GracePointe Church of Christ in Elizabethtown, PA

1 John 1:5-10

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Our text today is 1 John1:1-4 and we are exploring the writing of the elder apostle John to the church as they deal with the realities of living the Christian life.  There seems to be a group who is breaking fellowship with the church claiming that they are more spiritual than the church. So, when things get hard, how is the church to respond and what is the church to do?  John writes to guide this group of Jesus followers about such things.  

I think this summary statement by Ian Paul as he reflects on the booklet "Meeting Jesus in John's Gospel: Seven Encounters with Women" by Bridget Baguley says it wonderfully: 

"In all of these ordinary meeting places, and in the extraordinary, God meets with women. He meets them as individuals—not as someone's wife, daughter or mother (not even his own) but as potential disciples—and he expects them to respond just as he expects men to respond. John does not present Jesus as offering a special gospel for women, and nor does he offer such a thing himself. Rather, John chooses to recount episodes that show Jesus including women in the places and roles of God-encounters traditionally reserved for men (as catalyst for God's transforming work, witness to the power of his word, theological discussion partner, responsible for sin and repentance, proclaimer of Christ's divine identity, equal member of the household of God and apostle sent to proclaim the Lord). He uses the stories, words and experiences of women to serve as his own teaching material, as his own evidence for witness to the revelation of God in the person of Jesus. John uses both women and men as paradigms of discipleship and witnesses to the offer of eternal life in Jesus."

John 14:1"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going." 5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." 8 Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." 9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. 12 "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. 15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

John 15:1-11  "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower.  He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit.  You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you.  Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.  Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.  As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.  If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.  I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. 

This sermon explores Jesus' claim that in a long line of unfaithful and even evil leaders of God's people, he is the good shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep.  Join us in exploring this image from John 10.  

This sermon looks at the image used by Jesus as he claims to the be the door of the sheep.  It is a beautiful image that empowers us to live, move, and be who we were made to be.  Join us as we explore John 10 and the notion that Jesus provides and protects his flock.  

Tim McCloskey explores the second I AM statement of Jesus in the Gospel of John and encourages us to live in the Light of Jesus!  This sermon focuses on a passage in John 8 before Jesus heals the man born blind in John 9.  Tim gets to the heart of Jesus' use of the "I AM" in that it connects Jesus to God in a direct and special way.  Enjoy this take on I AM the Light the of the World...

The first sermon in a series on the 7 I AM statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John, this sermon takes us searching for what it means to find satisfaction in living the life of Christ.  

This sermon covers the raising of Lazarus to life in John 11, the seventh sign of John.  In this narrative, we see the power of God to overcome the grave and death.  So, join us as we explore one of the most hopeful and reassuring aspects of Jesus - the resurrection.