January 6, 2019 – John 15:18 – 16:15

Lesson Date: January 6, 2019

Focal Scripture Passage: John 15:18 – 16:15

AIM: To lead students to describe the treatment Jesus said they should expect from the world and the strength Jesus offers them, and to accept God’s provision of the Holy Spirit as sufficient for their needs.

Before class: Read the notes on John 15:18 – 16:15 found in the Sunday School Teacher Book. Prepare for your introduction ahead of time. If you plan to have a class member share his or her experience, enlist that person ahead of time. If you choose to use the “Group Study Option” (step 2 below), get some paper and pens or pencils for the students to use during their group study.

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Tell the class the following fictional story, or a true story from your life that illustrates the same truth, or ask a class member to tell about his or her experience facing a new and unknown challenge, such as knee replacement surgery or cancer treatments.

An adventurer planned to go on an exploratory journey to a strange and dangerous part of the world. Only one person had ever explored that area before and lived to tell about it. The adventurer made arrangements to meet and talk with that one man who had previously explored that territory. Upon meeting the man, the adventurer asked him two questions. First he asked, “What dangers can I expect in that territory?” His second question was, “Based on your experience in that territory, what are the most important supplies and resources I need for my journey?”

Ask the class: “Why did the adventurer ask those two questions? What did he hope to learn by asking those questions?” (he wanted to know what to expect and what resources and help he would need). Tell the students the answers to those two questions would better prepare him for his journey into an unfamiliar and dangerous territory.

Remind the class that chapters 13 – 17 of the Gospel of John contain Jesus’ last words spoken to His disciples on the night before His betrayal, arrest, and crucifixion. After He left them, the disciples would enter a new and unknown part of their Christian experience. In today’s scripture passage, Jesus told His disciples about the dangers they could expect in the world and about the one resource they needed in order to successfully live as a Christian in a lost world.

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Review.
   • Remind the students that we are studying the Gospel of John.
   • Ask a volunteer to read John 20:31.
   • Ask: “Why did John write this account of Jesus’ life?” (so his readers would believe that Jesus is the Son of God and have everlasting life by trusting in Him).
   • Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (abiding in Christ).
   • Ask if any volunteer would recite last week’s memory verses (John 15:5).
2. Group Study Option.
   • This lesson may be taught entirely through group study. For a direct instructional option, follow the procedure outlined in steps 3 and 4 below.
   • If you choose the group study option, divide the class into two groups. Keep the groups small. If your class is large, create four (or even six) groups and duplicate the group assignments. Give the groups the following assignments:
     • Group One: Read John 15:18 – 16:15. Make a list of everything Jesus said about how the world would treat His disciples after He was gone. Write down the verse references for each item and be prepared to share what you discover with the entire class.
     • Group Two: Read John 15:18 – 16:15. Make a list of everything Jesus said about how the Holy Spirit would enable the disciples to stand in the face of the world’s hatred. Write down the verse references for each item and be prepared to share what you have discovered with the entire class.
   • Give each group some paper and pens or pencils.
   • Give the groups about 10 minutes to do their work.
   • Regain the attention of the entire class.
   • Ask Group One to report to the class what kinds of treatment Jesus told His disciples to expect from the world.
   • Ask Group Two to report to the class what kinds of help Jesus said the Holy Spirit provides to believers.
3. What Believers Should Expect from the Lost World.
   • Tell the students to listen for things Jesus said about how the world would treat His disciples after He was gone, as a volunteer reads John 15:18-20.
   • Ask the students to identify what Jesus said His followers could expect from the world. They should name the following:
     • The world will hate them – v. 18-19.
     • The world will not accept them – v. 19.
     • The world will persecute them – v. 20.
     • The world will reject their teaching – v. 20.
   • Tell the students to listen for why the world will hate, reject, and persecute believers, as you read John 15:21-25.
   • Ask the students what they heard in those verses. They should name the following:
     • The lost world does not know God – v. 21.
     • Jesus’ teaching and our renewed lives convict the world of their sin – v. 22 & 24.
     • The lost world hates Jesus Christ and God the Father, so they also hate those who belong to Him – v. 23 & 25.
   • Tell the students to listen for more things Jesus said about how the world would treat His disciples, as a volunteer reads John 16:1-6.
   • Ask the students to identify what Jesus said His followers could expect from the world. They should name the following:
     • The world will cut them off (put them “out of the synagogues”) – v. 2.
     • The world will kill them – v. 2.
   • Ask: “According to verse 3, why will the world treat Jesus’ disciples this way?” (because they do not know God, regardless of any religious affiliation they may claim).
   • Ask: “According to verses 4-6, why was Jesus telling His disciples these things at that time?” (because He was about to leave them).
   • Summarize: Jesus said His followers can expect hatred, rejection, persecution, ostracism, and even death from the lost people of the world.
4. Help Provided by the Holy Spirit.
   • Tell the students Jesus was about to leave His disciples, but He did not leave them helpless in the face of the lost world’s hatred.
   • Read John 15:26-27.
   • Ask: “Who is the Comforter?” (the Holy Spirit, who comes to live within each believer at the moment of salvation).
   • Ask: “According to verse 26, where does the Holy Spirit come from?” (the Father).
   • Ask: “What other name did Jesus use for the Holy Spirit in verse 26?” (the Spirit of truth).
   • Ask: “What did Jesus say the Holy Spirit would do?” (testify of Jesus – v. 26, enabling Jesus’ followers to bear witness of Him – v. 27).
   • Tell the students to listen for more things Jesus said the Holy Spirit will do, as a volunteer reads John 16:7-15.
   • Ask: “According to verse 7, why did Jesus say it was good for Him to go away?” (because the Holy Spirit would not come until after He returned to heaven).
   • Ask the students to identify things Jesus said in those verses that the Holy Spirit does. They should name the following:
     • He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment – v. 8-11.
     • He guides believers into truth – v. 13.
     • He does not glorify or draw attention to Himself – v. 13.
     • He helps believers understand God’s will for the future – v. 13.
     • He glorifies Jesus Christ – v. 14.
   • Summarize: Jesus promised help to His followers, in the person of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit testifies of Jesus, convicts the world of sin, guides believers into truth, helps us understand God’s ways, and glorifies Jesus Christ.

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Briefly review what Jesus said about how the world would treat His followers (hatred, rejection, persecution, ostracism, and even death). Ask: “Does the world still treat believers today the way Jesus said it would treat His disciples?” (yes). Ask the class to name some examples of hatred, rejection, and persecution directed toward Christians (you can find examples of anti-Christian persecution at https://www.persecution.com/). Remind the class that 2 Timothy 3:12 says: “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

Ask: “Do you need the Holy Spirit’s help to stand up against the hatred of the world? In what ways?” After students suggest some answers, remind them that Jesus said the Holy Spirit would testify of Him, convict the world of sin, guide believers into truth and show us things to come, and glorify Jesus (John 16:14).

Tell the class that the Holy Spirit lives within every believer. If the students know Jesus as their Savior, then the Holy Spirit lives within them. He is always available to them. When faced with hatred and opposition from the world, we must accept the provision of the Holy Spirit as sufficient for our needs. Only then can we lean on Him as the resource God has provided for us.

Lead a closing prayer, encouraging each person to tell the Lord that he or she accepts the help, strength, and support God wants them to have through the gift of God’s Holy Spirit.

CONCLUSION: Ask everyone to look for examples of persecution against Christians in the news this week, and to pray for those being persecuted. Urge them to rely on the Holy Spirit when people ridicule or reject their faith.