40 - The heart of our Saviour (1)

John 17:1-5 - Tim Smylie
With regard to himself:
To display his Father’s goodness (v1)
To give us his Father’s gift (vv2-3)
To do all his Father’s will (v4)
To be with his Father (v5)

39 - First, the cross

John 16:16-33 - Tim Smylie
The “little while” of grief that led to unshakeable joy (vv16-28)
- the anguish of the cross opened the way to intimacy with our loving Father (vv23-28)
That “little while” lets us experience peace in a world full of trouble (vv29-33)
- the crucial victory has already been won at the cross (v33)

38 - The Spirit of truth

John 16:4b-15 - Tim Smylie
The Spirit of truth:
Convinces the world of the truth about itself (vv4b-11)
a gracious work that brings people to Jesus
Guides Jesus’ followers in the truth of Jesus (vv12-15)
He guided Jesus’ first followers to produce the New Testament
He guides us as we seek to understand and apply the New Testament
 
 

37 - This is not a game

John 15:18-16:4a - Tim Smylie
“A servant is not greater than his master” – the world that hated Jesus will hate his followers too (15:18-25)
“You also must testify” – Jesus’ followers join the Holy Spirit in witnessing to the truth about Jesus (15:26-27)
“So that you will not fall away” – Jesus’ followers must be prepared to pay the ultimate cost (16:1-4a) 

36 - I am the true vine

John 15:1-17 - Tim Smylie
“Remain in me” – Jesus is the source of a fruitful life (vv1-8)
Remaining in Jesus means letting his word fill and direct our life (vv3&7)
“Remain in my love” – a fruitful (and joyful) life is a loving life (vv9-17)
Remaining in Jesus’ love results in us loving each other as he has loved us (vv12&17)

35 - I will not leave you as orphans

John 14:15-31 - Tim Smylie
Today God “makes his home” with those who love Jesus (vv15-27)
Loving Jesus means obeying him (vv15, 21, 23-24)
Our security flows from the love between the Father and the Son (vv28-31)

34 - Do not let your hearts be troubled

John 14:1-14 - Tim Smylie
Jesus’ “going away” to the cross has prepared a future for us in his Father’s presence (vv1-3)
Jesus is “the way” to know the Father (vv4-11)
Jesus now does “greater things” on earth through us – reaping the rewards of his work on the cross (vv12-14)

33 - No one is as strong as they think they are

John 13:18-38 - Tim Smylie
No one is as strong as they think they are:
Not those who aim to get rid of Jesus – he has power over the darkness (vv18-30)
Nor those who aim to follow Jesus – we depend on the power of his victory (vv31-38)

32 - He made himself nothing

John 13:1-17 - Tim Smylie
Jesus washed his disciples’ feet:
To explain his death on the cross (vv1-11)
He humbled himself completely to cleanse us completely 
To show what it means to follow him (vv12-17)
He humbled himself to set a pattern for us

31 - God glorified - through belief and unbelief

John 12:34-50 - Tim Smylie
Belief in Jesus is our urgent responsibility (vv34-36)
Human unbelief also plays a part in God’s salvation plan (vv37-41)
God’s salvation comes through human unbelief (vv37-38)
Unbelief is God’s punishment on human sin (vv39-41)
 Secret belief falls short of real belief (vv42-50)
 

30 - The hour has come

John 12:20-33 - Tim Smylie
he event of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension will:
Glorify the Son, as he produces a great harvest of life (vv20-26)
Glorify the Father, as judgment and salvation come through Jesus’ devotion to the Father (vv27-33)

29 - Before the Passover

John 11:55 - 12:19 - Tim Smylie
Jesus is:
The King who is worthy of our most extravagant devotion (11:55-12:11)
The King who showed the most extravagant devotion – to bring us perfect peace (12:12-19)

Herod’s story

Advent - the prequel

2 Samuel 7:1-17 - Tim Smylie
David: “God’s Kingdom has arrived!” (vv1-3)
God: “No, I’m just getting started!” (vv4-17)
“I will not rest until my people truly rest” (vv4-11a)
“A son of David will set up my eternal kingdom” (vv11b-17)

