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For the remainder of this season, we are releasing the Main Session messages from this year's CGN International Conference.This year's conference was held at Reliance Church in Temecula, CA - and the Theme was: “The Way Forward: Ministry According to Jesus” - in which we studied through the Upper-Room Discourse in John 13-17.The fifth message of the conference was taught by Pastor Kike Torres, the Lead Pastor of Horizonte Querétaro, in Mexico. Kike is also a trained biblical counselor, and has been involved in planting several churches in Mexico and the United States.The text of this message is John 15:1-8, and it is titled: “The Vine and the Branches”
For the rest of this season, we are releasing the Main Session messages from this year's CGN International Conference.This year's conference was held at Reliance Church in Temecula, CA - and the Theme was: “The Way Forward: Ministry According to Jesus” - in which we studied through the' “Upper-Room Discourse” in John 13-17.The fourth message of the conference was taught by Pastor Alistair Begg. From 1983 to 2025, Alistair served as Senior Pastor of Parkside Church, near Cleveland, Ohio. His Bible teaching ministry, Truth for Life, can be heard on radio stations around the world, as well as other media platforms.The text of this message is John 15:26 and 16:7-15, and it is titled: “The Spirit of Truth."
Jesus delivered the Upper Room Discourse because He knew that He was departing this world and because He loved His followers.
Series: Signs & GloryTitle: How Do We Become People of the Towel?Subtitle: Scripture: John 13:1-17Philippians 2:6-8Mark 10:45Bottom line: We become people of the towel when we believe Jesus' love, receive his cleansing, and follow his example.INTRODUCTIONCONTEXTSERMON OUTLINECONCLUSIONNOTESOUTLINESQUESTIONS TO CONSIDER DISCUSSION QUESTIONSMAIN REFERENCES USEDOpening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same. INTRODUCTION“In 2003, when the United States invaded Iraq, I sat glued to my television set for days and watched the amazing footage that was broadcast. One scene that stands out in my mind from those days was the jubilant celebration of the Iraqi people as U.S. Marines pulled down a forty-foot statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad. The statue was torn from its pedestal and dragged through the streets, and children were shown riding on the head of the statue as if it were a sled. But I also remember the way in which the people of Iraq used their shoes or their sandals to pound against the statue and the posters of Saddam that were still being displayed in Baghdad. The commentators explained that among the Iraqi people, to beat a person or even a person's image with one's shoe is to show the deepest possible form of contempt for that person...The Iraqi people's actions helped me understand the depth of lowliness to which Jesus stooped when He handled His disciples' filthy feet in this ritual of cleansing. We have already discussed the fact that in antiquity, when a rabbi had disciples, they typically acted as his servants. However, they were never required to wash the rabbi's feet; that task was reserved for slaves. But even some slaves were spared this task. Within Israel, if a Jewish person had a Jewish slave, the slave owner was not permitted to require that slave to wash his feet. Only a Gentile slave could be required to perform such a menial task. So the fact that Jesus Himself undertook this task, and that He did it during Holy Week, fills this narrative with theological and ethical significance for us.”John - An Expositional Commentary, R.C. SproulBottom line: We become people of the towel when we believe Jesus' love, receive his cleansing, and follow his example.CONTEXT"Jesus had entered Jerusalem on Sunday, and on Monday had cleansed the temple. Tuesday was a day of conflict as the religious leaders sought to trip Him up and get evidence to arrest Him. These events are recorded in Matthew 21–25. Wednesday was probably a day of rest, but on Thursday He met in the Upper Room with His disciples in order to observe Passover...What was this divinely appointed “hour”? It was the time when He would be glorified through His death, resurrection, and ascension. From the human point of view, it meant suffering; but from the divine point of view, it meant glory."Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 344). Victor Books.OUTLINE (w/ help from Kent Hughes and ChatGPT)I. Believe the Heart of His Love (John 13:1–3)• Jesus loved His own “to the end” — pointing to the cross (Romans 5:8).• His mission has always been loving service: "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45• Application: You cannot serve others well until you rest secure in Jesus' agape love for you.II. Be Washed by His Cleansing (John 13:4–11)• Jesus lays aside His garment and stoops to wash dirty feet — a preview of the cross.• Peter resists, but Jesus insists: “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.”• Only the Servant who came to save (Luke 19:10) can cleanse us fully.• Application: Humble service flows only from hearts first cleansed by Jesus' sacrifice.III. Follow His Example in Humble Service (John 13:12–17)• After washing, He asks: “Do you understand what I have done to you?”• If the Lord and Teacher has washed feet, we must do likewise.• Paul echoes this: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus… He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:5–8).• Application: Knowing His love and cleansing, we pick up the towel and bless others through ordinary, humble acts of service.