Encounter at Illinois State University / ISU

This “I AM” statement follows after the miraculous feeding of the 5000 in early John 6.  Jesus knows that stomachs are driving the crowds more than their hearts.  We can connect the manna given to the Israelites in Exodus 16 (as Jesus does in John 6:48).  Even with miracles in our eyes, we can still miss the point.  Our souls have a hunger that resembles our stomach’s, which makes the visceral experience of communion that much more powerful of an image.

John 6:35, 48 / Exodus 16:4

John the Baptist gives us a great primer on the Christian life. To learn who we are, we must learn who we’re not. We aren’t the Messiah, even though we’re often great at pretending we are.

(John 1:19-27, Jn 3:30, Zech 9:9, Jn 12:14, Mal 4:5-6, Deut 18:15, Matt 11:9-11, Is 40:3, Matt 23:4, Matt 16:25, Mark 1:4, Acts 13:24, Eph 4:29, James 3:8, Col 3:17, Rom 12:1)

All authority belongs to Jesus, who then turns around and gives authority to us. What are we supposed to do with this calling on our lives? What does it mean to live as a commissioned follower of Jesus? (Matt 28:16-20, Acts 1:8, Rom 12:1, Jn 13:35, Gal 3:27)

And behold, there was a paralyzed man brought by his friends to Jesus. This “interruption” in Jesus’ teaching reveals a powerful lesson on community. When Jesus saw “their” faith (the faith of the man’s friends), spiritual and physical healing is the result. Christian community in its truest form brings others face to face with the living Christ. We are, by nature, carriers of the Gospel, taking it to others and others to it.

Luke 5:17-26; 1 Corinthians 15:9

Sunday AM – Rev 21:2-6 – God is painting a picture for our future where everything leads back to perfection.  What’s more, He’s letting you paint with him.

Saturday AM – Our sin and obstacles are real, but our God is faithful.  Romans 3:23

Friday PM – Gen 1:1 – In the beginning, God chose to create an object for His love.

Behold, the veil was torn.  Many supernatural events happened when Jesus died.  Why all the fuss about a torn curtain?

(Matt 27:45-54, Gen 2:17, Gen 9:11, Gen 17:4, Ex 19:5-6, Ex 26:31-33, Jer 31:31, Lk 22:20, Heb 8:6, Matt 5:17, Num 11:17-25, Deut 34:9, Ps 51:11, I Kings 3:7-12, Joel 2:28-29, Jn 14:25-26, Jn 16:7, Acts 1:4-5, Acts 2:1-4, Psalm 22:1, Eph 3:20, Rom 8:11)

In Luke 7, a tender interaction with Jesus invites us deeper into worship.

(Luke 7:36-50, Rom 3:23, I Jn 1:8, Is 64:6, Matt 22:26-40, Heb 4:16, Ez 36:26, I Jn 3:1)