JanMary

Q1. (John 15:18-21a) Why are Christians persecuted even if they haven’t hurt others? The Anti-Christ spirit is alive in the world today, as it has been since Jesus was born. Satan hates God and his intent is to defeat, derail, depress, despise Christians...to wear us down, to cause us to be isolated or shunned by unbelievers to the end of destroying our faith. We're the target in Satan's battle against God as he attempts to hurt or defeat God. What about a faithful Christian’s life threatens non-Christians? A life of faithfulness to Jesus may cause non-Christians to feel convicted of their sinful life...even though nothing is directed at them. Their conscience is disturbed when compared to the Christian's life. Why does Jesus warn his disciples that persecution will come? So that we would not be shocked...it's inevitable, and to be expected, so we must be prepared to "Stand" in the face of persecution. Just as Jesus our Master was hated and persecuted, "the servants are not above the Master". What happens to our testimony if we give in under mild persecution? To give in to mild persecution, says the faith is not solid....may be more "talk than walk". What does it say to persecutors when we don’t react to their persecution? It says they've attacked someone whose faith is genuine...one who loves Jesus more than his or her own reputation or others opinions. It says that their effort to control us or to lower our standards is wasted. Do they see us as weak or as strong? They see us as strong when we stand in faith.

Q7. (John 15:12-15) What is required to be counted a “friend of Jesus”? Jesus said "You are my friends if you keep on doing the things which I commanded you to do. Jesus calls us friends because we are in a love relationship with Him. (He chose us, and we chose Him right back!) We are not servants or slaves who are only privy to commands to obey because "it's our job" but we serve Him because He first loved us and because we love Him...because we are His brothers and sisters...branches connected securely to the Vine. What privileges do “friends” enjoy according to verse 15? We enjoy intimacy with Jesus Who tells us "everything that He has heard from His Father"....a high privilege for us. He honors us with knowledge revealed only to His friends. We get to hear about the future, and the constant reminder of His love for us, which is the same as His love for His Father and His Father for Him. Unimaginable, the position He has given us. What happens when we take for granted this privilege? Relationships are 2 sided....He will never let go of me, but I can "let go of my end of the relationship rope" and neglect my Friend....and I suffer like a plant which ceases to receive water. I will wilt because I've "pinched off" the supply from the vine. I have been there and done that....and regret those few past foolish times. But He's such a true and faithful friend, He "sticks closer to us than a brother", always with open arms and no grudge or punishment when we turn back in openness and regret or repentance for our neglect of Him.

Q6. (John 15:9-11) How are obedience and joy linked? Jesus said "I have loved you, just as the Father has loved Me; abide in My love. If you continue in my instructions, you will abide in My love, just as I have obeyed My Father's commandments and live on in His love."...so, we obey because we love Him, and because He loves us, just as Jesus obeyed His Father out of Their love for each other. Mutual joy is the result and reward. Is obedience an obstacle to a joyful relationship between you and the Lord? Not any more. In the early days of rebellion and willfulness, guilt, fear, and anger kept joy at bay. His training and loving kindness, grace and mercy, have accomplished His work, and I do have a joyful relationship with the Lord. I know now, that He loves me, accepts me, delights in me, sings over me, dances over me. (Zeph.3;17) and I delight in Him and in following His leading. He has taught me about GRACE so there is no more fear of punishment.

Q5. (John 15:7-8) The fruit from branches connected to a vine is the grape. What is the nature of the fruit that comes from being connected to Jesus? The fruits' nature is His character produced in us....Gal 5:22,23: But the fruit of the Holy Spirit (The work which His presence within us accomplishes) is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control. The chapter goes on to speak specifically about the fruit of love...His love for us, and His love through us, just He loves His Father and His Father loves Jesus. When asked what is the greatest commandment Jesus said, "To love the Lord your God with all you heart, soul and mind, and your neighbor as yourself". And in v.12; This is My commandment: that you love one another just as I have loved you." This is the fruit of righteousness, by which all men will know you are My disciples. Is it accurate to define fruit as “souls saved”? No, it isn't. What is the danger in this definition? We don't "save" anyone. Salvation belongs to the Lord. We may share Christ, or teach the Bible, or influence others through our witness, but "souls saved" is the Lord's domain. The danger is in taking responsibility for what only the Holy Spirit can accomplish. With that mindset we might have a "notches on our gun" mentality, pridefulness or arrogance if someone comes to Christ through our influence or a sense of failure if not. Jesus was careful to say in V 16: You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and I have appointed you (planted you) that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing and that your fruit may be lasting and remain" Salvation is His work, but we may participate by sharing as the Holy Spirit leads and empowers us.

