Dear Friends,
Starting this Sunday, I will begin a series called “NEXT”.  “HOW TO TRUST GOD AND DO THE NEXT THING”  It is easy to get stuck, frozen in place. Seemingly unable to move forward.  Unable to see, think, or trust. Stuck in a rut. Perhaps you know someone who needs something new in their life. They need to get on to the next thing in their life. Next stage, chapter, phase. Maybe you need to do the next thing too. We tell ourselves “I should………. than we don’t or fade quickly.

Pro 16:9  The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.

No matter how much planning and direction God gives we still must do the next thing God directs. So why don’t we?

This Sunday we will explore what holds us back from freely serving God and others and what we can do.  Get ready for what’s next.

Blessings,
Joe

John 13:1-20 Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 2 During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, 4 *got up from supper, and *laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. 5 Then He *poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 So He *came to Simon Peter. He *said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” 8 Peter *said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” 9 Simon Peter *said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” 10 Jesus *said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.” 12 So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 “You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. 14 “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. 16 “Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. 17 “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. 18 “I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘HE WHO EATS MY BREAD HAS LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.’ 19 “From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He. 20 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

• How can insecurity about what others think of you keep you serving others? Share an example.
• How can pride and superiority hold you back from serving God by serving others? Share an experience.
• What does this passage tell us about why Jesus had joyful freedom to serve anyone?

Joh 13:3-4 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, 4 *got up from supper, and *laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself.

• On a scale between 1-10, how well do you know yourself?
• Why was Peter so shocked and resistant to Jesus washing his feet?
• What might foot washing be now in our culture and community? [lowly servant job}
• What makes disciples so resistant to serving and being served?
• Why was Jesus willing to serve people he would desert, deny and betray him?

Joh 13:1-3 Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 2 During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God,

• What should you do next in following Jesus?

Joh 13:12-16 So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 “You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. 14 “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. 16 “Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.

• What does it take to be a happy follower of Jesus?

Joh 13:17 “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

• What is one thing God wants you to do next?