⸻"The Upper Room Discourse begins with a dramatic call to follow Christ's example as a servant--to be people of the towel." -Hughes"How do we become people of the towel?We must observe the marvelous example of our foot-washing Lord and Savior and then listen to Jesus' challenge: 'If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.'Perhaps most important, we must have the quality of Jesus' heart. 'Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.'Finally, we become people of the towel by realizing who we are. The power, the impetus, and the grace to wash one another's feet is proportionate not only to how we see Jesus but how we see ourselves. Our Lord saw himself as King of kings, and he washed the disciples' feet. Recovery of a kingly consciousness will hallow and refine our entire lives. We are 'a royal priesthood.' (1 Peter 2:9)" -Hughes"If you know these things, blessed areyou if you do them." John 13:17The Heart of the Servant (13:1-3)"The final sentence gives us his heart: "Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end." The servant's heart is a heart of love. A story about Czar Nicholas I of Russia tells us something of that love. The czar was greatly interested in a young man because he had been friends with the young man's father. When that young man came of age, Czar Nicholas gave him a fine position in the army. He also stationed him in a place of responsibility at one of the great fortresses of Russia. The young man was responsible for the monies and finances of a particular division of the army.The young man did quite well at first, but as time went along, he became quite a gambler. Before long he had gambled his entire fortune away. He borrowed from the treasury and also gambled that away, a few rubles at a time.One day he heard there was going to be an audit of the books the next day. He went to the safe, took out his ledger, and figured out how much money he had, then subtracted the amount he had taken. As he sat at the table, overwhelmed at the astronomical debt, he took out his pen and wrote, "A great debt, who can pay?" Not willing to go through the shame of what would happen the next day, he took out his revolver and covenanted with himself that at the stroke of midnight he would take his life.It was a warm and drowsy night, and as the young man sat at the table, he dozed off. Now, Czar Nicholas had a habit of putting on a common soldier's uniform and visiting some of his outposts. On that very night he came to that particular great fortress, and as he inspected it, he saw a light on in one of the rooms. He knocked on the door, but no one answered. He tried the latch, opened the door, and went in. There was the young man. The czar recognized him immediately. When he saw the note on the table and the ledgers laid out, his first impulse was to wake the young man and arrest him. But, overtaken with a wave of generosity, he instead took the pen that had fallen out of the soldier's hand and wrote one word on the paper, then tiptoed out of the room.About an hour later the young man woke up and reached for his revolver, realizing that it was much after twelve. Then his eyes fell upon his note: "A great debt, who can pay?" He saw immediately that one word had been added -"Nicholas." The young man dropped the gun, ran to the files, thumbed through some correspondence, and found the czar's signature. The note was authentic! The realization struck him —"The czar has been here and knows all my guilt. But he has undertaken my debt, and I will not have to die." The young man trusted in the czar's word, and sure enough, the needed monies came?The czar's love, paying the price for his guilty young friend, was only a faint shadow of the atoning love of Christ. Nicholas's deed was an easy matter for him —as easy as signing his name. But the atoning love of Jesus cost him everything!The tenses at the end of verse 1, "having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end," means that in the whole range of Christ's contact with his disciples he loved them!" -HughesThe Example of the Servant (13:4-11)The Challenge of the Servant (13:12-17)"According to John, the Lord gave the disciples two explanations of his washing of their feet - one while he was engaged in washing them, and the other after he had taken his place with them at the supper table again. The former, as we have seen, is theological in character: the foot-washing symbolizes Jesus' humbling himself to endure the death of the cross and the cleansing efficacy of his death for the believer. The latter, unfolded in verses 12-17, is practical in character: Jesus has washed their feet in order that from his example they may learn to perform similar service one for another.There is no incongruity between the two explanations; it is quite unnecessary to suppose that they must be due to two different authors. The second explanation is very much in line with Luke's account of the conversation which took place between the Lord and the disciples at the Last Supper (Luke 22:24-27), in which he drew their attention to his own example; but in Mark's counterpart to that conversation, which appears in an earlier context (Mark 10:35-45), Jesus' example of lowly service is brought into the closest association with the sacrifice of the cross: if any one of their number wants to be first, he 'must be slave of all' - because 'the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many'. The close association of the two themes in this Johannine context, accordingly, is perfectly natural`..." -FF BruceJudas was an unbeliever (John 6:64–71), so he did not have a “shield of faith” to use to ward off Satan's attacks...Even in His humiliation, our Lord had all things through His Father. He was poor and yet He was rich. Because Jesus knew who He was, where He came from, what He had, and where He was going, He was complete master of the situation. You and I as believers know that we have been born of God, that we are one day going to God, and that in Christ we have all things; therefore, we ought to be able to follow our Lord's example and serve others...What Jesus knew helped determine what Jesus did (John 13:4–5)...The Father had put all things into the Son's hands, yet Jesus picked up a towel and a basin! His humility was not born of poverty, but of riches. He was rich, yet He became poor (2 Cor. 8:9). A Malay proverb says, “The fuller the ear is of rice-grain, the lower it bends.”...Jesus was the Sovereign, yet He took the place of a servant. He had all things in His hands, yet He picked up a towel...It has well been said that humility is not thinking meanly of yourself; it is simply not thinking of yourself at all. True humility grows out of our relationship with the Father.Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 345). Victor Books.Rick Warren used to say, "Humility isn't thinking less of yourself. It's thinking of yourself less."We today, just like the disciples that night, desperately need this lesson on humility. The church is filled with a worldly spirit of competition and criticism as believers vie with one another to see who is the greatest. We are growing in knowledge, but not in grace (see 2 Peter 3:18). “Humility is the only soil in which the graces root,” wrote Andrew Murray. “The lack of humility is the sufficient explanation of every defect and failure.”The word translated “wash” in John 13:5–6, 8, 12, and 14 is nipto and means “to wash a part of the body.” But the word translated “washed” in John 13:10 is louo and means “to bathe all over.” The distinction is important, for Jesus was trying to teach His disciples the importance of a holy walk.When the sinner trusts the Saviour, he is “bathed all over” and his sins are washed away and forgiven (see 1 Cor. 6:9–11; Titus 3:3–7; and Rev. 1:5). “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more” (Heb. 10:17). However, as the believer walks in this world, it is easy to become defiled. He does not need to be bathed all over again; he simply needs to have that defilement cleansed away. God promises to cleanse us when we confess our sins to Him (1 John 1:9).But why is it so important that we “keep our feet clean”? Because if we are defiled, we cannot have communion with our Lord. “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me” (John 13:8). The word translated “part” is meros, and it carries the meaning here of “participation, having a share in someone or something.” When God “bathes us all over” in salvation, He brings about our union with Christ; and that is a settled relationship that cannot change. (The verb wash in John 13:10 is in the perfect tense. It is settled once and for all.) However, our communion with Christ depends on our keeping ourselves “unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). If we permit unconfessed sin in our lives, we hinder our walk with the Lord; and that is when we need to have our feet washed.Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 346). Victor Books.Referring to Jesus humbling himself and cf. to Philippians 2:5-9, RC Sproul writes, “It was not His deity but His dignity that Jesus laid aside. He emptied Himself of the glory that He enjoyed with His Father from all eternity. He laid aside His prerogatives as the second person of the Trinity. For the sake of His people, He descended from glory to lay down His life.”“That is proper, for Jesus was not instituting a sacrament that was to be repeated on a regular basis among the people of God, and we know that for this reason: the central significance of Jesus' washing of His disciples' feet has to do with baptism, which is the sacrament of the entrance into the new covenant. Baptism signifies many things, but at the very heart of the symbolism of baptism is the idea of cleansing” -R.C. Sproul“He knew who would betray him, but He washed all their feet, even the feet of Judas, but not without the warning that the cleansing He spoke of would not apply to every one of them.”“Those who give themselves in service to others find deep joy in it.”Excerpt FromJohn - An Expositional CommentaryR.C. SproulCONCLUSION"The Upper Room Discourse begins with a dramatic call to follow Christ's example as a servant--to be people of the towel." -HughesHow do we become people of the towel?We must observe the marvelous example of our foot-washing Lord and Savior and then listen to Jesus' challenge: 'If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.'Perhaps most important, we must have gthe quality of Jesus' heart. 'Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.'Finally, we become people of the towel by realizing who we are. The power, the impetus, and the grace to wash one another's feet is proportionate not only to how we see Jesus but how we see ourselves. Our Lord saw himself as King of kings, and he washed the disciples' feet. Recovery of a kingly consciousness will hallow and refine our entire lives. We are 'a royal priesthood.' (1 Peter 2:9)"If you know these things, blessed areyou if you do them." John 13:17This basic truth of Christian living is beautifully illustrated in the Old Testament priesthood. When the priest was consecrated, he was bathed all over (Ex. 29:4), and that experience was never repeated. However, during his daily ministry, he became defiled; so it was necessary that he wash his hands and feet at the brass laver in the courtyard (Ex. 30:18–21). Only then could he enter the holy place and trim the lamps, eat the holy bread, or burn the incense...We can learn an important lesson from Peter: don't question the Lord's will or work, and don't try to change it. He knows what He is doing...John was careful to point out that Peter and Judas were in a different relationship with Jesus. Yes, Jesus washed Judas' feet! But it did Judas no good because he had not been bathed all over. Some people teach that Judas was a saved man who sinned away his salvation, but that is not what Jesus said. Our Lord made it very clear that Judas had never been cleansed from his sins and was an unbeliever (John 6:64–71)...John 13:17 is the key—“If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” The sequence is important: humbleness, holiness, then happiness. Aristotle defined happiness as “good fortune joined to virtue … a life that is both agreeable and secure.” That might do for a philosopher, but it will never do for a Christian believer! Happiness is the by-product of a life that is lived in the will of God. When we humbly serve others, walk in God's paths of holiness, and do what He tells us, then we will enjoy happiness...The servant (slave) is not greater than his master; so, if the master becomes a slave, where does that put the slave? On the same level as the master! By becoming a servant, our Lord did not push us down: He lifted us up! He dignified sacrifice and service. You must keep in mind that the Romans had no use for humility, and the Greeks despised manual labor. Jesus combined these two when He washed the disciples' feet. The world asks, “How many people work for you?” but the Lord asks, “For how many people do you work?" When I was ministering at a conference in Kenya, an African believer shared one of their proverbs with me: “The chief is servant of all.” How true it is that we need leaders who will serve and servants who will lead. G.K. Chesterton said that a really great man is one who makes others feel great, and Jesus did this with His disciples by teaching them to serve...Be sure to keep these lessons in their proper sequence: humbleness, holiness, happiness. Submit to the Father, keep your life clean, and serve others. This is God's formula for true spiritual joy.Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 347). Victor Books.“We can transfer that warning to everyone reading this book. If you are reading this and have not been washed by Christ, you will have no part with Him in the Father's house. Jesus was preparing His disciples for that cleansing that would once and for all deliver them from their sin” -R.C. Sproul“We've already seen Jesus making the point in the final weeks of His life, “Unless you're willing to participate in My humiliation, you have no part in My exaltation.” Our very baptism is a sign not only of our being raised with Christ, but of our being buried with Christ. It is a sign that we join Him in His humiliation so that we may have a part in His glory.”