Q4. (John 15:4-6) Unbelievers can do many things. So what does Jesus mean when he says, “Apart from me you can do nothing”? I think He means that believers can do nothing of eternal value apart from relying on His indwelling Holy Spirit. Psalm 103:14 taught me this principle: "For He knows our frame, He earnestly remembers and imprints on His heart that we are dust". I sighed a huge sigh of relief when I found that verse years ago, understanding that His expectation is not one of my performance, but of my dependence upon His power in and through me to perform HIS WORKS. Isaiah 26:12 "Lord, You will ordain peace, both temporal and spiritual, for us, for You have also wrought in us and for us all our works" I love the NIV translation best: "All that we have accomplished, You have done for us." What is the value of things done without Christ? None of eternal value. What is the final end of things done without Christ? "Only one life t'will soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last." At the Bema seat of Christ when our works are weighed....all that He did through us will be jewels which remain....the things we did to please others, or to look good or to feel better about ourselves to to impress others...will turn to ash as wood, hay and stubble, when tested in His fire. "But if anyone builds upon the foundation, whether it be with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay straw. The work of each one will become plainly, openly known (shown for what it is): for the day of Christ will disclose and declare it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test and critically appraise the character and worth of the work each person has done. I Cor. 3:11,12) "But if any person's work is burned up under the test, he will suffer the loss of it all, losing his reward, though he himself will be saved" I Cor. 3:15

Q3. (John 15:4-5) What does it mean “to abide”? The Lord gave me a "picture of abiding" when I asked Him about His reason for parables several years ago. I went out to water potted plants on the patio and was startled to see a dragon fly hanging by his tongue from a blue flower. I thought he must be dead, but when I got close, his eyes rolled back in his head to look at me. Wings stretched wide he stayed there for several hours. I went again, and touched his body to see if he was alive, and again he looked at me by rolling his eyes . After three hours I decided to pick the flower with him attached and move him where birds wouldn't get him, because we were leaving for several hours. As I approached this time, I heard in my spirit: "REST IN ME, FEED ON ME, ABIDE IN ME" What a vivid visual of abiding.....attached permanently, feeding continually, leaning my entire body, soul and spirit upon Jesus....powerless in my own strength....totally dependent upon my Lord! Before I could pick the flower, the dragonfly, having accomplished the Lord's purpose for me, flew away. What is the doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints? It is not saving faith alone, but faith which continues and perseveres no matter what....a true love relationship flowing both from Him and to Him. How do these verses support it? What does abiding have to do with “mutual indwelling,” of a “personal relationship”? These verses tell us: Dwell in Me and I will dwell in you. Live in Me and I will live in you...Apart from vital union with Me, you can do NOTHING! How well are you abiding? Since the dragonfly parable, to my delight, I'm abiding, feeding, and resting in Him. If I begin to feel distant, I remember that the flower was constant. It was the dragonfly who disconnected and flew away. The Lord is faithful, I only need to run back into His Arms if I begin to rely on my own strength. His promise is that He will never leave me nor forsake me....He lives in me to the end of the age, and then I'll be with Him in Heaven forever!

Q2. (John 15:2b) How are we pruned or cleansed by exposure to and obedience to Jesus’ words? His Word gradually renews our worldly thinking and ways, washing away or pruning away the old, which enables us to surrender to His Lordship which produces in and through us His Living Water, which bubbles up and flows out to others. According to John 8:31-32, how does obeying Jesus’ teaching bring cleansing and freedom from sin? R.C. Sproul said "we aren't sinners because we sin...we sin because we're sinners. It's in our hearts to sin." God's Word shows us that we are sinners, and need a Savior. As we read, learn, and begin to obey His teaching, we are cleansed, our minds are renewed and He brings freedom from sin and bondage in which Satan held us captive before Salvation.

