We live such fast-paced lives that when we finish one thing, we often just move on to the next thing without reflecting or taking note of what we’ve just done. However, as we conclude our study of John’s gospel, we’re going to take the time to review it and reflect on lessons God taught us through our study. As we do this, we share the mindset of the worshiping psalmist who wrote, “I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old.” (Ps. 77:11)

Some people have certain expectations of what it’s going to be like to follow Jesus. But when their expectations aren’t met, they may turn back and stop following him. In the conclusion of the gospel of John, we learn from Jesus and John’s own comments what disciples should expect as they follow Jesus. Knowing these can help people continue walking with Jesus for their entire life.

We live in a label obsessed culture. There are useful labels that inform us on what is in our food and there are unfair and misleading labels that we tend to give ourselves or others. We exist in an environment that wants to know “how we identify” or what is our preferred pronoun. Our challenge as people created in God’s image is to somehow let His character mark us to the extent that He identifies himself in us. We’ll find out how to do that this Sunday.

Some have the perspective that the most important thing in the Christian life is duty–where life in Jesus is all about obeying him out of duty. But the Bible provides the perspective that the most important thing in the Christian life isn’t actually duty, but love. And love for Jesus will actually lead disciples to obey Jesus. Join our study in John 21:15-17, to learn how Jesus reorients a disciple’s heart toward love for him and care for others. It can help reorient our hearts that way, too.

Some people have the experience of being bored in church, thinking that Christianity is primarily about people getting saved, and once they’re saved, there’s nothing else for them. But Christianity is primarily about God being glorified by saving sinners and shaping those he saves to have the character of his Son, where they love God more than anything else. That’s Jesus’ work of sanctifying believers through discipleship. We find through John 21:1-14 that since Jesus is risen, he provides ongoing discipleship for his disciples. His ministry to his disciples never ends.