Something
Old, Something New
(Back to Study Home Page) (Sermon March 16, 2008)
(Back to Sermons Home Page) (Back
to Shultz Home Page)
March
20, 2008 - John 13:1-17
Open It
1.
What is your idea of great customer service?
2. In what
way does our society instill in us the desire to be served?
3. What do
your neighbors consider to be signs of high position or status?
Explore It
4. What did
Jesus know it was time to do? (13:1)
5. What had
the devil prompted Judas to do? (13:2)
6. What did
Jesus know that the Father had done? (13:3)
7. What did
Jesus do when He got up from His meal with the disciples? (13:4-5)
8. Why did
Peter express shock? (13:6)
9. How did
Jesus respond to Peter's amazement? (13:7)
10. What did
Peter declare he would never allow? (13:8)
11. Why was
it important for Jesus to wash the disciples' feet? (13:8)
12.What did
Peter want Jesus to do? (13:9)
13. Why did
Jesus qualify His statements? (13:11)
14.What did
Jesus tell His disciples they should do? (13:12-15)
15. What is
the difference between servants and masters? (13:16)
16.How did
Jesus say that His disciples would be blessed? (13:17)
Get It
17. When and
why do you find it difficult to allow others to serve you?
18. When and
why is it difficult for you to serve others?
19.How has
Jesus cleansed us?
20. What
example did Jesus set for us to follow?
21.In what
areas do you struggle with being humble?
22. What
makes being humble so difficult?
23. When and
why do you feel in competition with other believers?
Apply It
24. Who is
someone you can serve today? How?
25. Whose
service do you need to accept the next time he or she offers?
26. What
proud attitude do you still exhibit that could benefit from Jesus' example?
John
13:1 Jesus knew he would be betrayed by one of his disciples, disowned by
another, and deserted by all of them for a time. Still "he now showed them
the full extent of his love." God knows us completely, as Jesus knew his
disciples (John 2:24-25; John 6:64). He knows the sins we have committed and
the ones we will yet commit. Still, he loves us. How do you respond to that
kind of love?
John
13:1ff John 13-17 tell us what Jesus said to his disciples on the
night before his death. These words were all spoken in one evening when, with
only the disciples as his audience, he gave final instructions to prepare them
for his death and resurrection, events that would change their lives forever.
John
13:1-3 For more information on Judas Iscariot, see his Profile.
John
13:1-17 Jesus was the model servant, and he showed his servant attitude
to his disciples. Washing guests' feet was a job for a household servant to
carry out when guests arrived. But Jesus wrapped a towel around his waist, as
the lowliest slave would do, and washed and dried his disciples' feet. If even
he, God in the flesh, is willing to serve, we his followers must also be
servants, willing to serve in any way that glorifies God. Are you willing to
follow Christ's example of serving? Whom can you serve today? There is a
special blessing for those who not only agree that humble service is Christ's
way, but who also follow through and do it (John 13:17).
John
13:6-7 Imagine being Peter and watching Jesus wash the others'
feet, all the while moving closer to you. Seeing his Master behave like a slave
must have confused Peter. He still did not understand Jesus' teaching that to
be a leader, a person must be a servant. This is not a comfortable passage for
leaders who find it hard to serve those beneath them. How do you treat those
who work under you (whether children, employees, or volunteers)?
John 13:12ff Jesus
did not wash his disciples' feet just to get them to be nice to each other. His
far greater goal was to extend his mission on earth after he was gone. These
men were to move into the world serving God, serving each other, and serving
all people to whom they took the message of salvation.
(Back
to Study Home Page) (Sermon March 16, 2008)
(Back to Sermons Home Page) (Back
to Shultz Home Page)