Q1. (John 15:2) How does judicious pruning benefit a grapevine? The gardener cuts off dead or diseased branches which sap energy with no yield. He shapes the plant and directs growth for a more bountiful harvest. Pruning protects the vine and prevents disease and mildew and stimulates healthy growth. (a friend commented last night that they didn't know for 9 years that they needed to prune their grape vine, which they planted for mostly decorative purposes over an arbor entrance to their garden. Last year they pruned and for the first time got a huge harvest of large edible grapes, instead of the puny "decorative" ones in the past) What happens to productivity and health when a vine is left unpruned? Left alone, the vine is prone to disease and becomes less and less productive. It produces "wild" shoots or suckers, which rob the plant of useable fruit. What does God use to prune our lives? In my life, it's trials and testing. Long periods of waiting, painful losses, denials, slights, unfair treatment, and in several cases, illness. (He didn't send the illness, but used the down time to help me reprioritize activities and to focus again on Him in dependence.) What does God use to prune our congregations? Changes in leadership, groups of people leaving over various issues and disagreements, bringing awareness of correction needed. He leads and guides to weed out obsolete programs which take time and resources (wild sucker growth) but which produce no new growth or depth of growth. Why do we resist pruning? It hurts! His cuts usually come as a surprise with no warning...they shock and stop us in our forward (fleshly) momentum. We are not wired to embrace pain and discomfort! Those take large measures of His grace and mercy. What can we do so that the eventual pruning isn’t as severe? If there are warnings, heed them promptly. Stay connected intimately to the Vine. Seek His guidance daily. Listen and obey. Yield to Him when our will wants its' own way. Yield to the pruning, seeing it as a gift of love, rather than punishment. Even Jesus learned obedience through the things which He suffered. (Heb 5:8) Thank Him that we (wild olive shoots) have been grafted in to share the richness of the root and sap of the olive tree. (whereas some of the Jewish branches were broken off. Rom 11: 17)Repent quickly when aware of rebellion or sinfulness. Enjoy felllowship with Him throughout the day so we are in tune with Him.

Q5. (John 14:30-31a) How does Satan take advantage of our previous sins to control us or make us fearful? Satan or those who work with him and for him, have observed our sins, and are aware of our past weaknesses where we yielded to his temptation. Satan is the evil genius (Jesus own words v.30 amplified). There are places in us not yet under the control of or yielded to the Holy Spirit, and Satan preys on those places. He uses guilt and shame to keep us fearful, when we forget that we are cleansed and forgiven! In verse 31, how does Jesus stay free from bondage to Satan? Jesus had nothing in Him that belonged to Satan, so he had no power over Jesus. Also, Jesus loves the Father, and did only what the Father had instructed Him to do. ("I act in full agreement with the Father's orders") How can we free ourselves from bondage to Satan and fear of exposure? Confessing sin and bringing it into the light, so that Satan can't use blackmail against us. Remind Satan that the blood of Jesus has cleansed us from all sin and unrighteousness and we're forgiven. Surrender control of our will to the Holy Spirit. Bondage: For me, it has been awareness, and acknowledgement of the areas of bondage. (I knew I was bound, but asked the Holy Spirit to reveal the specific bondages, of which there were many! (I was bound in worship, due to rigid church experiences. Fear of man, fear of lack, distrust, fear of illness, fear of being murdered or dying a violent death, fears for my children, fear of authority figures, insecurity and fear of speaking up....I learned that children are born with only 2 fears: Loud noises and falling. All others are learned. My family was abusive, violent, uncommunicative, neglectful, and showed no affection or touching except for beatings, so I learned to be afraid of just about everything. Terror and excitement felt the same to me, so even amusement park rides were hideously frightening to me...I suffered panic attacks as well. Two of my brothers committed suicide. I wondered if I'd ever be truly free. The Lord has been slowly working with me through the years as I'm able and I am now free! He's proven that He's trustworthy! He's kind, He's present, He's my Comforter, my Friend who sticks closer than a brother, He reassures me. He has had me face the fears, and held my hand reminding me of what His Word says about each fear I've faced. "He has brought me out with a mighty hand and redeemed me from the house of bondage!" (Deut. 7:8). He is truly our deliverer, strong tower, mighty shield, healer, restorer of all that is broken and the One Who loves us perfectly. I praise Him every day and thank Him for saving, loving and restoring me and that I'm His beloved daughter whom He delights in!

