A. “All who labor and are heavy laden” – physical or mental burdens (2 Corinthians 11:23-28; Matthew 13:4-8)
B. Jesus’ promise of rest (1 Peter 5:5-7; Matthew 6:25-34)
II. An invitation to learn from Christ (Matthew 11:29a)
A. Learn how to defeat temptation (Matthew 4:1-11; 2 Timothy 2:15)
B. Learn the secret to true happiness (Matthew 5:3-10)
C. Learn the importance of submission (Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 5:8-9; Matthew 28:18-20)
III. “I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29b)
A. Gentle/meek – an attribute of Christ which must also be a characteristic of our lives (Galatians 5:22-23; James 1:21; 2 Timothy 2:24-25; Galatians 6:1)
B. Lowly in heart/humble (Philippians 2:8)
IV. His easy yoke and light burden (Matthew 11:30)
A. Compared to Old Law (Matthew 23:4; Galatians 5:1)
B. There remains a rest for the people of God (Hebrews 4:9-11)
A. Jesus is the “true vine” (John 15:1a; Psalm 80:8; Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 2:21)
B. The Father is the vinedresser (John 15:1b-2)
II. The branches are individual Christians
A. The responsibility to bear fruit (John 15:2)
B. The apostles’ current state (John 15:3)
C. The command to abide in Jesus and to allow Him to abide in you (John 15:4a; Ephesians 1:3, 7; 2 Timothy 2:10)
D. Apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15:4b-5; 2 Corinthians 3:5; Philippians 4:13)
III. A warning and a promise
A. Warning against apostasy (John 15:6; Matthew 13:41, 49-50)
B. The promise of prayer (John 15:7)
IV. Bearing fruit
A. Soul-winning (John 15:8; Matthew 13:22-23; 1 Corinthians 3:5-8; Matthew 28:19-20)
B. Brings glory to the Father (John 15:8)
C. “So you will be My disciples” (John 15:8)
A. The way to heaven (John 14:2-3, 5)
B. We are powerless to achieve this on our own (Romans 3:9-12, 23; Ephesians 2:8-9)
C. He is the way – the only way to heaven (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18)
II. “I am the truth”
A. He is the truth Himself, united with the Father (John 1:14-17; Hebrews 1:1-3; John 14:7-10; 1:1)
B. The truth provides freedom (John 8:31-32; 1 John 2:3-6)
III. “I am the life”
A. Abundant life here (John 10:10b)
B. Eternal life in heaven (John 3:14-16; 5:24; 1 John 5:12-13)
A. Jesus loved His friends (John 11:1-7)
B. The apostles’ misunderstanding (John 11:8-16)
II. Jesus grieves with His friends
A. “If” — an expression of grief (John 11:17-21)
B. The faith of Martha (John 11:22-24)
C. “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25-27; 1 Corinthians 15:54-57; Luke 10:38-42)
D. The faith of Mary (John 11:28-32)
E. The compassion of Jesus (John 11:33-36; Revelation 14:13)
III. Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead
A. Doubting Jews (John 11:37)
B. Martha’s faith falters (John 11:38-40)
C. “Lazarus, come forth!” (John 11:41-44)
A. Psalm 23
B. Psalm 79:13-80:3
C. Psalm 95:6-7
D. Ezekiel 34
II. Jesus as the Good Shepherd
A. He knows His sheep by name and leads them (John 10:1-4)
B. He provides for them abundant life (John 10:10; Ephesians 3:20-21)
C. He lays down His life for the sheep (John 10:11, 15, 17-18)
III. The spiritual satisfaction of Jesus’ sheep
A. Are you listening? (John 10:27)
1. Hear His voice (John 8:43-45)
2. Does Jesus know you? (Matthew 7:21-23)
3. Follow Him!
B. Eternal life, protection, and security for His sheep (John 10:28)
A. We must follow, not stand still (John 1:43; Matthew 4:18-19; 9:9; Luke 9:23-25; John 6:68)
B. He provided guidance in the Old Testament (Exodus 13:21)
C. He still provides guidance today (1 John 1:7; 2 John 9)
II. Jesus is a light of safety
A. Darkness represents spiritual danger (John 12:35)
B. Jesus’ light guides each step of the way (Psalm 119:105)
III. Jesus is a life-giving light
A. If you take man away from the Son’s light, man will stop growing! (John 1:4; 10:10b)
B. Jesus’ effect on spiritual health (James 1:14-15; Malachi 4:2)
IV. Jesus is a light of hope
A. Old Testament view on immortality (Hebrews 11:13; 2 Samuel 12:23; Job 14:14)
B. He has “brought life and immortality to light” (2 Timothy 1:10; Ephesians 2:12-13; 5:8-14)
A. They were not interested in Him as the Messiah (John 6:26-27)
B. The work of God is that you believe in Him whom He sent (John 6:28-29; Hebrews 11:6)
II. Jesus’ works vs. Moses’ works
A. They wanted physical bread (John 6:30-33; Nehemiah 9:15)
B. Jesus challenged a higher focus, a deeper discipleship, an active faith (John 6:34-40)
III. The rejection of the Jews
A. Offended at the suggestion of eternal existence (John 6:41-42)
B. Jesus required 24/7 spiritual devotion (John 6:43-59)
C. “This is a hard saying”…too hard for some (John 6:60-66)
D. There is no alternative to Jesus (John 6:67-69)
But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. (Acts 8:12)
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