How many people have searched for that elusive goal – that Olympic medal, that big hit song, or that starring role in a blockbuster movie – and never reached it? But today, Pastor Mark asks us to consider those who did reach it – yet didn’t find the satisfaction they expected. Because they were looking in the wrong place. The Samaritan woman came to Jacob’s well to get some physical water. Jesus offered her something better, something that would bring real and eternal satisfaction: His living water. Today, Pastor Mark presents you with that same choice: where will you go to find the water that will truly … and eternally … satisfy you?

When Jesus spoke with the Samaritan woman at the well, she was only looking for earthly satisfaction. But Jesus offered her something eternal – His living water. Today, Pastor Mark breaks down this well-known conversation to show how Jesus evangelized the people He met in his day-to-day experiences on Earth. When you read how Jesus shared His good news, it can be a little intimidating. After all, He’s Jesus! And you’re just … you. But with Pastor Mark’s encouragement, you’ll find that it’s not as overwhelming as it may sometimes seem. You can affect people for Jesus, just as He Himself did. By following His example. 

All around us, as we walk through our places of work, or school, or neighborhood, we come into contact with people who don’t know Jesus. It can be a little overwhelming, but today, Pastor Mark shares the best possible example of how to present Jesus, by showing us how Jesus Himself presented His good news. It’s easy to get our minds and our schedules completely filled up with our own things. And we can forget about those around us who need the good news of forgiveness. You can be God’s witness to His world. Today, Pastor Mark clearly lays out a plan for how you can do it – simply by imitating the way Jesus did it.

God gave John the Baptist a ministry unlike any other in history. He was to prepare the way for the coming Messiah. And when Jesus was revealed to John, John announced Jesus to the world. And as Pastor Mark shares today, John knew when it was time for his role to fade out. And He was grateful for that. It’s easy to look at other churches, or other ministries in our church, or even other people in our ministry, and wonder “Why?” Why them, and not us… or me? Today, Pastor Mark reminds us that God appoints whom He wants, where He wants, and when He wants. So, be encouraged: God does a role for you.

Before Jesus started His public ministry, God sent his cousin, John the Baptist, to prepare the way. And John understood his role clearly. But as Pastor Mark explains today, some of John’s followers weren’t quite as sure. So, when Jesus came on the scene, and people started going to Him, they became a little disturbed. When you see people who seem to be having more impact for the kingdom of God than you do, how does that make you feel? Do you rejoice that God’s work is being done, or do you wonder why God isn’t doing more through you? Today, Pastor Mark explains how you can make yourself more available to God.

As Pastor Mark continues his teaching series through the Gospel of John, he’ll be encouraging you to walk in the grace of God and in His forgiveness. The enemy will always try to make you feel guilty for your sin- but remember you're forgiven of all your past, present, and future sins! Be encouraged that although you’ve lived a past life of sin, you now have the power of the Holy Spirit to be molded more and more into the image of Jesus. Sin no longer has dominion over you! You have been transformed into a new creation in Jesus, the old man has passed away and the Lord is making you new. 

Today, Pastor Mark will be explaining to you how everyone born has a sin nature because of the original sin of Adam and Eve. Everyone has a natural inclination to sin and rebel against God, it’s only until you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior- do you receive a born again nature that desires to live for the Lord. As a Christian, you're filled with the Holy Spirit who’s working within you to help mold you more and more into the image of Jesus. Unfortunately, you still have a sin nature but now you also have the Holy Spirit empowering you to say no to sin and to live for God. You're being transformed from glory to glory! 

As Pastor Mark continues his teaching series through the Gospel of John, he’ll be explaining that those who sincerely received Jesus as their Lord and Savior, have also received the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has come to live within you and has sealed you until the Day of Redemption! The works of the Holy Spirit in someone's life are very evident. You can be addicted to drugs, and yet when the Holy Spirit comes to live within you, you now have the ability to say no to that sin! The only evidence someone has truly been saved is a transformed life by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Today, Pastor Mark will be reminding you that Jesus is way more than a good teacher and a powerful prophet, He is indeed the Messiah, God in the flesh. Many religious leaders of Jesus’ day knew who He was, yet they still wanted to hold onto their positions of power and rejected Him! Even today, many know deep down that Jesus is the Messiah, yet they dismiss Him so that they can continue to live in their sins. You can preach the Gospel to the lost, but can’t force someone to choose to receive the Lord as their own personal Savior. Continue to pray for the lost, and don’t give up ministering. 

As Pastor Mark continues his teaching series through the Gospel of John, he’ll be reminding you that this life on Earth is temporary along with all the suffering and hardships. In Heaven, you’ll have a new glorified body and you’ll never have to deal with sin and the temptations of the devil again! There are great differences between our earthly bodies and our resurrected bodies. Contrasting our earthly bodies with the splendor of our heavenly (resurrected) bodies, Paul says, “The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory.