19/11/2017: Disciples are … connected & switched on!

19/11/2017: Disciples are … connected & switched on!

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 78:1-4

God’s Goodness and Israel’s Ingratitude

 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;  incline your ears to the words of my mouth.  I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their children;  we will tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.

SCRIPTURE

John 15: 1-4

Jesus the True Vine

 1‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. The Parable of the desk lamp!

      • A lamp is designed for a function.
      • What the lamp looks like, is secondary to the purpose of its design, which is to function as a lamp (=light).
      • A beautiful/ordinary lamp, unplugged, surely serves no function or purpose?
      • A lamp that is plugged in, and not switched on, is also not able to fulfill its function and purpose. The difference between being plugged in, and unplugged, is that when plugged in, the lamp has a substantial increase in it’s potential to put its purpose into action.
      • A lamp plugged in, and switched on, realizes it potential, fulfills the function within its design, and has purpose!
      • What kind of lamp are you?
      • Are you – connected/plugged in, switched on/off?
      • What do you believe is God’s purpose for your life?

STUDY QUESTIONS

2. Disciples are children of God who understand that God designs them to be both functional and purpose filled.

Children of God are designed to be:

  • Connected to God.
  • Connected to the Church and the wider Community.
  • Connected to Jesus, and switched on to change the world!

Take time to reflect on the paragraph above. The Psalmist (Psalm 78:1,2) regarded the Law and teaching as a way to ensure being connected to God.

What does the concept of “connectedness” in the various categories suggested by the bullets above, mean to you? In other words, do you have practical examples to draw from in your life, that shows this “connectedness” is a reality for you? What are those examples? If not, what would you need to change, and perhaps work on, to become “connected” in order for you to faithfully fulfill Gods design and purpose for your life?

God bless,

Tim.