When Divine Delay MattersSermon Series: Believe

Jesus: One With The FatherSermon Series: BelieveIntroduction: And so we come to verses 22-42 of John chapter 10. Jesus is still continuing to stake His claim as the true shepherd and Redeemer of Israel by claiming that He and God the Father are One—and the Pharisees are still groping in the darkness—as blind as ever in their unbelief. We’ll dig deep into the text by studying five themes.

Jesus: The Good ShepherdSermon Series: BelieveIntroduction: Today we begin our study of John 10:1-22 with the prophet Ezekiel’s insight into the contrast between the false shepherds of Israel (Eze 34:2-10) and the promised true shepherd, Israel’s long awaited Messiah— Jesus Christ. Jesus brings this contrast and conflict to real life as He responds to allegations and challenges of Israel’s false shepherds—the religious leaders known as the Pharisees.

Jesus: The Healer of Spiritual BlindnessSermon Series: BelieveIntroduction: All of us have experienced life’s little disappointments and struggles, but what would you do if faced with the overwhelming condition of total blindness? What if you were born that way? What if you didn’t know what light was…if you could not comprehend what a clear blue sky or sunrise looked like? With the backdrop of blindness, Jesus performed the only miracle recorded of someone with a sickness from birth. This historic miracle reveals the infinitely greater miracle that Jesus does for the spiritually blind who trust in Him.

Jesus: The Great I AmSermon Series: BelieveIntroduction: Today’s message is the continuation of the hot debate between Jesus and the religious authorities in Jerusalem. Their accusations descend to an all-time low when they accuse Jesus, the Son of God, of being demonized. The exchange crescendos to a climactic point when Jesus reveals Himself to be the great I am God who revealed Himself to Moses in the burning bush. This exchange is a classic warning of how easily people can be blind to the truth that sets them free and how quickly they can be deceived into thinking they are real children of God when they are actually lost and in the grip of the devil.

Jesus: The Light of the WorldSermon Series: BelieveIntroduction: Today’s message should come as a warning to anyone who believes that they can find their way through life and to eternity without Jesus. In John 8, the Jewish religious authorities who oppose Jesus are an example of people who think they are right but have no idea that they are headed for disaster.

Jesus the Sympathetic Savior of SinnersSermon Series: BelieveIntroduction: Of all the public scandals that rivet people’s attention there is nothing quite so universally fascinating as a sex scandal. Whether it is a fallen religious figure, political leader or pop icon, typically someone will quote Jesus’ famous words found in John 8, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” Perhaps our fascination with this story is a statement of how personal this sin is to our human condition, but it is also a statement of how great God’s power is to forgive us.

Jesus: The Fountain of Living WaterSermon Series: BelieveIntroduction: Sometimes I wonder if some Christians are skilled at putting on a good front but guilty of spiritual inauthenticity. They are not real. As Christians we make claims of following Jesus the fountain of living water, but to what extent do the rivers of living water actually flow from your innermost being? For too many Christians, the idea of a spiritual artesian well bubbling up from inside, flowing out to other people, is a spiritual Pipe Dream.

Jesus at the Feast of the TabernaclesSermon Series: BelieveIntroduction: In John 7 we come to a pivotal moment in Jesus’ life that surrounds an annual event of the Jews…the Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast of Tabernacles was a huge event where Jews constructed temporary shelters (booths) and remembered God’s presence and provision during the wilderness wandering under Moses. Think of it as a massive camp-out. At the time of this feast Jesus faced a growing opposition from the Jewish religious authorities and even from his own family. Despite this rising tide of hostility, Jesus revealed more about Himself and God’s plan of salvation for mankind.

Not Everyone Walks AwaySermon Series: BelieveIntroduction: If you’ve been a Christian for a while, you’ve known people who professed faith in Christ, who seemed to follow Him for some time, but then they fell away. There are many starting points that go on to become full blown defections from God. Today’s message will help you understand the phenomenon of three basic kinds of people and how they respond to Jesus and His message.