He Is I Am Devotional by Kyle Houk

This book isn’t meant to be read straight through. If you do, 1 it probably won’t make a whole lot of sense. What we’ve tried to do is provide 49 bite-sized devotionals. Some people will break the day into two parts, devotional in the morning and study in the evening. Others might decide to tackle both parts at the beginning of the day. However you decide to work your way through this book, take your time. These short devotionals in no way replace a relationship with Jesus, but we hope you can use them as a tool. Spend some time with us, looking to Jesus to be everything you need.

I have been using a tool from The Gospel Coalition for some time. It is called â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Seven Arrowsâ&#x20AC;?. Basically, these are seven questions that can be used to guide us into deeper, more efficient study of Scripture. Our devotionals are based on these seven arrows, giving us one arrow per day. The Seven Arrows are:

John 6:35-40 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day (John 6:35-40 ESV) Read: One of my favorite foods is bread. I love it. Baguettes, bagels, wheat, white and sourdough, there isn’t much about bread I don’t like. The smell, texture and taste are all pleasant. Bread also goes with anything. I can’t think of any meal that is made less enjoyable by adding some sort of bread into the mix. More than just being enjoyable, bread is satisfying. It fills you up, gives you energy and satisfies cravings. Bread is an amazingly versatile food. In Jesus’ day, it was central to life. In fact, the act of sitting down to a meal could be summed up in the phrase “breaking bread”. Bread was life. Jesus is the source, sustainer and satisfaction of our life. Pray: Jesus, I need you today to be my daily bread. There will be many demands put on me today, and I need a source of strength and sustenance. When I am tired, be my strength. When I am empty, be my fulfillment. Help me to rely on you today.

Study:

1. 2. 3. 4.

Jesus compares himself to two things. What? What is Jesus’ mission? What is Jesus’ invitation? What is Jesus’ promise?

I Am The Bread of Life John 6:35-40 35 Jesus said to them, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day (John 6:35-40 ESV) Read: Have you ever been hungry, gone to the pantry and found nothing but junk food? Then you went to the refrigerator and there was nothing there but old cottage cheese and some pickle juice? It is one of the most frustrating things to be hungry and unable to find something decent to eat. Eventually, you give up the search for real food and grab whatever you can find to take the edge off the gnawing in your stomach. We do the same thing spiritually. We use all kinds of things to satisfy the hunger we have, and sometimes it goes away for a little bit. On occasion, we can feel content. But it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t last. Until Jesus and his Spirit nourish our hearts, we will not find contentment. But with him, we can find satisfaction at last. Jesus is the only thing that satisfies soul hunger. Pray: Jesus, today I am in need of something. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always even know what it is, but I feel like there is something missing. So I look for it in my work, my relationships or my bank account, but never find it. I need you to be my source of satisfaction and contentment today. In you, I have all I need.

Study:

1. Read from verse 25. Why did Jesus choose the metaphor of â&#x20AC;&#x153;breadâ&#x20AC;?? 2. What connection did Jesus make with the Old Testament? 3. How would the original audience have understood what he is saying?

I Am The Bread of Life John 6:35-40 35 Jesus said to them, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day (John 6:35-40 ESV) Read: At the time I am writing this, I am about to be a father. One thing that has weighed heavily on my heart and mind is the responsibility to provide well for my daughter. It is on me, as her father, to give her everything she needs and to keep her safe to the best of my ability. That last phrase is difficult for me to accept, because I know there are some things that are beyond my ability. This is not the case with God. Jesus lets us see that God has provided everything we need. Bread that always satisfies. Water that always quenches. And a promise that he will keep us, with nothing being able to pluck us out of his hand. So we look to Jesus, and we put our future and our hope in him, because he is able to keep them safe. Jesus is Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s provision for every need. Pray: Jesus, remind me today. Remind me that everything I need, you are. Remind me that I have a great heavenly Father who will not leave me. Help me to trust that you mean it when you say you will not cast me out. Let me rest in your promise and provision today.

Study:

1. What does the picture of “bread” and “water” tell us about God? 2. How sure are we that we will be accepted by God? 3. How secure are we in Jesus? 4. What is the will of the Father?

I Am The Bread of Life John 6:35-40 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day (John 6:35-40 ESV) Read: The saying goes that no man is an island. In other words, no one exists or succeeds entirely by him or herself. In one sense, we all depend on one another to make it day in and day out. Think about all the things in your life that you use or consume that you didn’t personally make. Think of all the systems and networks someone else set up! The roads you drive, the laws that keep you safe, the economy that keeps you employed. All of these things make your life not only possible, but also convenient! God also takes care of us in ways beyond our control. We don’t make the sun shine, the rain fall or the seed sprout. Even our hearts and lungs operate without conscious effort on our part! Sometimes we get so caught up in our efforts that we forget just how much in life gets done without our help. Jesus is the one who makes everything work. Pray: Jesus, you provide me with everything I need. Often times I get so focused on my work, my effort and my productivity, I forget to see what you freely provide. Help me today to know that you hold the world together and I don’t have to. Let me receive your gifts as grace today.

Study:

1. If Jesus offers to satisfy our hunger and thirst, what does that say about us? 2. If Jesus promises not to cast us out, what need does that meet 3. Jesus promises to keep every one of us. What does that tell us about ourselves?

I Am The Bread of Life John 6:35-40 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day (John 6:35-40 ESV) Read: Have you ever had someone do something nice for you? Like, real nice? The kind of nice that leaves you speechless, waiting for the “Gotcha!” moment where someone tells you they’re joking? There is a reason “too good to be true” is a saying! We have a hard time believing that there can be an offer like the one made by Jesus in John 6. What is this offer? Look on the Son, Believe in him, Receive eternal life! If this were anyone other than Jesus talking, it would be too good to be true! But it is true. We look to him, his life, his work, his death, burial and resurrection and we believe in him. We trust him. We put our future hopes on him. And he gives us eternal life. Jesus makes us an offer we really can’t refuse. Pray: Jesus, sometimes it is difficult for me to believe. I wait for the “Gotcha!” moment where I find out what you REALLY expect of me. But this is it. You want me to look to you and believe in you. So today, help me to put my trust in you more than I ever have before.

Study:

1. What does Jesus ask of us in this passage? 2. What else? 3. Why do we sometimes feel a need to add to this?

I Am The Bread of Life John 6:35-40 35 Jesus said to them, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day (John 6:35-40 ESV) Read: Like so many kids in the Midwest, I played little league football as a child. One particular game stands out in my mind. A teammate and I converged on a quarterback and tackled him for a loss of yards. When we got up after the play, he stayed down. In fact, he was down for several minutes before they carried him off the field. In a moment I have relived many times since, several of my teammates and I cheered when we saw that he was injured. It was foolish. We were kids, but that was inexcusable. We had let competition become the ultimate thing. We knew that the only way for us to win was for him to lose, and we had ensured that. Jesus is offering a world where there is plenty for all. No one loses when another gains! My blessing does not come at your expense! Jesus has provided more than we could ever need. Rather than being in competition, we are in community. Jesus is more than enough for all people everywhere Pray: Jesus, help me to see that you are more than enough. Let me be content in my relationship to you and others. Help me to recognize that I am not competing for your love or blessing, but that you have more resources than anyone has needs.

Study:

1. How many people does Jesus provide for? 2. Why do we find a need to compete with others? 3. How does Jesus put our competitiveness to rest?

I Am The Bread of Life John 6:35-40 35 Jesus said to them, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day (John 6:35-40 ESV) Read: Have you ever sat around and wondered what you would do if you won the lottery? What about what you would do if you lived forever? I think all of us have played that game at one time or another. But what about this one: What would you ask for if you knew a God who could do anything? How would you act if you trusted every decision God made? How would you talk to a God who can do anything, and can and does work everything together for ultimate good? Jesus is our trustworthy and competent God. Pray: We have spent a lot of time with this passage this week. Take a couple minutes to talk to Jesus about whatever comes to mind. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be a long prayer. Just be real and open.

Study:

1. What does it look like to trust God with your life? 2. What would you pray if you knew God was listening? 3. What would you do with eternal life?

I Am The Light of The World John 8:12-14 12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” 14 Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. (John 8:12-14 ESV) Read: Growing up, I loved to go camping. Whether it was with family, friends or my Boy Scout troop, I was always up for an adventure. There was something about setting up a tent, building a fire and breaking out the cast iron that always put me in a good mood. As soon as we arrived, it was time to gather fire wood. And I loved it. I got to use my hatchet or machete to hack my way through the wild, untamed forest in search of supplies. And then I would drag my trophies back to camp for that night’s fire. And I never got enough. At some point, after dark, I would have to go back into the woods. And it was terrifying. Branches became arms trying to grab me, holes became snares and logs became hurdles. With no light, I had no way of navigating my way safely in and out of camp. Jesus promises to be our light, so that we will not walk in darkness and confusion. Pray: Jesus, help me to hear what you are saying today. Be a light in my world. Help me to follow you at work, in my relationships and in my choices. Be with me today as a light on path.

Study:

1. 2. 3. 4.

Who is Jesus talking to? What does Jesus say about himself? What does Jesus say about his followers? What problem do his hearers have with him?

21 Study:

1. What would Jesus’ audience thought of when he said, “I am the light of the world”? 2. Light was symbolic of the presence of God. What was Jesus claiming here? 3. How did the original audience respond to Jesus’ claim?

I Am The Light Of The World John 8:12-14 12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” 14 Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. (John 8:12-14 ESV) Read: Have you ever had a broken relationship? Something was done or something was said and a wedge was driven between you and the other person. From that time forward, every time you saw that person or ran into them socially, things were weird. The same has happened in our relationship with God. The first chapter of John tells us that Jesus is God’s plan of reconciliation. When we were lost in darkness, God launched a rescue mission. And in Jesus, he finds us where we are to bring us to where he is. Jesus is God’s plan to reconcile us to himself. Pray: Jesus, I recognize my shortcomings and faults. I know those faults often get in the way of our relationship. Help me to rest in the knowledge that you seek reconciliation with me more than I do with you. Help me to accept your offer of grace, forgiveness and acceptance today.

Study:

1. How can we see God’s faithfulness in this passage? 2. What does the phrase “light of life” mean to you? 3. Read John 1:1-14. Where did Jesus come from? 4. What was Jesus’ destination?

I Am The Light Of The World John 8:12-14 12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” 14 Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. (John 8:12-14 ESV) Read: I don’t remember many lessons from elementary school. Some things have become second nature (cursive, multiplication tables, spelling, etc.) but there are very few actual lessons that I can recall. One of those lessons is what to do when and if I ever got lost. If I had to guess, you also remember this lesson: “If you’re lost, sit down and wait for someone to come looking for you.” That lesson is still true. In our struggling and pressing to prove ourselves, we have a tendency to wander farther from God. Thankfully, our God does not stand at a distance yelling directions. He enters into our mess to walk alongside us. Jesus does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Pray: Jesus, thank you just for being you. When I had lost my way, you came looking for me. When I stubbornly refused to be found, you persisted. Help me, today, to trust you to bring me all the way home. Thank you for your patience and guidance.

Study:

1. Jesus is the light of the world, what does that say about life without Jesus? 2. What does it mean for us to follow Jesus? 3. Where is Jesus leading us?

I Am The Light Of The World John 8:12-14 12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” 14 Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. (John 8:12-14 ESV) Read: When it comes to driving, there seem to be two kinds of leaders. The first type is the “let’s see if they can keep up with me” leader. I confess, I tend to be this kind of leader. Something comes over me and I want to make the very best time finding the most efficient route through traffic, and I dare others to ride my vapor trail to a gloriously short trip. Then there is the other kind of leader. The “we’ll get there, and we will get there together” leader. This leader will slow down at a green light because it might turn to yellow. They will pull over and wait if someone gets stopped in traffic or too many cars get between them and the group. Jesus is more this kind of leader. Yes, Jesus calls us to follow him. Yes, the road is sometimes (maybe even often!) difficult. And yes, sometimes we get separated by delays and distractions. But Jesus doesn’t leave us to fend for ourselves. He is watching out for us, and he is patient with us. Jesus is a leader who watches out for his followers Pray: Lord, thank you for calling me to follow you. In you I have found life, meaning, acceptance and purpose. You lead me into a brighter future not only for me, but for the world around me. Sometimes, I have a hard time following. Help me today to follow you with every step I take.

Study:

In the gospels, Jesus invitation is always simple. What is the invitation here? 2. The pharisees disbelieved Jesus. What should our response be? 3. As one who has been received the â&#x20AC;&#x153;light of life,â&#x20AC;? how should we treat those who do not yet follow Jesus?

Study:

1. How does your attitude change when you feel secure? 2. How does your acceptance by Jesus change how you relate to others? 3. How can we work toward this type of relationship with others?

I Am The Light Of The World John 8:12-14 12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” 14 Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. (John 8:12-14) Read: I don’t like asking for help. And I don’t like trusting others to help me. When I was young, maybe 11 or 12, I went camping with some friends and an adult chaperone. To get to our camp site, we had to walk through a corn field. As we were making our way through the field, a few of us got a little turned around. It was late in the summer, and the corn was tall. Much taller than any of us. Except for the adult. While we were convinced that it was our fate to be lost for days on the backside of nowhere, our chaperone knew exactly where we were and where we were going. It took a good while before I decided to ask him where we were headed, and even then I wasn’t sure he really knew. But because of his higher perspective and greater experience, I could ultimately trust his answer to my questions. You can trust Jesus when situations feel bigger than you. Pray: We have spent a lot of time with this passage this week. Take a couple minutes to talk to Jesus about whatever comes to mind. It doesn’t have to be a long prayer. Just be real and open.

Study:

If Jesus comes looking for us, why are we reluctant to spend time with him? 2. Why do we sometimes go long stretches of time without praying? 3. What areas of your life could use some light?

I Am The Door John 10:1-9 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture (John 10:1-9 ESV) Read I can remember when I was a teenager, my family was burglarized. Someone broke into our home and took money as well as some things of sentimental value. I can still remember the scene. Glass was everywhere. Our belongings were strewn about. The intruder broke through a window and forced his way into our home. My family felt violated. Someone came into our home without being welcome. A Door or a Gate is a symbol of being welcome. Jesus says I Am The Door. In other words He is the means by which we get to the Father. We have no access to God without our faith and trust being in Jesus. The only way that we enter into covenant with God is through The Gate. Jesus is our access point to God. Pray Jesus, help me to understand that you welcome me. Today I am as welcomed by you as I ever will be. No matter how far I feel from you right now, I am welcome. Help me to worship you as my Savior.

33 Study

1. 2. 3. 4.

Who is Jesus talking to? What does Jesus say about Himself? What does Jesus say about His followers? What problem do His hearers have with Him?

I Am The Door John 10:1-9 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture (John 10:1-9 ESV) Read For years the Jews anticipated the arrival of the Messiah. When Jesus tells them that I Am The Door He is declaring that He is the Messiah that they have been waiting for. Some felt He was insane and had a demon. Others wanted to arrest Him for blasphemy, but some believed that He was who He said He was. They understood that He was The Gate and they we were welcome. Pray Jesus, help me to truly believe you are who you say you are. Help me to believe that you welcome me, that you love me and that you desire to be in relationship with me.

Study

1. Why did some believe and others reject Jesus as the Son of God? 2. What did Jesus say about those who believed Him? 3. What is significant about Jesus saying I Am The Door? 4. What problem do His hearers have with Him?

I Am The Door John 10:1-9 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture (John 10:1-9 ESV) Read In the Garden, the sin of Adam and Eve separated humanity from God. The righteous creator of the universe could not have fellowship with darkness. In our text, Jesus presents Himself as the solution to the fractured relationship between God and humanity. He announces Himself has the Son of God who has come to lay down His life for His people and claim those that are His. Jesus did what we could not do. He lived perfectly and was murdered unjustly in order to provide a means by which we could receive salvation from our sin. The fracture was repaired. Jesus became sin so that we could become the righteousness of God. Pray Jesus, help me to never forget that you are love. Allow your greatest act of love - the cross - to be my focal point. Help me to live today in light of the love your love for me. Help me keep my eyes on you, knowing I am loved by you.

Study

1. Why did Jesus have to offer Himself as a substitute for our sins? 2. What does this passage tell us about the love that God has for His people? 3. What can we do to maintain a focus on the cross and not be distracted by the cares of life? 4. What does passage tell us about Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to forgive?

I Am The Door John 10:1-9 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture (John 10:1-9 ESV) Read The gospel is offensive. It teaches us that we cannot earn our way into God’s favor and there is only one access point. This is a hard pill to swallow. In a world that teaches us to be self-reliant, the Gospel calls us to humbly approach our savior and trust him for all we need. That means giving up our attempts to find a way in, and simply come through the gate he has provided: Jesus Christ. Pray Jesus, help me to not think too highly of myself. Help me not to “keep score” and consider myself righteous in light of the failures of others. Remind me that I am a sinner. Remind me that without you I am lost. Help me come to grips with my own sin and offer my heart to you so that you can change me.

39 Study

1. Why is it so hard for us to admit our sin? 2. How should the truth about our sinful nature change the way we worship Jesus? 3. What are some ways that we can be more honest with God and others about our sin? 4. How does understanding our own sinfulness affect our ability to surrender to Jesus as our Savior?

I Am The Door John 10:1-9 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture (John 10:1-9 ESV) Read Someone who cannot admit they need help will never seek help. So it is with us as Christians. Jesus is clear that he has offered Himself as the Gate by which we enter into salvation, but we will never take Him up on His offer if we are blind to our own condition. Surrendering to Jim means that we accept that we are unable to satisfy God’s demands on our own. It means that we give up trying to earn God’s love and understand that it has already been given to us in the person of Jesus. Entering salvation through The Gate is much more than just liking Jesus or what He stood for. Entering through The Gate requires me to humble myself and admit that I am not good enough to meet God’s demands. Jesus does for me what I cannot do for myself. Pray Jesus, help me to surrender to you. Expose the prideful areas in my life that may cause me to think I am strong. Help me to see my need for you more everyday.

41 Study

1. What areas in your life have been difficult to relinquish control of? 2. What are some things we can do to help us be reminded of our need for a Savior? 3. Why is it so hard for us to admit we need a Savior? 4. How does understanding that Jesus did what we could not do change the way we live?

I Am The Door John 10:1-9 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture (John 10:1-9 ESV) Read Most of us are really good with lists. We like lists because they serve as a metric to help us gauge our progress. Often this desire for a metric finds its way into the Christian life. We like to know how we are doing so we develop a metric. Too often, we use it to judge others as well! Jesus forces us to do away with metrics. When we truly understand that I am welcome and accepted only through Christ, the metrics seem silly. The playing field has been leveled. The invitation that has been extended to us is not based on our own merit, but was made possible only through Jesus. No one is too far for grace to reach them and no one is good enough to not need grace. Pray Jesus, help me to see people as you do. Give me the courage to tell them that you have invited them to experience salvation. We are invited in only because of the cross. Allow this understanding to change the way I see and relate to others.

Study

1. Why are we so tempted to compare ourselves to others? 2. How does understanding Jesus to be the Gate change the way we compare ourselves to others? 3. Have you been guilty of assuming that some are too far from God for grace to reach them? 4. How can you be more intentional about telling those around you that Jesus is the Gate and He is inviting them just as they are?

I Am The Door John 10:1-9 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture (John 10:1-9 ESV) Read Going to someone’s home for the first time is always interesting. You pull up outside, looking for confirmation that you are at the right place. If the porch light isn’t on, the address number is obscured or there are no cars in the driveway, it can cause a miniature panic attack. The only way to know if you’re at the right place is to go to the door and knock. Fortunately, Jesus doesn’t leave us guessing or make us wonder. He stands willing and ready to welcome us into the fold, if we only come to him. There is no need for anxiety or hesitation on our part, his invitation stands. Jesus welcomes us in and protects us. Pray We have spent a lot of time with this passage this week. Take a couple of minutes to talk to Jesus about whatever comes to mind. It doesn't have to be a long prayer. Just be real and open.

45 Study

How would you approach Jesus if you knew he was listening? 2. How does it change your approach to know he invites you in? 3. Do you feel safe with Jesus?

I Am The Good Shepherd John 10:10-16 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd (John 10:10-16 ESV) Read: It’s a pretty safe bet that very few people reading this have ever spent time as a shepherd. Maybe some of us have spent time on a farm. My father-in-law grew up raising and racing quarter horses. On the nights before races, it was his job to stay in the stables with the horses to make sure no one got in to harm the horses before the big race. This is the sort of picture Jesus is painting here. Even in that day, it was not a glamorous thing to sleep among animals. It wasn’t pleasant and it wasn’t something people wanted to do. But it was necessary for the shepherd to be with his flock. He would set aside the comforts of home, set aside his own hygiene, and spend time sleeping on the ground and stinking of livestock. It wasn’t because of the honor; it was because the sheep needed him. Jesus left the riches and comfort of heaven to live with us because we needed him. Pray: Jesus, I need you today. I know that you have every comfort and luxury available to you in your kingdom, but I need you to come to my neighborhood. You are a good shepherd, and I know you will be with me today.

Study:

1. 2. 3. 4.

What is Jesus’ goal, opposed to the enemy’s? What about Jesus makes him “the good shepherd”? How do we know Jesus cares for his sheep? What does Jesus mean when he says he has “sheep that are not of this fold”?

I Am The Good Shepherd John 10:10-16 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd (John 10:10-16 ESV) Read: Shepherding has never been a glamorous job. When Israel first moved into Egypt, the Bible says they were despised bec a u s e “ eve r y s h e p h e rd i s a n a b o m i n a t i o n to t h e Egyptians” (Genesis 46:34). They were rough people more accustomed to nights in the open than with polite company. Despite being a little rough around the edges, shepherds were caretakers. In fact, the kings of Israel were often referred to as “shepherds” over God’s people. They were to provide and protect, leading the people in worship and service to God. Too often, personal ambition took over and instead of serving, the kings demanded service. Jesus is a different and better king. One who serves to the point of giving his own life. Pray: Jesus, I need a good shepherd today. I need someone to guide and care for me. I know that you are invested in my eternal welfare and I trust you to lead me today.

Study:

Re-read verse 12-13, have you ever known anyone who fit that description? 2. Jesus says, “I know my own,” how would that have been received? 3. When Jesus said, “I have other sheep that are not of this fold,” what would his audience have thought?

I Am The Good Shepherd John 10:10-16 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd (John 10:10-16 ESV) Read: Think back over your life for a second and think about the best friend you’ve ever had. What was it that made them such a good friend? Was it that you liked the same movies? Maybe it was a shared hobby that drew you together! While I’m sure those things may have played a part in the formation of the relationship, they aren’t what sustained the relationship. Mutual interests and hobbies do not get you through the inevitable difficulties of a long-lasting relationship. The stuff that gets you through is knowing and caring for one another. That is the glue that makes a relationship work. And Jesus offers both. Jesus knows and cares for you. And his people know and care for him. Pray: Jesus, I want to be real with you today. My best relationships are the ones where I don’t need to pretend to be anything I am not. And I know I cannot fool you, so help me not to try. Help me to know you as well as you know me.

51 Study:

1. 2.

How much does God care for us? What would it be like to completely known and accepted? 3. When Jesus calls, do we see it as an invitation or a judgment?

I Am The Good Shepherd John 10:10-16 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd (John 10:10-16 ESV) Read: Let’s be real, no one likes being called a sheep. In the world we live in, we would much prefer to be a lion than to be a sheep. Sheep are not the most impressive animal and, worst of all, they are defenseless. Lions aren’t afraid; they are feared. Lions can take care of themselves. And that is exactly why we are called sheep. If we’re really being honest, we have to admit that there are many things in the world that are bigger than us. There are many situations we cannot control. Too often, we find ourselves unable to change the world around us. We’re more like sheep than we care to admit. But we are not defenseless. Jesus is our good shepherd who protects us. Pray: Jesus, when I’m really honest, I know I am less powerful than I act. I try my best to look like I have everything together. Truth be told, there are so many things beyond my control. I need you to be my shepherd today. Let me know that you are greater than anything that I face. Show me that in you, I am secure.

53 Study:

1. Why do people generally dislike being called “sheep”? 2. What point is Jesus making by calling us “sheep”? 3. What does a shepherd do for the sheep?

I Am The Good Shepherd John 10:10-16 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd (John 10:10-16 ESV) Read: Trust is a valuable commodity. The longer you live, the more valuable trust is! If you haven’t yet been hurt by anyone, congratulations! But I would advise you not to get too comfortable with that status, because disappointment is inevitable. Along with the value of trust, appreciation for those you trust grows with time. The longer you do life with trustworthy people, the more you come to depend on them and draw strength from their presence! The thing is, no one other than Jesus has a perfect track record. One way or another, we all fall short. Jesus is the good shepherd who never breaks trust. Pray: Jesus, I trust you today. You have never made a promise you haven’t kept. You’ve never left me alone when I needed you. And I know that, as I go through my day, you are beside me, watching out for me.

Study:

1. What does Jesus say we will do if we are his sheep? 2. Why is it sometimes difficult to accept others who are following Jesus? 3. The flock gets its identity from the _________________!

I Am The Good Shepherd John 10:10-16 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd (John 10:10-16 ESV) Read: I was always a shy child. The thought of being put in a room full of new people was enough to paralyze me! It wasn’t that I didn’t like those people; I just didn’t know them. Back-toSchool season or Sunday school promotion was full of anxiety for me because I knew I was about to meet a whole bunch of new people. But things never were as bad as I expected. Because once I got into the classroom, I learned it wasn’t about me! Most of the time, the other kids were looking at the teacher. We were in their class, and we were their students. Because it wasn’t about me, I was freed of a lot of anxiety. Eventually, I could even make some friends. When things are centered on Jesus, we are free to relate to the people around us without having to perform for them! Pray: Jesus, this is all about you. When I make my life, my relationships and my world all about me, it is too much for me to handle. Help me to live a life that is not all about me! Let me love, give and serve those around me as a reflection of you and the love you have shown me.

Study:

1. How do we learn to live in peace with others? 2. How does it change us to know that Jesus is not just MY shepherd, but also OUR shepherd? 3. How does Jesus make us able to welcome others?

I Am The Good Shepherd John 10:10-16 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd (John 10:10-16 ESV) Read: My wife and I have gotten much better at communicating. For many, the first year of marriage is difficult simply because you’re spending a good portion of that time trying to learn to communicate effectively! Thankfully, with a lot of time and patience, you eventually learn to understand and respond (for the most part) correctly to your spouse’s spoken and unspoken requests. The same is true of Jesus! You see, a shepherd at that time would spend days, months and years with the sheep. They would get to know the ‘personalities’ and needs of each sheep, along with their different cries and noises. When one sheep needed something, the shepherd would hear and respond. Jesus is the good shepherd. He knows your voice and understands your need. Pray: We have spent a lot of time with this passage this week. Take a couple minutes to talk to Jesus about whatever comes to mind. It doesn’t have to be a long prayer. Just be real and open.

59 Study:

1. How would you pray if you knew you had an enemy? 2. What would you pray if you believed Jesus was listening? 3. How would you pray if you knew Jesus understood you?

I Am The Resurrection & The Life John 11:17-27 17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “ Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “ Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “ I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “ Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” (John 11:17-27 ESV) Read: Have you ever felt like it was too late? Maybe you were working on a project and you thought a friend or family member was on their way to help, but they took longer than expected. By the time they arrive, you’ve bitten off more than you can chew, you’re frustrated and now you’ve just created more work for both of you. And it’s all their fault. Sometimes we feel that way about Jesus. We have a picture of how things are supposed to play out and if they don’t go according to our plan, we believe things are ruined. But what if Jesus wants us in an impossible situation? What if Jesus wants to be our savior more than he wants to be our helper? In moments where nothing makes sense, Jesus offers hope. Pray: Jesus, I need you today. Too often, I start living as if you’re my co-pilot, rather than my captain. Help me to see that you are more than my helper. You are more than an encourager. You are my savior.

Study:

1. How long had Lazarus been dead when Jesus arrived? 2. What did Martha believe Jesus was able to do? 3. How did Jesus correct Marthaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s understanding?

I Am The Resurrection & The Life John 11:17-27 17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “ Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “ Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “ I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “ Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” (John 11:17-27 ESV) Read: Have you ever been overwhelmingly hopeful about something? I can remember a Christmas from my childhood when I asked for a crossbow. It was amazing. I couldn’t sleep Christmas Eve; I was so caught up in visions of firing the suction-cup tipped darts at cans, mirrors, and my brother. When morning came, I tore up the stairs, looking for my crossbow that I was so sure was there. Gift after gift was opened, still no crossbow. Then, finally, there it was. I had settled in my mind what the package would look like. I knew the size and dimensions I was looking for. The problem was, the package did not look the way I had expected. I had overlooked my gift because it didn’t fit my expectations. Sometimes Jesus looks different than we expected. Pray: Jesus, open my eyes to see you clearly. Help me to recognize when you are at work, even when you’re working in unexpected ways! Let me lean into you today and look for you in surprising ways.

Study:

1. How do we react when God acts in ways we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect? 2. How do we react when God does not act in ways we do expect? 3. Martha has obviously hurt feelings. How does Jesus address that?

I Am The Resurrection & The Life John 11:17-27 17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “ Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “ Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “ I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “ Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” (John 11:17-27 ESV) Read: Have you ever had a friend who marches to the beat of his or her own drum? They aren’t rude, per se. They are unpredictable. They’re just … different. And it’s part of the package. You learn to accept it and, over time, you learn to appreciate and even love their eccentricities! This type of friend is always a lot of fun because you never know what will happen. In fact, you start to get the sense that anything can happen! So this friendship is an adventure. A journey. And you are on the journey together, discovering each other and making memories as you go. Jesus is a unpredictable, untamable friend. And anything can happen when he is around. Pray: Jesus, help me to see you for who you are. You are not boring and predictable. You are not routine and tame. You are a wild, adventurous God who invites me along for the journey. Help me to follow after you, wherever the day may take us.

Study:

1. How does Jesus respond to Marthaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pointed statements? 2. What promise did Jesus refer to in order to comfort Martha? 3. How does Jesus bring hope?

I Am The Resurrection & The Life John 11:17-27 17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “ Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “ Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “ I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “ Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world. (John 11:17-27 ESV) Read: All of us have had something fall apart on us. Maybe it was an important project at work or, worse, maybe we had someone we cared about get sick. And in spite of everything we did to pull everything together, things just didn’t work out. That’s what happened with Lazarus’ sisters. Every time we see these sisters in Scripture, we get a picture of two very responsible, capable ladies. They had their act together and loved their brother very much. No doubt, they did everything in their power to help him. They even called for Jesus. But in spite of everything, the sickness got worse. Before too long, Lazarus had died. And they wonder why. Jesus doesn’t always work on our timetable. But he is trustworthy. Pray: Jesus, I am doing my best. Sometimes, I know my best just isn’t enough. There are things entirely beyond my control. Help me in those times to trust you, to know that you are God, and to know that you are working all things for good.

Study:

1. What was Marthaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reaction when Jesus showed up? 2. Have you ever had a time when it felt like God showed up too late? 3. Why do we believe God for the past and the future, but rarely for the present?

I Am The Resurrection & The Life John 11:17-27 17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “ Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “ Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “ I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “ Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world. (John 11:17-27 ESV) Read: It took me an embarrassingly long time to understand the saying, “I can’t see the forest for the trees.” I won’t tell you how old I was when I finally got it, but I will tell you I had been driving for a couple years. For some reason, it had never hit me that you can be so close to something that you can’t see how it fits into a larger picture. Distance gives us objectivity. We look back at our past to see the path our lives have taken. We look to the future to see the paths we hope to take. But when we look at where we are now, it can seem so boring and insignificant. Your position today sets you up for where you will be tomorrow. And tomorrow sets you up for next week, next month and next year. Jesus paints on a much bigger canvas than we can possibly see. Pray: Jesus, thank you for today. Whether I enjoy it or whether it is a pain, today is part of something much bigger. I am thankful for the opportunity to play a part.

Study:

1. Why is it so hard to keep the “here and now” in perspective? 2. How does Jesus get us to see a bigger picture? 3. Where does Jesus re-focus Martha’s attention?

I Am The Resurrection & The Life John 11:17-27 17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “ Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “ Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “ I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “ Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world. (John 11:17-27 ESV) Read: Sometimes, my temper drives my mouth faster than my mind. It can be a real problem, and it’s something I am working on, but there it is. Because of this, I have had to apologize many, many times for being rude when I lashed out or was rude to someone who did not deserve it. It looks like Martha has a similar problem. Friends had come from the surrounding area to be a comfort to Martha and Mary in their time of loss. While that is going on, we can see Martha stewing that Jesus never came and healed her brother. When she hears that Jesus was near, she lashed out. Martha goes on the warpath. Because of her feeling cheated, she was rude to those around her. Hurting people hurt people. Jesus is coming to heal. Pray: Jesus, sometimes I act out of hurt, disappointment or fear. When I do that, I know it drives a wedge between others and me. Help me today to trust that you are with me and where you are, there is healing and wholeness.

Study:

1. Why do we treat others poorly when we feel hurt? 2. Who is normally on the receiving end of your temper? 3. How can trusting Jesus help your relationship to others?

I Am The Resurrection & The Life John 11:17-27 17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “ Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “ Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “ I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “ Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world. (John 11:17-27 ESV) Read: Sometimes, things in life are too big for us to handle. It happens to everyone. And when that happens, we’re sometimes reluctant to ask for help. Or maybe we’re past the point of asking for help and now we want to blame someone. In a healthy relationship, there is margin so that one or both people can air some grievances and ask for help. This is what Martha does. And Jesus doesn’t rebuke her. He understands that she needs to express some difficult feelings and he is there, willing and ready, to listen and help her. Jesus is able to handle difficult conversations. Pray: We have spent a lot of time with this passage this week. Take a couple minutes to talk to Jesus about whatever comes to mind. It doesn’t have to be a long prayer. Just be real and open.

Study:

1. What circumstance are you looking at now that needs Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; help? 2. What was the last thing you prayed about? 3. Have you talked to Jesus about the outcome of the past situation?

I Am The Way, The Truth & The Life John 14:1-7 1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him (John 14:1-7 ESV) Read: The most often repeated command in scripture is, “Fear not.” Think about that for a while. The thing that God wants to drive home most, out of all his commandments, is that he does not want us to be fearful. How easily we forget that! Interestingly, this command to courage is not based in an absence of danger or frightening things. Those things exist, and God is not ignorant of them. This commandment is always grounded in the fact that, though there are enemies and difficulties, our God is greater than all of them! Do not let your heart be troubled. Believe in God and his messiah, Jesus! Pray: Jesus, help me to trust you today. Sometimes my adversaries look big, but when I look to you, I see that you are bigger. Help me to keep my focus on you, your kingdom and your power.

75 Study:

1. What is our basis for having peace of heart? 2. What is Jesus doing now? 3. How do we get where Jesus is?

I Am The Way, The Truth & The Life John 14:1-7 1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him (John 14:1-7 ESV) Read: Jesus sends his disciples out on mission. He has from the beginning and he does today. One of the most comforting things about the Bible is that it doesn’t paint the “heroes” as being very heroic. The disciples had difficulties, doubts and fears back then just like we do today! In the path of life, Jesus has gone on in front of us. Sometimes it feels like he is gone, but he is just ahead, preparing the way. Jesus prepares the way forward and invites us to follow him. Pray: Jesus, I need help today. When you are leading me, sometimes it feels like you get too far ahead. Help me to know that, when I can’t see you, you are out front preparing a place. As I follow you, I find the place you have prepared for me.

Study:

1. Why were the disciples afraid? 2. When Jesus describes where he was going, what was Thomasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; response? 3. What does it look like to follow Jesus?

I Am The Way, The Truth & The Life John 14:1-7 1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him (John 14:1-7 ESV) Read: When I was four, my family moved into a new house. Not just new to us, this house was entirely new. I remember the excitement of visiting the site, walking the house and talking about where everything, including my room, would be. A big part of the excitement was the knowledge that, when it was all said and done, I would have a place to belong. Jesus is doing something similar. He has gone away to prepare a place for us so that where he is we may be also. It’s a hope of a better future, where there is a place for you to belong. Jesus creates space for us and invites us in. Pray: Jesus, I need you today. Day in, day out I work to carve out my place in the world. Help me to know that I don’t have to do that with you. You are preparing a place for me and all I have to do is accept it.

Study:

1. 2. 3. 4.

What is Jesus saying about God? What promise is Jesus making? How much room is there in the Fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house? How do we get where God wants us to be?

I Am The Way, The Truth & The Life John 14:1-7 1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him (John 14:1-7 ESV) Read: Something every child deals with at one time or another is monsters under the bed. I can remember being terrified of the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz. Childhood fears is one of my favorite topics to talk about with new friends. Mainly because those fears always seem so absurd in hindsight. Fears and uncertainty are something we all share. From the day we realize the mysterious nature of the future, we begin to worry about it. Most of us spend a good deal of our lives trying to secure some certainty for ourselves and those we love. What if it were offered freely as a gift? Jesus offers certainty and security to those who trust him. Pray: Jesus, today is yesterday’s tomorrow. As much as I want to, I am unable to see what is coming next. I don’t like to admit it, but that causes anxiety. Help me today to trust you with my future. Help me know that you will bring me safely home.

Study:

1. Why does Jesus need to say, “Let not your hearts be troubled”? 2. How must we approach the Father? 3. Why does Thomas’ response resonate with us? 4. What comfort does Jesus offer to Thomas?

I Am The Way, The Truth & The Life John 14:1-7 1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him (John 14:1-7 ESV) Read: It’s never easy to trust someone. For most of us, we get a sense of anxiety when we’re asked to trust. We like to take care of our own business and see it as a sort of weakness to depend on anyone else. But have we always been that way? I can remember being a child at the pool with my parents. Even in the deep end of the pool, I had no trouble trusting my dad to be sure I didn’t get in over my head. Somewhere along the line, we have a tendency to loose that sort of trust in others. We take on a fierce sort of self-reliance. Jesus invites us to re-learn what it means to trust. Pray: Jesus, trust isn’t my strong suit. I don’t like to depend on others and it makes me uncomfortable to know that I must. Help me to re-learn the art of being reliant.

Study:

1. Jesus tells us not to be troubled. What alternative do we have? 2. What promise does Jesus give to us? 3. How will we know the way?

I Am The Way, The Truth & The Life John 14:1-7 1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him (John 14:1-7 ESV) Read: Musical chairs: making social exclusion a way of life for American children for decades! We make a game out of purposely creating a situation where someone gets left out. On top of that, we reward the child who is able to push, shove and stall their way to the final seat. Now, I love the musical chairs. And I can get pretty competitive when the music stops. While musical chairs is just a kids party game, it also teaches us something about life. It teaches us that we don’t all get what we want. That there is often more demand than supply, so we better be quick and get what we want while we can. Jesus invites us into a world where there is plenty for all. Pray: Jesus, help me to know that you’re all I need. More than that, you’re more than everyone needs. My blessing does not come at anyone else’s expense, so I am free to celebrate with them. Help me live out this truth today.

Study:

1. Who is Jesus preparing a place for? 2. Where is Jesus preparing a place? 3. What does he tell us about his fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house?

I Am The Way, The Truth & The Life John 14:1-7 1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him (John 14:1-7 ESV) Read: When I had fears as a child, I always wanted to tell my parents about them. I would wake them in the middle of the night to talk it out. Invariably, I would be comforted when my parents assured me that they are present and able to protect me. Jesus does the same for his disciples. On the heels of the command against a troubled heart, Jesus offers hope as an alternative. Instead of fear, we should be filled with belief. Belief that we have a good God who loves us, cares for us and has plans for our future. Jesus invites us to replace fear with trust. Pray: We have spent a lot of time with this passage this week. Take a couple minutes to talk to Jesus about whatever comes to mind. It doesn’t have to be a long prayer. Just be real and open.

Study:

1. What fears or anxieties do you need to talk to Jesus about? 2. What gets in the way of trusting Jesus with your future? 3. What does it mean to you for you to have access to God?

I Am The True Vine John 15:1-5 1 â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:1-5 ESV) Read: Grape vines are interesting. They creep up a trellis and make a big, intricate, knotted mess of branches, leaves and vine that is sometimes hard to make sense of. In that mess of branches, some are broken and separated from the vine. Sometimes itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s difficult to tell those from the connected branches. The one time you can always tell the living branches from the dead ones is when the fruit comes. There is no fruit on a disconnected branch because the branch gets its life from the vine. Our relationship to Jesus is life giving and vital. Pray: Jesus, draw me close to you today. Help me to stay connected to you in every circumstance. I tend to wander away from you, but I need you to keep me. Let me draw life from my relationship with you.

Study:

1. What picture does use to describe our relationship to him? 2. What does Jesus say we are to do? 3. What is the result of abiding in Jesus?

I Am The True Vine John 15:1-5 1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:1-5 ESV) Read: In our day, it can be difficult to really grasp agricultural word pictures. For us, everything tends to be mechanical or electronic. We think in terms of gear ratios and 1’s and 0’s. But to Jesus’ audience, this metaphor would have made perfect sense. There is something mystical about organic activity. It is more than mechanical and more than just chemical. Life flows within an organism in sometimes inexplicable and intangible ways. That is what our relationship to Jesus is like. Our relationship with Jesus isn’t simple mechanics. It is life. Pray: Jesus, help me to be in real relationship with you. I have a tendency to think in clear cause-and-effect terms, when life doesn’t always work that way. Help me to lean in to you and let life flow into me today.

Study:

1. Why would the people immediately â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;getâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; this illustration? 2. What is Jesus saying about unfruitfulness? 3. What is Jesus saying is the way to be fruitful?

I Am The True Vine John 15:1-5 1 â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:1-5 ESV) Read: A friend of mine gave me a bonsai tree as a house-warming gift several years ago. At first, I was overwhelmed with excitement! I have mental pictures of a beautiful bonsai, with me making careful snips with my pruning shears to get the perfect shape. But it turned out to be harder than I thought. The process of pruning for maximum growth and health is very difficult and detailed. This is much how God sees us. We are incomplete works that need to be nurtured, pruned and cared for to reach maximum fruitfulness. Thankfully, he is a much better gardener than I am. He never makes a wrong cut. We can trust Jesus to feed what needs fed and remove what needs removed. Pray: Jesus, keep me in the process. I know that I am still under construction, being formed into your image. Sometimes I dislike the pruning you put me through, but I am asking you to help me to trust you.

Study:

1. What does God do to fruitful disciples? Why? 2. What is our source of life? 3. What can we do apart from Jesus?

I Am The True Vine John 15:1-5 1 â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:1-5 ESV) Read: We were made for a purpose. You were born with a purpose. God has had specific good works, a mission, in mind for you since before the beginning of the world! How great is that? The issue is, we often fall short. In fact, we always fall short. That is why we need God to nurture, correct and supply for us so that we can be who he made us to be and do what he made us to do. Jesus has a plan and a process for your life. Pray: Jesus, I know I fall short of your expectations. You have created me to play a part in your kingdom, and you have prepared good works for me to do. Please enable me, today, to be who you created me to be and to do what you created me to do.

Study:

1. What are Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expectations of man? 2. What is Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s provision for man? 3. What is the result of abiding in Jesus?

I Am The True Vine John 15:1-5 1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:1-5 ESV) Read: Faith can be both the easiest and the hardest thing in the world. All at once, the call to faith releases us from the burden of trying to save ourselves, while also taking the reigns of our destiny out of our own hands. We are glad we aren’t our own saviors, but sometimes it is hard to trust anyone else to save us! Jesus’ commandment to his disciples is simple, but it is not easy. He is asking them to lay down their efforts and striving and focus on one thing: him. As long as our eyes are on him, his words are in our hearts and our focus remains where it needs to be, we are in the hands of God who does all things well. Trust Jesus today. Pray: Jesus, faith is difficult. I have a hard time giving up control of my own eternity and trusting you to take care of it. Help me today to give you complete control and focus on deepening my relationship with you.

Study:

1. What does Jesus’ continually require of us? 2. How do we “abide” in him? 3. What is the fruitfulness that Jesus is talking about?

I Am The True Vine John 15:1-5 1 â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:1-5 ESV) Read: Dependence is an interesting thing. It takes away our source of pride and self-assurance. It also takes away our opportunity to look down on others. If everything we have is a gift, how can we feel superior to anyone else? Jesus offers us a life-giving relationship. But he does not make the offer to us only! There are people from all nations, all cultures and all walks of life Jesus is bringing in and attaching to the vine. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love them. Jesus saves people from all groups, just like he saved you. Pray: Jesus, help me to realize where my help comes from. I have a tendency to be self-assured and sometimes even a little prideful. Let me see again the awesome grace you have given to so many others and me.

Study:

1. Does any branch have room to boast over another? 2. Is the fruit a branch produces a product of its own effort? 3. Who decides which branches are and are not fruitful?

I Am The True Vine John 15:1-5 1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:1-5 ESV) Read: God is a good God. We must believe this most basic truth. When he enters the garden with shears, it is always with the intent of making us more fruitful. Sometimes the process hurts, and sometimes we don’t understand it, but we trust the wise gardener. Even before we worry about being “pruned”, the most important thing is our relationship with Jesus. Without that relationship, everything else is in vain. All of our spiritual disciplines and practices are just vain repetition if, at the end of the day, we are not brought closer to Jesus. Build a relationship with Jesus in prayer. Pray: We have spent a lot of time with this passage this week. Take a couple minutes to talk to Jesus about whatever comes to mind. It doesn’t have to be a long prayer. Just be real and open.

Study:

101

1. What should our prayer be concerning fruitfulness? 2. How does this passage prompt us to be thankful? 3. What does this passage put as the most important thing in our prayers?