C&YA

Following the account of the woman caught in adultery, Jesus continues teaching, and His words—full of both wisdom and mercy—cause a division among His listeners. Only a few remain who appear to believe, but their belief is shallow. They see Him as a prophet, perhaps even the Messiah, but not as the Son of God. In today’s sermon, we explore the question: What keeps people from moving beyond mere intellectual belief? What barriers prevent them from experiencing true salvation and stepping into genuine discipleship? And what might be hindering us personally from fully following Christ?

Mercy isn't just about the command to 'go and sin no more'—it’s about the invitation: 'He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness.'

At the Feast of Tabernacles, the debate over Jesus’ identity as Messiah reaches a climax. On the final day, He issues a bold invitation: 'If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.' In this week's sermon, we unpack what it means to have 'living water' and consider Nicodemus as a model of trusting God for the souls of others.

In this passage, the Jews in Jerusalem are outraged by the perceived inaction of their religious leaders. Many among the crowd are eager to see Jesus arrested and even killed, disturbed by His "unorthodox" teachings and miraculous works—particularly one performed on the Sabbath. They challenge His identity by questioning His origins, insisting that someone from His background could not possibly be the Messiah. Yet, Jesus’ interaction with them reveals how He resists temptation and pride, offering us a deeper understanding of what it means to be rooted not in earthly identity, but in a heavenly calling.

The Jewish people are gathered together in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of the Tabernacles, but behind closed doors they are curious about whether or not they will catch a glimpse of the man some are calling Messiah. They all seem to have differing ideas about Jesus but most are too afraid to discuss them openly. About halfway through the celebrations, Jesus presents himself and begins teaching but is soon confronted by his naysayers. What can be learned by the decisions Jesus makes? What can be learned by his response to the men who oppose him? What does it mean to judge or discern righteously?

As Jesus goes to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles, the Bible gives us a glimpse into how the people in Jerusalem for perceiving Jesus. In our sermon, we discuss the differing and often unresolved views that people have of Jesus and how we as Christians can encourage the lost to work through their questions surrounding the gospel.