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. 

 

John 15 Part 2 - Study and Reflection

 

This study was done at Word Of Grace Church in groups on July 6thh 2025. For the audio & video please click here.  For the worship please click here.

JOHN 15 Sunday Study Part 2

John 15:3-8

INTRODUCTION

 Traditionally, the Gospel of John is attributed to John the Apostle, the son of Zebedee and brother of James. As one of Jesus’ twelve disciples and part of His inner circle alongside Peter and James, John had a front-row seat to Jesus’ ministry.

The Gospel of John is distinct from the Synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—in both content and style. Here's a breakdown of how it differs, as well as its historical and cultural context and the original language in which it was written.

Before we dive into Jon 15, let us look at the significance of the use of the word Logos/Word.

It is interesting to note that John does not start by mentioning Jesus’ name. He calls Him the Word, which the Jews associate with Gen 1:1. John makes it clear that he is not talking about the beginning of creation, but rather about a time before anything came into existence, when there was the Word.

The Significance of Logos in John 1:1

John 1:1 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Introduction

The Gospel of John begins not with a narrative but with a profound theological declaration: “In the beginning was the Word (Logos), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

John’s use of the term Logos bridges two worlds—Greek philosophy and Jewish theology, both of which carried deep significance for his audience. Understanding what Logos meant to these audiences reveals the richness of John’s opening statement.

 What Logos Meant to the Greeks

- Logos Reason, Logic, Universal Order
- Thought to be the rational principle that governed the cosmos
- Seen as an impersonal force or bridge between the divine and the material.

Therefore, in this opening John said to both Jews and Greeks: “For centuries you’ve been talking, thinking, and writing about the Word (the logos). Now I will tell you who He is.” John met both Jews and Greeks where they were and explained Jesus in terms they already understood. – David Guzik ( commentary on John)

 “John was using a term which, with various shades of meaning, was in common use everywhere. He could reckon on all men catching his essential meaning.” (Morris)

John’s Radical Claim:

V4. In Him was life. So, Jesus is not only the source of biological life but also the very principle of life.
This Logos is not a force—it’s a Person. He is God, eternal, and has now taken on flesh in Jesus (John 1:14). From the Greek perspective, they thought of God as too lofty, i.e., gods like Hercules, who were superhuman but men all the same. John is saying this ‘divine reason’ became flesh.

For the Jew, they think of God as too high, so a great God of the Old Testament becoming Flesh was hard to swallow.

What Logos Meant to the Jews

- Hebrew equivalent: Dabar = word, action, or matter
- God created the world by His Word (Psalm 33:6)
- God revealed His will through His Word to prophets
- Targums used Memra (Word) as a way of speaking about God's presence and power

John’s Bold Assertion:
Jesus is the very Word of God—His creative, powerful, self-revealing expression in the world.

   

  Reflection Questions

1. Why do you think John starts his Gospel with the concept of Logos?
2. How does this portrayal of Jesus as Logos shape your understanding of His divinity?
3. What does it mean that the Logos "became flesh" and lived among us (John 1:14)?
4. How does Jesus embody both God’s wisdom and power in your life today?

 Application

- Reflect on Jesus as God’s Word to you today.
- Read John 1:1 18 slowly and prayerfully.
- Ask: Where do I need to let the Logos—God’s living Word—speak into my life?

 

 JOHN 15: 2-8 Bible Study

Reflective Questions

1.   In verse 3, Jesus says we are 'already clean' because of His word.
   - How do you understand being spiritually 'clean'?

2.  Do you understand the distinction between pruning ( katharie)  and being clean (katharoi)?

3.   'Remain in me, as I also remain in you' (v.4).
   - What does it look like for you to remain (or abide) in Jesus daily?
   - Are there specific practices or moments where you feel especially connected to Him?

4.   'Apart from me, you can do nothing' (v.5).
   - Have you experienced moments of striving without abiding?

5.  What is the ‘nothing’ that Jesus is referring to?

6.   Jesus uses the image of branches withering and being burned (v.6).
   - What warning or invitation do you hear in this verse?
   -What things in your life pose danger to you, withering?

7.   'If my words remain in you…' (v.7)
   - What does it mean for His Word to 'remain' in you?

8.   Bearing much fruit brings glory to the Father (v.8).
   - What kind of fruit is growing in your life right now (e.g., love, peace, patience—Galatians 5:22-23)?
   All of us are bearing fruit- What kind of fruit are you bearing, ones that glorify God or..?

Application Questions

1.  1. What role has God’s Word played in cleansing or shaping your heart recently?

2.   Where in your life right now do you sense God inviting you to deeper abiding?
   - Is it in prayer, Scripture, surrender, trust, or obedience?

3.   Is there any 'fruitlessness' in your life that may be a result of disconnecting from the Vine? - What needs to be realigned or surrendered?

4.   What practical rhythms can you build to help you remain in Christ and His Word?
   - (Examples: daily quiet time, Scripture memory, journaling, listening prayer)

5.   Think about a situation where you’ve tried to do something 'apart from Jesus.'
   - What was the result, and what did you learn about abiding?

6.   How can your life this week actively bring glory to the Father through bearing fruit?
   - Is there a relationship, task, or opportunity where you can show evidence of abiding?

7.  Can you see God’s Grace in this passage?

 

 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. 

An Anchor For The Soul

 

 This message was preached by Colin DCruz via zoom at Word Of Grace Church on  January 10th 2021. for the audio please click here.  TO listen to the worship please click here

 

We are living in very challenging times. We saw the COVID become a pandemic and we hoped that things would get better over time, but there has been no respite. The death toll has been devastating. Whole industries have shut down, businesses have come to a grinding halt or reduced significantly! Millions have been rendered jobless. In 2021, we are still in unchartered territory. Fear can grip us because of health and economic needs. IN the midst of all that is happening, I want to share how to anchor our lives in Christ.

Heb 6:19- 20 “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” The hope is in verse 14 – I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.

The full prophetic word was in Gen 22 which concerns us, because we are the descendants of Abraham. It anchored Abraham’s life in turbulent waters. Without an anchor, a ship can drift or crash against the rocks. The anchor keeps it safe.

In this stormy waters, where is our anchor? It is in the word of God. So we will look at some promises in the word that will be our anchor. Let’s pray.

Psalm 23:6 “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

This Psalm is about the goodness of the Lord to us. Come to this Psalm when you are anxious, worried, fearful, etc.

1.      God’s goodness is there for us: Psalm 139 talks about God’s involvement in our life.

3 You search out my path and my lying down
    and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
    behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
    and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
    it is high; I cannot attain it.

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?
    Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
    If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
For you formed my inward parts;
    you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
    the days that were formed for me,
    when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
    I awake, and I am still with you.

               There are angels watching over your life. God is watching over you. It does not mean bad things don’t happen to us. But even though bad things happen, God will work it out for good. Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose”

2.      His mercy / loving-kindness follows us: His mercy is when God doesn’t give us what we deserve. Jesus died in our place so God can have mercy over us. Goodness relates to his provision, mercy relates to his pardon. We need mercy all the time.

Eph 2:4-5 “4 But[c] God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved”

Micah 7: 18 “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity
    and passing over transgression
    for the remnant of his inheritance?
He does not retain his anger forever,
    because he delights in steadfast love.
He will again have compassion on us;
    he will tread our iniquities underfoot.
You will cast all our sins
    into the depths of the sea”

God is not mad at you. He is mad about you.

Exodus 34: 6 “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,”

When we commit a mistake, we need to run to God. The confidence is in what He has done. God loves to show mercy and his nature is good.

The Lord is my shepherd. And behind the sheep are two sheep-dogs, goodness and mercy. IN the midst of all the uncertainty, His goodness and mercy follow us ALL the days of our lives.

3.      Dwell in the house of the Lord forever: People fear death more than anything! If you have put your trust in Jesus, there is no fear of death. Our eternal destiny is settled. Death is just a doorway into resurrection life. Jesus is preparing something beautiful for those who love Him.

All the things that plague us on earth will no longer be there in heaven. As Christians we need to focus on heaven. We need to have a long term plan, knowing our future is secure in Jesus. Heaven is the place where God dwells. It is filled with the glory of God. What we see is just a glimpse of what His glory is. No eye has seen, no ear has heard and no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him. We need to be a people who are anchoring our lives in heaven. No one can take that away from you. Romans 8: 18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

What were Pauls Troubles? 2 Corinthians 11:23-33“with far greater labours, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.” 

Whatever trouble you have this morning, it is light and momentary compared to the riches of heaven. Even being martyred is no big thing. Phil 1:21 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Let us be a people who love heaven.

 

How shall we respond to this?

1.      Be grateful:

When we look around and see how blessed we are; we need to be grateful to God. This is the antidote to fear. Write down on a journal the things we are grateful for.

 

Hebrews 12:28 “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe”.

 

2.      Generous:

Let us be a people who not only receive but give freely.

3.      Be gracious and merciful to others:

Eph 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” Don’t hold on to grudges but extend forgiveness and grace.

 

1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love”

4.      We are living for God’s glory:

When our mind is focused on doing good deeds, we are bringing glory to God.

 

When we are anchored to these things, we are steady through the storms of this life.

Let’s pray!

     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 a part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org. 

 

Eat, Pray, Love| Colin D

This message was preached  by Colin D'cruz at Word of Grace Church on  January 3rd, 2016. To listen/download the audio please click here  . To listen to the Sunday's worship and prophetic contributions please click here

We begin a new year often we make New Year’s resolutions of going to the gym. Often the turn of the New Year motivates us to do new things. 

Sadly, a few days into the New Year we give up. I want to share a few thoughts with you today.

Is 43: 18-19- “Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

A lot has happened in the New Year, both good and bad. Like Isaiah- forget the bad things, challenges, etc. The grace of God has seen us through.  Forget even the good stuff- don’t live in the past. We want to live in the future.

John 10:28- “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand” Nothing like a new year for a fresh start. Jesus will never leave us. Phil 1:6- he will bring into completion … God’s attention is constantly upon us.

This year I want us to EAT, PRAY, LOVE.

1.       Eat- Feast on the Word of God regularly. Maybe you haven’t fed consistently. Make a resolution- I want to feed on God’s word. Consistency is important. Job 23:12- “I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.”

Have a plan- if you aim at nothing, that’s what you will get. Have some goal, whatever it is. There are two types of study- the fast paced one and a detailed one. You need both.

Sometimes we just do it routinely and fulfil an obligation. But we want to get to know the person of Jesus through reading the word. Have a journal and record what God does in you.

2.       Pray: we are overwhelmed with need. Let’s pray- set aside some time to pray for the myriad needs before us.

Have a prayer list and pray through it. Pray with others, pray on your own. Get involved with the prayer meetings, life groups, etc.

3.       Love: We all lead busy lives- dead lines, travel, etc. but make some time to connect with people and express some love to each other. The greatest thing is love. It means investment of time, energy, money, etc. take time out and invest into someone at work or your neighbourhood.

We need to remind ourselves of who we are.  Ephesians 3:1, 10- have you been entrusted with a secret? How do you feel when that happens? Paul was revealing a secret. Right till the time of Paul, God kept something from being revealed i.e. that the gentiles will participate in the salvation of Jesus.

God has chosen to make his mysteries known through the church. The church is the only institution that will survive death. When we love one another, it is God’s way of revealing the manifold wisdom of God to the world. So let’s leave the past behind, there is more in store for you.   

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 have 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. To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.

The secret to true success | Colin D Cruz

This message was preached by  Colin D Cruz at Word of Grace Church  Pune, on the 31st  of August 2014. You can listen/download the  audioby clicking here

Imagine if you had a huge task before you or a challenge. Something you have never done before, what would you do?

Joshua was in that situation. Moses has died and he has taken up leadership of 3 million people. His job was to take them into the promise land; it was a big job because they were a difficult bunch. It wasn’t just taking them from A to B but in B there were enemies!! However God said that he was giving them the land. The promise of God was there in and for a difficult situation.

In Joshua Chapter 1 we see how God instructs Joshua how to be prosperous and successful.

Josh. 1:1 The Promise given to Moses is passed on to Joshua

Verse 8 He is given further instructions.