“Jesus told Simon, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean” (v. 10a). In the ancient world, when a person took a bath, he was clean until he walked outside in the dust in his bare feet or in open sandals. He could keep the rest of his body relatively clean, but his feet got dirty quickly. That's why there was the ritual of the cleansing of the feet without having to take a complete bath. Jesus told Peter, “When I wash your feet, I make you clean all over.” One touch of the cleansing power of Christ cleanses us from all sin.” -RC SproulIllustration:In 1912, when the Titanic struck the iceberg, there weren't enough lifeboats. Hundreds were left in the freezing Atlantic waters. One survivor later testified that while clinging to debris, she heard a man swimming from person to person, shouting, “Are you saved? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!” That man was John Harper, a Scottish pastor. He gave away his life jacket to another passenger, and with his last breaths he pleaded with people to turn to Christ before they slipped under the waves.Connection to Sermon:Like those passengers, every one of us is sinking without Christ. The signs have been given, the call is clear—Jesus is the light of the world, sent not to condemn but to save. His words are life, but they will also be our judge. Don't harden your heart. Step into His light today while there is still time.INVITATIONWhat about you? Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” Acts 2:36-39 NIVHow do we respond? Answer 2 questions:Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions: What is God saying to me right now?What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper. What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don't have to get too specific to give him praise.Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)PrayNOTES"In 1970 I was among 12,300 delegates to Inter-Varsity's Urbana conven-tion, where we heard John Stott give a masterful application of the truth of this passage. He told a story about Samuel Logan Brengle:In 1878 when William Booth's Salvation Army had just been so named, men from all over the world began to enlist. One man, who had once dreamed of himself as a bishop, crossed the Atlantic from America to England to enlist. He was a Methodist minister, Samuel Logan Brengle. And he now turned from a fine pastorate to join Booth's Salvation Army. Brengle later became the Army's first American-born commissioner. But at first Booth accepted his services reluctantly and grudgingly. Booth said to Brengle, "You've been your own boss too long." And in order to instill humility into Brengle, he set him to work cleaning the boots of the other trainees. And Brengle said to himself, "Have I followed my own fancy across the Atlantic in order to black boots?" And then as in a vision he saw Jesus bending over the feet of rough, unlettered fishermen. "Lord," he whispered, "You washed their feet: I will black their boots."If we are to count ourselves as followers of Christ, there must be humble service in our lives. We must be people of the towel." -Hughes"Perhaps as good a commentary as any on our passage is supplied by the following paragraph from the biography of Robert Cleaver Chapman:No task was too lowly for Chapman. Visitors were particularly impressed by his habit of cleaning the boots and shoes of his guests.Indeed, it was on this point he met with most resistance, for those who stayed with him were conscious that despite the simplicity of his house he was a man of good breeding, and when they had heard him minister the Word with gracious authority, they were extremely sensitive about allowing him to perform so menial a task for them. But he was not to be resisted. On one occasion a gentleman, having regard no doubt to his host's gentle birth and high spiritual standing, refused at first to let him take away his boots. 'T insist', was the firm reply. 'In former days it was the practice to wash the saints' feet. Now that this is no longer the custom, I do the nearest thing, and clean their shoes." -FF BruceOUTLINESee aboveQUESTIONS TO CONSIDERWhat do I want them to know? Why do I want them to know it?What do I want them to do?Why do I want them to do it?How do they do this?DISCUSSION QUESTIONSDiscovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/Read the passage together.Retell the story in your own words.Discovery the storyWhat does this story tell me about God?What does this story tell me about people?If this is really true, what should I do?What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)Who am I going to tell about this?Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcastAlternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:Who is God?What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)What do I do? (In light of who I am)How do I do it?Final Questions (Write this down)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?MAIN REFERENCES USED“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent HughesExalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh WredbergThe Gospels & Epistles of John, FF BruceJohn, RC SproulJohn, KöstenbergerThe Gospel According to John, DA CarsonLet's Study John, Mark JohnstonThe Light Has Come, Leslie Newbigin (TLHC)The Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner (TVW)“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee (TTB)Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.orgThe Bible Project https://bibleproject.comNicky Gumbel bible reading plan app or via YouVersionClaude.aiChatGPT AIGrok AIPerplexity.aiGoogle Gemini AI
For the remainder of this season, we are releasing the Main Session messages from this year's CGN International Conference.This year's conference was held at Reliance Church in Temecula, CA - and the Theme was: “The Way Forward: Ministry According to Jesus” - in which we studied through the' “Upper-Room Discourse” in John 13-17.The third message of the conference was taught by Pastor Alistair Begg. From 1983-2025, Alistair served as Senior Pastor of Parkside Church, near Cleveland, Ohio. His Bible teaching ministry, Truth for Life, can be heard on radio stations around the world, as well as other media platforms.The text of this message is John 15:14-16, and it is titled: “Chosen and Fruitful.”
