This past Sunday Ron continued our study of John 15 as we explored our relationship to one another in church and what it means to be a friend of Jesus.  Remember the three relationships that must be in order in our lives

• Relationship with Jesus - John 15:1-11
• Relationship with the body of Christ - John 15:12-17
• Relationship with the world - John 15:18-27

By way of review we have been looking at 5 characteristics of Jesus' friends:

• They love one each other
• They have knowledge of divine truth
• They have been chosen out of this world
• They bear fruit that remains
• They pray in the will of the Father

This week focused on Jesus' statement in John 15:16 where he reminds his disciples that they had not chosen him but that He had chosen them out of the world.  Here are some related thoughts that might be worth thinking about.  My experience is pretty well summed up by a Gaither song that I'd bet many of you are very familiar with:

Shackled by a heavy burden 
'Neath a load of guilt and shame 
Then the hand of Jesus touched me 
Now I am no longer the same. 
He touched me, oh He touched me 
And oh the joy that floods my soul 
Something happened and now I know 
He touched me and made me whole. 
Since I met the blessed Saviour 
Since He cleansed and made me whole 
I will never cease to praise Him 
I'll shout it while eternity rolls. 
He touched me, oh He touched me 
And oh the joy that floods my soul 
Something happened and now I know 
He touched me and made me whole...


I am not sure I can explain how God does what he does but I am sure that "Something happened and now I know, He touched me and made me whole."  It was all God.  All I did was respond to His mercy and grace on my behalf.  It was after God's touch that my new found faith started seeking knowledge as to how all this works. But more important than being able to explain how God did what he did was the Holy Spirits assurance that He, God had touched me, made me whole, made me a friend of Jesus, made me a member of the one church.

In Ephesians 4:1-6 The apostle Paul exhorts us:   As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 

Let's take care to bear with one another particularly in the area of our doctrines.  Make every effort to maintain unity in the church; first in Cato Christian Fellowship and then with the true church throughout the world.

This Sunday Pastor Ron encouraged and exhorted us to consider the words of the hymn we had just sung, "Take Time To Be Holy".  Ron has frequently recommended that we make sure we are not just singing some words in a casual, thoughtless way.  Larry referenced another hymn in the thoughts he was sharing with us, "How Deep The Father's Love For Us". 

It is amazing the depth of theological and practical instruction in the Christian faith that is contained in the hymns and songs we sing in church.  These songs beautifully and accurately summarize what we have been studying together the last few weeks: the importance and priority of God's word, fellowship with fellow believers and prayer in our lives.  I encourage you to slow down a little this week and meditate on the teaching contained in these songs.  

This week consider:

• Seeking God's help to find time in your schedule devoted to the pursuit of personal holiness. 
  
• Meditating on the truths in these two songs; believe them, live and apply them! 
• Next Sunday pay attention to the words we sing in worship.

If you have a favorite hymn, chorus or worship song please post a comment sharing the title and why it is your favorite.

I think Larry's sermon this past Sunday was an example of a great way to respond to the preaching we hear in church.  Larry shared with us the thoughts God had him meditating and thinking about from the sermon series Ron has been taking us through based on John 15.  Here are some of Larry's thoughts/ideas that connected with me:

• All that we have benefited from spiritually is because Satan had nothing on Jesus (John 14:31)
• The messages we hear on Sundays are not just for that one hour
• Larry suggested that it's often apathy that keeps us from meditating on and applying the messages we hear on Sunday throughout the rest of the week
• Distractions (even good ones) often consume so much of our time and attention that we fail to benefit and grow into God's best intentions for us; specifically hearing His word through our Pastors and Teachers
  
• We must abide in the true vine Jesus.  That is something we have to participate in and we do that via God's word, fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ and prayer
• Personal diligence and intentionality are essential

I was prompted to ask myself a few questions and ask the Lord to help me arrive at honest answers.  I wonder if you might be helped by asking some of the same questions:

• What do I do with what I hear on Sunday Morning?  
• Do I intentionally look for one or two key points to meditate on and talk to God about throughout the week?
• What are the distractions and activities that I allow to keep me from time in God's word, fellowship with other believers and prayer?  
• What changes could I make in my life and daily routine to make sure I have the time and attention to daily abide in the true vine, Jesus? 

I wonder if others would be interested in a Sunday School class or weekly small group where the focus was fellowship, prayer and discussions of the questions we have and applications we have made related to the last sermon.  Any thoughts?  Please feel free to add comments.

This week's message is a continuation of our study of John 15.  

A Quick Review:

• God is able to keep us from stumbling or falling.
• While God is able we have responsibilities.
• The Word, Prayer and Fellowship are essential to our response to God's promised ability.

Our responsibility involves nurturing three vital relationships:

• Jesus
• One Another
• The World

Five Characteristics of the friends of Jesus

• Love each other
• Know divine truth
• Chosen out of this world
• Bear fruit that remains
• Pray in the will of the Father

This week we took a second look at the importance and blessing we have in knowing divine truth.  Imagine trying to pursue the righteousness we are exhorted to seek without a reliable source of divine truth.  Take some time this week to meditate on the treasure you have in God's provision of divine truth.  Ultimately God's fullest expression of His Word to us is Jesus.  Jesus is God speaking to us...  His Word.  How are you responding to God's provision of divine truth?

Another crucial concept for us to grasp is Jesus' declaration that we are His friends.  How amazing.  Think about how you relate to the other friends of Jesus you know and come in contact with.   We are his friends, his body, his church, his family...  and He calls us to love one another.  The observable love we have for one another is one of God's key ways of demonstrating to the watching world his loving purpose for the whole world.  Give some thought to how you are relating to the other friends of Jesus in your life and neighborhood.  Consider where you might need to make some changes to more obediently follow Christ's command to love one another.

Is it possible to please and obey God as a lone ranger christian?  I'm thinking of those folks I have heard say they love Jesus but don't want anything to do with the church. I suggest a simple study of all the "one another" passages in the New Testament and then try to picture obeying those commands while not being part of a body of believers.

Please consider sharing your thoughts on anything this week's sermon prompted you to think about.  Everyone is welcome to join the conversation by adding a comment.  If you missed this week's message click here to go to our resources page and listen to the sermon.

John 15:11 - The Motive of Jesus

• That your joy may be full!!
• John 10:10 - the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Five Characteristics of the friends of Jesus

• Love each other
• Know divine truth
• Chosen out of this world
• Bear fruit that remains
• Pray in the will of the Father

The friends of Jesus love one another...

• John 15:14-15
• 1 Peter 4:7-10 - Hospitality - because we need it!

The friends of Jesus know divine truth!

• The Gospel

We looked at the first two of five characteristics of the friends of Jesus yesterday, loving each other and knowing divine truth. I came away from Sunday recognizing a personal need to: 1) re-prioritize my life to make more room for hospitality, and 2) remembering and being thankful for the treasure divine truth is in my life.

What applications did you make based on God's word to us this past Sunday?
Click here to listen to the message:  June 30, 2013 Sermon Audio