BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE KJV ADULTS SUMMER | LEADER

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IES FOR LIFE | K

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SUMMER 2017 | LEADER GUIDE

REAL RELATIONSHIPS

BROKEN VESSELS: HOW GOD USES IMPERFECT PEOPLE

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MER 2017

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One of the great joys of leading a group in Bible study is seeing group members deepen their walk with Christ. Everyone’s walk with Christ begins with an initial decision to follow Him in repentance and faith. People may be in your group who have not made that decision yet. Take advantage of your time with them to talk about becoming a Christian.

As you tell your own story about coming to Christ, share these key truths:

1. We are all sinners, and each of us needs to acknowledge before God that we are sinners. That acknowledgement involves repentance, which is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Refer to Romans 3:23; 6:23; and Acts 3:19.

2. The only way a person can receive the gift of forgiveness is by faith in Jesus as God’s Son. Use verses like Acts 4:12, Ephesians 2:8-9, and John 14:6 when talking about faith in Christ.

3. Confessing your faith in Jesus Christ means confessing Him as Savior and Lord. Share Romans 10:9-10,13.

Invite the person to pray a prayer similar to this:

“Dear God, I know I am a sinner and have rebelled against You in many ways. I believe Jesus died for my sin and only through faith in His death and resurrection can I be forgiven. I now turn from my sin and ask Jesus to come into my life as my Savior and Lord. From this day forward, I will choose to follow Jesus. Thank You, Lord, for loving me and for forgiving me. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.”

A Special Note about “Right Here, Right Now” (p. 152).

As your group studies and discusses the resurrection of Jesus, use it as an opportunity to lead unsaved group members to faith in Christ. Use “Broken, But Made New” on the inside front cover of the Personal Study Guide to connect “Right Here, Right Now” with each member’s own need to trust Christ and receive His gift of salvation. The inside cover is a guide for understanding how Jesus acts as the Great Physician to forgive and give us eternal life.

LEADING SOMEONE TO THE GREATEST DECISION OF ALL

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B I B L E S T U D I E S F O R L I F E 3

Don’t Miss This! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

A Word from Ronnie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Using Bible Studies for Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

The Attributes of Discipleship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Article: “Information Transfer” Is Hurting Your Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Real RelationshipsSUGGESTED FOR THE WEEK OF

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

June 4 Session 1 Love Like Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

June 11 Session 2 Forge True Friendships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Article: Jonathan: A Forgotten Hero . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

June 18 Session 3 Respect Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

June 25 Session 4 See Their Worth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

July 2 Session 5 Share Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

July 9 Session 6 Encourage One Another . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Article: Follow Up with Guests to Your Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

First Things First

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

July 16 Special Focus: First Things First . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Broken Vessels: How God Uses Imperfect People

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

July 23 Session 1 A Fresh Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

July 30 Session 2 Objections Overruled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

August 6 Session 3 The Gift of Grace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118

August 13 Session 4 A Channel of Comfort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

August 20 Session 5 A Passion to Share the Gospel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

Article: First Century Ambassadors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148

August 27 Session 6 Right Here, Right Now . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152

Coming in Fall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162

CONTENTS

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4 B I B L E S T U D I E S F O R L I F E

Bible Studies for Life: KJV Adults Leader GuideVolume 4, Number 4Summer 2017

ERIC GEIGERVice President, Church Resources

RONNIE FLOYDGeneral Editor

LYNN H. PRYORTeam Leader

R. BRIAN GASSContent Editor

KEN BRADDY Manager, Adult Ongoing Bible Studies

MICHAEL KELLEYDirector, Groups Ministry

Send questions/comments to:Content EditorBible Studies for Life: KJV AdultsLeader GuideOne LifeWay PlazaNashville, TN 37234-0175

Or make comments on the web at www.lifeway.com

Ken Schroeder wrote the Bible commentary for the Real Relationships sessions. Ken is pastor at First Baptist Church of Mandeville, Louisiana. Ken has also served on the Louisiana Baptist Convention executive board. He has earned degrees from Midwestern State University (B.S.E.) and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div., D.Min.). Ken and his wife, Gayla, have three daughters and one son.Ken Parker wrote the commentary for the First Things First special focus session. He has served as an associate pastor and pastor and at LifeWay Christian Resources. Ken is currently retired and serves in various roles at The Church at Station Hill in Spring Hill, Tennessee. Greg Miller wrote the Bible commentary for the Broken Vessels sessions. Greg is a freelance writer and editor, and a former editor at LifeWay. He has pastored in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky.

Don’t miss this!

Printed in the United States of America.

Bible Studies for Life: KJV Adults Leader Guide (ISSN 2330-9369; Item 005074973) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President. © 2017 LifeWay Christian Resources.

For ordering or inquiries, visit www.lifeway.com, call (800) 458-2772, or write LifeWay Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0113. For orders with three or more issues shipped to one address, mailed quarterly, at the ministry rate, visit lifeway.com/mediaoptions, fax (615) 251-5933, or write to the above address.

We believe that the Bible has God for its Author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. To review LifeWay’s doctrinal guideline, please visit www.lifeway.com/doctrinalguideline.