Matthew presents Jesus Christ as the Jesus as the Mashiach Nagid, the Messiah the King, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. It was written by a Jew, to Jews, about a Jew. This book of the Bible uses more Old Testament quotes than any other. The Gospel of Matthew emphasizes the saying of Jesus, including ten parables not found in any other Gospel. After first establishing the royal genealogy, he then goes on to focus on the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies. Matthew uses the term "fulfilled" 82 times! Many scholars now believe that the Gospel was written before Paul's first imprisonment of 57-60 A.D., and that virtually all of the New Testament books were written before Jerusalem's destruction. This study contains 24 hours of verse by verse teachings. Copyright © 11-01-2006 Recorded: 2006
For the rest of this season, we are releasing the Main Session messages from this year's CGN International Conference.This year's conference was held at Reliance Church in Temecula, CA - and the Theme was: “The Way Forward: Ministry According to Jesus” - in which we studied through the' “Upper-Room Discourse” in John 13-17.The second message of the conference was taught by Pastor Daniel Williams — Lead Pastor of Calvary Chapel of the Palm Beaches, on the East Coast of Florida.The text is John 13:34-35 & 15:14-15, and the title is "A New Commandment"
Matthew presents Jesus Christ as the Jesus as the Mashiach Nagid, the Messiah the King, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. It was written by a Jew, to Jews, about a Jew. This book of the Bible uses more Old Testament quotes than any other. The Gospel of Matthew emphasizes the saying of Jesus, including ten parables not found in any other Gospel. After first establishing the royal genealogy, he then goes on to focus on the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies. Matthew uses the term "fulfilled" 82 times! Many scholars now believe that the Gospel was written before Paul's first imprisonment of 57-60 A.D., and that virtually all of the New Testament books were written before Jerusalem's destruction. This study contains 24 hours of verse by verse teachings. Copyright © 11-01-2006 Recorded: 2006
Matthew presents Jesus Christ as the Jesus as the Mashiach Nagid, the Messiah the King, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. It was written by a Jew, to Jews, about a Jew. This book of the Bible uses more Old Testament quotes than any other. The Gospel of Matthew emphasizes the saying of Jesus, including ten parables not found in any other Gospel. After first establishing the royal genealogy, he then goes on to focus on the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies. Matthew uses the term "fulfilled" 82 times! Many scholars now believe that the Gospel was written before Paul's first imprisonment of 57-60 A.D., and that virtually all of the New Testament books were written before Jerusalem's destruction. This study contains 24 hours of verse by verse teachings. Copyright © 11-01-2006 Recorded: 2006
Join us this week at Greg, Emily, and Rachel discuss the upper room discourse, or the "pre-Gethsemane discourse" as one might describe it - all that went down before Jesus headed to the garden.Transcript
Starting with this episode, and for the rest of the season, we will be releasing the Main Session messages from this year's CGN International Conference.This year's conference was held at Reliance Church in Temecula, California, and the theme was: “The Way Forward: Ministry According to Jesus” — in which we studied through the Upper Room Discourse” in John 13-17.This opening message was taught by Pastor Ted Leavenworth, Lead Pastor of Reliance Church.For more information about Calvary Global Network, visit CGN.org
John 16:33 marks a pivotal moment in the Fourth Gospel, closing the Upper Room Discourse with Jesus declaring victory and hope for his followers. The verse connects truth and trouble, offering encouragement to both the apostles and future believers. This message which Dr. Stubblefield shared recently at the historic St. Paul United Church of Christ in Carlinville, IL explores the “truth about trouble” revealed in this passage.
