1. A Special Relationship
John 15:12-16

2. Natural disasters and national tragedies have a way of defining priorities…
The priority of saving lives becomes evident
Common folks become heroes
Neighbors and strangers become acquainted
Philosophical constructs and political agendas disappear
The value of human possessions diminishes and the value of human life heightens

3. Life is refined to its most basic and essential importance
The value of life, love and relationships always rises to the top
In our text today, the matter of life’s priorities also rise to the top
It turns out that possessions, status, position, occupation, and gender are not the most defining features we have

4. I. The Required Quality of Love
“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:12–13, NKJV)

5. A. Our love for one another is to be patterned after Christ’s
This is identified as a command for His followers
Jn 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”” (John 13:34–35, NKJV)
This is identified as a comparative expectation

6. B. The love of Christ is exemplified in His sacrifice for us
Personal sacrifice for another is a superlative act
Rom 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (NKJV)
Personal sacrifice for another is a notable pursuit
1 Cor 5:14 “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;” (NKJV)

7. II. The New Quality of Friendship
“You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:14–15, NKJV)

8. A. The designation of friends includes expectations
There is a strict call for obedience to Christ
Rom 5:10 “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” (NKJV)
There is an expectation for an established relationship

9. B. The designation of friends includes communication
There is a progression from servant hood to friendship
Our servant relationship with Christ is noble in itself
The friendship status is an even stronger relationship
It is based on special communication with Him

10. III. The Defining Quality of Selection
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” (John 15:16, NKJV)

11. A. We are the distinct objects of God’s selection
The disciples were intentionally selected
All believers are the objects of God’s selective process
Eph 1:4 “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,” (NKJV)
We are selected to bear fruit for His service & our good

12. B. We are the privileged recipients of Christ’s blessing in prayer
We are expected to bear lasting fruit
1 Cor 3:14 “If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.” (NKJV)
We are expected to request consistent gifts
We have a special relationship with God in Christ
How does love drive you in the daily routine of life?