Bible Studies for Life: KJV Adults Leader Guide sometimes lists websites that may be helpful to our readers. Our staff verifies each site’s usefulness and appropriateness prior to publication. However, website content changes quickly, so we encourage you to approach all websites with caution. Make sure sites are still appropriate before sharing them with participants, friends, and family.

BlogEvery week, you’ll find helpful add-ons and additional suggestions in our “Leader Extra” posts. You’ll also find teaching tips, links to magazine articles, insights from our editorial team, and sermon outlines to complement every session. BibleStudiesForLife.com/AdultExtra

CommentaryDig deeper into Scripture with the The Herschel Hobbs Commentary. It features in-depth Bible exposition on the passages studied in this book.

Social MediaConnect with a community of Bible Studies for Life users. Post responses to questions, share teaching ideas, and link to great blog content. www.facebook.com/BibleStudiesForLife

Get instant updates about new articles, giveaways, and more. @BibleMeetsLife

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For many of us, summer means a vacation or a change of pace from the rest

of the year. I’m glad you’ve chosen to include your Bible study group in your

summer plans. The encouragement and growth you experience as the group

studies and discusses God’s Word together is invaluable.

As you move through the summer months and examine the studies in this

book, I’m going to extend a challenge to you. Could it be time for you to step

out and lead a small group of adults in Bible study? You can bring together

other adults who are not currently in a group and facilitate discussions of

these same studies. You could meet at a different time and place, giving

others just like you the same opportunity to experience encouragement and

growth in Christ.

Take this summer to consider the challenge to start a new group. Talk to

your current group leader. The leaders at your church can help you plan and

prepare to start a group in September. The opportunity is before you to lead

others to know and walk with Jesus!

General Editor

@RonnieFloyd | RonnieFloyd.com

A Word from Ronnie

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6 B I B L E S T U D I E S F O R L I F E

Leader PackThe optional Leader Pack is designed to enhance the group experience, especially for visual learners. Pull in the

Leader Pack items as referenced in the group plan.

The Leader Pack also includes a DVD-ROM with:

> JPEG files of the two main study images that you can use with any presentation software (i.e., PowerPoint).

Promote the study by placing these images into an announcement slideshow or display the images

during the sessions to reinforce the study topic.

> PDF file of each pack item, so you can create multiple posters. During your session, display the image on a

screen using any presentation software, or post the image on social media to promote the study.

> Sample Twitter® and email messages to post prior to your Bible study time in order to raise awareness and

promote the session topic.

> A short video presentation (approximately 1 minute) introducing each study.

> An electronic version of the group plans that you can customize and print.

> Leader articles to assist you as you lead your group.

> Biblical Illustrator articles that allow you to go deeper in your study.

Invite the Holy Spirit’s GuidanceBecause God is the guide for your study, invite Him to show you how to be

the best facilitator for your group. Read the Bible passage several times with

the Holy Spirit showing you its meaning and application.

Personal Study GuideThen read the Personal Study Guide. Its content provides the foundation and

direction for the Bible discussion and study by your group.

Leader GuideFollow the simple directives in the group plan, which will guide you in

engaging your group in discussion around the Bible passage. Read the

commentary to help you understand the passage. Share insights from the

commentary as needed during the group discussion.

USING BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE

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Additional IdeasAdditional discussion questions and teaching suggestions for leaders are

available online at www.BibleStudiesforLife.com/AdultExtra. You’ll also find all

the magazine articles we mention in this study guide.

Prepare Your Group MembersEncourage your group members to read the Personal Study Guide prior to the

group meeting. (Some group members will prefer to read it after the meeting

as a way to follow up and reflect.)

Encourage them to join the conversation with others on our Facebook

page (Facebook.com/BibleStudiesforLife), our blog (BibleStudiesForLife.com/

AdultExtra), or on Twitter (@BibleMeetsLife).

For Those Who Want to Go DeeperThe Advanced Bible Study is written for group members who desire more

extensive commentary. It includes HCSB-based exposition of each session’s

Scripture passage, an examination of key words, an introduction to the setting

of the passage and biblical life and times, questions to guide the study, and

interactive responses to help readers apply God’s truths to their lives today.

The Herschel Hobbs Commentary is designed specifically for leaders and

provides a comprehensive exposition of each session’s Scripture passage.

Specific attention is called to items in the biblical text that readers would miss

without a commentary. This commentary is based on the King James Version

but interacts with all major English translations.

Each quarter, Biblical Illustrator offers in-depth background information on

Bible customs, history, culture, archaeology, and word studies through vivid

photography, engaging maps and graphics, and lesson-targeted articles.

You can subscribe to Biblical Illustrator by going to lifeway .com/biblical

illustrator or by calling 1-800-458-2772. Forty additional articles (in PDF form)

that support this quarter’s Bible studies are available for $3.00 per bundle at

lifeway .com/biblicalillustrator .

