Community Group Discussion Guide

John 14:27-31 – Weekend of May 26 & 27

NOTE: Brett Middleton will be preaching on John 14:12-31. For a complete sermon discussion guide on this entire passage, please pull up last week’s SDG, as well. On June 2-3, John Wohlgemuth will continue in our series preaching from John 15:1-11.

I. Starter Question:

What would you be doing if you knew you had less than 24 hours left to live?

II. Discussion of Scripture:

Background & Context: In his prologue (vv 1-18) John tells us much about who Jesus is. He is the Word who was with God in the beginning. The Word Himself was God. All things were created through Him. Life was in Him, and this life was the light of man. His light shines through the darkness and the darkness did not even comprehend it. The great tragedy is that the Word became flesh, came into the world He created, to His own people, and they did not know Him or receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. John wrote his gospel so that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing we may have life in His name (John 20:31).

John 14:27–31 (ESV) 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

Teaching Points and Questions for Discussion: 1. This passage takes place in Jesus’ fourth year of public ministry, on the night He was

betrayed. See #84 on the timeline above.2. This is part of what is called the Upper Room Discourse (John 13-16).3. I’m going away (John 14:27-31)

a. The peace of God (John 14:27)i. Jesus gives this peace (v. 27)ii. This peace with God is through Jesus to those who have been justified (Rom.

5:1)iii. It surpasses all understanding (Phil. 4:7)iv. The world cannot understand nor give this kind of peace (v. 27)v. In what ways is the peace that the world talks about different from this

peace which Jesus gives?vi. Because He gives this peace, His disciples should not let their hearts be

troubled nor afraidb. Verse 28 is amazing because Jesus says “if you loved Me you would have rejoiced.”

This is a 2nd class conditional sentence in the Greek which takes on a negative interpretation. Paraphrased it would read, “if you loved me, and you really don’t, you would have rejoiced.”

i. Why would Jesus tell His disciples they don’t love Him? (remember the immediate context)

c. Verse 28 is amazing because Jesus says the Father is greater than He is! The cults run far with this verse, but take it out of context. In context, what does Jesus mean here that the Father is greater than He?

d. The confused, unloving disciples are now given more grace by Jesus. He tells them exactly what will happen beforehand so that when is it does happen, they “may believe.” (v. 29)

e. In verse 30, Jesus calls Satan “the ruler of this world.” i. How is Satan the ruler of this world? ii. Do you see Satan in that capacity today?

iii. Think about your unsaved friends. Do you see them obeying the ruler of this world? In what ways? Are they aware?

iv. Think about how we as Christians can be caught in the snares of the ruler of this world. Praise God we serve One who is greater; One on whom Satan has no claim! (v. 30) – read Hebrews 2:14-15 & Rev. 12:10 as well.

f. In contrast to the unloving disciples, Jesus proves He loves the Father by obeying what He commands Him to do (v. 31)

i. In what ways does love relate to obedience?

III. Responding in Prayer: Pray for your brothers and sisters in your Community Group that you all yearn for the

peace of God, to cease seeking the peace the world has to offer, and to take on the light yoke of Christ.

Pray for yourself that you would understand what it means to truly love the Lord and follow hard in obedience to Him.

Pray for our new prospective lead pastor, John Wohlgemuth, as he preaches that he would submit to the words God gives him, and pray for the congregation that we would all vote as God leads. Pray for God’s perfect will for our church, as well as for his church, Normandale Baptist Church, in Fort Worth, TX.