28 - See how he loves

John 11:28-54 - Tim Smylie
Jesus’ love is shown in:
His compassion and fury in the face of suffering and death (vv28-37)
His action to deliver us from suffering and death (vv38-54)

27 - The resurrection and the life

John 11:1-27 - Tim Smylie
Jesus our good shepherd loves us, and is not bound by our desires, or our fears (vv1-16)
He provides fuller life and greater safety than we could ever dare to hope for (vv17-27)

26 - The closest relationship

John 10:2-42 - Tim Smylie
God’s people are doubly-held secure by the Father and Jesus his Messiah (vv22-30)
All the works of Jesus the Son make his Father known (vv31-42)

25 - Precious to God

John 10:1-21 - Tim Smylie
A picture of reality: An endangered flock, with one protector and provider (vv1-6)
Our protector and provider (vv7-21)
Jesus is the gateway to life in all its fullness (vv7-10)
Jesus is the saviour-shepherd (vv11-21)

24 - Belief and unbelief in motion

John 9:8-41  - Tim Smylie
The growing darkness of unbelief in Jesus  (vv8-23)
The growing brightness of belief in Jesus (vv24-41)

23 - The eye opener

John 8:48 - 9:7 - Tim Smylie
The joy of seeing like Abraham (8:48-59)
- Jesus brings the blessings promised to Abraham
The work of God that enables us to see (9:1-7)
- Jesus gives sight to a world born blind 

22 - We’re all serving someone

John 8:31-47 - Tim Smylie
Real freedom is being controlled by Jesus’ word (vv31-36)
Those who are “free” from Jesus’ word are children of the devil (vv37-47)

21 - The light of the world

John 8:12-30 - Tim Smylie
Jesus is the light of God (vv12-20)
 - and he needs no green light from anyone else
Jesus is the life-giving light (vv21-30)
 - and his light is seen most clearly in his death

20 - Hope for the lost

John 7:25-52 - Tim Smylie
Hope for those lost in:
The confusion of human understanding (vv25-36)
Come to Jesus – stand in the stream of God’s grace (vv37-39)
The arrogance of unbelief (vv40-49)
Take steps toward Jesus (vv50-52)

19 - Understanding Jesus

John 7:1-24 - Tim Smylie
He did not come:
To impress us, but to save us (vv1-13)
To persuade us, but to glorify his Father (vv14-18)
To congratulate us, but to humble us (vv19-24)

18 - Does this offend you?

John 6:41-71 - Tim Smylie
Will you rely on:
The grace of God, or your own wisdom? (vv41-47)
Jesus’ sacrificial death as the only source of eternal life? (vv48-59)
Jesus’ words as “the words of eternal life”? (vv60-71)

17 - Bread from heaven

John 6:22-40 - Tim Smylie
 
1. What God wants from us: Rely totally on Jesus (vv22-29)
2. What God gives us: Satisfaction and Security in Jesus (vv30-40)

16 - It is I; do not be afraid

John 6:1-21 - Tim Smylie
When we’re serving Jesus, we can trust his resources (vv1-13)
When we’re in trouble, we can trust his care (vv14-21)

15 - A reasonable faith

John 5:31-47 - Tim Smylie
Reasons to believe in Jesus (vv31-40)
The witness of John the Baptist (vv33-35)
The works of Jesus (v36)
The Old Testament Scriptures (vv37-40)
The reason people don’t believe in Jesus (vv41-47) - a love for human glory 
 

14 - Father and Son

John 5:19-30 - Tim Smylie
God the Son’s equality with God the Father means:
The Son is dependent on, and perfectly united with, the Father (vv19-20)
The Son has authority to do what only God can do (vv21-22)
The Son is to be honoured just as the Father is honoured (v23)
Life comes to those who hear and obey the Son’s voice (vv24-30)

13 - Do you want to get well?

John 5:1-18 - Tim Smylie
Jesus has the power to make us perfectly well (vv1-9a)
Two ways of choosing not to get well (vv9b-18)
Indifference toward Jesus (vv9b-15)
Hostility toward Jesus (vv16-18)