From Believers to Disciples
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
From Believers to Disciples Calendar
Daily Bible Study Menu
A note about online study
“Study to show yourself approved by God …” 2 Timothy 2:15a KJV
Prayer Focus for Today
Pray for a spirit of fellowship in our interactions with those close to us—family members, classmates, co-workers…
Heavenly Father, Thank You for the gift of fellowship with You and with other believers. I pray today that as I interact with others close to me—my friends, family members and others I see every day that I will extend true, Christian fellowship to each one that whether they are believers now or not, that my witness in their lives will either strengthen their commitment to You, or draw them into relationship with You. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God’s Word Today: John 15:1-17
[Jesus said,] 1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me.
5“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6Anyone who parts from me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted! 8My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father.
9“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you. 13And here is how to measure it—the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends. 14You are my friends if you obey me. 15I no longer call you servants, because a master doesn’t confide in his servants. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17I command you to love each other.
From Today’s Reading, a Believer …
Another necessity with regard to fellowship is obedience to Jesus. How does obedience keep us connected to Jesus?
Let’s Go Deeper in Our Walk with Jesus
After reading today’s Scripture, what do you see as one necessity for moving from believers to disciples?
From Today’s Reading, a Disciple of Jesus Will …
What actions do you see as being necessary for living a life of obedience to Jesus? List them below, and make a plan to start receiving God’s pruning!
Ministry, Mission, Outreach, Service Opportunities to Consider
Next Sunday, February 4th following worship, you will have the opportunity to hear about the Community and Family Missions Trip to Guadalupe, Mexico this summer. (Dates of the trip are June 23-30, 2007) This trip provides opportunities for physical labor in constructing the Tapestries of Life orphanage, which will soon house as many as 500 orphans from the surrounding region. It also provides the opportunity for a truly “cross-cultural” missions experience as we are exposed daily to the Mexican culture and language. If you’d like to know more about this year’s trip, join us after worship on February 5th!
My Journal
Note any thoughts from Through the Bible or the Daily Reading here:
Obedience as Remaining in Jesus’ love”…
Dale Milligan used to say that to love God is to trust God enough to obey Him. That statement sums up the reason obedience is part of “remaining” in Jesus’ love. In the end it isn’t what we say about loving Jesus that demonstrates our love for Him. It’s what we do about our proclamations of love. Jesus said when we obey Him we remain in his love, just as His obedience demonstrated His love toward His heavenly Father. Jesus’ obedience was absolute, thus demonstrate a complete and perfect love for God. May this day be one in which our love for Jesus is complete and perfect as well! The only way that will happen is as we REMAIN in Him, as we stay vitally connected to Him through the Holy Spirit. So, let’s start the day with a reminder to ourselves to stay connected that our obedience may be complete!