The Impact of Experiencing Authentic Community

STEP 1: Watch the Video  

STEP 2: Complete the Assignments

Today's Assignments

The real you has to meet real needs for the right reason in the right way.  

• Let love be sincere (v9): AUTHENTICITY  


• Hate what is evil; cling to what is good (v9): PURITY  


• Be devoted to one another in brotherly love (v10): DEVOTION  


• Give preference to one another in honor (v10): HUMILITY  


• Not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord (v11): MOTIVE  


• Rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer (v12): UPWARD FOCUS  


• Contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality (v13): OUTWARD FOCUS

1. Read through the passage below slowly. Then answer the questions that follow.

John 13:1-17 NLT

Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”

8 “ No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” 9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”

10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.

2. What do you think was the response of the disciples as Jesus went over, grabbed the water basin and towel, and started washing their feet? Do you think they were surprised, indifferent, thankful, or oblivious?

3. Why do you think Peter said, “You will never wash my feet”? And what do you think Jesus meant when He said, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me”?