CCF Sunday Messages

Continuing our study of John, we are in the midst of a long conversation between Jesus and the religious leaders in Jerusalem. In this section Jesus makes a claim that "truth will set you free"--what did they (and we!) need set free from? The bondage of sin--when we commit sin it takes control of us and we become its slave. As hard as it was for the religious leaders to hear this message, it is hard for us today--we want to say "we have never been a slave to anyone!", but if we are in sin, we are being mastered by it, but Jesus has the truth that will set us free!

As we continue through the discussion underway in John chapter 8, in verses 21-30 Jesus and the religious leaders cover some difficult ground--Jesus makes it clear that if they don't believe that he is the "I AM", they will die in their sins. Steve covered the common misconception that "God sends people to hell"--rather, we understand from Jesus that people who reject the cure for the disease of sin are the ones who choose hell by refusing the free antidote to the problem of sin found in Jesus.

As we continue through the discussion underway in John chapter 8, in verses 21-30 Jesus and the religious leaders cover some difficult ground--Jesus makes it clear that if they don't believe that he is the "I AM", they will die in their sins. Steve covered the common misconception that "God sends people to hell"--rather, we understand from Jesus that people who reject the cure for the disease of sin are the ones who choose hell by refusing the free antidote to the problem of sin found in Jesus.

Continuing our study through John, we reach the second "I am" statement from Jesus midway through chapter 8: "I am the light of the world!" Pastor Steve expressed the pictures that "light" and "darkness" bring, both in our tangible world, but also the concepts in the spiritual realm. Living in darkness is impossible when we allow the light to shine into our lives, and Jesus wants to be the light that dispels darkness in our lives and in every corner of the globe!

Continuing our study through John, we reach the second "I am" statement from Jesus midway through chapter 8: "I am the light of the world!" Pastor Steve expressed the pictures that "light" and "darkness" bring, both in our tangible world, but also the concepts in the spiritual realm. Living in darkness is impossible when we allow the light to shine into our lives, and Jesus wants to be the light that dispels darkness in our lives and in every corner of the globe!

Who do you thank when you sit down to Thanksgiving dinner? Who allowed you and enabled you to be blessed in the ways that you are? God speaks to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 8 of the danger of forgetting how and why our blessings came to us--especially after a time of want and need when we cried out to God and realized our dependence on Him. As our life is blessed, maybe because we cried out to Him, the warning from God is to not forget that He is the one who enabled those blessings as you find yourself in a better place due to His grace and mercy!

Who do you thank when you sit down to Thanksgiving dinner? Who allowed you and enabled you to be blessed in the ways that you are? God speaks to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 8 of the danger of forgetting how and why our blessings came to us--especially after a time of want and need when we cried out to God and realized our dependence on Him. As our life is blessed, maybe because we cried out to Him, the warning from God is to not forget that He is the one who enabled those blessings as you find yourself in a better place due to His grace and mercy!

Pastor Steve briefly closed out the remaining verses of John 7, and covered in detail the story of the woman caught in adultery in John 8. What a powerful story--where again the tables are turned on the religious leaders, who believe they finally have a slam dunk way to discredit Jesus. While it was never about the woman (it was about their trapping Jesus), Jesus again shows the power of His grace to bring forgiveness where there is shame and sinfulness!

Pastor Steve briefly closed out the remaining verses of John 7, and covered in detail the story of the woman caught in adultery in John 8. What a powerful story--where again the tables are turned on the religious leaders, who believe they finally have a slam dunk way to discredit Jesus. While it was never about the woman (it was about their trapping Jesus), Jesus again shows the power of His grace to bring forgiveness where there is shame and sinfulness!

As Jesus has attended the Feast of Tabernacles on his own time and terms, He is now in direct conversation with the religious leaders and the gathered Jews attending the feast. Many are arguing and trying to resolve his "origin"--the Messiah would just appear, but they know where Jesus is from? The leaders are angered at his claims and responses which put them to shame. But--it is his statement on the last day of the feast that grabs the scene: Whoever is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! Are you thirsty? Come to Him and find yourself overflowing with His Spirit as you believe and trust in Him.