The idol of comfort promises a life of ease where you can enjoy whatever you want without having to make any sacrifices. Unfortunately, the idol of comfort always disappoints. Thankfully, Jesus offers a better way. First, Jesus actually invites us into discomfort in order to carry out his internal work of maturation as well as his missional work of multiplication. Secondly, Jesus provides us with true comfort. Unlike the world's comfort which is flimsy and fleeting, Jesus' comfort brings true peace which calms troubled hearts and casts out all fear because Jesus' comfort comes with Jesus' very presence.

We are starting a new topical series for a few weeks on the "idols of the heart". Through this series, we will explore the things in our lives that can be stumbling blocks to our call of seeking Christ first. For the first teaching, we will be looking at various passages to explore how our Family can actually be a big idol of our heart. Then we will see how Christ frees us by calling us to a greater discipleship. And lastly, how Christ redeems and heals us in our family relationships.

Jesus is the Great "I Am". He is not merely a good teacher or a traveling rabbi, but He is God in the flesh. The eternal God has stepped into humanity so that all who believe in Him would be liberated from sin and enjoy true freedom in Him. The key question is: do you believe who Jesus says He is?

Jesus is the True Vine. As the True Vine, Jesus unites His people to Himself so that they can enjoy true life and bear much fruit. As branches, our role is to abide in Jesus. We can abide in Jesus as we regularly partake in the Word and prayer, as we engage in loving and joyful obedience, and as we love others with Christ's love.

Jesus is the Way. As the Way, Jesus provides exclusive access to our true home with the Father. He opens up the avenue for sinful people to dwell with the holy God through his work on the cross. Since Jesus is the Way, we should know the Way, trust the Way, and walk the Way.

Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. He has defeated our ultimate enemy, death itself. Therefore, we can confidently die to self and experience the power of the resurrection life.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. As the Good Shepherd, Jesus exemplifies sacrificial commitment for his sheep, enjoys relational intimacy with his sheep, exhibits a missional impulse to find lost sheep, and exercises victorious authority over death to save his sheep. Because Jesus is the Good Shepherd we can wholeheartedly follow after Him.

Jesus is the Door. As the Door, Jesus provides protection in the midst of danger and Jesus provides entrance into a flourishing life. As such, we can take great risks for Christ because we are truly safe in His arms and we can enjoy great rest in Christ because we have true abundance through Him.

Jesus is the light of the world. As the light of the world, Jesus reveals the Father, so that we can rightly understand who God is. As the light of the world, Jesus exposes our sin, and thus lovingly invites us to confess and to repent of our sins. As the light of the world, Jesus leads us out of darkness, so that we have the hope that one day all will be bright and darkness will be no more.

For this Sunday, we will look at Jesus' declaration that he is the Bread of Life. We will see how Jesus teaches us that there is a false "bread" that will never satisfy, a "bread of life" that provides the ultimate satisfaction, and how we might receive this bread of life.