Think about it. Is God giving him a great military strategy? No!  All He tells him is to have his quiet time every day ! There is no iron dome to protect them. All he is asked is to do is to read the scriptures meditate on it and obey it and that will make him successful. Was it a command or a suggestion? It’s a command - a promise with a condition.

In life we face many challenges, in health, finances, relationships, unanswered prayer. What do we do, how do we overcome? The solution is the same - the one given to Joshua is applicable to us as well.

1. Do not let this book depart from your mouth. What book was he talking about? The first 5 books of the Bible, not some gurus’ Secret of success. Its talking about meditating, reading and obeying God‘s word.

Think about it. Depart from your mouth? What does this mean? The Words of the book should be on our minds, our lips: we should be able to read, recite and mediate.

2Tim. 3:16 All scripture is God breathed. It’s not been written by man, but God inspired even as men wrote it.

Psa. 19:7-11 - As you read God’s word it will revive your soul. As you feel hopeless or without faith, faith will come when you read the Word. We get wisdom from above from the Word. The Word brings joy to our heart.

If you are feeling faithless, hopeless, joyless, read the Word, it will revive you.

2.  Meditate on it day and night – its one thing to read, but reading is not enough. How many of us read something in the morning and forget what we’ve read by the evening.

In Hebrew there are two words for meditate – The first one is to “mutter” which is similar to worrying.  Muttering – instead of worrying about the situation, you mutter the word. You confess the promises in scripture. 2 Cor. 4:13, I believed, therefore I have spoken out. When we believe we speak.

Your situation may be bleak, but confess the promise and the truth. Can you talk and eat at the same time. When you confess truth, you keep negative thoughts away from you. We protect ourselves with the shield of faith.

The second meaning for meditate is "like a cow chewing cud". We read on the word, feed on it but throughout the day He wants us to think about it. You will not be able to do this if you don’t memorize it.  Memorize as you drive to work, go to the toilet, and have a glass of water. As you do this, God will give you new insights into His Word.

Psa. 1:2 Blessed is the man ... His delight is in the law of the law. Do I delight in it?

Why is this important? Prov. 23:7 As a man thinks, so he is. AS you think about the truths in the Word you will be transformed, and those things will happen in your life. What you fix your mind on, that is what will happen to you.

Day and night –  i.e.  all the time. Today when you go out for lunch – share something that impacted you from the Word. Let’s sharpen each other. Let’s teach each other.

3.  Be careful to do everything that is written in it – this is obedience. It’s good to read, recite, and remember but it’s useless if we don’t obey. What is one thing that we can obey? Think about Nike – “just do it”. Take one thing, not ten things and obey it. The Bible warns us about knowing and not obeying James 1:22.

If we just read and not do we are being deceived. V25 If we obey, we will be blessed in all he does. See how it connects with Josh 1:8.

This is a simple formula.  We are all weak but the grace of God is there. There is no condemnation, but if we love Jesus see what  John 15 says : If his words remain in us we can ask anything..

At Word of Grace we encourage everyone to have a notebook and journalize and as you do this day after day, you will see how you will grow in God’s word. If you don’t have a journal, can I encourage you to get one?

Then you will be prosperous and successful - God’s anointing, enabling and favor will be upon you. We will never be perfect in understanding, meditating or obeying the Word. But as we do it amazing things will happen. See what happened with Joshua – God asked them to do something and the walls of Jericho came crumbling down and they experience success after success.

At the end in Joshua 21:43- The Lord gave them rest and success. The Lord handed over all the enemies to them. Every one of the promises of Israel was fulfilled. WOW!!Wouldn’t you want that to be your testimony? I want that. If you are student, working, in our family, in our finances etc God want s us to be blessed.

What is prosperous – Some say it refers to success not money. I beg to defer.  Jos 22 :6 - Return to your homes with your great wealth..So wealth is also included, but its not only wealth. Some focus only on wealth.

Rom 15:4  For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

If you want hope, meditate on what happened to Joshua and do what he did. God gave promises and instructions and Joshua obeyed. The result is success and prosperity. 

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 have 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. To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.