Read john 15:18-25
18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: They hated me without a cause.’
PONDER
Consider what Jesus says about how the world will receive Him: it will hate Him because it does not know Him. “They have seen and hated both me and my Father” (15:24). A world that likes, accepts, or tolerates Jesus is not responding to Jesus as He has revealed Himself to be. We will either believe, and submit, or we will hate.
As a Jesus follower, how do you respond when the world hates you? Do you take heart and find refuge by trusting in your Savior, who the world hated first? Or do you compromise and seek glory from men rather than glory from God?
PRAY
- Father, your love for us was displayed when you sent Jesus to die for us while we were still sinners. Help us to abide in this love.
- Father, strengthen us to endure suffering on your behalf, remembering that the world first hated you before it hates us.
- Father, thank you for the example we have in Jesus, who would love first, who would come not to be served but to serve. We are your servants, and a servant is not greater than his master.
- Father, as we study your Word, may we believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and by believing, may we have life in His name.
- Father, prepare me to gather with my church and worship you. You are worthy! To you be the glory!
PRactice
Gather! 9:30 or 11:00am. Purpose to read, sing, pray, and give to worship our Savior and build up your brothers and sisters in Christ.
This Sunday we will celebrate baptism! Take a moment to pray with your family, thanking the Lord for His work in your lives and in the lives of those who will be baptized into God’s family this weekend.
5 Practices for Gathering Well:
- Be Present – The first step to gathering well: Gather!
- Be Early – Prioritize the gathering with your time. Don’t be late. The practical discipleship of this priority can be profound for you and your family.
- Be Prepared – Ponder, pray, sing, fast, and praise are all good ways to prepare.
- Be Uncomfortable – Sit with different people. Sing loud. Challenge routines. Gather on mission.
- Be Responsive – Don’t just be hearers of the Word, be doers. Pray. Ponder. Practice. Too often we gather to affirm what we already hold, rather than be taught, rebuked, corrected, or trained in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). Gather to be transformed.
- Get help and accountability in Prepare Sundays at either 9:30 or 11:00 downstairs in the adult hall. Prepare is a Go Study Group aimed to help us grow as doers of the Word by working through the next steps required to faithfully apply the biblical text we’re reading and preaching through at TCBC.