five3challenge: John 13

"Jesus does a mean pedicure!"

Often at meals when someone entertaining guests, their servants would wash the feet of those in attendance. As you can imagine, it was not a highly sought after responsibility. Most likely the servant who was the lowest in rank would have to perform the task.

Now Jesus flips the whole thing on its head. Rather than it being a servant who did it... the Master did it, and set an important example while he did.

What is most interesting about this is the words that set the situation up.

1 ... Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. 2 It was time for supper ... Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples' feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

Jesus realizes that all authority has been given to him... SO he gets up and washes the disciples feet.

I know that in my life, I always wanted to be in charge because I thought that was the way to get what I wanted. When Jesus realized that he was fully in charge, he took it on himself to do the lowest available task... to serve in the most dirty and unappreciated way...

Then he said we should do the same...

How are you doing at being a servant? Have you been able to use your position in life and status to serve others.... If you are an 8th grader, or the oldest sibling, or even just a little above someone else you have an opportunity to live and love like Jesus by voluntarily choosing to serve... even when no one is going to make you.

five3challenge: bookmark for week 4

five3challenge: John 12 (Part 2)

"Jesus was an awesome performer"

John 12:37 says,

Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.

Why?

Why after such clear evidence did so many people still reject Jesus. What after "seeing for themselves" did people who witnessed the miracles first hand still not turn to follow Jesus?

There are many reasons I am sure, but one basic one is at least true.

They did not want to.

You know, this is true still today. Some people raise all kinds of objections to faith, God, the bible, Jesus, etc... but really these are just a smoke screen for their own desire to not believe.

Why would someone not want to believe in Jesus?

That is simple... if you believe in Jesus... then you have to live like you mean it... You have to let him be the God of you life and you have to serve him...

Thoughts?

five3challenge: John 12

Jesus smelled really good...sometimes...

Not long after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, Jesus is having dinner at his house. At the dinner Mary, Lazarus sister, took some very expensive perfume and poured on Jesus feet. Then with her own hair she wiped his feet.

As many have pointed out... this perfume was most likely intended for Mary's wedding, but following Jesus raising of Lazarus... life would never be the same for Mary

Even if she married, she would never get over knowing that she had met the One who had power of Death.

She had experienced such wonderful things in Jesus... that all the treasures of life were now secondary... even human love.

She was ruined for Jesus...

But Jesus was so fragrant that the whole house was filled with the smell...


Have you been ruined for Jesus yet? What crazy things have you been moved to do simply because you love him so much?

five3challenge: John 11:37-57

Jesus was the LIFE of the party!


When Jesus showed up to late to save Lazarus, many people murmered about him, saying things life,

"Could not the one who opened blind men's eyes, save this man?"

Even Lazarus' sisters were disappointed that Jesus had not done more...

But Jesus was not swayed by the opinions of others... he knew what would bring the most glory to his father, and it was not healing this time. It was Resurrection.

Jesus told Mary (11:25-26),

"I am the resurrection and the life.
Anyone who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

So at Jesus command, the people present removed the stone that covered the grave of Lazarus, and when Jesus prayed to his father, Lazarus rose. He had been dead for three days.

Why let him die and then resurrect him?

"Father... I have said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me."

Jesus was trying to help his followers to understand who he was and to trust him no matter what. After all... if he could raise the dead, what could possibly not be possible for him.

How much do you trust him? Has it occurred to you what he is capable of?

Roots Series: Connection (prayer)

We were made for connection with God.

Once, in the garden of Eden, this connection was face to face as the first humans walked with God...

after the humans disobeyed God their connection with him was broken. This connection could only be re-established by the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross.

Now the connection is available to everyone who follows Jesus. Still many choose to segment their faith to only certain areas of their life.


This means that God is more than a Genie, and prayer is more than simple "wishes."

Prayer is communicating with God.


We were designed for constant connection with God, but often we forget about him for long stretches of our day, week, or life.

If we really want to know him and follow him, then we must learn to establish a constant connection with him.

Whats the the bottom line?

Prayer is about connection with God... it is mysterious... through it we enter into relationship with the invisible world that surrounds us all the time...

Some questions to consider about this topic:
1. . How connected do you feel with God?

2. What are your current habits regarding God's prayer? What keeps you from talking with God, and developing that connection? What has worked for you?

3. What would help you to stay connected with God all the time? Is there a prayer equivalent to text messaging or IM?


4. How do you think you could begin to grow a rhythm of prayer in your life?

5. If you really believed that whatever you prayed for would come true in 30 seconds... what would you pray for first? Second?

Sno Rodeo: Ordinary Hero Teaser!

Check it OUT!

five3challenge: John 11

"Jesus sometimes got a little weepy."

In John 10:22-40 Jesus was almost stoned for claiming to be one with the father, or in other words... Jesus claimed to BE GOD HIMSELF...

After the crowd tried to stone him, Jesus retreated out of the region around jerusalem and went back to the Jordon where John used to baptize before he was imprisoned and executed.

Not long after Jesus arrived, word comes in John 11 that his good friend Lazarus is really sick and will most likely die. The problem is that Lazarus lives back near Jerusalem where the mob just tried to stone Jesus.

This point does not escape Thomas and the disciples. In 11:16 Thomas says, "great, lets return with Jesus so that we also may day" This could be taken many ways, but I think it might be sarcastic, and that Thomas is pointing out how foolish such a return would really be.

Regardless, they do return, but not until Lazarus has already died...

When Jesus finds out, he weeps.

What do you think we learn about Jesus... and God... that he sometimes cries? Why do you think he cried in John 11?

five3challenge John 10

"Jesus is awesome with Sheep"

John 10 is all about how Jesus is the good shepherd. To understand what this means , you sorta have to understand shepherding... which not a lot of people do...

So... back in the Day... like way back BC style... people made there living as shepherds... they would watch over other peoples flocks and make sure that they did not wander away...

In this passage, Jesus is basically saying that we are sorta like his sheep. We are his flock if you will.

Here is what is the most cool. Jesus sheep follow his voice. The recognize it when they here it and they do what it says.... because they remember that their good shepherd has led them to the best grass to eat and water to drink... that he has protected them from lions and bears... that he has taken care of them when they were sick... Jesus loved his sheep and so they loved him... and followed his voice...

Whose voice are you following?

five3challenge: John 9

"Do you believe in the Son of Man?"

This is the question that Jesus asked the previously blind man that he healed in John 9.

This phrase, son of man, comes from the old testament and often refers to the expected Messiah, or savior of Israel.

The blind man was confused and responded, "who is he?"

When Jesus revealed that it was He himself who was the Son of Man.... the previously blind man, worshipped him and told him that he "believed!"

When the Blind man realized who Jesus was, worship and faith were his immediate response.

Worship is more than singing songs... it is a recognition of the superior nature of Jesus to us. Worship is admitting that God is God... and we are just humans... we owe him our devotion and affection. Often worship would involve falling on your face or covering your eyes.

When is the last time your truly worshipped God with all that you are?
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