Love One Another

John 15:12-17
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Life Group Questions

1. If you were not able to hear this week’s sermon, consider going to the church website and listening to it. What are some main ideas you gathered from the sermon? What, if any, questions did the sermon cause for you or do you desire to have additional clarification?

2. Define the concept of friendship; you may want to look up the definition. What does it mean to be someone’s friend? Describe one of your best friends and why they are considered as such to you. List some of the expectations of one who is a friend. How is Jesus our friend and yet more than a friend; is He just like all other friends?

3. The title “friend of God” is a rather rare designation. What does it mean that Abraham was a friend of God (cf. Isaiah 41:8; 2 Chronicles 20:7; James 2:23)? Compare and contrast the idea of Moses being a friend of God (cf. Exodus 33:11)

4. Earlier in John, Jesus mentioned this same command as a “new” command (cf. John 13:34-35). Is this a new command since a similar concept is issued in Leviticus 19:18? In what way is this command both new and old? Who specifically is Jesus commanding and what is He commanding them to do?

5. Jesus told His disciples that He “no longer” referred to them as “slaves,” but friends. What brought about this change? Does this mean that we are no longer to think of ourselves as slaves? Was the Apostle Paul wrong for considering himself a slave of God (cf. Romans 1:1, etc.)? How have we been changed (cf. Colossians 1:21; Romans 5:10; 8:7)? Expound upon this concept and these passages.

6. What did Jesus mean when He said “if” you obey My commands then you are My friends? Is this a conditional friendship? Does that conflict with the idea of friendship in our culture? Can a disciple of Christ lose the status of “friend” if they fail to obey the commands of Jesus? What are the commands which Jesus was referencing here?

7. Why did Jesus remind the disciples that He chose them? Did Jesus have a two-way choosing here, or one (e.g., He chose them then they chose Him)? Can we apply this election to ourselves as Christians or is this only intended as a reference to Jesus choosing the early disciples? Is this choosing in the same category as that which Paul mentions in Ephesians 1:4 (cf. Acts 1:2; James 2:5)? Explain.

8. State the purpose of election; why did God choose people? Why did God choose you and what does He want to see come about as the result of your election? Are you fulfilling the purpose for which God chose you?

9. Note the subject matter of John 15:12 and 15:17. This repetition of a topic is often referred to as an “inclusio.” Look up the meaning and purpose of inclusios. Why did John possibly use this particular literary technique here? Do you think Jesus spoke the inclusio or is this a literary liberty taken by John? Explain.


by Terry Beatty
/  Lead Teacher and Ministry Vision

Macedonia Baptist Church
10481 NC 42 West, Holly Springs, N.C. 27540
(919) 567-3460

 

Macedonia Baptist Church
10481 NC 42 West, Holly Springs, N.C. 27540
(919) 567-3460

 

Macedonia Baptist Church   /   10481 NC 42 West, Holly Springs, N.C. 27540   /   (919) 567-3460