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8 B I B L E S T U D I E S F O R L I F E

MY GROUP’S PRAYER REQUESTS

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MY GROUP’S PRAYER REQUESTS

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10 B I B L E S T U D I E S F O R L I F E

MY GROUP’S PRAYER REQUESTS

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MY GROUP’S PRAYER REQUESTS

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12 B I B L E S T U D I E S F O R L I F E

How do you measure discipleship? Research conducted by LifeWay revealed eight factors that are consistently present in the lives of believers who are progressing in their spiritual maturity. These “attributes of discipleship” form the foundation for the scope and sequence of studies used in Bible Studies for Life. By regularly engaging these studies, your group will experience an intentional plan for discipleship in the following eight ways:

1. Bible Engagement. We recognize transformation when our mind is sharpened by the Bible, our perspective is shaped by the Bible, and our actions are directed by the Bible.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

2. Obeying God and Denying Self. Discipleship is the process of obedience to one who is in authority over you. Transformation can be seen when we progressively set aside earthly delights for kingdom priorities.

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

3. Serving God and Others. Transformation is evident when personal needs and even dreams are set aside for the needs we see in others.

“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matt. 25:40).

4. Sharing Christ. Even as we need to live out the effects of the gospel, maturing believers know speaking about its message is necessary. Transformation is evident when we talk about its source. See page 13 for more details.

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Pet. 3:15).

5. Exercising Faith. Transformation is seen in believers when risk-aversion is set aside and our lives are characterized by faithful obedience to God’s will.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:19b-20).

6. Seeking God. Transformation is seen when our desire is to know God more deeply and experience His work more fully.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6:33).

7. Building Relationships. Our faith is personal but it is not intended to be private. Our horizontal relationships should develop just as our vertical relationship with God does. Transformation is occurring when relational maturity is evident in our lives.

“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42).

8. Unashamed. Transformation is evident when a believer is unashamed in presenting his or her own life as being aligned with Christ.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:16).

THE ATTRIBUTES OF DISCIPLESHIP

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SHARING CHRIST

B Y P H I L I P N A T I O N

The church has been given a mission. In fact, God’s people have always had this mission. It is to tell those outside of our faith about the opportunity to come into our faith. We are a witnessing people.

In the Transformational Discipleship research project, one of the eight attributes we discovered that marks a healthy disciple is Sharing Christ. It is the characteristic that a maturing believer will naturally discuss their faith in Christ with unbelievers. As we grow, we find it to be a normal part of life.

For this attribute to be present, we must have a sense of personal responsibility. The Great Commission by Christ in Matthew 28:18-20 calls us to make disciples. Seeing the gospel as the one message of ultimate worth, maturing disciples carry a sense of personal responsibility. It does not mean that you go into a witnessing experience without sweaty palms or a nervous tremor in your voice every now and again. But it does mean that you know that eternity hangs in the balance for the lost person. So, commissioned by Christ, we as disciples move forward in sharing the Good News.

As other Transformational Discipleship Attributes speak to the manner in which we live, this one is more specific to the words that we speak. After all, it is not really sharing Christ if we don’t inform others of who He is. We have to use our words. Sharing Christ is about giving a verbal presentation of the gospel.

In 1 Peter 3:15, we are taught, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” Peter is highlighting for us that defending and presenting the faith something to be discussed. We must know that we are responsible for such an activity and then move on it. The maturing believer does not just mentally understand this idea. They embrace it. Dr. Philip Nation is the pastor of First Baptist Church of Bradenton,

Florida and is the author of “Habits for Our Holiness.”

As we grow in our walk with Christ, we find it easy to act upon the need to share the gospel with others.

Sharing Christ is also about having an awareness of those around you who need the gospel. In the verse from 1 Peter, there is an awareness that questions need to be answered. As you live out your faith, people will naturally inquire about it. Non-believers will want to understand why Christians can have hope in the midst of trials, joy when others are in despair, and trust when life is chaotic. Maturing believers are those who actively engage with those that are asking these questions.

In the LifeWay research, we found that maturing believers intentionally build friendships with non-Christians in order to share the hope we have in Christ. These believers also pray for other people’s spiritual condition on a frequent basis. It is a lifestyle that defaults toward taking the action of making disciples.

We are to be disciple-making disciples. We talk about our faith and stay aware of those around us who need to be converted. It is the way that Christ has led us to live. As His co-laborers, we are eager to share Christ with the world.

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B Y K E N B R A D D Y

When I travel I often drop in and visit Bible study groups, and I’ve noticed an unfortunate trend. Well-meaning teachers stand (or sit) in front of a large group of learners and “teach” a lesson. The goal in this kind of classroom is a transfer of information. The teacher studied throughout the week, and Sunday morning is the time for an “information dump” into the minds of the class members. The teacher learned lots of interesting facts and information, is considered the biblical expert, and group members should be expected to sit and soak in the teacher’s knowledge. Right?

Wrong! This kind of “information transfer” has hurt group Bible study. Mere information transfer isn’t helping groups reach new people. In fact, information transfer may be hurting efforts to do just that.

“ INFORMATION TRANSFER” MAY BE HURTING YOUR GROUP

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Ways Information Transfer Has Hurt Group Bible Study

1. New groups are not being started. The information-transferring teacher often loves listening to the sound of his own voice. This kind of teacher is the star—the featured attraction—and he loves being at the center of his own small teaching universe. This kind of teacher releases people to start new groups very infrequently. In his mind, “bigger is better.” His goal is to have the largest class in the church, and to wield the most power. The larger the group, the greater the chance that the group is an information-transferring one.

