John 15 Part 3 - Study and Reflection

 

This study was done at Word Of Grace Church in groups on July 13th 2025. For the audio & video please click here.  For the worship please click here.

Bible Study Questions: 

John 15:9-17

PART 3

As we conclude this study on John 15, it is essential to remind ourselves of the purpose behind studying scripture. John reminds us at the end of his book in chapter 20:31 Even these are written, so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and when you believe you shall have life everlasting in his name.  We are told that the Word or scripture has life-giving power. How that power comes when the word is experienced or put into action. That has always been the understanding in biblical thought that upon hearing, one puts it into practice, and only then can it be said that you have truly understood.

Jesus finishes His Sermon on the Mount with a similar warning. It's like Him saying: “Now you have seen how you ought to apply the law to your lives, you have heard me say how you need to forgive, love and live. Now, I expect you to put this into practice. If you do not, then you are like that foolish man who built his house on the sand (Matt 7:24-27).

So our prayer is that as you study, meditate and reflect upon this passage that you will ask the Holy Spirit to shed His light upon your heart on areas that need to be reshaped to conform to the likeness of Jesus.

 

 

 Reflective Questions

1.   “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you” (v.9).

·         How would you describe the quality and depth of the Father’s love for Jesus?

2.   Remain in my love” (v.9).

·         What helps you stay rooted in the love of Christ and identify your distractions?

3.   “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love…” (v.10).

·         How do you understand the connection between obedience and abiding in love?

4.   “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you…” (v.11).

·         What is the connection between love, obedience, and joy in this passage?

·         Can you think of a time when obeying Jesus brought deep joy?

5.   “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (v.12)

·         How did Jesus love His disciples?

6.   Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (v.13).

·         What does sacrificial love look like in everyday life?

7.   Jesus calls His disciples “friends” (v.15).

·         How does it impact your relationship with Jesus to know He calls you, His friend?

·         Do you relate to Him more as a servant, a friend, or something else?

Application Questions

1.   In what ways can you intentionally “remain” in Jesus’ love this week? (Consider Scripture, prayer, community, gratitude, or confession.)

2.   How can you grow in joyful obedience to Jesus’ commands, especially to love others? Is there a command of Christ that feels challenging to obey right now?

3.   Is there someone in your life right now who needs to experience Christ-like love from you? What is one way you can serve, forgive, or encourage that person this week?

4.   Are you willing to love others sacrificially—even when it costs you comfort or convenience? What does that look like in your current season of life?

5.   Jesus chose and appointed us to bear lasting fruit (v.16). What kind of fruit do you sense God wants to develop in your life right now?

6.   Jesus commands us to love one another (v.17). How can your local church, small group, or ministry better reflect this love? What part can you play in cultivating a loving, Christ-centred community?

 Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English-speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org. 

 

 This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on October 20th 2024 by Colin. For the audio & video please click here.  For the worship please click here.

FAITHFUL TO SCRIPTURE

 All of us have a certain understanding of for world is and based on that we live our lives. 

Romans 12:1-2 - [1] Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. [2] Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

 There's a command in these verses. Don't act or believe what the world says. But be renewed and transformed. 

 The world is trying to change is to fit its mould. There are different types of philosophies, and we have the freedom to accept anything. Every time we watch a movie or series, we are affected by them. What God says is that do not be conformed to the pattern of this world. 

The different patterns in the world that we see are - big fat Indian wedding, grand celebration of 1st birthday, reading horoscope, wearing different symbols, signs and rings for luck and protection.

All these are from culture and philosophies, and they try to fit us into their moulds.

So not think as the world does but be transformed according to the Word. We must ask ourselves - is this how God wants me to be or do? We must know the scriptures, study the scriptures and change our way of thinking and doing things. 

Four attributes of scripture: 

1. Authority of the scripture

The truth is in the Bible. It helps us understand what the truth is. In this world, there is no central truth on which all the people can believe. But Bible has the truth. Bible is the final authority. That is what divides us from rest of the world. The scriptures are words of God. 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 - [16] All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, [17] so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

All the scripture is God-breathed. These are not thoughts of man but thoughts of God. 

2 Peter 1:20 - [20] Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 

The Holy Spirit worked in the life of Peter and used his character to pen down these words. 

2. Clarity of the scripture

Word of God is so simple that a child can understand but also difficult to understand. The great theologians still are confused about certain things in the Bible. 

Mark Twain said, "It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand."

We need Holy Spirit to understand the scripture, for revelation and for illumination. As we approach Bible in humility, not just to understand but to obey and ask the Holy Spirit, He will help us understand the scripture.

3. Necessity of the scripture

To live in this life, we need to know the scriptures. To live right in any kind of relationship, we need the scripture. The Bible tells us how to have relationships like parents, children, spouse, marriage and many more. 

So, we need the scripture to have healthy relationships.

4. Sufficiency of the scripture

2 Peter 1:3 - His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 

2 Timothy 2:15 - [15] Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 

Without scripture, we will not know God completely. There are hundreds of varieties of insects and many other living things. God created all of them. By looking at them we will not be able understand God. We need the voice of God to help us understand Him. The end result is that we are transformed by renewing of our minds as we read the scripture. 

We read scripture to understand and renew our minds. All of us are familiar with the SPECK model of Bible studying. 

As many of you are going on holidays, I encourage you to spend time by reading scripture and doing SPECK (Sin to avoid, Promise to claim, Example to follow, Command to obey, Knowledge to rejoice in)

Do this faithfully and see how it transforms your thinking and also your lives.

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English-speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.