GateWay Church of Visalia
The Day Before the Day
Pastor Lance Ainsworth February 15 & 18, 2024
Locations & Times
GateWay Church
1100 S Sowell St, Visalia, CA 93277, USA
Thursday 6:45 PM
Sunday 8:30 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
Introduction
John 14:1-15 NASB
14 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way where I am going.”
14 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way where I am going.”
We have a reservation.
4 And you know the way where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Jesus is not just another way, He is the way.
“In America, all religions are tolerated under the law, so we make a gratuitous leap from equality under the law to equal validity before God.” R.C. Sproul
“In America, all religions are tolerated under the law, so we make a gratuitous leap from equality under the law to equal validity before God.” R.C. Sproul
7 If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” 8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.
Jesus is not asking for blind faith but a conscious decision.
12 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. 15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
Faith in Jesus is our legacy.
We must reach a generation at 12 before they have to be rescued at 21.
1. Discipleship starts at home.
2. Practice humility and learn from them.
3. Show them how to think, not what to think.
4. Show them how to think, not what to think.
The Day Before the Day
John 14:1 - 15, Pastor Lance Ainsworth
February 15th & 18th, 2024
Greater Things.
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: Who has been a good mentor in your life, and how?
Read Aloud: John 14:1-15
1. v. 2-3 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.” How does believing in Jesus affect a troubled heart? What were the disciples feeling when Jesus told them he was leaving? What comfort do we have in knowing Jesus is preparing a place? When you think about heaven, do you think more about the physical place or the presence of Jesus?
2. v. 6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” Jesus served his disciples first and then shared with them that He was the way. What does this pattern teach us? Do you believe that Jesus is the only way to the Father? What implications does this have? Why didn’t God create multiple ways for us to reach Him?
3. v. 11 “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.” Does Jesus ask for blind faith? What evidence do we have that helps us consciously decide to put our faith in Jesus? How does that evidence, coupled with your experience, create a testimony?
4. v. 12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.” The disciples understood that they were not greater than Jesus but would do greater things after He left this earth. Jesus was limited in human flesh, but he passed on a belief in Him to the disciples that we are a part of today. Who are you passing that same legacy on to today? Pray for them as a group. What struggles do we face in raising the next generation of disciples?
John 14:1 - 15, Pastor Lance Ainsworth
February 15th & 18th, 2024
Greater Things.
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: Who has been a good mentor in your life, and how?
Read Aloud: John 14:1-15
1. v. 2-3 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.” How does believing in Jesus affect a troubled heart? What were the disciples feeling when Jesus told them he was leaving? What comfort do we have in knowing Jesus is preparing a place? When you think about heaven, do you think more about the physical place or the presence of Jesus?
2. v. 6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” Jesus served his disciples first and then shared with them that He was the way. What does this pattern teach us? Do you believe that Jesus is the only way to the Father? What implications does this have? Why didn’t God create multiple ways for us to reach Him?
3. v. 11 “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.” Does Jesus ask for blind faith? What evidence do we have that helps us consciously decide to put our faith in Jesus? How does that evidence, coupled with your experience, create a testimony?
4. v. 12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.” The disciples understood that they were not greater than Jesus but would do greater things after He left this earth. Jesus was limited in human flesh, but he passed on a belief in Him to the disciples that we are a part of today. Who are you passing that same legacy on to today? Pray for them as a group. What struggles do we face in raising the next generation of disciples?