Q4. (John 14:27) If it doesn’t mean cessation of conflict in our everyday lives, what then is the peace that Jesus offers us now? Shalom: Nothing missing, nothing broken. The inner peace that only Jesus can give us. Jesus said: Peace I leave with you; My own peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.) It means being in the "calm eye of the storms which swirl around us....at rest and trusting in His Sovereignty to care for us, regardless of what trouble comes. There will be no end of Jesus' peace.

Q3. (John 14:25-26). What do we learn about the Paraclete in verses 25 and 26? He is the Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby. The Father sent Him in Jesus Name (in Jesus' place to represent Him and to act on Jesus' behalf) He is the Teacher. He will cause us to recall (remind us and to bring to our remembrance) everything Jesus has said, and all that is written in the Word of God. Who is he? He is the Holy Spirit...the second Person of the Holy Triune God. Why is his teaching/reminding role important to the apostles? Jesus was their teacher until He departed earth. The Holy Spirit was sent to clarify all that the Apostles had misunderstood...to bring Jesus' teaching into sync with their new understanding of Who Jesus is, post Crucifixion and Resurrection, and to teach them Who Jesus is, hidden in the Old Testament, now revealed. For us, Jesus is the Word of God. The Holy Spirit brings the written Word of God, to life in us. (It is God breathed and the entire Bible is written for our teaching and training in righteousness and for our correction, by His Spirit)

Q2. (John 14:15, 21-25) How is obedience to Jesus linked to loving him? Because He loved me first, died for me, saved and redeemed me, I want to obey Him. He lives in me and more and more gives me the desire to do His will. As a new believer I obeyed out of fear...having had abusive parents who beat me and threatened to kill me if I disobeyed. As I've walked with Jesus these many years, I want to see Him smile...want to please Him, as I've learned He's always acting in what's in my best interest. When Jesus emphasizes obedience, what keeps this from being the heavy burden of a new legalism? The Law was designed to show our sinfulness and need for a Savior. It had to be obeyed to please God. In Christ, obedience refers to the simplicity of what He boiled the entire law down to: To love God with all my heart, soul and mind, and to love my neighbor as myself. He loves through me, even when I don't feel loving, when I ask. I love Isaiah 26:1 (Lord, You will ordain peace for us, for all that we have accomplished, YOU HAVE DONE FOR US.) Can we love Jesus and not obey him? If so, how? Yes, we can, and I have done. I'm thankful He's a very gentle and patient teacher. He's trained me to hear His voice. I remember in the early days I was sorting laundry and as I put an all white polo shirt with a tiny red trim on the pocket, in with the whites, I felt a strong impression to put it with the colors. I thought "That little strip of trim won't hurt anything", and put it in the white load. My husband and son had pink socks and underwear for quite awhile, and I realized that was the Holy Spirit trying to make my life easier, but I discounted His voice with my "superior" knowledge. His still small voice over the years has trained me to listen...which I believe saved me from being raped or murdered one day as I sat in my car enjoying the gorgeous fall color in a desolate spot in a canyon in the country with only one lane in or out of the parking lot. My back was to the "in" and I heard "Go now!". I started the car, circled the turnabout and passed a car moments before I'd have been trapped if I'd hesitated for even a moment. A man was driving, and when our eyes met, the hair on the back of my neck stood up. I don't know how else to describe it, but I was looking at the face of evil! I shuddered and drove away thanking the Lord for His warning and for His many lessons in obedience. But I've also knowingly and willfully sinned, and grieved Him, wanting my way more than His. He's been faithful to train that rebellion out of me, through loving and shepherding me in gentleness and wisdom. He's caused me to want what He wants, and that is to know and love Him more and more, and to love others with more of His grace and goodness.

