“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God (Jn. 1:1).”

Main Idea: John has recorded the works of Jesus, that we might have life in Jesus. Hope & Life have a name and that name is Jesus.

I. Do you believe Jesus to be your hope, your Messiah?

1. Jesus, at the wedding feast in Cana, turns 230 gallons of water into the best wine.

2. Jesus heals the official’s son while being in a completely different town from the boy.

3. Jesus healed the man who had no use of his legs for 38 years at the pool of Bethesda.

4. Jesus feeds 5,000 men, and no telling how many women and children with 5 barley loaves and two fish and has 12 baskets full of leftovers.

5. Jesus appears to his disciples walking on the sea of Galilee.

6. He heals the man born blind.

7. Jesus raised Lazarus to life with the power of these words, “Lazarus, come out.”

II. It is foolish to not believe Jesus as your Messiah.

III. Are you experiencing the life of Jesus?

Main Idea: God is kind enough to meet us in our doubt and lead us into faith.

1. The Reality of Doubt: Doubt is normal and offensive. v.24-26

2. The Resolver of Doubt: Peace and Touch 26-27

John 14:1, Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

verse 27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither be afraid.”

Romans 5:1 “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Isaiah 53 “he was pierced for our transgression, crushed for our iniquities, upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace.

3. The Response to Doubt: Believe 28-29

Main Idea: Our encouragement is to be found in Christ’s peace, promises, and purpose for our lives.

#1 Our encouragement is to be found in the peace that Christ offers (vv.19-21)

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (John 20:19-21)

#2 Our encouragement is to be found in the promises of Christ (vv.21b-22)

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. (John 20:21-22)

“As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:4-5)

#3 Our encouragement is to be found in Christ’s purpose for our lives (v.23)

If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” (John 20:23)

And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” (Mark 2:5-7,10-11)

Today's Scripture: John 20:1-18

The resurrection tells us: God has NOT left you, nor FORSAKEN you! You can give your life to Him for He IS true life!

I. The resurrected Jesus overwhelms and dispels our unbelief.

“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?.” (Psalm 13:1)

“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me…Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” (I Corinthians 15:1-8, 12-14)

Jesus has the last word!

II. The resurrected Jesus is the only hope that can truly overwhelm and dispel our unbelief.

Faith is not a one-time event, but an ongoing struggle.

“’Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’ And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’” (Revelation 21:3-5)

III. The resurrected Jesus is a Savior you can know.

“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7)

“I have seen the Lord.” (John 20:18)

I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

(1 Corinthians 15:50-58)

Main Idea: God uses painful moments to help us die to our temporary kingdoms so we may LIVE fully for His Kingdom.

Today's Scripture (John 19:38-42)

1. The darkness of this world cannot & will not overcome the Light of God.

In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-5

2. No matter what happens, Jesus is still king and his kingdom is coming.

Verse 38, “After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body.”

3. Jesus’ burial is the assurance that he has conquered death and is able to give everlasting life. v41-42

John 12:24 “unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone: but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away and the sea was no more. I saw the holy city, coming down out of heaven from God. I heard a loud voice saying Behold the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them and they will be his people. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain… the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. Revelations 21:1-4,23

Today's Scripture John 19:31-37

Main Idea:

God accomplished His promise of our redemption in Christ so that we can anchor our lives in Him.

Point #1 Christ accomplished our redemption in spite of our rebellious hearts towards Him. (v.31)

31 Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away (John 19:31)

It is the Lord's Passover. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. 13 The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:12-13)

Point #2 Christ accomplished our redemption undoubtedly (vv.32-34)

So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. (John 19:32-34)

Point #3 Christ accomplished our redemption to lead us to trust in Him. (vv. 35-37)

He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.” (John 19:35-37)

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10)

Today, the DTC staff continue to discuss how Christians can engage with the world regarding sex and sexuality.

Big Idea: As a community of believers transformed by Jesus’ accomplishment on the cross, we must be a Believing and Christ-loving community.

1. Not succumb to pretentiousness

2. Love on purpose

3. Confess our vulnerabilities

Main idea: Jesus suffering on the cross is evidence that he is a present, loving, and sovereign King. 

Main Application: So, in our times of suffering, look up at the cross of Jesus to find the strength and comfort needed to endure.

I. Jesus carried a cross, and commands His followers to carry one too. (Present)

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:26-27)

II. The Cross proves that Jesus is the reigning King who you can trust. (Sovereign)

“There are times when we are called to believe, not because of, but in spite of. To Follow Jesus is to take up a cross, and that means there may be moments when life’s circumstances contradict our claims as surely as they did for Jesus at Calvary.”

III. The Cross lovingly invites us to bring all of our emotions (good and bad) to receive strength and hope to endure. 

Today, the DTC staff recap the recently concluded "Sexual Wholeness" series, and discuss how Christians can engage with the world regarding sex and sexuality.