The Upper Room: A Seat at the Table – John 13-17
Knowing the time was fast approaching for Jesus to depart this world He spent His final hours with His closest friends gathered around a table in the upper room. This was more than a meal. It was a teaching moment of great importance to them…and to us.
As the disciples sat with Jesus, unaware of what would soon take place, Jesus served them, taught them, and prayed for them. We are going to pull up a seat at that table and let Jesus teach and disciple us as well.
Week 8: The Trellis – John 15:1-17
In John 15, Jesus teaches us about who He is, how to remain in Him, and why it matters. We are told to “remain” and “abide” in Him. How do we do that? What is our practical plan to abide?
LIVE OAK CONNECTION POINT:
Feel like you might be missing some important Live Oak news? Signing up for QUICK HITS could be the best way to remedy that! You can get Live Oak texts to your phone 2-3 times a month by texting “QUICKHITS to 55498” or sign up for both email/text by visiting Sign Up & Events.
DISCUSSION/REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
- Would you rather have weather that is VERY COLD or VERY HOT? Why?
- Have you ever tried to grow a plant of a garden? How did it go?
READ: John 15:1-17.
Spend some time SOAPing this passage. You can either spend time SOAPing individually and documenting for a several minutes and then spend time sharing with each -OR- SOAP in real time with each other. Either way make as many observations as you can.
- OBSERVATIONS: What are the things that stand out to you about this passage?
- What do you think it means to REAMIN or ABIDE?
- What does this passage tell us about HOW TO ABIDE/REMAIN practically?
Doug talked about building your “trellis”, a support structure to make space for life with God. John Mark Comer in his book, Practicing the Way, talks about the TRELLIS, a Rule of Life, that is a schedule and set of practices and relational rhythms that create space for us to be with Jesus, become like him, and do as he did, as we live in alignment with our deepest desires. It’s a way of intentionally organizing our lives around what matters most: God. How would you describe your current “trellis”, your plan and habits for spiritual growth and abiding?
- What are some spiritual habits that have served you well for growing in Christ in the past?
- An example of a trellis/rule of life framework is Live Oak’s strategy: “Connect ourselves and others to: GOD – GOD’S WORD – GOD’s PEOPLE – GOD’s MISSION.”
- Of those four areas, which area is going well for you and feel you have developed a good abiding habit?
- Which area could use some intentional practice and planning?
Doug talked about the caution to make sure we focus on remaining and abiding habits, not just spiritual busyness. READ: Matthew 23:27-28. How do we focus on lifechanging abiding in Christ rather than empty rituals?
- Doug talked about how we need to REMAIN in our IDENTITY in Christ. What steps have you taken to DEFINE your identity in Christ?
- What are some ways you can discover, remember and remind yourself of your identity in Christ?
- What are some ways you can practice abiding in the everyday moments of life? How can you practice the presence of God in the everyday moments?
- What will you do this week to “build your trellis”, your plan of remaining/abiding habits?
- What else stood out from this week’s sermon?
APPLICATION: What is your big takeaway from this week’s sermon? Be specific.
NEXT STEPS:
Everyone has a next step to apply what we have learned. What is your next step?Be specific.
MEMORY VERSE: *Challenge yourself or your group to commit this verse to memory:
John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
PRAYER:
Spend some time praying for each other.
Scripture References:
John 15:1-17; Luke 22:39; 1 Timothy 4:7-8; 1 Timothy 6:11-12; Ephesians 4:20-24; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Matthew 23:27-28