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John 15:9-17
With thanks to page sponsor 2015:
Third Presbyterian Church
Rockford, Illinois
A congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NRSV, RSV, NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary & sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • The Five Gospels Parallels, John W. Marshall, University of Toronto.
  • Primary comparative texts of Rabbinic Wisdom, including "greatest commandment" parallels, from Mahlon H. Smith's Into His Own: Perspective on the World of Jesus, Rutgers University.
  • "Ask, Seek, Knock," The Jesus Database, an online annotated inventory of the traditions concerning the life and teachings of Jesus. Dr. Gregory C. Jenks, FaithFutures Foundation.
  • XLVI.25-33; Tatian's Diatessaron (c. 150-160).
  • III.XX.2, IV.XIII.4, IV.XIV.1, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
  • II.15, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • Epistle VII -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 250)
  • I.31, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Origen. (c.228)
  • On the Unity of the Church, Cyprian of Carthage (c. 250)
  • Epistle LXII -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 253)
  • From Augustine's Tractates on John: 
    • Tractate 82 (15:8-10)
      • "Love brings about the keeping of His commandments; but does the keeping of His commandments bring about love?"
    • Tractate 83 (15:11,12)
      • "And so, where there is love, what can be wanting? and where it is not, what is there that can possibly be profitable? The devil believes, but does not love: no one loveth who doth not believe."
    • Tractate 84 (15:13)
      • "But if any one shall set himself in comparison, I say, not with the power. but with the innocence of Christ, and (I would not say) in thinking that he is healing the sins of others, but at least that he has no sins of his own, even so far is his avidity overstepping the requirements of the method of salvation; it is a matter of considerable moment for him, only he attains not his desire."
    • Tractate 85 (15:14,15)
      • "Let us, brethren, let us understand, and may the Lord enable us to understand, and enable us also to do what we understand. And if we know this, we know of a truth what the Lord doeth; for it is only the Lord that so enables us, and by such means only do we attain to His friendship."
    • Tractate 86 (15:15, 16)
      • "See then, beloved, how it is that He chooseth not the good, but maketh those whom He has chosen good."
    • Tractate 87 (17-19)
      • "For who can truly rejoice who loves not good as the source of his joy? Who can have true peace, if he have it not with one whom he truly loves? Who can be long-enduring through persevering continuance in good, save through fervent love? Who can be kind, if he love not the person he is aiding? Who can be good, if he is not made so by loving? Who can be sound in the faith, without that faith which worketh by love? Whose meekness can be beneficial in character, if not regulated by love? And who will abstain from that which is debasing, if he love not that which dignifies?"
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "The love of the Father towards the Son, and of the Son towards us, and of us toward God and our neighbour, are joined together with an inseparable knot: and there is nothing more sweet and pleasant than it is."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "If the same power that first shed abroad the love of Christ's in our hearts, did not keep us in that love, we should not long abide in it. Christ's love to us should direct us to love each other."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you - On this condition, not otherwise. A thunderbolt for Antinomianism! Who then dares assert that God's love does not at all depend on man's works?"
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "...not, 'Continue to love Me,' but, 'Continue in the possession and enjoyment of My love to you'..."
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "Christ's disciples serve him, but their service is not bondage, but that of love. Hence, they are friends instead of servants."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, John 15:9-17, Meda Stamper, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2015.
    • "Now we have a shift from the vine of last week's text to love. The two texts are actually of a piece."
  • "On Being Chosen," David Lose, ...in the Meantime, 2015.
    • "Not that God's choosing us is a panacea, as if none of the difficulties of this life matter. Rather, knowing that God has chosen us, loves us, and will use us gives us the courage to face the challenges and renews our strength to do something about them."
  • "Choose Joy," Karoline Lewis, Dear Working Preacher, 2015.
  • "We preachers would do well to recall that the Greek words for 'grace' and 'joy' share the same root. Joy may very well be a feeling of grace, the emotion of grace, even the response to grace. "
  • The Center for Excellence in Preaching, Scott Hoezee, resources from Calvin Theological Seminary: Comments & Observations, Textual Points, illustration ideas, 2015.
    • "Obviously a good deal of what makes the gospel GOOD news would cease to be so good if, as a matter of fact, we are constantly being evaluated and graded by God."
  • "What Is Love?" Anna Macdonald Dobbs, Ekklesia Project, 2015.
  • "Friended," Melissa Bane Sevier, Contemplative Viewfinder, 2015.
  • "I Have Called You Friends," Lynn Miller, Art & Faith Matters, celebrating our creative and living God by generating art and architecture resources for congregations and individuals. Art and Faith Matters facebook page contains additional resources.
  • Pulpit Fiction, plus podcast. Reflections of lectionary text, pop culture, current events, etc. Robb Mc Coy and Eric Fistler, 2015.
  • "Friendship Quiz with Jesus," Russell Rathbun, Question the Text, 2015.
  • "As I Have Loved You," Patrick Johnson, Missional Preaching: Equipping for Witness, 2015.
  • "Where There Is No Love, Put Love and You Will Find Love," Bob Stuhlmann, Stories from a Priestly Life, 2015.
  • "Toward Holy Love," Thomas Beam, 2015.
  • "Biblical Friending," Story Divine, 2015.
  • "'I Am Not Asking You To Take Them Out of This World'," sermon notes, Porter Taylor, The Liturgical Theologian, 2015.
  • "'I Have Called You Friends,'" Janet H. Hunt, Dancing with the Word, 2015.
    • "Jesus calls his disciples 'friends.' What do you think he means when he offers this? How does Jesus' definition of friendship here compare to your own?"
  • "'In Order That' You May Love," Mark Davis, Left Behind and Loving It, 2015.
    • "In this case, I think using 'in order that' is very important, to distinguish that the hina shows the purpose of the command and does not just present a repetition of the command."
  • Love One Another, Glenn Monson, Law and Gospel Everywhere, 2015.
  • Evangelio Comentario del San Juan 15:9-17, Cristina Conte, Working Preacher, 2015.
  • Commentary, John 15:9-17, James Boyce, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2012.
    • "If last Sunday's lesson ended on the note of disciples glorifying God the Father through the bearing of "much fruit," then in this Sunday's continuation that fruit fairly bursts open as a veritable flood in the exercise of love."
  • "Friends," Frederick Buechner, Whistling in the Dark.
  • The Commandment to Love One Another, audio telling, story in episodes, graphic, audio and written commentaries. Go Tell Communications, Biblical Storytelling for the Global Village, 2012.
  • "Love & Obedience," David Lose, Dear Working Preacher, 2012.
    • "...how do we tell the difference between right obedience (that is, from love of God and neighbor) and wrong obedience (as in caving in to abusive power)?"
  • "Commands to Love, or Commands in Order to Love?" D Mark Davis, raw translation and exegesis/questions, Left Behind and Loving It, 2012.
    • "...'love one another' is not the command itself. It is the purpose of the things that Jesus commands."
  • "Love How?" Peter Woods, I Am Listening, 2012.
    • "Would I be pushing too hard to suggest that a contemporary reading of Jesus' words would be, 'There is no greater unconditional love than when someone get's their ego out of the way for another.'?"
  • Lectionary Blogging, John Petty, Progressive Involvement, 2012.
  • "Sentimentality and the Cross," Rick Fry, 2012.
    • "Love made the resurrection real. And the resurrection gave love concrete embodiment."
  • "All You Need Is Love? Maybe." Jodi-Renee Adams, The Hardest Question, 2012.
  • "Many Things Are Called Love," Katie Munnik, Presbyterian Record, 2012.
  • "Of Supermoons and Loving One Another," Janet Hunt, Dancing with the Word, 2012.
    • "Can you think of examples of 'laying down one's life for one's friends?' Are they ordinary or extraordinary or both?"
  • "Friending," Michael Coffey, 2012.
  • "The Best Friend of All," Alyce M. McKenzie, Patheos, 2012.
    • "[In the gospel of John] the word friend (philo) occurs six times..."
  • Holy Textures, Understanding the Bible in its own time and in ours, John 15:9-17, David Ewart, 2012.
    • "So as we look around church on any given Sunday, we may see people that we know and like, know and don't like, or don't know at all. Whatever. Jesus is commanding us to look out for each other's good, so that we might bear fruit, fruit that endures."
  • Commentary, John 15:9-17, Susan Hedahl, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2009.
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "First Thoughts on Year B Gospel Passages in the Lectionary," Easter 6, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "Perhaps the vine image was wider than that with its image of fruit bearing, but a major crisis was developing within John?s community which needed Jesus? instruction and his prayer - or, at least, the members needed to hear what Jesus would have prayed. The unity was not ?airy-fairy?, but relational and practical."
  • Gospel Analysis, Pastor Edward Markquart, Sermons from Seattle, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington. Detailed background and exegesis.
  • Exegetical Notes by Brian Stoffregen, at CrossMarks.
    • "I believe that if nothing else, every parishioner in our congregations should leave the worship services having heard: 'I am someone Jesus loves.'"
  • "I Have Called You Friends," study guide, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Friendship," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2008.
  • "The Love of God," Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Catholic Resource for This Sunday's Gospel. Adult Study, Children's Story, Family Activity, Support Materials.
    • "When is love easy? When is it difficult?"
  • Join the Feast, John 15:9-17, Barry Chance, Union PSCE, 2009.
    • "The theological implication is that the identity of the disciples is tied up in the fact that they are loved?they are Friends of Jesus?Friends of God."
  • Marginally Mark, by Brian McGowan, Anglican priest in Western Australia.
  • Wellspring of the Gospel, Easter 6B, Catherine McElhinney and Kathryn Turner, Weekly Wellsprings.
  • Commentary by Hall Harris at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
  • "Abiding in Christ (John 15)," by Robert Deffinbaugh at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
    • "Abiding in Christ (verses 4-8) stressed belief, dependence, and endurance. The emphasis in verses 9-25 is on obedience. This is ?how? we abide in Christ?s love: ?If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father?s commandments, and abide in His Love? (John 15:10)."
  • "Friendship," issue theme of Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2008. Articles, study guide, inspirational pieces, worship ideas, and more. See especially, "I Have Called You Friends," Gail R. O'Day.
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices.
  • Brosend, William, "Abiding Love," The Christian Century, 2000.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Burghardt, William, S.J., "Gospel Joy, Christian Joy," The Living Pulpit, 1996. (see Joy issue focus of The Living Pulpit 5.4, 1996.)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Esselstyn, Micki Bingham, "The Angel of Joy Demands Our Participation," The Living Pulpit, 1996. (see Joy issue focus of The Living Pulpit 5.4, 1996.)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Gench, Frances Taylor, "Between Text & Sermon: John 15:12-17," Interpretation, 2004.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • "Homiletical Helps," Concordia Journal, 2009. (Section on this text begins on page 181)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Killinger, John, "Wildfire," The Christian Century, 2006.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • O'Day, Gail R., "Jesus As Friend in the Gospel of John," Interpretation, 2004. (See also, Friendship, issue focus of Interpretation, 2004.)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • O'Day, Gail R., "Preaching As an Act of Friendship: Plain Speaking as a Sign of the Kingdom," Journal for Preachers, 2005.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Peterson, Robert A., "Is Christ 'The Electing God'?" Presbyterion, 2004.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Pidgeon, George Campbell, "Root and Fruit of Christian Love: Reflections on John 13:34-35; 15:1-14," Theology Today, 1952.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Reid, Barbara E., "The Cross and Cycles of Violence," Interpretation, 2004. (See also entire issue: Violence in the Bible, Interpretation, 2004.)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Segovia, Fernando F., "The Theology and Provenance of John 15:1-17," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1982.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Wood, Lawrence, "Labors of Love," The Christian Century, 2003.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Sermons:
  • "Last Words," Rev. Dr. Timothy Smith, Day 1, 2015.
  • "As the Father Has Loved Me," the Rev. Dr. James C. Howell, Day 1, 2009.
  • "It's About Love, Love, Love," "It Is So Simple," "The Happy Prince," Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington.
  • "Faith, Friendship, and Fruitfulness," Bishop L. Bevel Jones, Day 1, 2003.
  • "We Don't Choose All Our Friends," the Rev. Duane Steele, Day 1, 1997.
  • Father Andrew M. Greeley, "Priest, Author, Sociologist," Commentary and Homily
    • Easter 6, 2008
    • Easter 6, 2006
    • Easter 6, 2003
    • Easter 6, 2000
• With Children:
  • Worshiping with Children, Easter 6, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2015. 2012.
  • "Storypath Lectionary Links: Connecting Children's Literature with our Faith Story," May 10, 2015, Union Presbyterian Seminary. 2012.
  • "The Greatest Commandment - Love," Illustrating the Story (lessons, children's sermons), coloring pages, activity sheets, crafts, children's songs. MSSS Crafts.
  • "As I Have Loved You," Charles Kirkpatrick, Sermons4kids.com.
  • "Bernie's Payback," children's story by Larry Broding, word-sunday.com.
  • "A Basket of Summer Fruit," "Jesus Calls Us Friends," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
  • John 15:12, John 15:14, memory verse activity, MSSS Crafts and Resources for Bible Stories.
• Drama:
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Clip Art, John 15:14, Fr. Richard Lonsdale, Resources for Catholic Educators.
  • Clip Art Images: John 15:9-17, Misioneros Del Sagrado Corazón en el Perú.
  • John 15:9-17, at Cerezo Barredo's weekly gospel illustration. Liberation emphasis.
  • Images for this week's readings, Pitts Theology Library Digital Image Archive.
  • John 15:1-17, John 15:16, John 15:16, Heartlight - Free Christian PowerPoint Backgrounds.
  • John 15:9-11, John 15:12-17, John 15:9-11, John 15:9-17, Liturgical Drawing, Maria d.c. Zamora, Claretian Resources, Philippines. ("Download and use these for free.")
  • Commercial Site: "Abide in Me," (John 15) Visual liturgy for Easter 5B, The Work of the People.
• Hymns and Music:
  • Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
  • Contemporary/Praise Song suggestions, Together to Celebrate, David MacGregor.
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: John 15:10, 13, 14, 15, 16. The Cyber Hymnal.
  • Hymnal Scripture References, The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship.
  • At Digital Hymnal (midi files, guitar chords, karaoke files, projection text):
    • God Will Take Care of You
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
• Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
  • Interconnectedness
  • Love
  • Forgiveness/Reconciliation
  • Sacrifice
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of John

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• Easter Day Apr 17
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• Easter 3 May 1
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• Easter 5 May 15
• Easter 6 May 22
• Ascension May 26
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