John 10:11-16 (NIV) CONTEXT: Jesus is speaking to a group of incredulous Pharisees “I am the good shepherd The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12  The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not cares nothing for the sheep. 14  “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me — 15  Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Articles 1-7 Article Today: Romans 14

Summary John 16 comes in the middle of one of the most intense conversations in history, as Jesus spoke These chapters in John's gospel form the basis for much of our theology and understanding of God's Tri-une but remember that every word you read in the Bible was breathed out by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16

would have also been familiar with the Old Testament metaphor of Israel as God’s vineyard (Psalm 80:8–16 ; Isaiah 5:1–7; Jer. 2:21). who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Heb. 11 words, and commands; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - 1 Corinthians 13

Knowing-Jesus.com John 17:6-10 (NIV) CONTEXT: This is part of what's often referred to as Jesus' High I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10  All I have is . 18  As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19  For them I sanctify myself, Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Point 3 - Total Depravity Today: 1 Thessalonians 3

prayer in this passage is a bit like keeping your eye on the ball during a volley (Image: Unsplash) John 17:6-12 (NIV) CONTEXT: We began this chapter, which contains the prayer Jesus lifted to His Father in I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10  All I have is Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election 1 - God's right to condemn all people 2 - God Today: Acts 16

John 3 illustrates this supernatural work of God and where the often used phrase “born again” originates where the “perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality” (1 Cor 15:53). knowledge, but go to him as the King of Glory with faith in the one who has the words of eternal life (John ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Mark 15

Summary As John begins to close his letter, he makes clear his intention in writing it: so that those Not only is this the theme of John's first letter, it's the theme of the entire Bible: that you might Let passages like this one here in 1 John build your confidence that "God will surely listen to your according to His will; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - John 19

Apologies to Vikings fans for this picture from the Lions John 3:16-18 (NIV) 16  For God so loved the he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Grace 1 - God's right to condemn all people 2 - God shows John is known for his simple eloquence, and this passage is a great example of why. And memorizing John 3:16-18 is a great way to do that!

FaithLife.com John 6:43-47 (NIV) CONTEXT: This is the fifth time this year that we've come to this theologically rich sixth chapter of John's gospel, which begins with Jesus miraculously feeding 5,000 men and ends Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Point 3 - Total Depravity here when He claimed to be bread from heaven , and most people would get sucked into the grumbling (John Today: 1 Timothy 4

You can't produce fruit if you're disconnected from Christ. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 64 Q. But doesn’t this teaching (that our works do not contribute to our salvation) make people indifferent and wicked? A. No. It is impossible for those grafted into Christ by true faith not to produce fruits of gratitude. Summary There are two words the Bible uses to describe how to live a fruitful life. The word used most often to describe successful Christians is the word Jesus uses in the example of a grape plant which bears fruit. This word has a passive feel to it. Jesus explains that as long as a branch remains connected to the vine, it will bear fruit. In other words, the fruit is going to come as long as the connection is maintained, just like a grape branch, when given the proper inputs, can't help but bear fruit. Sadly this isn't the case for every branch. Some grow off as long, wild shoots with lots of stem but no leaves or flowers. Others bury themselves under other branches, hidden from the sunlight. Still others seem to be in just the right condition, getting plenty of water, nutrients and sunlight, but for whatever reason nothing comes out of them. In each of these cases the unfruitful branches are cut of and thrown into the burn pile. In the second half of this passage, Jesus puts 'flesh' on this metaphor so to speak. He is the vine, and you and I are the branches. As long as we remain connected to Him - that is, as long as His Word and Spirit are flowing into our lives - He assures us that we will bear fruit. But some people are not content with this relationship, and shoot off on their own. Many bury themselves in the busyness of life, and although connected to the nutrients, do not absorb them. Apart from me, Jesus says, these people can do nothing, and their unfruitful lives will be cut off and thrown away. Dig Deeper Our instinct is to prefer the other word the Bible uses in regards to fruitfulness. We want to be people who produce fruit in our lives. Produce is a much more active word, and conjures up images of hard work, resourcefulness, and downright determination. Those are all good things, but most of the time the Bible uses the word produce, it does so in a negative way. Pharisees are quite often the people the Bible speaks of in connection with trying to produce fruit. They work super hard to impress their neighbors and appease their own consciences, but their reliance is totally on themselves, disconnected from the nutrients of the the true vine. The result is often like a Red Delicious apple: it looks really good and shiny on the outside, but not very appealing when the skin is peeled back. You've been created to be fruitful - to do and make things that reflect and glorify the image of God that you've been created in. Most of this world, separated from the vine by sin, is either desperately expending energy trying to produce fruit on their own, or they've given up trying and consequentially have very little meaning in their lives. So stay connected to the Vine - Jesus Christ. As you immerse yourself in the nutrients that flow from His Word, your life will naturally bear fruit. NOTE: The English Bible translations often use 'bear' and 'produce' interchangeably (even the Catechism uses the word produce). The contrast is much more noticeable in the Greek. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, the gardner, who cuts away unfruitful branches; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you remain connected to the vine so that your life bears the fruit it was designed for. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Philippians 2