First Presbyterian Church of Evanston Sermon of the Week

Jesus not only teaches the importance of serving others, he models it by meeting the needs of the blind men. William Barclay said, “More people have been brought into the church by the kindness of real Christian love than by all the the theological arguments in the world.”

Speakers: Sarah Jones/Griffith Parry, Toby Weber/Isabel Cox, Audrey Kermgard/Kendra Klamm, William Jones/Eric Valasco

The resurrection of Jesus is not just a doctrine to believe but it is a redirection of what ultimately matters in this life.

Jesus comes not as a military or political ruler; he comes to rule over the hearts and lives of men and women.

We are made to love. Love of God and love of our neighbor is our mission statement of Christians. The purpose of our lives is the adoration of God and cherishing of human beings.

Questions spur deeper thinking and deeper connection. Jesus used questions not as a confrontational tool, but as a means of clarifying what is inside each person. As we seek to love and engage with people, asking questions is much better than telling people what we think.

All Christians have an important decision to make: do they wait for people to come to them and their churches, or do they go and engage with people where they are, and as they are? Jesus took the latter approach by spending time with those whom the religious leaders considered outcasts.

One of the ways Jesus showed love to people was by listening not just to their words, but also to their hurts. He illustrates this most effectively in his conversation with Nicodemus.

Even before words are spoken, praying for people is the medium that allows us to stand next to those we love. It is very difficult to care for people and their spiritual welfare and not pray for them.

In our relationships with those outside the church and inside the church, believers are urged to live a life worthy/ or to conduct one’s life in such a way that emulates Christ and his death. Such conduct is marked by unity (1:27); suffering (1:29); charity (2:1).