Luc pastors an Elim church near Lake Geneva, in France. The recording volume is a bit low for the first minute or so but the volume does go up so you can hear this inspiring sermon on the theme of “passion”.
On Sunday we welcomed Tim Jones, the new Anglican vicar for St Laurences and St Hildas here in York. We were delighted that he was able to visit us for our morning meeting.
Tim will be more than a neighbour to us. As the two congregations (Elim and St Laurence’s Parish) share the site at St Laurence’s, Graham and Tim will be working together a great deal. We see Tim’s arrival as the start of a great adventure as the two churches work together and develop friendship.
Graham and his family were recently elfed, click here to see the results.
You can listen again to Graham reviewing the papers at the BBC Radio York website. In order to listen again you need to go to the BBC Radio York website and click “listen again” anywhere you see it. Then when the listen again player pops up you can scroll through the different radio shows within the pop up. Graham was on “Julia Booth’s Sunday Breakfast” from 9am so you might have to skip forward a bit, the listen again player allows you to do that.
This is part 10 of the preaching series on John’s Gospel chapters 13 to 17.
This week the sermon is from John 15:9-17.
The sermon is available as a Podcast, downloadable PDF notes and the text of it is pasted into this post.
The material is made available so that any may use it, preach it or adapt it.
To download PDF of notes - DOWNLOAD
Sermon John 15:9-17
Introduction
From fruit bearing to prevailing prayer. One commentator (Tenney) says this chapter is all about relationship, first us to Jesus (verses 1-11) then us to one another (verses 12-17), then to the world (verses 18-27)
Signs/miracles/wonders
A “sign” a “wonder”! In the gospels different words are used to describe what we commonly call a miracle. It seems the different words are used when a different aspect of the wonder is to emphasised. John usually uses the term “sign” as he seems to be pointing out that the miracles were sign-posts pointing to Jesus and his true identity.
According to Barclay the bible scholar, in any miracle there are three things.
- There is the wonder which leaves people dazzled, astonished, aghast.
- There is the power which is effective, which can deal with and mend a broken body, an unhinged mind, a bruised heart, a power which can do things.
- There is the sign which tells us of the love in the heart of God who does such wonderful things for us.
1) Love
v9 He has been outlining their obligations/his expectations of them. Now he inspires them with his love. His love is like the Father’s love. They are to continue in his love.
“I have loved you.” Compare John 13:1
It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
v10 His love is always first. See 1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us.
We prove our love my keeping his commandments (14:15).
This obedience is part of the abiding.
- His love goes before our love
- His love goes alongside our love
- His love follows our love
v12 Love is presented as laying down life, preferring one another. See the appeal to husbands in Ephesians 5:25. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
2) Joy
V11 Joy! Used once earlier in John’s gospel in 3:29, but 7 times in the upper room 16:20,21,22,24; 17:13.
3) Abiding/remaining
I prefer the use of “abide” rather than “remain”. Abode = dwelling place, Abide = to dwell or stay - continual, permanent.
How can we “abide” in his love? What does that mean in practice?
- Constantly believe it.
- Constantly be aware of it.
- Constantly manifest it.
“Abiding” is to have his life. See 14:19 Because I live, you also will live. Resurrection is not an optional doctrine, it is the great glory set before us. He has life, so for me there is life - all is well and will be well. This life is seen in two ways. Firstly, the future or our eternity. Secondly, the life of his spirit in us, and us in him - abiding
Abiding in his words. Does that include the OT? Some have difficulties coming to terms with the difference between the God of the New Testament and the God of the Old Testament. The mistake is to compare. There is no God of the New Testament, only the god of the whole scripture. We must abide in God’s complete word.
Revelation: What it Really Says
A new course from York School of Theology, taught by John Wilson, pastor of Gateway Christian Fellowship in Acomb, York.
The book of Revelation has perplexed and enthralled Christians down the ages. Is it a crystal ball, foretelling the future, or is it more like an x-ray which reveals the underlying structures by which we live.
The course begins on Tuesday 27th November, 7.30 to 9.30 pm at St Cuthbert’s Church Centre, Peasholme Green, York.
