An Upper Room Life - SERMON NOTES

Below are Pastor Ben's sermon notes from this past Sunday, in case they may be helpful for further study. To listen to the sermon, click the link above.

Intro: (1) series intro (2) 20:30-31, 21:25 (3) combo of great speech, pre-game talk, farewell (4) one of the greatest glimpses into God’s revelation through Christ (5) nine characteristics -- saving two sections

1. Serving life (13:1-17): (1) read v.12-15 (2) shock of Jesus doing this (3) soup kitchen, homeless connect, having kids (4) everyday activities -- school, work, church (5) Jesus followers serve
2. Loved life: (13:18-30): (1) read v.21-22 (2) at some point Judas checked out (cf. 12:3-6) -- Jesus did not fit his idea of a savior (3) despite this Jesus offered love -- Jesus never stops loving
3. Spirit-filled life (14:15-31): (1) read v.15-17, 25-26 (2) HS descriptions -- helper, truth, present, teacher, reminder of Jesus’ teachings (cf. math HW) (3) later guarantee that life will be hard
4. Fruitful life (15:1-17): (1) read v.1-5 (2) OT background (cf. Isaiah 5) (3) Jesus the vine, his disciples the branches -- dependence (4) pruning sometimes necessary (cf. Ps. 119:67, 71)
5. Persecuted life (15:18-16:4): (1) read v.18-20a (2) extreme forms globally vs. less extreme in U.S. (3) reason -- Jesus (cf. exclusivity, exposure of sin) (4) expect it, don’t unnecessarily add to it
6. Missional life (16:5-15): (1) read v.7-8 (2) Jesus’ death part of the larger mission (i.e. not just martyrdom) (3) mission requires supernatural help (4) categories of sin, righteousness, judgment
7. Joyful life (16:16-33): (1) read v.20, 24, 33 (2) perhaps unexpected (3) four descriptions -- connected to sorrow, resistant, refreshed through prayer, grounded in peace with God
8. Kept life (17:1-19): (1) read v.11-12a, 15 (2) Jesus prays for protection for those who are his (cf. v.3) -- teaching kids to ride bike (4) how would life change if we trusted that we are kept always?
9. Unified life (17:20-26): (1) read v.20-21 -- introduced in v.11 (2) Jesus literally praying for us (3) what he desires for us is unity (4) all kinds of reasons for disunity (5) differences point us to Christ

Conclusion: (1) 14:1-3 -- courage (2) doctors visit