Dead Branches

I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. (John 15:1-2) Read: Matthew 12:22 – 13:9, Mark 3:20 – 4:20, Luke 8:1-8 Relate: The autumn months seem to bring…

Every Word

Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. (John 14:24) Read: Matthew 12:1-21, Mark 2:23 – 3:6, Luke 6:1-11, John 5:1-47 Relate: In sixth grade I played the lead role in our school’s smash hit, Fat…

More Than A Phantom

Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?” Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our…

Love, Accept, Obey

When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them…

If You Love…

If you love me, obey my commandments. (John 14:15) Read: Matthew 2:1 – 3:17, Mark 1:2-11, Luke 3:1-22 Relate: Over and over up to this point Jesus had talked about His “hour”. More than once He was faced with a situation where people wanted to kill him. They were never able to because “His hour had not yet come”.…

The Will of Another

Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?…

Know Me

If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” (John 14:7-8) Read: Joel 1:1 – 3:21, Malachi 2:10 – 4:6 Relate: It seems like every six months or so another…

Too Late

Jesus responded, “It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl.” And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.” None…