Q1. (John 14:15-17) What do you think is the best way to describe the Paraklētos that Jesus sends? I think He is best described as "the fullness of the Godhead dwelling in us bodily." In what sense is the Holy Spirit “another” Paraclete? Jesus was their physically present Comforter, but limited by time and space. He was preparing them for the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit Who would replace Him at Pentecost. Who was the initial Paraclete? Jesus, the Word of God. In what way can the Holy Spirit replace him? Jesus was limited by His Flesh to be in one place at a time. The Holy Spirit is everywhere at once. He indwells believers, never to leave once He's invited to come into a life.

Q6. (John 14:13-14) What does it mean to pray “in Jesus’ name”? To pray in Jesus' Name means that I have been given permission to pray in His authority and power and all that He stands for and desires to be done through my prayer. It's as of we were given His signet ring to "sign" for Him as though He were writing the letter. What happens to prayers that are out of his will and purposes? I used to worry about this until I saw the truth of Romans 8:26,27. "The Holy Spirit comes and bears us up in our weakness for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit goes to meet our supplications and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearning's and groaning's too deep for utterance. And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the Holy Spirit (what His intent is) pleads before God in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God's will." In other words, The Holy Spirit will take our imperfect prayers and deliver them to the throne perfected according to His will. Are there any practical limits to this promise of answered prayer. I don't believe there are....if prayed in faith believing we have the Father's will.

Q5. (John 14:8) What happens after Jesus’ “glorification” that enables believers to do greater things than Jesus? When Jesus returned to the Father and was Glorified (It is wonderful to think of their reunion!!!!) the Holy Spirit was released into the world to indwell and empower each believer. Is this promise limited to the apostles? This promise is to every believer! Why are Christians today uncomfortable with this promise? I think it is due to incorrect teaching, which results in prejudice and actual indoctrination against the empowering of the Holy Spirit. Fear is a part of it as well. It's been my experience that some pastors don't want to deal with the Holy Spirit in their churches so they "outlaw" or shun Him. And as the statistics state that 90% of Christians have never read their Bibles all the way through, preferring to be spoon fed, many just don't know the promise is for them.

Q4. (John 14:1b, 6-11) In what sense is trusting Jesus the same as trusting God? Trusting Jesus is trusting God....He is God. Jesus is the second person of the triune God....co-equal but with different responsibilities. How accurately does Jesus portray God’s actions and words? Perfectly! I remember as a baby Christian, that due to an abusive father, I wanted nothing to do with "the Father"...wouldn't pray to Him...only wanted to "deal with Jesus" Before long I realized that was skewed and asked Him to straighten out my thinking. It was with astonishment and joy when He led me to the scriptures "I and my Father are One", and "If you've seen me you've seen my Father", and "I only do what I see My Father is doing". (He's so gracious to teach us and to lead us into all truth) What does it mean that Jesus and the Father are one (John 10:30)? It means that they are equally God, and with the Holy Spirit. The three Persons of the God-head are mentioned in Genesis co-creating....the Holy Spirit brooded over the waters breathing life, and the 3 in 1 said "Let Us make man in our image"....and created 3 part beings. Body, soul and spirit. (man's spirit died at the fall of Adam, but is reborn at salvation when we receive the Holy Spirit and are in fellowship with God as was intended before the Fall)

Q3. (John 14:6d) Is it intolerant to believe that no one comes to God except through Jesus? Truth is truth, regardless of whether one believes it or not. The one world religion which is in process right now, teaches that all exclusiveness in religion must be killed off....hence the increased persecution of Christians and Christian beliefs, and the pressure to embrace all religions and life styles as equal and acceptable...it requires that we all agree and think alike. How does Jesus’ death and resurrection atone for the sins of the Old Testament saints? Just as we look back to the Cross and Jesus' finished work and are saved, the Old Testament saints looked forward to the cross. Why are some Christians uncomfortable with the statement that “No one comes to the Father but by me”? The world is applying tremendous pressure to squeeze Christians into its' mold. Common Core (core values of the unbelieving world) is taught in schools, the Universities have been taken over by the liberal agenda, television promotes the same....and some Christians are becoming desensitized to the truth in order to "go along and get along" Statistics say that 90% of Christians have never read the entire Bible...if one doesn't know the truth, and know the Bible, the naysayers will destroy weak faith.

