bible and pray?
3. Why do you think Jesus prayed for Himself before praying for others?
4. When is it hardest to remember to pray – when everything is going well, or when things fall apart?
5. A key to unity is prayer. Is there anyone in our church with whom you don’t feel very “united”? Accept the challenge to pray for them every day for two weeks.
Crosstalk – May 17th, 2009
This week in the church year: year b, easter 6
This week’s scripture focus: John 15:9-17
Review:
John is the fourth account of the life of Christ, and was written much later than the other three. It was authored by the apostle John, one of Jesus’ “inner circle” while He was on earth. It is a book of signs, including miracles and sayings of Jesus that point to His divinity.
Background:
This scripture picks up where last week’s left off. Jesus is continuing His journey to the Garden (and His betrayal), and giving His disciples a “crash course” in remaining faithful as they go. Jesus brought the reality of the situation to the disciples’ attention. He was not going to overthrow the Roman yoke of oppression and set up an earthly empire. Instead, He would lay down His life. What’s more, these very disciples would be hated for remaining His followers. The disciples needed words to help them endure the difficult days ahead.
The key to abiding and obeying is summed up in Jesus’ challenge to love. If the disciples were going to remain faithful to Jesus, they would only do it through love. What kind of love? The kind demonstrated through obedience (obeying Christ’s commandments.) This kind of love was perfectly demonstrated in the life of Christ, for obedience to God led Him to lay down His life for His friends.
Friendship means putting the needs of our friends above our own, not because we have to, like a slave does for a master, but because we want to do so. This week’s sermon will challenge us make friends.
Five Questions:
1. What’s the most fun vacation you’re ever taken?
2. How many days last week did you read your Bible and pray?
3. What are the qualities of a good friend? Do you have a lot of good friends, or just a couple of really close ones?
4. Why aren’t more prayers answered?
5. Who are you having trouble loving today?
Crosstalk – May 10th, 2009
This week in the church year: year b, easter 5
This week’s scripture focus: John 15:1-8
Review:
John is the fourth account of the life of Christ, and was written much later than the other three. It was authored by the apostle John, one of Jesus’ “inner circle” while He was on earth. It is a book of signs, including miracles and sayings of Jesus that point to His divinity.
Background:
In John 13 and 14, Jesus is gathered with His followers for their final meal together. The last thing Jesus said in John 14 was “Come now; let us leave”. Therefore, Jesus is likely giving these words to His followers while walking to the Garden of Gethsemane, where He was arrested. They likely passed many vineyards on the way, perhaps even observing the husbandmen in the field, pruning the vines.
Last week’s scripture focus compared Jesus to a shepherd. Jesus used word pictures His audience would know from every day life, and that were commonly used by old testament prophets. In this week’s passage, Jesus does the same thing. In Old Testament writings, Israel is often referred to as a vineyard, lovingly tended by God, which bears no fruit or wild grapes.
So, in Jesus’ parting words to His disciples, He challenges them to remain connected to Him and one another. They are to produce fruit by making other disciples. They cannot do this on their own, and when they try, they will be cut off. However, if they remain connected to Jesus through faith, He will generously give them everything they need in this life.
This week’s sermon will challenge us to remain connected to Jesus so we might be fruitful followers.
Five Questions:
1. Have you ever had or do you now have a garden?
2. How many days last week did you read your Bible and pray?
3. If Jesus were giving this sermon today, what word picture might He use?
4. Who are you discipling?
5. What’s keeping you from connecting with Jesus today?
Crosstalk – May 3rd, 2009
This Sunday in the church year: year b, easter 4
This Sunday’s scripture focus: John 10:11-18 (NIV) (The Message)
Review:
John is the fourth account of the life of Christ, and was written much later than the other three. It was authored by the apostle John, one of Jesus’ “inner circle” while He was on earth. It is a book of signs, including miracles and sayings of Jesus that point to His divinity.
Background: John 10 is placed between two of Jesus’ “signs” – the healing of the man born blind, and the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Both of these miracles prompt unbelief and anger from the religious authorities. So, Jesus preaches to His audience, which would include followers and detracters, about shepherds and sheep, a metaphor very familiar in semitic culture.
The great heroic monarch of the Jews, David, had often laid down his life as a shepherd and king for his flock. The Old Testament prophets often compared wicked leaders to false shepherds. Those same prophets predicted that one day God Himself would shepherd the people. Jesus here fulfills this prophesy.
Here, Jesus says He’s the good shepherd. The Greek word is “kalos”, meaning “real”. Jesus, not the unbelieving religious leaders, is the true leader of the people. They are at best hired hands who run at the first sign of trouble, and at worst wolves who attack the very flock they claim to protect. In contrast, Jesus authority to willingly give up His life shows He really knows the sheep, and has the God-given authority to lead them.
Jesus speaks here of His other sheep who will one day join the flock, perhaps referring to us today.
Today’s sermon will focus on Jesus as Leader, and what that means in today’s world.