Christian Sermons from Calvary Chapel Greenmeadow, North Kingstown, RI

Are we thirsty for truth? Jesus taught that there is only one place to go to quench that thirst. Drinking the Living Water not only refreshes us, but also helps us to be fruitful. In doing so, we gain the blessing of being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Many are deceived, believing they have the keys to knowledge, but God reveals His truth to the simple. Christians should expect criticism and even persecution for their simple faith. There will always be a great divide between believers and the world.

Jesus has important things to say and we should listen to Him. No one else has the way to eternal life. Are we too busy and distracted to read His word?

Jesus did not seek His own honor. Instead He taught the people what the Father wanted them to do. To be teachable, it is most important to have a heart to know God and not just strive for head knowledge. Surrender your will and obey Him today.

Jesus' brothers wanted to send Jesus on a public relations campaign after many turned away from Him. Jesus, though, is about love, and not about fame. Like Jesus, we need to be on God's timing, not man's. If you want to be first, you need to be last.

Jesus does not force anyone to stay with Him, but if you leave, to what do you return? Sin, religion, work, and other distractions are not where we will find the peace that Jesus provides. To leave Him is to find desolation, ruin, and death.

By declaring the Lord as our shepherd, we are expressing confidence in His ability to comfort us in all things. The sheep that stay near the shepherd are never hungry or thirsty, and they never get lost. Are you listening for His voice? Do what it says!

It is difficult when the foundation of the basis for our pride is stripped away, but Jesus tells us that the Spirit is necessary for understanding and it is by the Spirit that we are saved. Any reliance on our knowledge or religious observance is a trap.

As the saying goes, "you are what you eat." We are to consume Jesus. Jesus uses this difficult metaphor to expose the pride of the Pharisees who would not accept its clear meaning. It also foreshadows His ultimate sacrifice for us on the cross.

When we complain, we are expressing a lack of trust in the way God does things. Complaining sets up a pattern of constant dissatisfaction and has spiritual and physical consequences. We must humbly learn to trust Him to be content.