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The purpose of these pages is to engage in some group study focussing specifically on the mid-week period of Tuesday to Thursday.  We will post some scripture verses, and a few thoughts before throwing the conversation over to you.  This is not a teaching session, use the prompts (and Google) to explore scripture and share relevant verses.  Log in to the conversation as often or as infrequently as you like and if you wish to join in put your thoughts in the comments box at the bottom of the page.

The right frame of mind

Before you start to dive into this week’s bible study, take a few moments to calm your spirit.  Get comfortable with your beverage of choice, your Bible and something to write with. Pray that God would give you the time to study and put to one side the concerns of the day.  Breathe deeply for a few seconds and focus on who Jesus said he was….  When you are ready move on…

8   He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly (6:8 Or prudently) with your God.

Micah 6:8

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Over the last couple of weeks we have looked at two of the I am’ statements of Jesus listed in John’s Gospel.  We looked at what it is to be branches grafted into the vine – Taken from John 15  –   Last week we started looking at “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51) 

This week we are going to look more at what it means to be grafted or attached to the spiritual root of Jesus and how (to mix our metaphors) that gives us the bread of life.

Jesus said “come to me” and “believe in me” John 5:24 & 6:35 and you will…

• Have eternal life
• Not be condemned
• Never go hungry
• Never be thirsty

the latter two talking about our spiritual needs.

The suggestion in John 15 is that the gardener grafts us into a permanent source of nourishment that allows us to grow and flourish. The image of many branches growing together towards and in the light is synonymous with the local church.

There is much talk in this Covid-19 season about ‘live streaming’ video of meetings that people can’t get to.  You plug in and get a continuous feed of video signal until it is all over.  Sound familiar?  The vine provides a continuous stream of nourishment, purpose, guidance, reassurance and peace.

Colin Urquhart, the Christian author, talks about taking time to enjoy Christ and take in what He is saying.  When we take time to read scripture and meditate on it’s meaning: God does speak to us. Isa 55:11   What else happens?  Psalm 23,  John 15:5,  John 15:7,  2Cor 5:17,  Phil 3:9.

This new creation is not something we do, it’s who we become.

Read Jesus’ pray for those who come to Him

John 17:20-26

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The right frame of mind

Before you start to dive into this week’s bible study, take a few moments to calm your spirit.  Get comfortable with your beverage of choice, your bible and something to write with. Pray that God would give you the time to study and put to one side the concerns of the day.  Breathe deeply for a few seconds and focus on who Jesus said he was….  When you are ready move on…

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Over the last few weeks scripture has been repeatedly leading us back to our identity in Christ.  One of the descriptors from last week was branches – Taken from John 15  Take a couple of minutes and read it through.  First time quickly and then more slowly one verse at a time.

This passage contains one of the seven ‘I am’ statements of Jesus.

• • • “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51) As bread sustains physical life, so Christ offers and sustains spiritual life.
    •  “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12) To a world lost in darkness, Christ offers Himself as a guide.
    • “I am the door of the sheep.” (John 10:7,9) Jesus protects His followers as shepherds protect their flocks from predators.
    • “I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25) Death is not the final word for those in Christ.
    • “I am the good shepherd.” (John 10:11, 14) Jesus is committed to caring and watching over those who are His.
    • “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) Jesus is the source of all truth and knowledge about God.
    • “I am the true vine.” (John 15:1, 5) By attached ourselves to Christ, we enable His life to flow in and through us. Then we cannot help but bear fruit that will honour the Father.

Borrowed from the TNBibles website

Life flowing through us:The passage immediately follows Jesus telling the disciples about the Holy Spirit being given to them, so it’s an easy jump to assume the sap of the vine is analogous to the Spirit flowing through us. Acts 1

True Vine: as distinct from what? What is the significance of putting ‘true’ in at this point?  The Bible suggests there are other sources of apparent sustenance – other places we can try to get our ‘identity’.  None of them work and all of them leave us feeling empty and unfulfilled – John 10:10

Abide (remain) in Me.  What exactly does this mean?  Notice: Whilst the grafting is something that we don’t have anything to do with other than to ask for it, the abiding is something we are told to do. It’s our responsibility to abide.  Take a moment to meditate and write down what it is to ‘abide in Him’.  1 John 2:5-6

The Fruit

The bible talks very clearly about the fruit of the Spirit; how many of them can you recall? It also talks about the kind of activities that are opposed to the life in the Spirit – those that will result in pruning!  how many of them can you recall?  Gal Ch 5:16  What may pruning look like?  Feel like?  What things might God be asking you to give up? / stop doing? / start doing?  Note that: Pruning takes place once we are securely grafted on to the Vine not before, and not immediately (although it sometimes can be) – it is a gradual process of encouragement and challenge.

A healthy plant grows toward the light – see above – John 8:12  Not only did Jesus say I am the light of the World, but as we become more like Him, it also says that our light should shine out, encouraging and challenging others.  Jdg. 5:31, Matt 5:16  Do a search for passages on light and see what God leads you to.

Read Ephesians Ch 5… and reconsider the questions on pruning.

Over the last few months Andrew has been preaching on “Who Me?”  the question mark signifies our lack of understanding of who God says we are. Reflect on the following….

• But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Rom5:8
• We love Him because He first loved us, – 1 John 4:19

God does not call us because of anything we are – He calls us to be who He knows we can become.  John 10:10    To come into relationship and walk with Him.  Response to this calling changes who we are. Rom 10:9

Remind yourself of God’s willingness to renew his people, despite their actions and their old identity.

• Eze 36 New heart and a new spirit
• If my people who… 2 Chron 7

What Therefore are the Implications of our New Identity?

Believe: John 6:29 – We are called to walk with the Lord and believe in Him even when things don’t seem to be changing as fast as we would like them to.  2 Cor 5:17, Eph 4:22-32,  Rom 8:14-17,  Is40:31 – You should know this one by now.

The way we See things

The way we look at things changes and we see things with a spiritual vision.  Both of these are tied to our daily walk – how closely we engage and listen to what God is trying to say to us.  Study and prayer daily.  This discipline not only strengthens our faith, but also gives us the vision to see God moving in our lives.

What does scripture say about…

• Joy
• Peace
• Victory
• Freedom
• Hope
• Vision

When we are defined by our new identity, it pulls us away from allowing our identity to be defined by others.  In what ways do you compare yourself to others and measure yourself against their standards / achievements / goals?  What does this say about our use of social media / intake of video?

The Bible talks about believers as ‘Children of God’, but also says many other things about us.  Take some time and try to find them.  Here are a few

• Keyholders:   Matt16:19 This is significant because it implies we have the capability to control what we focus on…  We let things in, and we lock things out!
• No weapon formed….
• More than conquerers
• Fearfully and wonderfully….
• You are the branches
• Who shall separate us…
• Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple…