So, welcome to The Bible Study. I'm going to post some thoughts about the preaching text for this week, and rely on your comments to help me shape the sermon. So, please--make some comments!
Here's the story for May 22:
John 14:1-14
1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way to the place where I am going." 5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." 8 Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." 9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, "Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. 12 Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.
I can only imagine how exasperating it must be for Jesus to have to keep answering the same questions, asked by the same disciples, over and over again. They still don't get it, and things are moving along at a fast pace toward his end.
Yet Jesus keeps these same people near him, still trusts them for the work he has called them to, even though it turns out maybe he should have called some references. But God has made some promises, and Jesus is here to fulfill them. For this sermon, I'm thinking about how God is loyal to US, how God keeps promises even when we don't keep ours or don't claim the ones God offers. Jesus is the way, the truth, the life; Jesus prepares a place for us to live with God; whatever we ask will be given. These are amazing promises.
Why do you think God bothers with us at all?
How have you seen these promises fulfilled in your life?
How do we still struggle with the "not yet/already" nature of God's promises, as Thomas and Philip seem to do?
What does it feel like when God "takes you back"?
Thanks for your input!
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