At the Feast of Tabernacles each year, the Jews would light four massive menorahs, each fed by four basins of oil, to illuminate the temple. It was a reminder of the pillar of fire that led their ancestors out of slavery. So imagine the uproar when Jesus stood up at this feast and said, “I AM the Light of the world,” and went on to claim equality with the God of their fathers. Discover the real reason why the religious leaders of Israel couldn’t understand Jesus’ identity.

The familiar story of "The Woman Caught in Adultery," at first glance, seems to show us a Jesus who defends a sinner in opposition to the Law of Moses. Many love this story because Jesus confronts the hypocrisy of religious leaders. Others love this story because Jesus tells the adulterous woman to stop sinning. But what is this story really intended to communicate about the Gospel?

After seven days of the water pouring ceremony at the Feast of Booths, Jesus cried out on the eighth day, promising an eternal stream of water to anyone who thirsted and believed in him. This signified that he was not only the source of salvation, but also the source of satisfaction and the Spirit.

When Jesus went up to Jerusalem for the Feast of Booths, there was significant disagreement over his identity. Many just wanted a Messiah they could use for their own ends. Many were curious, but not convinced. Many more overtly hated and rejected him. But there are three keys in this story to receiving Jesus on his own terms, inviting us to answer, “What will you do with Jesus?”

Community with other Christians sounds easy . . . in theory. But day-to-day life is messy because real people come with real problems. This message explores the kinds of conflict that are common in church life, where conflict comes from (why it happens), and how conflict can be resolved in a way that honors both God and our imperfect brothers and sisters in Christ.

The New Testament is loaded with illustrations and images of church life. Each shares a unique facet of our life together, while also helping to reinforce some basic but vitally important themes about the church. Collectively these images remind us that we are completely dependent on the Lord and we are, by our very nature, connected to one another.

What is the premise of church -- that is, what is the ground, the basis, of our coming together in the first place? And what is our purpose -- what is the objective, the goal of our gathering together? How you answer these questions will set your expectations for what church should be like, what church should be doing and talking about. The Bible is clear that the church exists by the grace of God for the glory of God and the pursuit of Christlikeness.

The root of sin is a heart that doesn't fear the Lord. If God doesn't matter, then the mind thinks selfish and self-deceived thoughts, producing harmful, untruthful, sinful behaviors. In stark contrast, the person who fears the Lord experiences his steadfast love and faithfulness, his righteousness and justice, his costly rescue, and an abundance of blessings.

In this imprecatory Psalm, David asks God to defend him from his enemies and to vindicate him in the end. Instead of taking vengeance into his own hands, he entrusts himself to the future, perfect justice of God.

This fascinating Psalm is grounded in the historic story of David acting like a madman in order to escape from Abimelech (found in 1 Samuel 21). But it's written as an acrostic, designed to teach future generations about the fear of the LORD as the solution to fear.