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- Herausgeber: IVP Bible Studies
- Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
- Serie: LifeGuide Bible Studies
- Sprache: Englisch
- Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2012
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love." John 15:9 Before Jesus left this world he gave specific encouragement and instructions to his disciples on what to expect and how to live after he had gone. These words still apply to his disciples today. In this eight-session LifeGuide® Bible Study, trusted guides J. I. Packer and Carolyn Nystrom lead you through a study of Jesus' farewell to his disciples in John 14--17 to help you discover what it means to abide in Christ during the time between Christ's departure and his second coming. For over three decades LifeGuide Bible Studies have provided solid biblical content and raised thought-provoking questions—making for a one-of-a-kind Bible study experience for individuals and groups. This series has more than 130 titles on Old and New Testament books, character studies, and topical studies. PDF download with a single-user license; available from InterVarsity Press and other resellers.
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ABIDING IN CHRIST
8 STUDIES FOR INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS
Contents
1
Life of Love
John 13:31—14:4
2
Which Way to God?
John 14:5-14
3
Looking Within
John 14:15-31
4
Being Connected
John 15:1-17
5
Overcoming Rejection
John 15:18—16:16
6
Anticipating the Future
John 16:16-33
7
Defining Purpose
John 17:1-19
8
Leaving a Legacy
John 17:20-26
Getting the Most Out of Abiding in Christ
Of all the Gospel writers, John is the one who works hardest to highlight the divinity of Jesus, God’s incarnate Son, and the transforming effects of personal encounter with him, both initial and sustained. This should not surprise us, for John was the closest of the Twelve to Jesus. That is the point he makes by his rather awkward description of himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” In some ways, to be sure, Peter, whom Jesus was grooming for leadership, and who was often a spokesman for the Twelve, was closest, but Peter knew that in terms of affectionate intimacy John was ahead of him. So it was John whom Peter asked to find out from Jesus who would betray him (John 13:23-26), as it was John whom Jesus, on the cross, told to look after his mother, Mary (John 19:26-27).
Jesus and John may in fact have been relatives. It is very possible, although not actually provable, that Jesus’ mother’s sister, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee, and the otherwise unidentified but clearly well-known Salome (John 19:25; Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40) were the same person, in which case John was Jesus’ cousin. Whether this was so or not, John, with his uncannily retentive memory, his spiritually insightful strength of mind, and his simple, profound way of expressing great truths and narrating Jesus’ great utterances, is the Gospel writer who excels in presenting the way in which faith-fellowship with the Lord Jesus transforms life. And this is what this set of studies is about.
Abide is an old English word for “remain,” “stay steady” and “keep your position.” What it means to abide in Christ—that is, always to be resting on him, anchored to him, fixed in him, drawing from him, continually connected and in touch with him—is a pervasive theme in chapters 14—17. There is no more precious lesson to learn, no more enriching link and bond to cherish, no more vital connection to keep snug and tight, so that it never loosens, than this. Abiding in Christ brings peace, joy and love, answers to prayer, and fruitfulness in service. The abiding life is the abundant life.
May these studies be blessed to become a highway into that life.
Suggestions for Individual Study
1. As you begin each study, pray that God will speak to you through his Word.
2. Read the introduction to the study and respond to the personal reflection question or exercise. This is designed to help you focus on God and on the theme of the study.
3. Each study deals with a particular passage so that you can delve into the author’s meaning in that context. Read and reread the passage to be studied. The questions are written using the language of the New International Version, so you may wish to use that version of the Bible. The New Revised Standard Version is also recommended.
4. This is an inductive Bible study, designed to help you discover for yourself what Scripture is saying. The study includes three types of questions. Observation questions ask about the basic facts: who, what, when, where and how. Interpretation questions delve into the meaning of the passage. Application questions help you discover the implications of the text for growing in Christ. These three keys unlock the treasures of Scripture.
Write your answers to the questions in the spaces provided or in a personal journal. Writing can bring clarity and deeper understanding of yourself and of God’s Word.
5. It might be good to have a Bible dictionary handy. Use it to look up any unfamiliar words, names or places.
6. Use the prayer suggestion to guide you in thanking God for what you have learned and to pray about the applications that have come to mind.
7. You may want to go on to the suggestion under “Now or Later,” or you may want to use that idea for your next study.
Suggestions for Members of a Group Study
1. Come to the study prepared. Follow the suggestions for individual study mentioned above. You will find that careful preparation will greatly enrich your time spent in group discussion.
2. Be willing to participate in the discussion. The leader of your group will not be lecturing. Instead, he or she will be encouraging the members of the group to discuss what they have learned. The leader will be asking the questions that are found in this guide.
3. Stick to the topic being discussed. Your answers should be based on the verses which are the focus of the discussion and not on outside authorities such as commentaries or speakers. These studies focus on a particular passage of Scripture. Only rarely should you refer to other portions of the Bible. This allows for everyone to participate in in-depth study on equal ground.
4. Be sensitive to the other members of the group. Listen attentively when they describe what they have learned. You may be surprised by their insights! Each question assumes a variety of answers. Many questions do not have “right” answers, particularly questions that aim at meaning or application. Instead the questions push us to explore the passage more thoroughly.
When possible, link what you say to the comments of others. Also, be affirming whenever you can. This will encourage some of the more hesitant members of the group to participate.
5. Be careful not to dominate the discussion. We are sometimes so eager to express our thoughts that we leave too little opportunity for others to respond. By all means participate! But allow others to also.
6. Expect God to teach you through the passage being discussed and through the other members of the group. Pray that you will have an enjoyable and profitable time together, but also that as a result of the study you will find ways that you can take action individually and/or as a group.
7. Remember that anything said in the group is considered confidential and should not be discussed outside the group unless specific permission is given to do so.
8. If you are the group leader, you will find additional suggestions at the back of the guide.
1
A Life of Love
John 13:31—14:4
The great religions had founders, and the founders had disciples. But none evoked such awe, affection and loyalty in his disciples (even despite bewilderment) as did Jesus Christ, the God-Man.
Bafflement breaks surface as Jesus talks to them before his betrayal. What does it mean for God to glorify himself in Christ and Christ in himself? What does it mean that the Spirit, Father and Son will be with and in them together, in revelatory action? All that is beyond them, as their questions show.
But Jesus is directing them to a life of loving him and each other, of looking longingly for him to take them to his home, and of listening to his words so as to learn more—and he’s teaching them that life could begin there and then. Today he calls us to the same life pattern, starting from where we are here and now. Will we say yes?
GROUP DISCUSSION. When, how and why have you stayed close to someone even when separated by distance?
PERSONAL REFLECTION. Who has loved you at a time when love was difficult? How have you been impacted by that love? Thank God for it.
It is Jesus’ last evening with his disciples. He has washed their feet and told them to serve one another in a similar way; he has instituted the sacrament of Communion with bread and cup, proclaiming it as his own body and blood; and he has announced that one of them will betray him that very night. Judas immediately left the table. Read John 13:31—14:4.
1. If you had been an unseen observer during this whole evening, what questions would you have wanted to ask after the dialogue of these verses?
2. “Do not let your hearts be troubled,” says Jesus at the end of his announcement of upcoming events. Why might the disciples need that admonition at this point?
3. Peter asks two questions in this scene. How might the answers he receives bring both comfort and alarm?
4. With your own perspective of this scene today, what can you understand about Jesus’ answers that Peter might not yet have understood?
5. Immediately after Judas left the room, Jesus uses the words glorify or glorified five times (13:31-32). Once again using your hindsight, what all can you now see that Jesus meant by “glorify” and “glorified”?
6.
