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Thursday, March 18, 2010
Connect and Grow
In Sunday School, Bible study, and on Sunday night Rap we've been talking about connecting with others and growing in our relationship with God. Here's an opportunity to do both. Easter is in roughly 2 weeks. That's 14 days. Read John chapter 12-21 in the next 2 weeks. That's 10 chapters in 14 days. John is a story of Christ's Passion for humanity from beginning to end. But we'll focus on Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem through his resurrection. That's how we'll grow. We'll connect with one another by commenting on this blog. Leave a comment on what your learning so that others can grow too from what you're learning. Here are a few additional resources to help you:
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The Gospel of John was written most likely by John the Apostle sometime before 96 A.D. It was written from Ephesus where John was living. John is thought to be "the disciple whom Jesus loved" who is mentioned several times in the Gospel.
ReplyDeleteChapter 12
Triumphal Entry - begins like a Triumphal parade to honor a conquering hero, but John points out that Jesus doesn't get onto the donkey until he has entered the city - the point? Jesus isn't a military King coming with an army. His kingdom will be different, not one that takes over by conquering with a sword but that conquers and disarms with love.
I had some trouble interpreting the NIV version of verse 25 in Chapter 12: "The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." Reading the version of this verse from The Message helped me better understand it: "In the same way, anyone who holds onto life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal." Somehow, this translation reminded me that even though things may be going smoothly in my life right now, I should constantly be challenging myself to grow closer to God. That's why I am taking this challenge to read the 10 chapters in John so seriously- in order to strengthen my relationship with God and live a life that is "forever, real and eternal." I hope others in our youth group will do the same.
ReplyDeleteYou hit the nail on the head Leah. Jesus calls for us to make changes in ourselves in order to live forever, yes, but also to live a better life here and now. Smooth life or bumpy, it is better when Jesus is the biggest part of it.
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