he Word Became Flesh 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through hi hings were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the arkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it. 6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning tha ght, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to everyone oming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was hi wn, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 hildren born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. ave seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, say This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all receive race in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but th ne and only Son, who is himself God and[b] is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. John the Baptist Denies Being the Messiah 19 No his was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders[c] in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confess eely, “I am not the Messiah.”21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”He said, “I am not.”“Are you the Prophet?”He answered, “No.” 22 Fin hey said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the pr t, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”[d] 24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “W hen do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”26 “I baptize with[e] water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do no now. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jor here John was baptizing. John Testifies About Jesus 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away t n of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him ut the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from hea s a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit ome down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”[f] John’s Disciples Follow esus 35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”37 When the two disc eard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”They said, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher”), “where are you staying?”39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with h was about four in the afternoon. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The fi hing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked m and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter[g]). Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael 43 The next day esus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip foun athanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joeph.” 46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he sai m, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still und he fig tree before Philip called you.”49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”50 Jesus said, “You believe[h] ecause I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you,[i] you[j] will see ‘heaven open nd the angels of God ascending and descending on’[k] the Son of Man.” Jesus Changes Water Into Wine 1On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in alilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “ ave no more wine.”4 “Woman,[a] why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he ou.”6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.[b] 7 Jesus said to th ervants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” The d so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who rawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the gues ave had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” 11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revea s glory; and his disciples believed in him. 12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a ays. Jesus Clears the Temple Courts 13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found peopl elling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both heep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop urning my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”[c] 18 The Jews then respon o him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three ays.”20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was ody. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken. 23 N hile he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name.[d] 24 But Jesus would not entru mself to them, for he knew all people. 25 He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person. Jesus Teaches Nicodemus 1No here was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that y re a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no an see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a]” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter econd time into their mother’s womb to be born!”5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of wat nd the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ 8 Th ind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”[ How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. 10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak o hat we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not elieve; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,[f] 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”[g] or God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his S to the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands ondemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people lo arkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds w e exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. ohn Testifies Again About Jesus 22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptiz Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John as put in prison.) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to Joh nd said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is goin m.” 27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but a
WEEK WEE WE W EEEEEKK SSE SEVEN EVE EEV VVEEEN N
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DAY ONE TODAY’S READINGS: JOHN 15 Powerful summer storms are common in the Pittsburgh area. At times they can bring a well needed cool down from the heat and humidity, and water for vegetation. At other times they can bring damage, testing the integrity of both nature and man-made structures alike. After a summer storm it’s not rare to find downed branches in our neighborhoods. Have you ever watched what happens to a branch when it is removed from the tree? Within a matter of hours it begins to show signs of withering. Leaves begin to curl, bark begins to peal, life begins to fade. This is the crux of Jesus’ “I AM” statement in John chapter 15. Here John captures Jesus final visual “I AM” declaration, a statement of connection and purpose. He tells us that branches that are not connected will perish. Signs of death will begin to set in as it is separated from the source of life. On the other hand branches that are connected do more than just live, they produce. Branches that are connected bear meaningful, life-giving fruit. What roots and trunks are to trees, Jesus is to the human life. We are only truly alive when we are connected to Him. And when we are
connected to Him we cannot help but produce His fruit in the world. What does being connected look like? Jesus says it plainly,
[10] If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. (John 15:10, ESV) John uses a specific word for “keep”. It gives the image of a guard standing watch over a fortress, ready to engage in battle if the need arises. Obedience is not something we naturally drift towards. At times it takes tremendous work. But the work is not just about knowing His commandments or even admiring them. It’s about walking in them. In a later letter to the early church John would go on to share these convicting words.
[3] And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. [4] Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, [5] but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: [6] whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (1 John 2:3–6, ESV) Walk in the same way. In other words when we are connected to Him we will produce the same fruit that He did. Oranges can’t grow on grape vines. Pineapples won’t grow on apple trees. Plants can’t control their fruit. They just grow. It’s what they do when they are connected. When we are connected to Jesus His fruit will
begin to grow in us. We will discover kindness that we never knew we had. Self control and love will be more common. Gentleness and peace will be the fruit in our lives that other experience. However, when we are disconnected from Him the opposite is true. We will begin to see His fruit fade from our lives. Keeping His commandments, walking in His ways, is the only path to true life.
Reflection:
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Jesus communicates what is known as the Greatest Commandment in Matthew 22:3440. What does it look like to live out these two commandments?
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What are some of the other commandments of Jesus we see in the gospels? A good place to begin is with the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s gospel, chapters 5-7.
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In this series of devotions we have already read Galatians 5:22-23, but it is always worth another visit. Reread this list of the kind of fruit that comes with being connected to the True Vine.
DAY TWO | TODAY’S READINGS: JEREMIAH 17:7 - 8 When it comes to walking in the ways of the Lord trust is the essence of that journey. Trust is needed because the ways of Jesus are so counter to the ways of the world. To be great you must serve. To receive you must give. To live you have to die. If we’re honest with each other the ways of Jesus often don’t make sense at face value. However, the more we walk in them the deeper our connection to Him grows. The prophet Jeremiah spoke of our connection to God in similar terms.
Reflection:
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What are some of the things that the world encourages us to root out lives in? In a season of drought how do you see those things failing to produce nourishment?
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READ Psalm 1. This passage parallels Jeremiah 17. Note that it is the “law of the Lord” that brings life. How frequently does the Psalmist encourage us to meditate on God’s Word? How can you put this into practice this week?
[7] “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. [8] He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” (ESV) (Jeremiah 17:7–8)
Have you ever tried to remove a substantial plant from the ground? Be it a tree or a large bush it takes a considerable amount of digging and prying and sweat and some tears to get it to begin to wiggle even just a bit. When roots have a good source of water they shoot out in all directions gripping the earth, creating stability. Jeremiah gives us that mental image when speaking of trusting in the Lord. As we walk with Jesus and trust is cultivated deep spiritual roots are created. Now, roots are not something that you normally see in nature. They lie below the surface, but without them the entire plant would begin to wither. The same is true of spirituality. It is the work that often goes unseen that produces thick, healthy roots in our lives. These are things like meditating on His Word, solitude, prayer, and fasting. Unseen, yes, but vital. Heat and drought come to us all. Did you notice in yesterday’s reading in John 15 that every branch gets cut? It’s not just the fruitless branches. Even those who are producing get cut back for a greater purpose. Hard times come to us all, but only those who are rooted in the Lord continue to experience health in difficult seasons. Through adversity our leaves remain green and our fruit ripe for all the world to see when we remain connected to the True Vine.
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Richard Foster’s “The Celebration of Discipline” and Dallas Willard’s “The Spirit of the Disciplines” were both mentioned in Week 4 of our devotional series, but they are worth mentioning again. Spiritual disciplines are the root work that is often not seen, but is vital. If you would like to begin to dig deeper into the spiritual disciplines we see in the Scriptures either one of these would be a good place to start.
someone’s sight or clear their leprosy. It’s not to feed someone. It was to ensure that a young couple’s wedding day goes smooth. He steps in to elevate the stress of a potential bad omen. He did it so seamlessly that it seems the young couple didn’t even notice. They just got to enjoy its result. That begs the question; how many miracles are we missing? How many extraordinary moments are happening around us daily that we are reaping the benefit and enjoyment of, but we can’t see them with our own two eyes? As we’ve been discussing this week, when we are deeply connected to God things that seem so upside down begin to resonate with our souls. We begin to not only see miracles in others, but in our own lives as well. What we once took for granted now we see Jesus entering in to provide.
NOTES: TODAY’S READINGS: JOHN 2 John’s gospel is structured around two elements. The first are the “I AM” statements we’ve been exploring in our sermon series and devotion. The second is a series of miracles that back up His statements. John calls these miracles “signs” because they point the way towards who Jesus is. The first is captured in John 2. We’re no strangers to this story. It all takes place at a wedding. Weddings come with all sorts of superstitions. Rain on your wedding day symbolizes fertility and many children to come. The bride and groom seeing each other before the ceremony symbolizes a lack of faithfulness or control in the marriage. Carrying the bride across the threshold is not as romantic as you’d think. In Medieval Europe it was thought that women were more vulnerable to evil spirits entering their bodies through the soles of their feet. To avoid bringing anything evil into a new home she would be carried. Whether it’s something old, something new, something borrowed, or something blue each culture and time era has had some form of superstition surrounding the wedding day. When Jesus’ host run out of wine panic sets in. This is a bad sign here on the first day of their marriage. Will they run out of provision in their marriage? Does this mean he will lose his job? Does this mean
God is not blessing this union? What does this all mean? Enter Jesus. At the urging of His mother Jesus performs one of His most famous miracles… water into wine. There are a few details in this account that are important not to miss. First, this wasn’t a bottle of water into a bottle of wine. John tells us that each of the six jars were about 20-30 gallons each! That’s around 150 gallons of wine! Second, the wine was all created from water meant for purification. The fact that the wine ran out lets us know that all of the guests have been here for a while. These jars to ritually wash one’s hands before eating would have been used at least a few times over. Jesus turned used hand washing water into wine. He took something ordinary and made it extraordinary. No one sees this miracle happen. It just happens. The master of the feast, a wedding coordinator of sorts, is the first to taste, but he attributes the wine to a sly groom who saved the good wine for last. The groom gives no reply. The bride is not mentioned. The curtains close on this story. John tells us that this is Jesus’ first sign. It’s interesting that this is how Jesus chose to use His divine abilities for the first time. It’s not to heal
Reflection:
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Why do you believe Jesus chose this wedding for His first miracle? What does this tell you about the character and heart of God?
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What are some superstitions that you’ve believed in your life? Maybe it had to do with a black cat or a broken mirror. Maybe it digs in deeper, beyond silly cultural superstitions and affects your level of anxiety in a real way. Acknowledge them and through prayer invite Jesus to step in to bring stability and healing.
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In what ways has God provided for you today? This week? This month? Remember to notice the simple things. Pray and thank Him for all the ways He provides.
a better you. Rebirth is a new origin and it is something that we cannot give ourselves. It can only come from above, being connected with the True Vine that we’ve been speaking about this week.
DAY FOUR | TODAY’S READINGS: JOHN 3:1-15 The common ground of every human heart is a fear of the future. In our minds we ask, “What if this happens or what if that happens?” It’s not wrong to wonder about or plan for the future, but wonder is not where our minds stop. Anxiety creeps in whispering to us that the outcome is grim. Your job is going to be eliminated. Your marriage won’t survive. The diagnosis is going to be devastating. Throughout the gospels Jesus makes one thing clear about the future. Our peace and hope are never found in our attempt to try to figure out what the future holds. As the early followers of Jesus faced tremendous anxiety about their future the Apostle Peter reminded them where their hope comes from in the introduction of his first letter.
[3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, [5] who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3–5, ESV)
Born again to a living hope. That “born again” phrase may sound familiar. It’s a phrase Jesus uses in His late night conversation with Nicodemus in John 3.
[3] Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3, ESV) Hope does not come as a result of us trying harder to shape our individual futures. It comes as a result of surrendering who we were and becoming who we are meant to be. Rebirth means more than just improvement…5 steps to becoming
Rebirth is not merely about salvation. It’s about a new way of seeing the world. It’s about acknowledging that we are connected to the True Vine that spans the globe. Jesus says that without this new birth we “cannot see the kingdom of God”. Too often these words are translated in our minds in a way that makes us think of heaven, but that is a limited view. The first words that Jesus speaks as He begins His ministry in the Gospel of Mark are,
[15] … “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15, ESV)
NOTES:
It is true that one day we will experience the Kingdom of God in its full glory in heaven, but it is also “at hand”. It’s here, now, peaking through from heaven to give us signs of our true hope here on earth.
Reflection:
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What signs of hope of the Kingdom of God do you see here on earth?
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READ Matthew 13:44-45. Based on what Jesus is sharing in these passages what should our response be to being born again into the Kingdom of God?
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READ Matthew 6:9-13. As believers what is our role in bringing heaven to earth? Hint: The surrounding context of this prayer is the Sermon on the Mount. How might living out its principles bring the Kingdom of God to life where you live, work, and play?
DAY FIVE TODAY’S READINGS: JOHN 17 John 17 is one of those chapters that make John’s gospel stand alone. It captures what is known as Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer. Only John gives us this sacred, final moment the night before Jesus heads to the cross. The title High Priestly Prayer is not one that John conferred on this prayer, but it has been accepted throughout the ages because of its substance. Jesus stands for us as an intercessor in a way that mirrors the Old Testament office of High Priest. He prays for His disciples, but also for those who believe after them. That means His prayer is for us. In this moment think of all He could have prayed for. He could have prayed that God would use us, or that He might strengthen us. He could have prayed that God would continue to teach us or guide us. He could have prayed that God would protect us. Instead He prayed for something deeper and more specific.
[21] that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:21, ESV)
Jesus, the True Vine, is praying that His followers would not only be connected to Him, but connected deeply to each other; that we would be one. Truth be told this is a hard concept to wrap our minds around. Western society does not do well with authentic community and oneness. We value individualism over connection. We like the idea of being one as long as the others believe like we believe and live like we live. We frequently fail to recognize that the True Vine has many branches. That is not to say that there are multiple true religions, but that there are multiple branches of belief that are all deeply and faithfully connected to Jesus as Savior and Lord. Satan, our adversary, would love nothing more than to have believers in Jesus quickly push aside the heavenly connection we’re called to the moment someone disagrees with our political affiliation, ecclesiology (a fancy word for “doing church”), or cultural practices. Perhaps, to use Jesus’ words above, that’s why the world doesn’t believe in Him. We have permitted too much disunity throughout church history. So what does oneness look like? What kind of connection will allow the world to see and experience who Jesus is? Again, let’s turn to His words. Just a few chapters back He says,
[34] A new commandment I give to Reflection: High Priestly Onlyanother: John givesjust us this sacred, final moment the night before Jesus heads to the you, that you Prayer. love one cross. as I have loved you, you also are • 1 Corinthians 13 is known as the “love chapter”. You’ve probably it read to love oneHigh another. [35] By this The title Priestly Prayer is not oneall that John conferred on this prayer, but itheard has been accepted during countless wedding ceremonies. throughout the ages because of its substance. Jesus stands for us as an intercessor in a way that mirrors people will know that you are my Butdisciples, the context thatfor chapter actually the Old Testament office of High Priest. He prays for His butofalso those is who believe after about oneness. The church in Corinth was disciples, if you have love for them. That means His prayer is forone us. struggling with how to live in peace with another.” one another. 1 Corinthians 13:4-13 is part
In this moment think of all He could have prayed for. He could have prayed that God would use us, or of Paul’s answer to theirtostruggle. 1 us. He He could have prayed that God would continue teach us READ or guide Corinthians 13:4-13 out loud. What words He prayed for something deeper and mor jump out to you in this definition of love? Oneness lived out takes the form of love. Love is what the world sees and values when we one, are one. Weyou, canFather, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so [21] that they may all be just as • How can you aim the actions of love we all agree that what theyou world thatnow the more worldthan may ever believe that have sent me. find in 1 Corinthians 13 towards other needs is an authentic expression of love. When we believers this week? What words do you love well our neighbors, coworkers, families, and (John 17:21, ESV) find the most difficult to put into practice? friends will know we are connected to something much larger thanthe ourselves. They will know that Jesus, True Vine, is praying that Hiswe f are His.
(John ESV) us. that 13:34–35, He might strengthen
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