March 24, 2009

Disciple 1 - "Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study"

Lesson 23 - Advocate

Gathering and Prayer

Video Segment (20 Minutes)

Prepare to View Video
Listen for John's vision of the Holy Spirit and what makes it distinctive from the other Gospels.
Discussion After Video
Discussion the role ofthe Holy Spirit in the life of the believing community and in the life ofthe disciple.

Scripture and Study Manual (25 minutes)

Group 1: According to Jesus, what is to be the work ofthe Advocate? What promises does Jesus make to his disciples in his farewell to them? What descriptions does Jesus give to his disciples of what is to come?

Group 2: Read John 17 "Jesus Prays" the prayers were in 3 parts. Explain who and what the 3 prayers represent.

Group 3: In John, the experience in Gethsemane focuses on the betrayal and arrest. Read John 21 and explain what happened to Peter after the crucifixion. Is he still a disciple? Why or Why not?

Group 4: Read John 15:1-17, which talks about the True Vine and its branches. Verses 4 and 5 in the New King James version read "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." What is meant by "Abide in Me, and I in you"?

Group 5: (Encounter the Word) Read aloud John 13: 1-20 as others listen; In pairs identify the details and sequence of the story. Then ask persons to listen as you read it aloud for sounds, smells, sights, tastes, and touches. Still in pairs, list all the ways the story involved the senses. Discuss this question: What new understandings came from hearing the story this way?

Closing and Prayer (5 minutes)

Praise reports, prayer concerns and prayer.