This episode of Wisdom from Above kicks off a new season in which we will be studying the Upper Room Discourse. This passage reveals the critical last words of Christ before His death. In the Upper Room Discourse, Jesus reveals truths about the need for confession, the badge of discipleship, the measure of greatness, the comfort of the rapture, the way of salvation, the importance of prayer, the key to fruit- bearing, the ministry of the Spirit, the concern of the church, the certainty of persecution, and the basis for sanctification! But in this episode we will be inducted into a new fraternity... The Order of the Towel.
What does it look like when gospel renewal is forged through suffering and planted in the heart of a global city? In this conversation, Esteban Valenzuela, pastor of Raíces Madrid Evangelical Christian Church, shares his remarkable story of personal transformation, perseverance through false accusation, and the sovereign call of God that led him and his family to Madrid, Spain.Mike Neglia and Esteban talk about the power of gospel renewal — not just as a theological concept, but as a lived reality. Esteban reminds us that the gospel is the cornerstone of Scripture and the Christian life, and warns against shallow repetition of gospel language without depth or clarity. They also discuss the challenges of church planting, how God works through weak sermons and weak preachers, and why having a clear message truly matters.Join Mike Neglia and Brian Kelly at the upcoming CGN Ministry Conference June 22-25, 2025 This conference is designed for church leaders and their ministry teams to connect, collaborate, and grow together. Dive deep into John 13–17, The Upper Room Discourse, with our main session speakers, and attend workshops led by experienced leaders in key areas such as Lead and Senior Pastors, Executive and Associate Pastors, Women in Ministry, Children's Ministry, Youth Ministry, Worship, Small Groups and Care Leaders, Tech Teams, Administration, and Lay Leaders. Whether you're a pastor, ministry worker, or volunteer, this event is for your whole team. Join us for an inspiring time of learning, fellowship, and renewed vision for the work God has called us to!Register for our next in person training event August 22-23, 2025 St Petersburg, Florida Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg https://expositorscollective.org/gatherings/The Expositors Collective podcast is part of the CGNMedia, Working together to proclaim the Gospel, make disciples, and plant churches. For more content like this, visit https://cgnmedia.org/Join our private Facebook group to continue the conversation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExpositorsCollectiveDonate to support the work of Expositors Collective, in person training events and a free weekly podcast: https://cgn.churchcenter.com/giving/to/expositors-collective
Recorded live in Kampala, Uganda, this episode features a wide-ranging and deeply honest conversation on the practice of church leadership in a variety of contexts. Pastors from Calvary Chapel and Baptist traditions come together to address anonymous audience questions on everything from altar calls to tongues, from tithing to women in ministry, and from spiritual gifts to church planting proximity.With grace, humour, and biblical grounding, panelists explore:When (and why) to invite a public response after a sermonWhether Christians are cursed if they don't titheWhat spiritual gifts look like in different church culturesWhy some churches do not ordain women as pastorsHow to teach clearly about demons in spiritually sensitive culturesAnd the wisdom of planting churches near existing onesYou'll hear personal stories, pastoral insight, and moments of sharp theological clarity - all shaped by the lived experience of ministry in Uganda and beyond.Featuring:Eric Lockheart, lecturer and administrator at Uganda Baptist Seminary. He holds an MDiv in Christian Ministry and a ThM in Applied Theology, both from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (Wake Forest, NC). Eric served as a pastor in the USA for 14 years before moving with his wife and four sons to Uganda in 2018 to serve under the IMB Baptist Mission. He loves teaching Hermeneutics and Homiletics, and enjoys sports, reading, fishing, and time with his family.James Senyonjjo Okurut, lecturer at Uganda Baptist Seminary since 2020, with over 20 years of ministry experience. He holds a BA from Makerere University (specialising in Communication), a BTh from UBS, and is pursuing a Master's from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.Zeddie Muzungu, Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Kampala and Director of Calvary Chapel Bible College Uganda. He is passionate about teaching God's Word and training future church leaders. He is married to Hope Muzungu.Ed Compean, lead pastor of Shoreline Calvary in Morro Bay, California. He previously served in Nairobi, Kenya, as a church planter and coach to emerging leaders, and is actively involved with the Cultivate Church Planting Initiative of Calvary Global Network.Join Mike Neglia and Brian Kelly at the upcoming CGN Ministry Conference June 22-25, 2025 This conference is designed for church leaders and their ministry teams to connect, collaborate, and grow together. Dive deep into John 13–17, The Upper Room Discourse, with our main session speakers, and attend workshops led by experienced leaders in key areas such as Lead and Senior Pastors, Executive and Associate Pastors, Women in Ministry, Children's Ministry, Youth Ministry, Worship, Small Groups and Care Leaders, Tech Teams, Administration, and Lay Leaders. Whether you're a pastor, ministry worker, or volunteer, this event is for your whole team. Join us for an inspiring time of learning, fellowship, and renewed vision for the work God has called us to!For information about our upcoming training events visit ExpositorsCollective.com The Expositors Collective podcast is part of the CGNMedia, Working together to proclaim the Gospel, make disciples, and plant churches. For more content like this, visit https://cgnmedia.org/Join our private Facebook group to continue the conversation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExpositorsCollectiveDonate to support the work of Expositors Collective, in person training events and a free weekly podcast: https://cgn.churchcenter.com/giving/to/expositors-collective
What does it look like to prepare and preach the Bible in a way that's both faithful to the text and reliant on the Holy Spirit?In this panel discussion hosted by Mike Neglia, four experienced Bible teachers – Roy Kasika, Moses Ouni, Zeddie Muzungu, and Brian Kelly – respond to real questions about sermon prep, interpretation, and Spirit-led preaching. Recorded live in September 2024 at Calvary Chapel Kampala, Uganda, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and pastoral encouragement for those who teach God's Word.The conversation ranges from outlining and inductive Bible study to interpreting challenging genres like prophecy and apocalyptic literature. The panellists highlight the need for repeated prayer, contextual awareness, and a Christ-centred lens for every passage. Whether you're just starting out or you've been preaching for years, you'll find this discussion grounding, clarifying, and energising.
The Upper Room Discourse (John 13-17) records Jesus' final teaching to his disciples. Jesus explains 5 key themes to prepare his disciples for the future.
The Upper Room Discourse (John 13-17) records Jesus' final teaching to his disciples. Jesus explains 5 key themes to prepare his disciples for the future.
The Upper Room Discourse (John 13-17) records Jesus' final teaching to his disciples. Jesus explains 5 key themes to prepare his disciples for the future.
"The Way, The Truth, and The Life" – Power and Promise In this message, Pastor Matt explores Jesus' declaration in John 14:6: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Set during Jesus' final moments with His disciples before His crucifixion, this sermon reveals how Jesus used Jewish wedding customs to illustrate His relationship with believers. Just as a Jewish bridegroom would prepare a place for his bride and return for her, Jesus promises to prepare heavenly dwellings for His followers and come back for them. Key Insights: * Jesus doesn't just show us a path—He IS the destination * Christianity isn't about religious performance but about "knowing, growing, and walking closer with Jesus, our eternal Savior" * From our first breath of faith to our final earthly moment, our relationship with Christ should be growing more intimate * Jesus patiently addresses His disciples' confusion and questions, showing us how He meets us in our uncertainty Key Scripture: John 14 (https://www.bible.com/bible/111/JHN.14.NIV) This message concludes with an invitation for believers who haven't yet been baptized to take this first step of obedience in their Christian walk. As Jesus tells His troubled disciples: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father's house has many rooms... I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." Whether you're new to faith or have been following Jesus for years, this message will deepen your understanding of what it truly means to follow Christ as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Speaker: Matt Petty Series: Power and Promise Location: Burnt Hickory Baptist Church (https://maps.app.goo.gl/hazkR3omjk9xvxZc7) Connect with us: ° Watch this sermon on YouTube (https://youtu.be/aW2dE_4nfCE) ° Follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/bhbchome) ° Follow us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/burnthickorybaptist/) ° Visit our website (https://www.burnthickory.com/)
As we enter this season of Lent, this episode helps us to see the incredible value of studying the Upper Room Discourse.
In this sermon, Dr. Michael Easley explores the profound teachings of the Upper Room Discourse, focusing on the role of the Holy Spirit, the command to love God and one another, and the importance of experiencing peace and joy in Christ. He emphasizes the necessity of obedience to God's commands as a demonstration of love, the significance of community in the body of Christ, and the call to bear fruit as true disciples. The message encourages believers to rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance and to embrace the challenges of faith, including the potential for hatred from the world. Michael originally taught ‘Lessons on Love and Obedience from John 13-16' at Immanuel Bible Church.
In part of Jesus' Upper Room Discourse, Jesus teaches His disciples more about who He is, what He came for and what they can expect from Him
Send us a Text Message.Subscribe here to receive my new church history podcast every few weeks at.https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.comFor an ad-free version of the podcast plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month and also help keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere at;patreon.com/JeremyMcCandlessThis Podcast is Hosted at;https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.comStudy Notes:Introduction: The Universality of ProblemsEveryone faces problems, often related to human relationships (friends, family, work).Problems with money, time, and relationships are common.Jesus' parting instructions to His disciples focused on relationships.Context of John 15:1-11Part of the Upper Room Discourse, transitioning from the Upper Room to the walk through the Kidron Valley.Jesus talks about relationships, particularly our relationship with Him.The Metaphor of the Vine and BranchesJohn 15:1-3: Jesus as the true vine, God as the gardener.God "prunes" fruitful branches to make them more fruitful.The Greek term for "cuts off" can also mean "lifts up," implying support and care for unfruitful branches.The Concept of PruningJohn 15:2: Pruning involves removing distractions and non-essential parts of our lives to focus on spiritual growth.Abiding in ChristJohn 15:4-9: Emphasis on the necessity of remaining in Christ to bear fruit.Without Christ, we can do nothing significant. Abiding in Christ leads to much fruit, while not abiding results in spiritual barrenness.Consequences of Not AbidingJohn 15:6: Unfruitful branches are thrown away and burned, symbolizing spiritual discipline and loss of impact.Interpretations vary: some see it as a metaphor for divine discipline rather than literal hellfire.How to Abide in ChristJohn 15:10: Obedience to Jesus' commandments is key to remaining in His love.Benefits of Abiding in ChristFruit Bearing:Becoming more like Christ and influencing others.Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5) and winning others to Christ.Answered Prayer:Aligning prayers with God's will leads to fulfillment of those prayers.Fulfilled Purpose:Glorifying God by living as true disciples and fulfilling our purpose.Feeling Loved:Experiencing a deeper sense of God's love through obedience.Complete Joy:Full and lasting joy comes from remaining in Christ's presence.Practical ApplicationAbiding in Christ starts with aligning our lives with His teachings and commands.Pruning may feel uncomfortable but leads to greater spiritual growth and fruitfulness.Remaining connected to Christ is essential for overcoming problems and challenges.ConclusionPrioritize remaining in Christ: let His word guide, His love fill, and His joy strengthen you.Commit to staying connected to the vine, and witness God's transformative power in your life.By focusing on abiding in Christ and understanding the significaSupport the Show.Jeremy McCandless is creating podcasts and devotional resources | PatreonHelp us continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com
In this week's message Gary teaches on John 17 and the theme of the Upper Room Discourse.
In this week's message Gary teaches on John 17 and the theme of the Upper Room Discourse.
Discover the essence of servitude and love as we recount the poignant moments from the Upper Room Discourse, where Jesus exemplifies the ultimate act of humility by washing his disciples' feet. This episode takes you on a profound journey through the Gospel of John 13-17, from the tender act of service to the gravity of Judas's betrayal. Experience the depth of Jesus's new commandment to love one another and delve into the palpable emotions of the Last Supper, exploring how these teachings serve as a blueprint for true discipleship and the glorification of God. With a focus on the significance of living out our faith and bearing witness to the Word, this episode is an invitation to embrace our roles as spreaders of Jesus's message of love and redemption, inspiring others to know the Father through our actions and words. Now get out into the world and be a woman who intentionally encourages another! #women #podcast
If you are wondering what the will of God is - your sanctification. Bearing more and more of Christ image in this world Navigate life decisions through this grid - what will help me to “bear more Christ-likeness in this world” (to the world and in me)
Here we see Jesus carrying His people on His shoulders into this holy conversation with the Father to make sacrifice and pray on their behalf.
Jesus' teaching on the True Vine is at the heart of the Upper Room Discourse, his final words to his disciples before going to the cross. This Sunday, Ps Josh Kelsey explored 7 keys to abiding in God's love and being connected to the true source of life.
In this week's message on the Upper Room Discourse, we explored the promise of the Holy Spirit given by Jesus to the disciples. The Holy Spirit is an advocate, intercessor, strengthener, and comforter who is not just for the apostles of the Bible, but can transform our lives today. This Sunday, Pastor Amy Perez walked us through John 14 and unpacked the ways in which the Spirit relates to the world, to you, and to God.
- Jesus is preparing His disciples for His death - Let's the disciples know that the world will hate them because it hates Him - We were reminded that we are to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us
In looking at the story of Jesus washing the disciples' feet, we understand that God is someone to be trusted with our whole hearts and minds. When he had the ability and authority to do anything he desired, Jesus chose to come down low and wash the feet of those who followed him. In this picture of cleanliness and salvation, Pastor Ryan begins our Upper Room Discourse series by giving us three points on how through Jesus' actions we see that God is someone to be trusted.
We've seen love communicated and displayed often in the last couple chapters of John. Jesus loves the disciples to the end, we are told to love the Father and the Son, we are told to love and serve one another. Today we're going to see some hate.
The best news you didn't want to hear” Can you Imagine, (maybe you've been in a situation) Where a loved one was soon to pass they motion you to come close, they have one last thing to say.
The beauty of the Trinity on Display - Father, Son, and Spirit. Heavy Focus on Jesus. Love and obedience (Obedience motivated by Love) God sees the inward not the outward.
Have you ever had a troubled heart because someone told you you were just going to mess things up, or because of some behavior that makes you frequently miss the mark, Or even more serious, because the Holy Spirit is convicting you of something you don't want to let go of? How do we avoid those pitfalls? The answer is UNITY with God.
Jesus is Displaying before his disciples what Love looks like, it is others focused and moves one to action. Today in an almost opposite point to be made Jesus will express that "actions" can be done with wrong motives and intentions, I.E. - Judas and his betrayal, Peter and his denial of Christ.