To book a place, phone 07804453616 or email office@ystyork.org or write to YST, St Cuthbert’s Centre, Peasholme Green, York YO1 7PW. You can also also book in person on the night.
On Sat 1st Dec Wycliffe Bible Translators are holding a “Wycliffe and Me” day at Acomb Baptist Church, which is for anyone who is interested in finding out more about them - whether they are thinking about joining, or are already supporters of Wycliffe members. All the details can be found on their website:
http://www.wycliffe.org.uk
just click on the link for the two-page pdf file.
This is part 9 of the preaching series on John’s Gospel chapters 13 to 17.
This week the sermon is from John 15:1-7.
The sermon is available as a Podcast, downloadable PDF notes and the text of it is pasted into this post.
The material is made available so that any may use it, preach it or adapt it.
To download PDF of notes - DOWNLOAD
Sermon John 15:1-7
The Vine
Introduction
The subject is not “The Vine” it is Discipleship. This discipleship is taught through the allegory of the vine.
Notice also, this discipleship is not individualism. See the context, Jesus speaks to them as a group/church.
Israel is often spoken of in scripture as God’s vine Jeremiah 2:21
This vine was brought out of Egypt by God and planted by him in his garden, the promised land Psalm 80:7-19. This vine failed to produce
Isaiah 5:2
He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it and cut out a wine press as well. Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit.
The Israelites were sent messengers (prophets) by the owner of the vine (God) but they mistreated them
Mark 12:1-10
He then began to speak to them in parables: A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the wine press and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey. At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. [v1-3]
1) Blood and Sap
Blood of the sacrifice celebrated in Communion, and the sap of the vine which flows in the believer.
His life is my life and my life is in him
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
The disciples are told that believers will have Life in so far as they are connected to Jesus and had his life, see John 6:53
Jesus said to them, I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
Now the life of the believer is as a branch or limb of the main, true vine which is Jesus himself.
I am connected!
2) Discarded Branches
Could these be the merely religious, but unconnected to Jesus? Perhaps those not having His life so “showing” or “proving” themselves to be His disciples, see John 15:8
This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
3) Pruned - Cut Back
Instead of wondering about the discarded limbs/branches, wonder what this says to you and me.
If all is going well and I am being fruitful, I am to be pruned!?
What is fruitfulness?
The product of a godly life and the characteristics of a godly life.
Matthew 3:7-8 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptising, he said to them: You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
Matthew 7:16-20 By their fruit you will recognise them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognise them.
Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Ephesians 5:8-10 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.
Philippians 1:9-11 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ- to the glory and praise of God.
Conclusion - What is this pruning?
- It removes/limits alternatives in direction/options.
- It can be painful.
- It increases productivity in a limited, chosen area/direction/option. Examples, friendships, jobs (choice, promotion, etc.) choice of life-time parters, where we live, where we settle.
- It can be cooperated with as an act of discipleship when I choose what seems “less” in the eyes of the unbelieving world from all the choices that are available.
Steve Redman did such a good job at reviewing this event on the One Voice website I won’t bother reinventing the wheel and just redirect you there! I have added some text from the City Council website here just to give you a bit of info about the office of Lord Mayor. Enjoy!
“The Lord Mayor is Chairman of City of York Council and the first citizen of the city. It’s an appointment made by the council each year in May, at the same time appointing a Sheriff, the city’s other civic head. York’s Lord Mayor is second only to the Lord Mayor of London in precedence and its Sheriff holds the oldest office of Sheriff in England and Wales.
The Lord Mayor chairs meetings of full council and together with the Sheriff, represents the city on ceremonial occasions, welcomes international visitors and attends events organised by local people and community groups.
The Lord Mayor also hosts formal and informal functions at the Mansion House which is the Lord Mayor’s residence during their year of office. The Mansion House is also available for tours and private hire.”
Praise God for another fantastic International Church Lunch! I think I speak for all who were there when I say I was blown away by the quality and variety of Indian Cuisine provided by our Indian brothers and sisters. Perhaps we could ask them to do us an Indian Church Lunch every month?? Well maybe not but we’ll look forward to next month’s theme scheduled for the 2nd December, East Asia.
Thank the Lord for providing Soul and Bissy with a new job in Clyde Bank, Glasgow. We pray that He will watch over and bless them both.
