Tempe Nazarene Church
April 22, 2007
Pastor Brian Delbridge


“Best Friends”

John 15:4–17

  1. Introduction
    1. We need more than sucess, we need significance
    2. We want to contribute to something that lasts
    3. We want to give our life to something bigger than us
    4. We search for meaning in life.
    5. Real meaning comes from a relationship with Jesus
    6. The identity of a Jesus-follower is wrapped up in service
  2. Characteristics of A Jesus-Follower
    1. True Worship

      (Matthew 25:31–40)

      The Sheep and the Goats
      31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.
      32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
      33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

      34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
      35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
      36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

      37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
      38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
      39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

      40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”

      1. We worship God by our actions toward others
      2. We worship God by being His delivery system to others
        1. Doing good and serving

          2. (Hebrews 13:16)
          16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

      3. True worship is serving
    2. Pure love

      (John 15:16–17)
      16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

      1. Love is service
      2. Our world needs to see a demonstration of love
    3. Joy

      (John 15:8–12)
      8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

      9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
      10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father‘s commands and remain in his love.
      11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
      12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

      1. When we are committed to Jesus, abiding in Him, loving one another through serving, we will experience joy
      2. We all need a vision of eternity
      3. God doesn’t need your ability but your availability
  3. Conclusion
    1. The Word of God to each of us today is:
      1. Live Big
      2. Dream Big
      3. Give Big
      4. Serve Big
    2. Will you commit to be a “Follower of Jesus”?

© 2007 Dr. Brian Delbridge, all rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, © 1996, 2004.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.