“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible” (1 Peter 1:8). This reflects the experience of all Christians today, but the 11 Apostles needed to be preparedfor life and ministry without the physical presence of Jesus. As people who live by faith not sight, our encouragement comes from knowing God by knowing Jesus and living in constant fellowship with him through prayer. We return to the evening of the last supper and the teaching and promises of our Lord.

Outline:

• Seeing God
• The Gift of Greater Works
• Ask and Receive

All people begin the spiritual journey from the same starting place: alienation from God due to sin. In a tremendous display of mercy, grace, and love, God provided one means of reconciliation, forgiveness, and eternal life. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and while the offer of salvation is open to all people, no one will enter heaven apart from faith in Jesus (John 14:6).

A realistic view of life, the view presented by the Bible andexperienced by all people, recognizes that everyone faces some challenges in this world. Though not immune from living in a world marred by sin, Christians are marked by the comfort and assurance that draw strength from deeply rooted faith in Jesus and unwavering confidence in the promises of God.

Outline:

· Trust in theEver-Present God

· Heaven: The Glorious Destination

To his great glory, God’s powerful and eternal love has been shown to the world in the crucifixion of Jesus. This display of love is the new standard by which we are to live and by which the world is to see the beauty of our Savior.

Outline:

· Love Glorified

· Love Proclaimed

· Love Affirmed

In a familiar but unimaginable scene of betrayal, the Lord Jesus suffered immensely. While assuring his followers and commissioning them for gospel missions, Jesus provides an example of how we should live a faithful Christ-honoring life through the toughest of circumstances.

Outline:

· The Prophesy and Prophet

· The Gospel Mission Affirmed

· The Betrayer Exposed

No one is immune to the disease of pride. Jesus, in sinlessperfection, not only teaches God-honoring humility but models it for his followers. He promises blessedness to the faithful, but what constitutes a “blessed life?” The answer depends on whether one focuses on God or the world—on eternityor the here and now. Jesus models for us the life that honors him, that recognizes to whom we belong, and that will be eternally blessed by God.

Outline:

• Humility: A Christ-Focused Attitude
• No Exceptions

• The Key to Blessedness

On the final night of Jesus’s earthly ministry, he began histeaching with an object lesson in love. The humble love Jesus modeled in the shadow of the cross came with a promise: God will wash away the sins of all who turn to Jesus in faith.

Outline:

· The Enduring Love of God

· Pride, Humility, and Love

· The Gospel for Believers Too

With the curtains closing on the public ministry of Jesus, hemade one last call to the unbelieving people in Jerusalem to believe—to avail themselves of God’s grace by placing their faith in Jesus. Because there is only one way to forgiveness, reconciliation to God, and eternal life, the impassioned offer of our Lord came coupled with a warning. The message is as unchanging as God himself, and we do well to listen when Jesus “cries out.”

Outline:

· A Matter of Belief

· A Word of Judgment