Community Group Discussion Guide John 14:27-31 – Weekend of May 26 & 27

NOTE: Brett Middleton will be preaching on John 14:12-31. For a complete sermon discussion guide on this entire passage, please pull up last week’s SDG, as well. On June 2-3, John Wohlgemuth will continue in our series preaching from John 15:1-11.  I.  Starter  Question:    

•   What  would  you  be  doing  if  you  knew  you  had  less  than  24  hours  left  to  live?    

II.  Discussion  of  Scripture:    

Background  &  Context:  In  his  prologue  (vv  1-­‐18)  John  tells  us  much  about  who  Jesus  is.    He  is  the  Word  who  was  with  God  in  the  beginning.    The  Word  Himself  was  God.    All  things  were  created  through  Him.    Life  was  in  Him,  and  this  life  was  the  light  of  man.    His  light  shines  through  the  darkness  and  the  darkness  did  not  even  comprehend  it.    The  great  tragedy  is  that  the  Word  became  flesh,  came  into  the  world  He  created,  to  His  own  people,  and  they  did  not  know  Him  or  receive  Him.    But  to  all  who  did  receive  Him,  who  believed  in  His  name,  He  gave  the  right  to  become  children  of  God.    John  wrote  his  gospel  so  that  we  may  believe  that  Jesus  is  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  God,  and  that  by  believing  we  may  have  life  in  His  name  (John  20:31).    

 John 14:27–31 (ESV) 27  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28  You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29  And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30  I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31  but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

Teaching  Points  and  Questions  for  Discussion:    1.   This  passage  takes  place  in  Jesus’  fourth  year  of  public  ministry,  on  the  night  He  was  

betrayed.    See  #84  on  the  timeline  above.  2.   This  is  part  of  what  is  called  the  Upper  Room  Discourse  (John  13-­‐16).  3.   I’m  going  away  (John  14:27-­‐31)  

a.   The  peace  of  God  (John  14:27)  i.   Jesus  gives  this  peace  (v.  27)  ii.   This  peace  with  God  is  through  Jesus  to  those  who  have  been  justified  (Rom.  

5:1)  iii.   It  surpasses  all  understanding  (Phil.  4:7)  iv.   The  world  cannot  understand  nor  give  this  kind  of  peace  (v.  27)  v.   In  what  ways  is  the  peace  that  the  world  talks  about  different  from  this  

peace  which  Jesus  gives?  vi.   Because  He  gives  this  peace,  His  disciples  should  not  let  their  hearts  be  

troubled  nor  afraid  b.   Verse  28  is  amazing  because  Jesus  says  “if  you  loved  Me  you  would  have  rejoiced.”    

This  is  a  2nd  class  conditional  sentence  in  the  Greek  which  takes  on  a  negative  interpretation.    Paraphrased  it  would  read,  “if  you  loved  me,  and  you  really  don’t,  you  would  have  rejoiced.”  

i.   Why  would  Jesus  tell  His  disciples  they  don’t  love  Him?  (remember  the  immediate  context)  

c.   Verse  28  is  amazing  because  Jesus  says  the  Father  is  greater  than  He  is!    The  cults  run  far  with  this  verse,  but  take  it  out  of  context.    In  context,  what  does  Jesus  mean  here  that  the  Father  is  greater  than  He?  

d.   The  confused,  unloving  disciples  are  now  given  more  grace  by  Jesus.    He  tells  them  exactly  what  will  happen  beforehand  so  that  when  is  it  does  happen,  they  “may  believe.”  (v.  29)  

e.   In  verse  30,  Jesus  calls  Satan  “the  ruler  of  this  world.”      i.   How  is  Satan  the  ruler  of  this  world?  ii.   Do  you  see  Satan  in  that  capacity  today?  iii.   Think  about  your  unsaved  friends.    Do  you  see  them  obeying  the  ruler  of  this  

world?    In  what  ways?    Are  they  aware?  iv.   Think  about  how  we  as  Christians  can  be  caught  in  the  snares  of  the  ruler  of  

this  world.    Praise  God  we  serve  One  who  is  greater;  One  on  whom  Satan  has  no  claim!  (v.  30)  –  read  Hebrews  2:14-­‐15  &  Rev.  12:10  as  well.  

f.      In  contrast  to  the  unloving  disciples,  Jesus  proves  He  loves  the  Father  by  obeying  what  He  commands  Him  to  do  (v.  31)  

i.   In  what  ways  does  love  relate  to  obedience?    III.  Responding  in  Prayer:      

•   Pray  for  your  brothers  and  sisters  in  your  Community  Group  that  you  all  yearn  for  the  peace  of  God,  to  cease  seeking  the  peace  the  world  has  to  offer,  and  to  take  on  the  light  yoke  of  Christ.  

•   Pray  for  yourself  that  you  would  understand  what  it  means  to  truly  love  the  Lord  and  follow  hard  in  obedience  to  Him.  

•   Pray  for  our  new  prospective  lead  pastor,  John  Wohlgemuth,  as  he  preaches  that  he  would  submit  to  the  words  God  gives  him,  and  pray  for  the  congregation  that  we  would  all  vote  as  God  leads.  Pray  for  God’s  perfect  will  for  our  church,  as  well  as  for  his  church,  Normandale  Baptist  Church,  in  Fort  Worth,  TX.