The Heart of Jesus | Week Five
Begin by sharing prayer requests and praying for one another
Read John 15:18-16:4a aloud as a group
Key Takeaways
Jesus prepares his disciples for the reality that the world will hate them just as it hated him. While believers are permanently grafted into Christ (the good news), they will face opposition from the world's systems and values (the challenging news). However, Jesus promises the Holy Spirit as our helper and calls us to continue witnessing through both our words and our ways.
Discussion Questions:
What does Jesus mean by "the world"? How is this different from simply meaning "people who don't know Jesus"? (See verses 18-19)
Why does the world hate Jesus? (Reference John 7:7 - "The world hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil")
What's the significance of Jesus saying "a servant is not greater than his master" in verse 20? What false belief does this correct?
What's the difference between having "words without ways" versus "ways without words"? Why do we need both to be effective witnesses?
Words without ways = judgmental, prideful, self-righteous
Ways without words = good deeds but no eternal hope shared
Read James 4:4: "Friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God." What does it practically look like to avoid "friendship with the world" while still loving people in the world?
Where in your life are you playing it safe to avoid opposition or rejection? What would it look like to step out in boldness?
How does knowing the Holy Spirit is your "helper" change the way you approach sharing your faith?
This Week’s Challenge: Share Your Story
Identify one person in your life who doesn't know Jesus. Pray for an opportunity to share either your story or something you're learning about Jesus. Don't force it, but be ready and willing when the Spirit opens a door.
Close in Prayer
Boldness to live distinctly for Jesus
Wisdom to demonstrate both his words and his ways
Courage to face opposition without backing down or becoming mean-spirited
The Holy Spirit's power to sustain us in difficult conversations
Christians around the world facing severe persecution
Specific people in your lives who need to encounter Jesus