the way

John 14 

1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. 

Trust in God, 

and trust also in me. 

2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. 

If this were not so, 

would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 

3 When everything is ready, 

I will come and get you, 

so that you will always be with me where I am. 

4 And you know the way to where I am going.”

5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”

9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. 11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.

12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!

15 “If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. 19 Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. 20 When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”

22 Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?”

23 Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. 24 Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. 25 I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. 26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 28 Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. 29 I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.

30 “I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, 31 but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father.

before, & now

Paul by his own account was a super religious person. 

But when he encountered Jesus & realized what Jesus was all about, Paul realized all that religiosity was useless.

Hmmm... maybe we should think about that...?

Philippians 3 

4 though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. 

Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!

5 I was circumcised when I was eight days old. 

I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel 

and a member of the tribe of Benjamin;

a real Hebrew if there ever was one! 

I was a member of the Pharisees, 

who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. 

6 I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. 

And as for righteousness, 

I obeyed the law without fault.

7 I once thought these things were valuable, 

but now I consider them worthless 

because of what Christ has done. 

8 Yes, everything else is worthless 

when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. 

For his sake I have discarded everything else, 

counting it all as garbage, 

so that I could gain Christ 

9 and become one with him. 

I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; 

rather, 

I become righteous through faith in Christ. 

For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 

10 I want to know Christ 

and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.

attitude

Philippians 2 

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

6 Though he was God,
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
    he took the humble position of a slave
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
8     he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
    and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

no matter what happens

Paul wrote these words to the followers of Jesus in Philippi while he was in prison...

Philippians 1 

27 Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, 

conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. 

Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, 

I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, 

fighting together for the faith, 

which is the Good News. 

28 Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. 

This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, 

but that you are going to be saved, 

even by God himself. 

29 For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ 

but also the privilege of suffering for him.

good shepherd

John 10 

11 “I am the good shepherd. 

The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. 

12 A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. 

He will abandon the sheep 

because they don’t belong to him 

and he isn’t their shepherd. 

And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. 

13 The hired hand runs away 

because he’s working only for the money 

and doesn’t really care about the sheep.

14 “I am the good shepherd; 

I know my own sheep, 

and they know me, 

15 just as my Father knows me 

and I know the Father. 

So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. 

16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. 

I must bring them also. 

They will listen to my voice, 

and there will be one flock with one shepherd.

17 “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life 

so I may take it back again. 

18 No one can take my life from me. 

I sacrifice it voluntarily. 

For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to 

and also to take it up again. 

For this is what my Father has commanded.”

living in the Light

Ephesians 5 

1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, 

because you are his dear children. 

2 Live a life filled with love, 

following the example of Christ. 

He loved us 

and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, 

a pleasing aroma to God.

3 Let there be no sexual immorality, 

impurity, 

or greed among you. 

Such sins have no place among God’s people. 

4 Obscene stories, 

foolish talk, 

and coarse jokes:

these are not for you. 

Instead, 

let there be thankfulness to God. 

5 You can be sure that no immoral, 

impure, 

or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. 

For a greedy person is an idolater, 

worshiping the things of this world.

6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, 

for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 

7 Don’t participate in the things these people do. 

8 For once you were full of darkness, 

but now you have light from the Lord. 

So live as people of light! 

9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 

11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; 

instead, 

expose them. 

12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 

13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 

14 for the light makes everything visible. 

This is why it is said,

“Awake, O sleeper,
    rise up from the dead,
    and Christ will give you light.”

15 So be careful how you live. 

Don’t live like fools, 

but like those who are wise. 

16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 

17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, 

but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 

18 Don’t be drunk with wine, 

because that will ruin your life. 

Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 

19 singing psalms 

and hymns 

and spiritual songs 

among yourselves, 

and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 

20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father 

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

unity

Ephesians 4 

1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, 

beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, 

for you have been called by God. 

2 Always be humble and gentle. 

Be patient with each other, 

making allowance for each other’s faults 

because of your love. 

3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, 

binding yourselves together with peace. 

4 For there is one body and one Spirit, 

just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 one God and Father of all,
who is over all, in all, and living through all.

7 However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.

infintely more

Ephesians 3 

14 When I think of all this, 

I fall to my knees and pray to the Father,

15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 

16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources 

he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 

17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. 

Your roots will grow down into God’s love 

and keep you strong. 

18 And may you have the power to understand, 

as all God’s people should, 

how wide, 

how long, 

how high, 

and how deep his love is. 

19 May you experience the love of Christ, 

though it is too great to understand fully. 

Then you will be made complete 

with all the fullness of life 

and power that comes from God.

20 Now all glory to God, 

who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, 

to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 

21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

made alive

Ephesians 2 

1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 

2 You used to live in sin, 

just like the rest of the world, 

obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. 

He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 

3 All of us used to live that way, 

following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. 

By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, 

just like everyone else.

4 But God is so rich in mercy, 

and he loved us so much, 

5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, 

he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. 

(It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 

6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ 

and seated us with him in the heavenly realms 

because we are united with Christ Jesus. 

7 So God can point to us in all future ages 

as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, 

as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. 

And you can’t take credit for this; 

it is a gift from God. 

9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, 

so none of us can boast about it. 

10 For we are God’s masterpiece. 

He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, 

so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

blessings

Ephesians 1

 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms 

because we are united with Christ. 

4 Even before he made the world, 

God loved us 

and chose us 

in Christ 

to be holy 

and without fault in his eyes. 

5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family 

by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. 

This is what he wanted to do, 

and it gave him great pleasure. 

6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us 

who belong to his dear Son. 

7 He is so rich in kindness 

and grace 

that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son 

and forgave our sins. 

8 He has showered his kindness on us, 

along with all wisdom and understanding.

9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ;

which is to fulfill his own good plan. 

10 And this is the plan: 

At the right time 

he will bring everything together 

under the authority of Christ;

everything in heaven 

and on earth. 

11 Furthermore, 

because we are united with Christ, 

we have received an inheritance from God, 

for he chose us in advance, 

and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

12 God’s purpose was that we Jews 

who were the first to trust in Christ 

would bring praise and glory to God. 

13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, 

the Good News that God saves you. 

And when you believed in Christ, 

he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, 

whom he promised long ago. 

14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised 

and that he has purchased us to be his own people. 

He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

practical advice

Galatians 6 

1 Dear brothers and sisters, 

if another believer is overcome by some sin, 

you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. 

And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 

2 Share each other’s burdens, 

and in this way obey the law of Christ. 

3 If you think you are too important to help someone, 

you are only fooling yourself. 

You are not that important.

4 Pay careful attention to your own work, 

for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, 

and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. 

5 For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

6 Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, 

sharing all good things with them.

7 Don’t be misled...

you cannot mock the justice of God. 

You will always harvest what you plant. 

8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature 

will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. 

But those who live to please the Spirit 

will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 

9 Don't get tired of doing what is good.

Don't get discouraged & give up,

for we will reap a harvest of blessing

at the appropriate time. 

10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, 

we should do good to everyone;

especially to those in the family of faith. 6 Dear brothers and sisters, 

if another believer is overcome by some sin, 

you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. 

And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 

2 Share each other’s burdens, 

and in this way obey the law of Christ. 

3 If you think you are too important to help someone, 

you are only fooling yourself. 

You are not that important.

4 Pay careful attention to your own work, 

for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, 

and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. 

5 For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

6 Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, 

sharing all good things with them.

7 Don’t be misled...

you cannot mock the justice of God. 

You will always harvest what you plant. 

8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature 

will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. 

But those who live to please the Spirit 

will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 

9 Don't get tired of doing what is good.

Don't get discouraged & give up,

for we will reap a harvest of blessing

at the appropriate time. 

10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, 

we should do good to everyone;

especially to those in the family of faith.

fruit

 ...the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: 

love, 

joy, 

peace, 

patience, 

kindness, 

goodness, 

faithfulness,

gentleness, 

& self control...

His heirs

Read this slowly & absorb the infinite wonder of what it says...

Galatians 4

 4 But when the right time came, 

God sent his Son, 

born of a woman, 

subject to the law. 

5 God sent him to buy freedom for us 

who were slaves to the law, 

so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 

6 And because we are his children, 

God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, 

prompting us to call out, 

“Abba, Father.” 

7 Now you are no longer a slave 

but God’s own child. 

And since you are his child, 

God has made you his heir.