[media presentation below] GospelThink Friday, October 6 LUKE 10:13-16 If you do not repent, you will condemn yourself. Prayerthoughts a. The towns were made up of people, of course, and the people of the towns were the ones who did not repent, even though they had seen great things. I personally have seen great things that God has done. As a result, do I try to stay away from thoughts, words and deeds that complain about the things that have happened? b. If the people of the cities of Tyre and Sidon had seen the deeds that the Lord did, they would have been easily influenced by the Lord. Do I say enough that I am sorry for the sins of my past? c. Jesus makes a direct statement to the people around him in Capernaum. Do I show to the people of my locale that I am truly a follower of Jesus? d. The Lord reminds me that when I speak of the Lord, I am doing what God wants. As I study my life so far, what in general have I accomplished with God’s help? Is it what God wants of me? e. My prayerthoughts… Today, I will read Baruch, chapter 1, and write an important thought from it. Some Thoughts on the Liturgy  RECOGNIZE SINFULNESS, RECOGNIZE MIRACLES  + One of the things that a Christian must do is to be able to analyze the past           – and understand—truly understand-some things           – and one of the things that must be understood is the fact that we have not done as well as we should have                      – the prophet Baruch admitting that thought to the Lord                                – strong self-accusatory words:           – they were only too ready to disregard the Lord’s voice, they followed the devices of their own wicked heart                      – he identifies with them—not only they, but we—it clings to us today           – in other words, we have sinned                      – and sinned grievously  + For true Christians, that was a very real statement—they knew that their past was full of sinfulness           – and once that understanding was present, then they wanted to do something with their lives  + Jesus says that what we must do is to recognize the miracles in our midst           – saying to the people of the towns where he and his disciples were working                      – that if they would only recognize what is happening, the miracles, he calls them                                – they would reform their lives           – saying that those same miracles would have led the people of Tyre and Sidon to reform                      – and those people were destroyed because of their sinfulness  + The application for us is a common one from the Scriptures—           – recognize what you have done in the past           – recognize what is happening now, the miracles that surround us           – and change your life for the better                      – we have to admit our sinfulness—really                                – then understand the miracles that are happening around us                                          – the miracles in our own lives and families                                          – the proofs of the Lord’s presence with us                      – and finally change our lives                                – and since we have basically changed our lives and are moving in the right direction                                          – to find one little thing at a time that needs changing, and work on that, so as to become a little better every day  + The patterns of Scripture are always the same           – announcing to us in one way or another: recognize your sinfulness, recognize the miracles that surround us, and do something about it in your own life. MEDIA PRESENTATION Song: “Slow Hands” — Niall Horan I‘M NOT LEAVING WITHOUT YOU The Gospel JOHN 15:1-5 Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. ”

Gospelthink: I am the vine grower and I have pruned you by my word. Do I live your word as much as I should?

“Slow hands like sweat dripping down our dirty laundry. No chance that I’m leaving here without you on me. I know that there ain’t no stopping your plans and those slow hands. I just wanna take my time. We could do this all night ‘cause I want you bad. Fingertips putting on a show, got me now and I can’t say ‘No,’ wanna be with you all alone. Take me home. Can’t you tell that I want you.”

Our Christian belief is that Jesus, the Son of God, became one of us, to lead us to eternal life. In the process, he did not do it as a “superior” to an “inferior.” He did it as a friend. He wanted to make us friends of his, and together we would come to eternal life to His Father. In fact, if we remain “in” him as a friend, he will treat us as friends of his, helping us know the way, correcting us as we travel that way, that us, “pruning” us, but always with the thought of friendship with us. Listening to John’s Gospel, one feels his desire to be with us. A common fact in romantic love is that in order to make it really work, there must be a real desire to be with the other in the relationship. Such a desire will encompass everything that happens, will be part of the beginning attraction, but will continue throughout the relationship. It will be part of the relationship during the problems as well as when there is some type of separation. If the relationship is real, it will be constant. As Niall Horan sings in his song “Slow Hands,” there is no chance that the man in the relationship will be leaving “without you on me.” We have all kinds of relationships in life. Obviously, we have romantic involvements with some relationships that become permanent ones. But we also work with friendships in a particular time in our lives, some of which become lasting ones. But no matter what the makeup of a real relationship, one thing is demanded of it–namely, that there be a desire to be with the other. Jesus showed us how to act as human beings on our way to eternal life. He taught us that when we choose to have a relationship with someone, a friendship, it must include the desire to be with that person in order to make it be what it should be.

PRAYER Good and gracious God, Your Son has a special relationship with us since he desired to “remain” in us, and we in him. Give us the grace to learn how to remain friends with Him and with those in our special relationships.  Be with us, we pray.

+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT Theme: There will be a real desire to be with another in any true relationship.    DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. What is the best way to “remain” in Jesus? 2. In your opinion, is it difficult to remain in Jesus? Yes or no and why? 3. What is the best way to show to another that you truly want them? 4. What is your definition of a good friend? 5. Do most relationships that are made early on in high school last throughout people’s lives? Yes or no and why? 6. In your opinion, is there ever a time when “being good friends” will not demand that the good friends be together? Yes or no and why? 7. What is your definition of “eternal life”? 8. What does the song “Slow Hands” teach young people?