SS Lesson 7 for August 16, 2008

1. The Apostle John SS Lesson 7 for August 16, 2008

2. Question: What other apostle did we study a few weeks back? Introduction The Apostle Paul This week we will be studying about the Great Missionary of Love, the Apostle John

3. Sunday A Special Calling Where do you see the Apostle John in the following story? Luke 5:3-11 3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net." And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men."

4. Mark 1:20 And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him

5. Philippians 3:8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

6. No question, those who follow Jesus need to make a full and complete commitment. Jesus, as Lord of all, is owed all. Yet, He does not demand our hearts out of selfishness; no, not at all. Instead, He knows the reality of the battle that we are in, and if there is any opening, any area of self not surrendered, the evil one will take advantage and use it to try to destroy us. Thus, we need to surrender completely to the Lord. How committed are you to Jesus? Have you forsaken all for Him? How can you know where your heart truly is? What changes might you need to make?

7. This was the beginning of a story of the transformation of the Apostle John, who from "son of thunder" was eventually transformed into a "son of love and grace...Monday..Son of Thunder

8. Jesus gave John and his brother James a special nickname—"the sons of thunder" (or Boanergesin Aramaic). Evidence suggests that this name referred to their disposition—a disposition that Jesus gently corrects Monday Son of Thunder In Monday’s section we see 2 incidents of impulsiveness of the Apostle John and his brother James. Luke 9:54 NKJV 54 And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?"

9. Mark 10:35-45 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask." And He said to them, "What do you want Me to do for you?" They said to Him, "Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory."But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said to Him, "We are able."

10. So Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; "but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared."

11. But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. "Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. "And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

12. Recount some of your most recent hard lessons. What did you learn? What other ways could you have learned what you did other than through suffering? What other lesson need you to learn? What changes do you need to make in your life now that, perhaps, could spare you from having to learn them the hard way? John was an eyewitness who had spent much time in Jesus' company, John had much to tell…Tuesday

13. Tuesday The Witness of John John 21:25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen. Another beautiful witness testimony of John is found in John, chapter 1 John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

14. John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth The Word is the Life giver..Wednesday

15. Note how many beautiful life-giving bible texts are in the books of the Apostle John Wednesday Life-Giver

18. What makes these promises of eternal life so important is that, although all creatures on earth die, human beings alone are capable of contemplating the idea of eternity. We alone can grasp the vast gap between our short existence and the prospect of eternity, and the cold reality of that gap hangs over us every instant of our lives—lives that are just a clogged artery, a drunken driver, or an AIDS virus away from ending.

19. What a wonderful hope we have, then, to know that death is not the end; on the contrary, it is just a sleep that to us will seem like a second, and the next thing we know we will be with Jesus, for eternity.

20. How should the hope of eternal life impact how we live now? In what ways do you live this life differently, knowing that you have the promise of eternal life? Life is Good; Eternal Life is Better The Apostle John had a close encounter with Jesus and this time spent with Jesus, made the difference…Thursday

21. My faith is in Jesus Christ, and as the Holy Spirit guides me I try to live my life day by day. The best way to get to know someone is by spending time with them Thursday Spending Time With Jesus 1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.

22. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:17

23. If you read the Epistles of John, you cannot help noting the kindness, the gentleness, the compassion found all through them. What a profound difference from the John presented in the Gospels. Truly something utterly remarkable happened to that man. We, of course, know what it was: He had been with Jesus, and his life and character had been radically altered from the experience. 1 Juan 3:18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth

24. Conclusion Having experienced firsthand the life-giving love of His Savior, the apostle John let that experience flow into all his words and actions. His life and writings remind us of the primacy of love in the Christian life and how it must be the basis of all our mission activity.

25. John knew the Saviour by an experimental knowledge. His Master's lessons were graven on his soul. When he testified of the Saviour's grace, his simple language was eloquent with the love that pervaded his whole being. AA 544

26. It was John's deep love for Christ which led him always to desire to be close by His side. The Saviour loved all the Twelve, but John's was the most receptive spirit. He was younger than the others, and with more of the child's confiding trust he opened his heart to Jesus. Thus he came more into sympathy with Christ, and through him the Saviour's deepest spiritual teaching was communicated to the people. AA 545

27. …John could talk of the Father's love as no other of the disciples could. He revealed to his fellow men that which he felt in his own soul, representing in his character the attributes of God. The glory of the Lord was expressed in his face. The beauty of holiness which had transformed him shone with a Christlike radiance from his countenance. In adoration and love he beheld the Saviour until likeness to Christ and fellowship with Him became his one desire, and in his character was reflected the character of his Master. AA 545

28. John clung to Christ as the vine clings to the stately pillar. For his Master's sake he braved the dangers of the judgment hall and lingered about the cross, and at the tidings that Christ had risen, he hastened to the sepulcher, in his zeal out-stripping even the impetuous Peter. AA 539

29. Whatapostlewrotethefollowingbible verse? The Apostle Peter Next week’s lesson 8 is: From Folly to Faith It is about Simon Peter who said …'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life' “, next weeks memory verse.