2. Apprentice teachers are not stepping up. New groups do not start without new teachers. New lead teachers most often come from those who have been apprentice teachers. Apprentice teachers will not readily volunteer to co-teach a class that has an information-transferring lead teacher. Why not? Because the apprentice, who often lacks the teaching experience of the veteran teacher, believes he cannot hold a candle to his mentor who seems to possess and freely distribute all kinds of facts about the Bible. The potential new teacher thinks, “I could never be like that.”

3. Group members are bored. The teacher who exclusively lectures is not communicating with all of his group members in their preferred ways of learning. There are at least eight approaches to learning, and an “information transfer” lesson appeals to only a handful of learners in our Bible study groups.

I am not opposed to an occasional Bible study in which there is “information transfer.” Jesus used information transfer effectively during His Sermon on the Mount. At times it is an appropriate way to teach. But Jesus’ preferred methods didn’t involve wholesale “information dumps.” Instead, He used a variety of teaching techniques to communicate His messages.

The Solution

> Let people talk. Ask well-crafted discussion questions. Take advantage of the five discussion questions in the Personal Study Guide. Don’t settle for short answers. Probe. Encourage them to discuss, not just give an answer.

> Don’t set up the room in rows. If your room is set up in rows, people can only see the backs of people’s heads. This doesn’t help to generate conversation. Instead of rows, set up your room in two or three half-circles, curving the chairs to that people can see one another’s faces. Seeing faces helps to generate conversation.

> Change your mindset. Too many teachers equate teaching with telling, and learning with listening. Don’t settle for a “sit and soak” philosophy. Your people deserve better. The classroom isn’t just another time for preaching to take place. Let your pastor deliver the sermon—you deliver an engaging Bible study in which people have the freedom to respond, question, disagree, and even teach and influence the group with their own wisdom and experiences.

Ken Braddy blogs weekly with great ideas for becoming a better Bible study leader. Follow his blog at kenbraddy.com. He is the manager of Adult Ongoing Bible Studies at LifeWay.

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16

REAL RELATIONSHIPS

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17

We were created for two relationships:1. A relationship with God2. A relationship with everybody else.

Each relationship affects the other.

We don’t lack for “relationships.” Just look at our social media profiles. Many of us have plenty of “friends” through social media. But what we long for are real relationships, people with whom we feel a genuine bond. God desires that for us, too. He designed us to live in community—in genuine relationships that are far from superficial.

This study, Real Relationships, examines relationships from a variety of viewpoints: from the foundation of forming true relationships, to the fulfillment we receive from deep friendships, to our responsibility within relationships with those who don’t know Christ. We will discover that an abiding relationship with Christ leads to healthy relationships with everyone else. Be prepared, though: we won’t just find the kinds of friends we want for ourselves; we’ll also discover the kind of friend we need to be to others.

ALVIN L. REID

Alvin is Senior Professor of Evangelism and Student Ministry at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Alvin is also

Pastor to Young Professionals at Richland Creek Community Church in North Carolina. Alvin and his wife Michelle have

two married children and one grandchild.

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18 S e S S i o n 1

SESSION 1

LOVE LIKE CHRIST

The PointBase every relationship on the

unconditional love of Christ.

The Bible Meets LifeRelationships can be fragile.

Everything’s fine if two people are

traveling down the same road, but

what happens if those two people

don’t see eye to eye—or open

animosity is evident? The Christian’s role in a relationships—any relationship—

is to love. When we live and dwell in the love of Christ, that same love seeps

into all our relationships.

The PassageJohn 15:9-17

The SettingIn John 13–17, John described events of Jesus’ last supper with His disciples and

how Jesus prepared them for His departure. These chapters include powerful

images of intimate fellowship. Chapter 15 opens with the themes of intimacy

and cleansing (John 15:1-8), which Jesus applied to those who had already

come to believe in Him. Just as Jesus called on His disciples to remain in the

vine (Jesus), He called them to remain in His love as well.

GET INTO THE STUDY

SAY: “For the next six sessions

we will be discussing the

authentic relationships that

we can enjoy through Christ.”

Invite members to turn to

page 3 in the Personal Study

Guide (PSG) and review

session titles.

LEADER PACK: Point to the

session titles on Item 1: Real

Relationships. Note that

these sessions focus on several

different passages from both

the Old and New Testaments.

DISCUSS: Draw attention to

the picture (PSG, p. 12) as you

introduce Question #1: How

has technology changed the

way we relate to each other?

5 minutes

18 12/29/16 12:51 PM

S U G G E S T E D U S E | W E E K O F J U N E 4 19

John 15:9-11

9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue

ye in my love.

10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love;

even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide

in his love.

11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might

remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

KEY WORD

continue (v. 9)—The Greek word means to stay, to continue, or to take

up residence. Jesus defined it as dwelling in Him and keeping His

commands.

Reside in the love of Jesus.

1 Jesus and His disciples had finished the last supper. As they left the upper room, they made their way northeast, stopping shy of the Mount of Olives as they arrived at the garden of Gethsemane. Along the way, they likely came across a common Mediterranean crop, a grape vineyard. As a skillful teacher, Jesus used this opportunity to make an indelible impression on His men. Jesus identified Himself as “the true vine” and His Father as “the husbandman” or gardener (John 15:1). As the gardener, the Father will prune away every branch not producing fruit and pitch them into the fire. Only remaining in the vine would enable a believer to produce fruit.

Knowing He would soon leave His disciples and that they needed a clear understanding of their position with God and what He expected of them, Jesus explained the vine metaphor to reinforce the message. Apart from the vine imagery in the first part of the chapter, verses 9-11 might be interpreted too mechanically—as if the relationship between Jesus and His disciples could be described in terms of obedience and perseverance. However, Jesus drilled down to the essence of relationship by using an array of associations connected with the vine: fruitfulness, dependence, and vital union. These pointed to the necessity of residing in the love of Jesus. Conversely, anyone not remaining in Jesus will not produce fruit and is therefore good for nothing except to be cut away and thrown into the fire.

OPTION: IN ADVANCE, bring

several pieces of technology

we use to communicate, such

as a smart phone, digital

tablet, laptop, and so forth.

Ask group members which has

made the most difference in

the way they relate to others.

Make the point that, as great as

these tools are for maintaining

relationships, if we don’t

abide in Christ they could just

lead to an increase in shallow

connections.

GUIDE: Direct attention to The

Bible Meets Life (PSG, p. 13).

Highlight the quote from the

psychologist as well as the

accompanying illustrations.

Reinforce the importance of

beginning our relationships

with Christ by reading The

Point on page 18 (PSG, p. 13):

Base every relationship on

the unconditional love of

Christ.

PRAY: Begin the Bible study

with prayer. Ask for God’s

wisdom in understanding

His Word in this study. Thank

Him for the relationships He

has given us, especially the

relationship we have with Him.

19 12/29/16 12:51 PM

THE POINT

20 S e S S i o n 1

Base every relationship on the unconditional love of Christ.

Verse 9. The relationship between the Father and the Son in chapters 13–17 serves as the model for the relationship that should exist between Jesus and His disciples. However, while the vine metaphor described the life-giving relationship, it hardly depicted a love relationship. In order to make the connection, Jesus reached back to the “new commandment” of mutual love (13:34-35). As the Father hath loved me, Jesus began, so have I loved you.

Sometimes we can move too fast and miss the sense of wonder and depth of these words. How much does the Lord love us? Jesus loves us as much as the Father loves Him. The Father loves His Son with love that has no beginning or end. Though we might deny Him like Peter did or doubt Him like Thomas, Jesus loves His followers with an unfailing and unending love.

Instead of immediately issuing a command that the disciples love one another (as in 15:12,17), Jesus called them to continue or to make their dwelling place in [His] love. He insisted that they make His love their identity. The command to continue in His love pointed to responsibility. A believer might fail this responsibility by breaking fellowship with Christ and turning back to the world and to former worldly ways. But clearly Jesus pegged the responsibility on His followers to continue in His love.

Verse 10. In John 14:15, Jesus said that those who love Him will keep His commands. Here Jesus reversed the order, If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love. By connecting His obedience to His Father’s commandments with remaining in His Father’s love, Jesus modeled for His disciples the interrelated and inseparable nature of love and obedience.

How can we abide in the Father’s love? We do so by doing what anyone does who loves someone. We draw near to the one we love, and we do good by trying to please the person. In a similar way the believer continues in the love of Christ by drawing near and doing good and seeking to obey Him. Simply put, we reside in the love of Christ by obeying His commands. We should also remember that Christ always loves; however, it remains our responsibility to walk in that love. We cannot know and experience the love of Jesus unless we walk in it.

Clearly Jesus did not impose on His followers the choice between perfect obedience or absolute rejection. However, He demonstrated that love for God provides the wellspring

STUDY THE BIBLEJohn 15:9-11 .

GUIDE: Before reading the

passage, set the context by

summarizing the information

in The Setting on page 18.

READ: Ask a volunteer to read

John 15:9-11.

GUIDE: Use Bible

Commentary 1 on page 19

to explain the word picture

Jesus used to describe a very

real, living relationship.

DISCUSS: Question #2

(PSG, p. 15): What is the

link between love and

obedience?

(Alternate: How does obedience

lead to joy?)

SUMMARIZE: Highlight the

following information from

PSG pages 14-15:

(Continued on next page.)

10 minutes

20 12/29/16 12:51 PM

21

for obedience. In other words, Jesus showed the connection between obeying God and denying self. A disciple’s love for God is inseparable from his obedience to God.

Verse 11. Jesus paused momentarily to state clearly His intention, These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. Previously, Jesus promised His “peace” (14:27) and insisted that His followers remain in His “love” (15:10). Now He envisioned His “joy” welling up in His disciples, the joy He promised as His disciples obeyed His commands.

The joy we can have in a fallen world will at best only be short-lived, shallow, and incomplete. However, Jesus promised that when believers experience the love of God in Jesus Christ they will also experience joy that is eternal and full.

Later in the evening, Jesus interceded for His disciples, “that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves” (17:13), evidently on the basis of His relationship to the Father and the completion of the Father’s work. Jesus longed for His disciples to experience the joy that comes only as the climax of a disciple’s love for God and obedience to Him.

Most people do not equate joy with obedience. They see obedience as having to conform to rules, which may produce images of drudgery. Rules often produce feelings of guilt when failing to follow them. They may even become the source of pride, believing that saving value can be earned by observing them. But Jesus offered a different type of obedience.

Jesus’ joy came from intimacy with the Father and His delight to do what pleased Him. In so doing, Jesus showed us how our joy may be complete and called us to conform our lives to His pattern of obedience. Therefore, if we do not have joy in obeying the Father, then we would do well to consider whether we know Him as Jesus knows Him and whether we understand His will as the description of our true freedom (see John 8:32) and joy.

John 15:12-13.

12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I

have loved you.

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down

his life for his friends.

Love others as Jesus loves you.

John 15 overflows with words we love to hear in the context of our relationships: “love,” “remain,” “joy,” “friends.” But Jesus doesn’t just apply these words to just any relationship: He used them to refer to the intimate relationship we can have with Him.

To understand this loving relationship, look at Jesus’ relationship with God the Father. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, enjoys an incredible bond with His Father. A unity and oneness defines that relationship, and their indivisible unity is enveloped with love.

This is a far different kind of love than the romanticized, sentimental love our culture continually highlights.

You will never meet anyone who loves you like God loves you. His love is unconditional, which is wonderful beyond description!

God’s love changes us when we believe, so that we choose obedience because it pleases the One who first loved us.

TRANSITION: ”Not only

are we told to continue in

Jesus’ love, but in the next

verses, Jesus gave us another

command. We’re to love others

the way He loves us.”

21 12/29/16 12:51 PM

THE POINT

22 S e S S i o n 1

Base every relationship on the unconditional love of Christ.

Verse 12. Jesus summarized all the individual commands that a true disciple must obey in one commandment: “love one another as I have loved you.” This command echoed in the disciples’ ears because they had heard something similar earlier in the evening, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34). As a master teacher, Jesus knew that repetition made lessons stick, and He also knew His followers were slow to pick up on lessons.

Remember that earlier in the evening, the disciples had argued about which of them was the greatest (Luke 22:24). Jesus knew their tendency toward selfishness. (He knows our tendency toward selfishness too.) He wanted them to remember that love is not optional for any follower of Jesus.

2 The tense of love one another can accurately be translated as keep on loving one another. This indicated that their love for one another should continue without end. Jesus offered Himself as the model for the love we should have for one another. Jesus had demonstrated His love for them throughout His ministry, but His love would have its most vivid demonstration at the cross, where He would offer Himself as the sacrifice for sin.

We can define Jesus’ love as a self-sacrificing, caring commitment that shows itself in seeking the good of the one loved. The greatest good for all people would be that their sins are forgiven and that they receive eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. Once we come to know Christ, we should become like Him in that we love people in the selfless, sacrificial way He loves them. By loving one another as He had loved them, the disciples would make their dwelling place in His love (John 15:9) and act out the new identity they have in Christ in their relationships with one another. Surprisingly, Jesus did not spell out any concrete way for His followers to love one another. John did include one way to demonstrate God’s love residing in them, “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” (1 John 3:17). By loving one another, Christ’s disciples form an unbreakable chain of love for God and love for others.

Verse 13. Speaking of His own love for His disciples, Jesus continued, Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Previously, Jesus had called Himself “the good shepherd” (John 10:11), and like

STUDY THE BIBLEJohn 15:12-13

READ: Ask a volunteer to read

John 15:12-13.

GUIDE: Using Bible

Commentary 2 , describe the

ongoing nature of the love we

are to have for one another,

especially in light of how Christ

modeled it for us.

SUMMARIZE: Ask a volunteer

to read what a man wrote in a

letter to Diognetus, and also

Tertullian’s remarks concerning

the love of Christians

(PSG, p. 16).

In a letter to a man named Diognetus in the second century A.D., the writer described the strength of Christianity in a time of fierce persecution. Christians in that day dressed like everyone else, lived among those in their culture who did not know Christ, and conducted their everyday affairs much like others around them.

(Continued on next page.)

10 minutes

22 12/29/16 12:51 PM

23

a good shepherd, He would lay down His life for His sheep. A life sacrificed for another would be the supreme gift, and therefore, the greatest mark of love. Jesus would demonstrate His love for the disciples the next day on the cross.

We could never die as a substitute to save others from their sins, as Jesus did. But Jesus set the standard for our love as laying down our lives for one another. We could speculate about whether we would lay down our lives for someone else, but the place we need to apply this actually comes in confronting our selfishness in small, daily matters. Do we die to self in order to serve another? Do you turn off the TV or leave the computer to help your spouse clean up the kitchen or get the kids into bed? Do you give up your own pursuits in order to serve someone you love? We may not have to die for someone, but we can practice sacrificial love in many ways. We exercise love as we serve others. We can do so by listening, helping, encouraging, and giving. In these small, daily ways, we can love others as Jesus loves. Our love for Christ is seen in how we love others.

John 15:14-17

14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth

not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all

things that I have heard of my Father I have made known

unto you.

16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and

ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and

that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of

the Father in my name, he may give it you.

17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

Bear lasting fruit as you remain in Christ.

Verse 14. As Jesus spoke these words to His eleven remaining apostles, Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you, He effectively changed His relationship with His disciples from their being His servants to being His friends. While their obedience did not make them His friends, it did indeed characterize their relationship with Jesus.

So what made these Christians so different? The writer noted one thing extraordinary about their lives: “they love all men.”

The way they loved their families and even those who persecuted them offered a particularly powerful demonstration of their love for Jesus.

Likewise, Tertullian wrote that pagans surely looked at Christians and said, “Look … how they love one another … and how they are ready to die for each other.”

DISCUSS: Question #3

(PSG, p. 17): What does it

look like to lay down our

lives for one another?

(Alternate: When have you seen

someone demonstrate the kind

of love expressed in verse 13?)

TRANSITION: ”Jesus

demonstrated unconditional

love for us. Then, He called us

to follow His lead by loving

others.”

23 12/29/16 12:51 PM

THE POINT

24 S e S S i o n 1

Base every relationship on the unconditional love of Christ.

Obedience to His commands—“abide in my love” and “love one another” (John 15:10,12)—defined what it meant for them to be His friends. In a matter of a few weeks, Jesus would send these men out to change the world. He sought intimate friendship with them, so He gave to His closest friends what might appear to be a condition of friendship. However, if Jesus meant this as a conditional statement, He would have said, “If you do the things I command you, then you will be My friends,” making friendship dependent on their obedience. In other words, disciples do not become Jesus’ friends by fulfilling His commands. No, they were His friends because of what He would accomplish on the cross. Their obedience would demonstrate that they were His friends.

We become the friends of Jesus by His grace. He has abolished the enmity that separated us from God through His death on the cross. Those who place their faith in Jesus’ work experience His friendship and live lives characterized by obedience.

3 Verse 15. Jesus fleshed out what the friend designation implied. He no longer called them servants. Rather, He now called them friends. While their subordinate role had not diminished and remained theologically correct, Jesus redefined His relationship with His disciples. Although Jesus elevated His disciples to this new relationship, the master-servant relationship did not cease. Just a few sentences later, in verse 20, Jesus implied that the master-servant relationship remained in place.

So while the master-servant relationship remained in place, something did change, because Jesus called them friends. Jesus considered them His friends because He had made known unto them all things that He had heard of His Father. By all, Jesus meant everything necessary for them to know at that point. Later Jesus would say He had many more things to tell them, but they could not bear them yet (16:12).

The new relationship meant that while Jesus retained His absolute right to command His followers, He informed them concerning His motives, plans, and purposes. Similarly, as our relationship deepens with Jesus through obedient faith, He will disclose more of His plans and purposes to us. As the Holy Spirit guides us through His Word, we come to know the heart and mind of God. We will hear Him more clearly, and our thoughts will become more like His thoughts. And as our obedience grows, we will grow closer in our fellowship with the Lord.

STUDY THE BIBLEJohn 15:14-17

READ: Read or ask a volunteer

to read John 15:14-17.

SUMMARIZE: Read the bullet

points on PSG page 18 to

review the progression of

Jesus’ teaching thus far:

• We are loved by God.

• We respond to that love by continuing in Christ and obeying Him.

• This abiding obedience brings intimacy with Jesus.

• We are brought into a relationship in which Jesus calls us His friends.

The next step in this

progression is to bear fruit.

OPTION: IN ADVANCE,

prepare a bowl of fruit. Ask:

What eventually will happen to

every piece of fruit? (It will rot.)

Explain that Jesus described

fruit that remains. Invite group

members to consider the

implications of that as they

enjoy eating the fruit.

15 minutes

24 12/29/16 12:51 PM

25

Verse 16. Jesus had chosen these disciples and ordained them to share the gospel and bring forth fruit for God’s kingdom. In other words, these men’s relationship with Jesus aligned them for such positions. The word chosen comes from the Greek word eklegomai, which means “to choose something for oneself; to select someone.” In Jesus’ day, rabbis did not take the initiative to choose and select their disciples. Rather, if someone wanted to follow a given rabbi, the potential disciple would study and seek the acceptance of the rabbi to become one of his followers. However, Jesus chose His disciples. They did not seek Him; rather He chose them.

When Jesus said, I have chosen you, it carried the idea of His sovereign choice for a purpose, especially when He paired it with these words, I … ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit. Now the vine metaphor became clear. Jesus appointed His followers to the purpose of evangelism through the proclamation of the gospel.

Then Jesus added something that at first glance may sound out of place: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. However, rather than being something added to fruit-bearing, this clause actually served as a reminder to the disciples. Whatever success they would have in witnessing in the course of their faithful service to Christ would come only through answered prayer.

God never intended for us simply to go through life resting on our salvation. He expects us to fulfill His purpose by bearing fruit. Just like the first disciples, we have been called and appointed to go and bear fruit (Matt. 28:18-20). He expects us to pray for fruitfulness. Asking the Father through prayer in Jesus’ name provides the power and means to witness so that we might bear fruit. Prayer plays an essential role in the our fruitfulness.

Verse 17. Jesus once again hit upon the theme of love and friendship by restating the command, Love one another. Clearly, the Holy Spirit inspired John to bookend the love one another statements so that what Jesus taught in this section would be treated as a theological whole rather than a cobbling of isolated ideas.

Jesus intended for us to get the message by reiterating what He said. People who leave the church do so because they do not have a sense of oneness or family. People want friends. They want to be loved. We all have the responsibility to take initiative and show love for one another.

DISCUSS: Question #4

(PSG, p. 18): What often

hinders us from obeying

Jesus’ commands in these

verses?

SUMMARIZE: Ask a volunteer

to read or summarize Digging

Deeper on PSG page 19 for

further explanation of how

this command to “love one

another” fits into the overall

context of the passage.

GUIDE: Use Bible

Commentary 3 on page 24

to highlight the importance

of Jesus’ calling His followers

servants and now friends.

DISCUSS: Question #5

(PSG, p. 20): How have you

seen these verses practiced

within the church?

(Alternate: What emotions

do you experience when you

consider that Jesus calls you

His friend?)

DO: Invite volunteers to share

their responses to the activity

on PSG page 20: “All We

Need Is Love.“

25 12/29/16 12:51 PM

THE POINT

26 S e S S i o n 1

Base every relationship on the unconditional love of Christ.

LIVE IT OUTHow will you let the unconditional love of Christ impact you and your relationships this week? Consider the following applications:

> Reflect. Take some time to think about how God loves you, and reflect on your love for Him. List at least three reasons obeying Jesus brings joy.

> Read. Read John 15:9-17 each day and note what it says about your relationship with God. Ask God to give you a fresh perspective each day and to help you stay focused on Him.

> Share. Find ways this week you can bring joy to others—in your workplace, family, school, or neighborhood. Bringing joy to others is a way to show Christ’s love, and it can pave the wave for a verbal witness.

Regardless of new advances in technology—or perhaps in spite of them—our relationships will truly be healthy only when they are founded on our relationship with Christ.

LIVE IT OUT

GUIDE: Emphasize The Point:

Base every relationship on

the unconditional love of

Christ.

REVIEW: Review Live It Out

(PSG, p. 21; see text to the

right). Encourage each group

member to follow through

this week with at least one of

the applications.

WRAP IT UP

GUIDE: Emphasize that real

relationships grow out of a

genuine relationship with

Christ.

PRAY: ”Father, help us to grow

in our relationship with You so

that we may produce fruit that

remains.”

NOTE: Remind group

members that PSG pages 6-9

are there to journal one

another’s prayer requests.

5 minutes

26 12/29/16 12:51 PM

27

Get expert insights on weekly studies through the Ministry Grid. MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesForLife

SHARING THE GOOD NEWSWe can have a relationship

with God because of His

unconditional love. He

displayed that love when

Christ died for us, and we can

know that love when we trust

in what Christ has done.

Each week, make yourself

available either before or after

the session to speak privately

with anyone in your group

who wants to know more

about becoming a Christian.

See the article, “Leading

Someone to the Greatest

Decision of All,“ on page 2 for

guidance in leading a person

to Christ.

Remind group members that

page 2 in the PSG offers

guidance in how to become a

Christian. Encourage believers

to consider using this article

as they have opportunities to

lead others to Christ.

On this marble grave marker, a young man and woman—presumably a married couple—shake hands. The couple has been separated by death. While it is unclear which spouse has died, their handshake and closely mirroring positions suggest a love transcending death. Dated to the 4th cent. B.C.; from outside Athens, Greece.

In the New Testament, the word

love is defined primarily through

two Greek words: the verb

agapao and the noun agape. Of

the 116 uses of agape in the New

Testament, 30 occur in John’s

writings. Additionally, more than

half of the 143 New Testament

occurrences of the verb agapao

appear in John’s writings (72

times).

John’s powerful affirmation

“God is love” (1 John 4:8) forms

the foundation for everything else

he had to say about love. Because

God is love, He expressed that love

in tangible ways.

First, God expressed His love

by sending His only begotten Son

into the world for the purpose of

offering salvation to every person

(John 3:16). The Lord loves all

people because love is the heart of

His character. In fact, God loves all

people despite our unworthiness,

the basic idea of agape love.

Second, John did not focus

exclusively on God’s love for the

world; the apostle also declared

that God loves His Son (John 3:35).

While the Father’s love for His

Son existed before the world’s

foundation, the manifestation

of this love to the world came

through the Son’s obedient death

on the cross and His subsequent

glorification (10:17; 17:24).

The excerpt above is from the article “Love in John’s Writings” (Summer 2011), which relates to this session. More Biblical Illustrator articles are available that relate to this session. See page 7 about Biblical Illustrator.

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