Grace Upon Grace Journal

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 ...

Reflection on John 12: "Following Jesus in the Light" John 12 presents a powerful contrast between different responses to Jesus. Some worship Him, some follow Him, and some reject Him. The chapter begins with Mary anointing Jesus' feet with expensive perfume (John 12:1-8). While others saw the perfume as a waste, Mary saw Jesus as worthy of her very best. Her act was one of love, gratitude, and worship. In contrast, Judas criticized Mary's gift. He argued that the perfume should have been sold and the money given to the poor. However, John tells us that Judas was not truly concerned about the poor; he was stealing from the disciples' money bag (John 12:6). Judas teaches us an important lesson: it is possible to be physically close to Jesus while having a heart far from Him. He was one of the Twelve, witnessed miracles, heard Jesus' teachings, and yet greed slowly took hold of his heart. Judas reminds us that the greatest danger to our faith is not always open ...

Wednesday Bible Study Recap – John 11 This Wednesday, May 20, our Bible study focused on John 11, the story of Lazarus, and the themes of death, resurrection, grief, and freedom in Christ. We began our time together with a warm-up conversation, sharing personal experiences with grief, loss, trust, and hope. It was a meaningful opportunity to reflect on how death and mourning affect both individuals and communities. As we read through John 11:1–44, we listed words and expressions that caught our attention, including “weeping,” “believe,” “life,” “glory,” “come out,” and “let him go.” These words helped guide our discussion about the meaning of resurrection in biblical times and in our lives today. We also talked about how people in Jesus’ time understood death differently. For many, death was not only physical but also connected to separation, mourning, ritual impurity, and the uncertainty of what came after life on earth. Martha’s statement in John 11:24 — “I know that he will rise aga...

📖 Bible Study Recap – John 10: “The Good Shepherd” On Wednesday the 6th, we studied John 10 and reflected on Jesus’ powerful words: “I am the Good Shepherd.” Before entering chapter 10, we reviewed John 1–9 and remembered how Jesus revealed Himself through signs, miracles, teachings, and personal encounters. Throughout John’s Gospel, people are constantly faced with an important question: Will we recognize Jesus for who He truly is? As a warm-up activity, participants were invited to share Bible verses related to shepherds and sheep. It was a meaningful way to connect the group with the biblical imagery found throughout Scripture. Some of the verses shared included: • Psalm 23:1 — “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” • Isaiah 40:11 — “He will feed his flock like a shepherd.” • Ezekiel 34:11 — “I myself will search for my sheep.” • Matthew 18:12 — The parable of the lost sheep. • Luke 15:4–7 — The shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to find the one. • John 10:11 — “I am the goo...