One Year from Now

John 13:1–17 NIV

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Introduction: Vision leaks. Take the opportunity to do a mid-year review.

19 - Where we have come, Where we are going.

This passage talks about, Jesus’ hour had come. In other word’s Jesus had a mission in order to accomplish the vision he had for the world.

20 - 23 Vision Chart of where we have come.

24 - This year -

Leadership structure - Yes

Knowing our neighbors ongoing.

Living Language will take a while.

Set foreground for next 4 years.

To live into this vision as the Body of Christ it will take disciples of Jesus who take Him as their model, and model Jesus to others.

25 - Jesus is our Model

Jesus said, we are not greater than our Master, if he gave us a model, then we should better be about that doing it.

“If then I - your Lord and Teacher - wash your feet, you also ought (as in are obligated) to wash one another’s feet.

What is the Example he gave us.

Connection with the Father - He knew the Father’s will and the Authority the Father gave him.

Will we model to others our Connection with the Father. - Network Leader - attracted to Jesus in us - not programs or techniques, but we are drawing people to Jesus - to be sure the goal of programs is to build relationships.

Sacrificial Service

a. Feet Washing meant more than an act of random kindness.

b. It meant his death - Only Jesus can cleanse us from sin.

Morris explains, “The words point us to a washing free from sin that only Christ can give. Apart from this washing no one can be Christ’s” (Morris, John, 548).

c. Jesus’s action of washing feet points to his willingness to humble himself (Philippians 2:5–8) to accomplish the will of God and to be the example to others. We should look at our lives through the lens of “How is God accomplishing his will through me?” We see that Jesus was not willing to allow the desires of people—Judas and Peter, in this case—to keep him from seeking to bring honor to his Father. The same is true for the follower of Jesus who regularly looks at his or her life and asks, “Is the Father influencing this or not?”

d. Jesus served his betrayer - how many people stop doing what God is calling them to do because other people are making it difficult or uncomfortable?

e. Jesus loved them with this act. - We are called to sacrificial, love in the face of barriers.

This flies in the face of what I feel we bump up against in this community. Consumeristic Christianity. - This is a Christianity that treats the christian walk & the church like a consumer good or a customer service organization. Does this church give me what I want and need? I come to receive, Are the programs to my liking, do they fit just right.

Consumer Mentality.....

1. Is the music in my preferred style? - What have we modeled - Discipleship is about my preferences…Not dying to Christ and sacrifice.

How can Glorify God today, and Build Up others?

2. Does the Church have people my age?

Who is God calling me to disciple in a way that they can disciple others?

3. Children’s Ministry - I will go to a church where my children has friends, they have fun, and they have the programs I like.

What have we just modeled for them? Being a christian means hanging out with people just like us, in a comfortable environment, and if you are not having fun, go somewhere else.

Modeling Jesus means modeling serving people not like you, that in this world we will have trouble, and inviting people into eternity with God is more important and meaningful that just having fun.

4. If I have conflict in the church or people resist what I am called to do, I will leave and go somewhere else?

Jesus loves even his betrayer and works towards reconciliation within the church.

26 - Wayne Cordeiro Video.

27 - We have some amazing models of people who follow Jesus in this Church.....

Some of you are here, if you are honest are here to consume.

Some have dedicated hours of service, but get caught up in a consumerist mindset from time to time.

Some of us do not view our walk with God and the church in a consumerist way at all, but maybe the model mindset change for this year is how can I mentor others in a way that they can mentor others as well. How do we multiply disciples who follow Jesus’ example?

Conclusion: