Grace Upon Grace Journal

  Bible Study Recap – John 17–21: From Prayer to Resurrection This past Wednesday, we finished our study of the Gospel of John by exploring chapters 17–21 and discovering what it means to live as Easter people. We began with Jesus' beautiful prayer in John 17, where He prayed not only for His disciples but also for all who would believe in Him—including us. We talked about how Jesus' desire for unity challenges us to build a loving, supportive community where faith grows together. In John 18, we reflected on Jesus' arrest and Peter's denial. Even though Peter failed, Jesus never gave up on him. We were reminded that God's grace is greater than our mistakes and continues to work in our lives. John 19 brought us to the cross, where Jesus declared, "It is finished." We discussed how the cross was not a defeat but the completion of God's saving work. As United Methodists, we remember that we are saved by God's grace, and our good works are a grateful r...

Bible Study Recap – John 16 Last Wednesday, we began by reflecting on the four bases of the ministry of reconciliation: reconciliation with ourselves, with our neighbors, with all creation, and with God. Together, we discussed practical ways we can live out each of these areas in our daily lives. We then reviewed the message from John 15, focusing on Jesus' invitation to "abide in Me." This led us into John 16, where Jesus explains the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus prepared His disciples for the challenges they would face if they chose to remain in Him. He never promised an easy path, but He did promise that the Holy Spirit would be with them, bringing a peace that remains even in the middle of hardship. We talked about how this same peace is available to us today through the presence of the Holy Spirit. We also discussed the importance of making decisions from a place of peace. When we lack God's peace, it may not be the right time to make an important decision. Som...

Abiding in the True Vine This week, we began our Bible study by sharing our favorite types of plants and why we enjoy them. That simple conversation helped us connect with the imagery Jesus uses in John 15, where He declares, "I am the true vine," and we are the branches. From there, we compared a real plant to the picture Jesus gives of our relationship with Him. We explored how, throughout Scripture, God often uses plants—and especially trees—to communicate spiritual truths. In the Old Testament, we looked at Psalm 1:1–3, where the righteous are described as a tree planted by streams of water that bears fruit in season; Jeremiah 17:7–8, where those who trust in the Lord are compared to a flourishing tree whose roots reach the water; and Isaiah 61:3, where God's people are called oaks of righteousness, planted for the display of His glory. In the New Testament, we saw how Jesus continues this imagery in John 15:1–8, calling Himself the true vine and inviting us to abide ...

  Wednesday Bible Study Recap This week, our Wednesday Bible Study focused on John 14 . We began with a warm-up question that invited everyone to share personal experiences of finding comfort during difficult times, setting the stage for a meaningful discussion. Pastor Marvel explained that John 13 is a chapter of preparation , where Jesus prepares His disciples for what is about to happen through the washing of the disciples' feet and the Last Supper. John 14–17 can be understood as Jesus' testament—His final teachings, promises, and prayers before His arrest and crucifixion. In these chapters, Jesus comforts His followers, promises the gift of the Holy Spirit, calls them to remain in His love, and prays for their unity and mission. Pastor Marvel then invited the group to reflect on an important question: Why were the disciples so worried about Jesus leaving? Together, we explored several possibilities. They would lose His daily guidance and presence, they were uncertain abo...

Bible Study Recap: John 13:31–38 – Love, Grace, and the Open Table In our study of John 13:31–38, we reflected on Jesus' final conversation with His disciples before His arrest. These verses come immediately after Judas leaves the table, and Jesus begins preparing His disciples for what is about to happen. Jesus first speaks about glory. While the cross would appear to be a moment of defeat, Jesus reveals that it will actually be the moment when God's love and saving purpose are most fully displayed. God's glory is revealed not through power and domination, but through sacrificial love. We also discussed how Jesus openly spoke about His own death and departure. Rather than avoiding the subject, He intentionally prepared His disciples for what was coming. Jesus knew that His death would bring grief, confusion, and uncertainty, yet He chose to have honest conversations with those He loved. For many people, talking about death is uncomfortable and often treated as a taboo subj...

The Table of Christ: A Vision of Radical Inclusion There is something deeply sacred about sitting at a table. A table is more than furniture, it is a place of conversation, nourishment, vulnerability, and connection. And when we turn our attention to the Last Supper, that defining moment in Jesus’ ministry, we discover more than bread and wine. We discover a powerful lens through which to explore diversity, unity, and inclusion. The Last Supper was not simply a farewell meal. It was a bold, intentional act of gathering. Jesus chose who would be there, and in doing so, he chose diversity. Among those seated were tax collectors and zealots, fishermen and doubters, a betrayer and those who would eventually flee. Different temperaments, different backgrounds, different visions of the world. Yet all of them shared bread from the same loaf and drank from the same cup. It was a table of radical grace, held together not by sameness, but by the presence of Christ. The Symbols of the Supper The ...