Q2. (John 14:6) In what sense is Jesus the Way to God? In the sense that there is only one way to God, and Jesus alone is the Way. He became the Lamb of God who laid down His sinless life to die on the cross in sacrifice for the sins of the entire world, and only by receiving His life and gift unto ourselves, can we be saved...and to belong to God forever. What does it mean to “follow Jesus”? It means to be in intimate relationship with Jesus through having received Him as personal Lord and Savior....(indwelt by His Holy Spirit), and allowing Him to lead and guide us through life according to His will and purposes rather than our own. It means to enter into a love relationship with Him characterized by joyful worship and adoration knowing we are forgiven, unconditionally loved and accepted by the Creator of all that exists. In what sense is Jesus in himself God’s Truth? Jesus Is God....the second Person of the Triune Godhead. He is Truth! He is the revelation of Truth ...the Word of God. What are the implications of this for us and our world? For any who believe that truth is relative, they are lost. Unless one understands, and believes and receives Jesus /Truth, they will die in their sins and be eternally in hell, separated from God for having made their choice to deny that He alone is the Way, the Truth and the Life. In what sense is Jesus God’s Life? Jesus is God, who came to earth as a baby, and grew up fully God and fully man....to reveal the Father to the world....He is the only source of eternal life, and abundant life on earth for His own. How does this affect us and those we speak to about him? When we speak about Him to others, we're speaking life and truth, and being privileged to lead others to eternal life, and the source of our joy!

Q1. (John 14:2) What is the “Father’s House”? God's Heavenly dwelling place...not made with human hands. What does verse 2 tell us about what Jesus will do, and what is provided for us? He tells us He is going away to prepare a permanent place for each of us. How does that comfort us? It comforts me to know He has a plan, a perfect place prepared for me....that for all eternity I will be safe and in His Presence. No longer a veil covering my eyes from seeing Him. Trials and testing will be over with nothing to mar intimate fellowship with my Lord and with other believers. I'll get to meet Paul and David, Mary and Martha, Timothy and Moses and all of my Bible heroes...no hurried conversations!

Q6. (John 13:35) In what sense is love for one another an indicator to all of our status (or lack of status) as Jesus’ disciples? Paul said in Romans if we love not our brothers and sisters in Christ, we're not really believers.....It is the "test" of whether or not we are genuine disciples of Jesus. Why do we sometimes avoid living in an intimate Christian community in favor of only a large-meeting expression of our faith? I think because it's easier to remain anonymous...to "seem" like a loving and caring person without having to do the work required in a small community. Our entire society has moved toward this "distancing" with the electronic world....texting and email have replaced intimate relationships. I think we're lazy and want the quick "fix" without getting "our hands dirty". Why is it so difficult to love people in an intimate Christian community? Love doesn't come naturally for us, and being intimate with other Christians can be "messy"...we all have flaws, and irritating traits. We're all in different stages of growth. We are drawn to others who are "like us"...and it takes work and reliance on the Holy Spirit to love and accept the unlovely, or the difficult to get along with, or those who seem weird and very "unlike us". (Just as I may be to others "irritating or unlovely" or because I'm elderly, not worth wasting time getting to know.) How does your church or group measure up by the indicator of love for one another? I was amazed when we went back after 22 years to the church where we began our walk with the Lord, that it is a wonderfully loving and caring body of believers...a true family, unlike the way it was in the early years. (conformity was the "rule" in the early days and striving for position seemed to infect the group) It is refreshing just to be in the midst of this lovely group of true followers of Jesus...I'm sure He is pleased! How do you measure up? I've grown in love as I've grown in grace through the years. I'm still growing in Love and grace. If I find now that if I want to avoid someone, that this is the time to ask the Lord to increase my love, to help me see that person as He sees them and to give me His love for them....and He does! Years ago we were asked in a Bible study to think about the end of our lives and what we would want our grave stone to say about us....I thought about it a lot, and decided the things which are important to Jesus should be my priorities....so my life goal has been to live as "A woman of faith who loves people". I can't think of anything else that is more satisfying and more challenging.

