Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (John 13:1-17), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion…

• [1] Even as he faced his own death, everything Jesus did was love to his disciples, even though it made them uncomfortable and they comprehended very little of it yet (v. 7). Have you received his love before coming to understand it? Do you trust that everything God does is to love you, even though you often can’t see how? Can you think of some examples when his love has been difficult for you to receive?

• [8] Jesus made himself your slave, to cleanse you for relationship with God through his own death on the cross. Can you accept the Lord’s service to you in this? Do you believe that this is your greatest need, even if it doesn’t exactly match your felt needs? Are you beginning to understand/feel this as your greatest need, and the thing that makes you most thankful?

• [12-15] Jesus did not do what he did so that we would serve him (Mark 10:45), but he wants us to serve each other as he has served us, following his example. Jesus loved and served, not self-consciously but God-consciously (v. 1), not transactionally but from a place of fullness in his relationship with his Father (v. 3). Is it possible for you, personally, to imitate him in this, to have his resources for love and service of others? Why or why not?

• [17] What are some ways you can imagine serving people you know that might normally make them feel uncomfortable the way Jesus washing his disciples’ feet made them uncomfortable? Why would you be “blessed” to do that?