March 15, 2026

The Advocate – John 15:26-16:15 – Elder Mark Freije

God’s help through opposition

  • The Holy Spirit is our Advocate, Counselor, Comforter, Helper
  • The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth
  • The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to follow Jesus

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This Week's Bible Reading

  • March 16 - Psalm 44; Mark 6
  • March 17 - Psalm 45; Mark 7
  • March 18 - Psalm 46; Mark 8
  • March 19 - Psalm 47; Mark 9
  • March 20 - Psalm 48; Mark 10

(Complete plan here.)

Growth Group Guide

  1. Daylight saving time began on Sunday, March 8. Would you prefer to be on EST, EST Daylight Savings, or continue to change twice a year?
  2. How do you think Christians in the US face opposition in following Jesus Christ? Have you faced opposition?
  3. Read John 15:18-25 and John 16:1-4. What dangers did Jesus tell his disciples they would face? What was the source of the danger?
  4. Read John 15:26-27 and John 16:7-15. Why did Jesus say it was good that he was leaving the disciples? What work did Jesus say the Holy Spirit would do in the world? in the disciples?
  5. Do you think more about your own ability to follow Jesus Christ or about the Spirit’s ability to enable you to follow Jesus Christ?
  6. Our culture often devalues truth. Many see truth as either situation dependent or self-defined. What does the Bible say is the source of truth? How would you explain this to someone who is not a follower of Jesus?

Lenten Family Devotional

Misunderstandings abound in life … and in John 9-10.

A blind man is healed by Jesus, and the Pharisees declare, “This man is not from God” (9:16). After Jesus gives a simple and clear illustration about a sheep pen, a gate, and a shepherd, “the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.” (10:6)

Last week, we saw Jesus make the stunning claim that he is the gate for the sheep. That is, he is the only means to salvation (10:9) and “life … to the full” (10:10).

But Jesus continues and says that he is also the shepherd -- and a good shepherd at that! But what makes Jesus a good shepherd?

READ John 10:11-13.

Jesus owns and cares for his sheep as demonstrated by the contrast between him and a hired hand. When danger arises, a hired hand "abandons the sheep and runs away" (v. 12) because he "cares nothing for the sheep" (v. 13). As a result, the flock is scattered (v. 13). In contrast, Jesus is the good shepherd who makes the ultimate sacrifice: he "lays down his life for the sheep" (v. 11).

But there's more! Jesus not only dies so that the sheep will live, Jesus personally knows the sheep.

READ John 10:14-18.

Jesus declares that his love for the sheep is profound -- costing him his life, but also personal -- knowing and being known by the sheep in a manner that reflects the knowledge between the Father and the Son (vv. 14-15)!

The good news is that Jesus died for our sins. But don't forget that Jesus laid down his life for you so that you can have abundant life in relationship with Him now and forever!

Delight in the profound and personal love of our Lord!

PRAY the following aloud as a group.

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer (2019))

READ the following and MEMORIZE four verses:

"Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him." For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:14-18)

SING the Doxology

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Amen.