Grace Community Church NI Grace Community Church

Many spiritual traditions boil down to the idea of living in this world, but not being consumed by it. John 14:1 – 4 beautifully captures this essence. Here, Jesus assures his disciples not to be troubled, urging them to believe in both God and himself (John 14:1). This highlights the importance of faith as the foundation for navigating the world’s challenges.

The world we inhabit can often be a place of fear, driven by forces of hatred and violence. The spiritual life, however, serves as a constant reminder that this isn’t where we truly belong. John 14 offers a powerful image of our true home: a place overflowing with love, residing with God – the Father’s house with ​“many rooms” (John 14:2). This concept brings comfort and hope.

Furthermore, Jesus doesn’t just point to this destination; he positions himself as the bridge. When the disciples question the way to this eternal place, Jesus replies, ​“I am the way…” (John 14:6). This signifies that faith in Jesus is the path that leads us from the world’s troubles to the everlasting peace found in God’s presence.

Episode: https://grace-community.church/lesson/beyond-the-noise

The Bible is a complex and ancient text. It’s natural to approach it with our own cultural understanding and biases. However, basing our beliefs solely on interpretations shaped by our preferences can lead us astray. True faith lies in finding our identity in Jesus, not in clinging to personal certainties about the Bible.

The story of Thomas, often portrayed as a doubter, offers a different perspective. Instead of criticizing his skepticism, we should see Thomas’s act of touching Jesus’ wounds as a courageous act of seeking truth. God doesn’t care about absolute certainty or doubt. What matters is our willingness to engage with faith, even when faced with uncertainties.

Finally, there’s a misconception that strong faith requires unwavering certainty. True faith isn’t about feeling sure in the face of unknowns. It’s about navigating the world with a belief in something bigger than ourselves, even when we have questions.

The Bible tells the story of Jesus appearing to his disciples after his resurrection, but finding the doors locked because of fear. This fear is something we can all identify with. Fear of the world, fear of the future, fear of death – these anxieties can cause us to withdraw and isolate ourselves. They can create enemies out of unknowns and paralyze us from taking action.

Jesus, however, calls us to a different way of living. He asks for our complete commitment, a commitment that requires us to push past fear. When we see Jesus as the light that conquers darkness, the unknown, the future, and even death become less frightening. This newfound courage allows us to take risks, to live with the same love and openness that Jesus embodied.

Yet, a question lingers, inspired by Thomas: if the world can’t see the evidence of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, how can they believe? This question challenges us to share our faith and bring the light of Jesus to others.

In John chapter 20 we read the account of the empty tomb, after Jesus had rose from the dead. We see that the burial clothes that had been wrapped around Jesus’ body were left lying in the tomb. He had no need for them in resurrected life, and as such we can learn a lot from this symbolism. Perhaps there are ​‘grave clothes’ in our lives — attitudes, behaviours, relationships — that need to be left in the tomb as we live in the resurrected life.

We also read of how Jesus was mistaken for the gardener, in verse 15. This may have been an innocent mistake, but for us it is a reminder that just as Adam was the’ first gardener’ in the Garden of Eden, Jesus comes to bring new resurrected life as a fulfilment of all the prophecy of the Old Testament. He is in many ways, the ​‘gardener’ of our lives, continually maintaining, pruning, wedding and nourishing us.

John 15:5 reminds us of our dependence on Christ. Just like branches rely on the vine for life and fruit, we need Christ for spiritual growth. So how do we connect with him?

The Apostle Paul offers two keys in 2 Timothy 1:7. A ​“sound mind” allows us to discern God’s will and make wise choices. ​“Spirit of self-discipline” isn’t about harsh restrictions, but the inner strength to choose what aligns with our faith. Together, these qualities, exercised alongside our connection with Christ, guide our daily choices and allow us to bear fruit — influencing others and living out Jesus’ teachings.

What does Jesus turn to when he wants disciples to understand what greatest love looks like?

Friendship!

When Jesus washes his disciples feet in John 13, he is insisting on friendship with us but also modelling the type of friends we should be.

Episode webpage: https://grace-community.church/lesson/friendship-the-greatest-love