S.O.A.P.

OVERVIEW

Pastor Chris lead Beloved through a 7-week teaching series that journeyed through the seven profound "I AM" statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John. Each sermon in this series studied each one of these profound declarations, offering an in-depth exploration of who Jesus claimed to be in His own words. The series was intentonally crafted to illuminate the multifaceted character and mission of Jesus. The goal was to unpack the statements in such a way as to help the disciple of Jesus gain a deeper understanding of Jesus' identity, His relationship with the Father, and His transformative role in our lives.

In this session, Jesus reveals Himself as the True source of life, both today and everlasting life. Be brave, be bold, get uncomfortable, and lean in to share, to learn, and to pray. God has called you to a deep and personal relationship with Him and your fellow learners.

SCRIPTURE

• John 15:1-17
• Galatians 5:16-26
• Hebrews 12:1-11

OBSERVATION

Q. Over the past 7 weeks of teaching which "I AM" statement has impacted you the most and why?

-I am the Resurrection and the Life: Jesus is the resurrection because whoever believes in him, though he die, yet shall he live. 
-I am the Bread of Life: Jesus can satisfy our deepest needs and longings. He sustains us.
-I am the Light of the World: Jesus is the only way to salvation, goodness, and knowledge. 
-I am the Good Shepherd: Jesus depicts himself as a shepherd, a good shepherd. 
-I am the Door: Jesus is the only means of coming home to God. 
-I am the Way and the Truth and the Life: Jesus is the way to truth and life. 
-I am the True Vine: Jesus is our source of life, both today and everlasting life.

Q A vine sends it's life to its branches. God is saying "through me, your life flows. You are connected to me." How have you decided in your heart to stay connected to God?

Q If you're always running from God, it's hard to receive from God. Where in your life have you noticed you avoid God? (His Church, the Bible, prayer, fasting, evangelism, ethics, character, etc.)

Q We need a more perfect union with God. That is our pursuit as Christ followers. How do you strive for progress and avoid perfectionism? What does bringing your best mean to you?

Q Our relationship with God will be perfect when we're with Him in Heaven. In the meantime, we must always take steps towards Him. What steps are you willing to take this week to draw closer to God?

APPLICATION

4 very important things we can learn from the connection between a branch and the vine that can apply to our relationship with God and His Church.

No1. The relationship is ORGANIC. A vine and branch have an organic relationship. It's not mechanical, it's not forced, it's not robotic. There's the essence of life in it. It's something that is alive and it's dynamic. There needs to be spontenaity, you are in tune with it, it changes, it's a response.

No2. The relationship is EXCLUSIVE. The branches have a commited relationship to the vine. They are not looking around at other vines, double dipping in every vineyard, sizing up every other vine, looking for more sunshine, or better fertilizer. We're committed to the vine. There are a lot of other vines out there. A lot of false promises that cannot deliver what the TRUE VINE offers. There are no other True Vines that can give you the essence of abundant and eternal life.

No3. The relationship is CONTINUOUS. Our relationship with the vine should be continuous. Not on and off again, not sporadic, when it's convenient, when nothing else gets in the way, but continuous. Speaks to faithfulness. Something worth fighting for. When our connection to God is weak, we will be too. When we have a continuous relationship to the vine, He can get the power to us that we need. Go as many days as you can in a row without interrupting the flow. Stack it up, ring the bell, make it count. Bible reading, prayer, serving at Church, worshipping with your Church, meeting in your City Group. Stack it up but keep that continuous connection.

No4. The relationship is PRODUCTIVE. Meaning, God wants to produce fruit through us. He desires fruitfulness and has since the beginning of time. Healthy realtionships produce healthy fruit. The test is this; is my relationship with God producing life through me? The fruit of the Spirit as we read earlier in Galatians 5 helps us to understand what the production of fruit in our lives looks like. Am I allowing Him to produce that life through me?

So what have we learned today? We learned that we, the people, should be focusing on a more perfect union with God because, to the degree that our connection to God is weak, we will be too. We should be striving for organic, continuous, exclusive productivity in our connection to the vine. But none of it's possible without pruning. None of it's possible without the pruning shears. Jesus said the reward for a vine that bears fruit is pruning. Any branch that bears fruit, He prunes. In God's economy, get this, pruning is a reward.

Pruning. Pruning is: God cutting things back and cutting things off. He is the expert husbandmen of the vineyard. He knows best and as He approaches your branch, He knows what needs to grow and what needs to cut off, and what needs to be cut back. God wants to cut off anything that would get big and unruly that will not produce the fruit He wants in your life.

PRAYER FOCUS

When you think of the vinedresser, the husbandmen of the vineyard. What needs to be cut off and what merely needs to be cut back in your life? How can you engage the 4 points of relationship keys (organic, exclusive, continuous, and productive) in your time with God. This week pray that God will lead you to live a life connected to the True Vine and to show you where you may be connected to false vines that are robbing you of the True Essence of Abundant Life in Christ. Allow Him to prune and pinch off those things and areas of your life that are preventing you from receiving all the nutrients that God has for you.

Our heart for you in taking a "Next Step" is to help you grow in becoming more and more like Jesus.

• Invite. Everyone is only one invitation away from coming to church with you. We are here to reach 1% of our city. Take a step, be bold, bring someone to church with you Sunday.
• Invest. Investing financially at BeLoved helps us to stay on mission. You can find the best way to give at belovedchurch.ca/give Take a step, start your faithful practice of tithes and offering.
• Discover. Embark on the journey at belovedchurch.ca/grow Take a step and invest into your discipleship journey at BeLoved.
• Serve. Jesus came to serve rather than to be served. Love on others like Jesus by jumping on a team and serving on the weekend at BeLoved. Help move God's great Church forward.
• Get baptized. Congratulations! Take a step to "Go ALL IN for Jesus." Register online at belovedchurch.ca/baptism