Bible Story Podcast
In this 4 part series, we will talk about different types of relationships we may have! Breaking each of them down to see how we can best learn from what the Bible says and honour God in those relationships.
Friend, in the midst of the hardships that you are experiencing. Hear these words clearly. They are for you today! Peace be with you.
19That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. 20As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! 21Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” 22Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
John 20:19-23
If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally, they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you.
John 15:18-20
Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” he asked. “Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied. “I Am he,” Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.) As Jesus said “I Am he,” they all drew back and fell to the ground!
John 18:4-6
“I told you that I Am he,” Jesus said. “And since I am the one you want, let these others go.” ‘
John 18:8
At the end of your discussion, go around the group and ask for prayer requests.
We look at three questions related to remaining in Christ’s love. How do we do this, what comes from doing this, and how will our love grow?
“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.
How do this
What’s the point?
How will my love grow?
At the end of your discussion, go around the group and ask for prayer requests.
We learn what it means to no longer be religious but embrace the relationship with God. Where you can be authentically you, flaws and all.
We also spoke about Jesus’ frustration with the religious leaders, their arrogance and how their teachings and rules became a burden to anyone trying to follow them.
Jesus’ teachings are not burdensome we can actually find rest by following what he taught!
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
At the end of your discussion, go around the group and ask for prayer requests.
Today we wrestle with the shocking statement of Jesus, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”
21Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone who he was. 22“The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things,” he said. “He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.”
23Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 25And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? 26If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels. 27I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God.”
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
At the end of your discussion, go around the group and ask for prayer requests.
We discuss how responding to Jesus’ invitation is completely reorientating. The impact is immediate, it gives us a new purpose, and it is drastic!
‘One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him. A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind. ‘
John 1:40-42
‘Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ” ). Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter” ). ‘
Luke 18:28-30
‘Peter said, “We’ve left our homes to follow you.” “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come.” ‘
Share your story about deciding to follow Jesus.
At the end of your discussion, go around the group and ask for prayer requests.
Follow is a series that looks at the invitation of Jesus to follow.
“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” | Matthew 4:19
“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
‘Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.’ Matthew 11:28
‘“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener.’ (John 15:1-17)
We are challenged to not give up on doing good and reminded that we will eventually see a return on all the good.
We are also encouraged to take every opportunity to do good, especially to other believers.
At the end of your discussion, go around the group and ask for prayer requests.
Keep Doing Good! Sometimes this can be hard, but Paul urges the reader not to give up!
Have you ever felt like you are being pulled by two opposing things in different directions at the same time? This week we talk about the Holy Spirit and our natural desire to go our own way! Let the Holy Spirit guide your life.