Q5. (John 13:34) Why is love exalted to the level of a command? God is love. All that He is and does is motivated by His love. We are to be "imitators of Him" The world will know us by our love...which is what sets believers and the church apart from the world. The unsaved world belongs to its' father, the Devil, Jesus said. And the devil is the antithesis of love...he is pure hatred toward God, God's children, and the church. Love isn't an option...and it doesn't come naturally...the command is to emphasize that we need to rely on His love to flow through us in order for the world to desire to know Him. How does love characterize Jesus’ life? Jesus said if you've seen Me, you've seen My Father....(God is love). Jesus lived every day of His life walking in love...even tough love at times when He confronted the religious leaders who piously led their followers away for God and His love for them. Jesus ultimate act of love was to suffer and die and give up His Holy life for me and all believers to have eternal life rather than eternal damnation. In what way does love fulfill the law and the prophets? The Bible is HIS-Story, from he beginning to the last chapter of the Revelation. The old testament is Jesus concealed, and the new testament is Jesus revealed....the prophets message was the message of God's love for His people and Jesus quoted them, validating the Old testament is His truth.

Q4. (John 13:27-30) Judas gave into his temptation to greed by stealing from the mission’s money bag. How does habitual sin tend to open us to greater influence from Satan in our lives? I think it creates a numbed conscience and a hardened heart. I heard a woman who had a number of abortions say "after the first one it was easy to have others", and a thief on t.v. say "Once I got away with stealing and didn't get caught, the fear left and it became a game" How did Judas eating Jesus’ bread illustrate the magnitude of his betrayal? To me it shows that he had no regard for Jesus at all....he was bent on going to get his 30 pieces of silver. His mind was made up, his heart was hardened and he was fully on board with Satan's temptation and plan.

Q3. (Luke 22:25-27) In the world, Great Men have others serve them and exalt them with great titles. How is the Kingdom of God to be different than that? The Kingdom of God is to be lived out as Jesus did...in humility, love and service. Seeking the good of others instead of "looking out for #1". Instead of seeking fame and fortune Jesus demonstated living in dependence upon Him in the same way He depended upon His Father. How has Roman Catholic Pope Francis I set an example of humility before his flock? He lived "small" and unpretentiously. He chose a small space to live in rather than the magnificence of the Vatican apartments. He knelt and asked for prayer as his first act as Pope.

Q2. (John 13:14-15) Why do you think Jesus went to such an extent to break all social norms in washing his disciples feet? Jesus was demonstrating that the kingdom of God is an upside down kingdom. In the kingdom of God the greatest are the least and most humble. The last shall be first. He uses the foolish to confound the wise. The greatest among us are not the most powerful, but the most humble and dependent upon Him for their strength. He deserved to be served, but chose to abase Himself and serve them....more powerful than words! What value did he establish in his Kingdom by this dramatic act? It is better to serve than to be served...better to give than to receive. Service is love in action. How are we to live this out in the Christian community? Not with actual foot washing, but in loving and serving our brothers and sisters....in whatever way we are able to give of our time and talents. (It may be praying with or for someone, or encouraging another, holding a grieving hand, preparing a meal for the sick, visiting in prison...where ever the Lord leads us.

Q1. (John 13:10) Jesus seems to speak to Peter in symbolic language here. In what sense does a “full bath” represent baptism? It's symbolic of being fully immersed in water after salvation.....the old sinner is dead, and a new creature rises from the "bath" fully cleansed and clothed in a robe of white linen or righteousness. If this is so, then what kind of needed cleansing does “footwashing” symbolize? I think it symbolizes the daily forgiveness always flowing toward us....we get "dusty and crusty" in the world everyday.