Harvest Church

Because of Jesus

In John 14:1-14, Jesus’ words to his disciples give hope, assurance, and confidence. It is good for us to consider how Jesus says, “Let not your hearts be troubled…” (14:1). Do not be troubled, but have hope. How can we have hope when Jesus is going away? Answer: We have the promise that we will have the presence of Jesus: “…I will come again and will take you to myself.”

No matter what we face in this life, we have the sure promise of our Savior. He will come for us. We will be with him forever. While we wait, we have the confidence to pray and ask for help. Hope, assurance, and confidence are ours because of Jesus.

Sermon by: Blake Hickman, Guest Preacher

In John 13:31-38, we see that the cross of Christ defines the glory of God. That is, it makes the glory of God visible. To see glory, we look to the cross. We also see that the cross of Christ defines our love for one another. We are to love one another “just as” Christ loved us. How did he love us? He died on the cross for us- as a sacrificial substitute in our place! We are to love another that way.

Finally, we saw that the cross of Christ defines our strength. Why strength? Because loving one another requires supernatural power. We cannot love one another like Christ loves us on our own. We need his help. We need to constantly look to, and remember, the cross of Christ.

Preacher: Matthew Poole, Lead Pastor

In John 13:21-30, God warns us by his Word.

We see Jesus, in plain language, warn his disciples that one of them would betray him (v. 21) and none of the disciples replied, “Is it Judas?” Not one of the disciples expected Judas. While many imagine Judas to be a “spy” working deceitfully from the beginning of Jesus’ ministry (a spy even unknown to Jesus), what is more likely is that Judas reaped what he had sown. For the more we give ourselves to sin, the more powerful sin becomes. As J.C. Ryle writes, “He that allows Satan to sow wicked thoughts will soon find within his heart a crop of wicked habits” (Ryle, Expository Thoughts on John, Vol. 3, p. 24).

Yet, despite the tragic betrayal of Jesus by Judas, we see that Jesus is sovereign over even Satan’s deception. For, by this betrayal, Jesus would work salvation and victory through his death and resurrection.

Sermon by: Matthew Poole, Lead Pastor

In John 13:1-20, we see one of the most profound passages in the entire Bible: Jesus' hour has come. He is returning to the Father and all the glory that he laid aside when he took on flesh. In this profound moment, Jesus takes a towel and washes feet. The Sovereign King takes the lowest place and would soon suffer on a cross for sinners as the suffering servant. He came to serve.

It is fitting that, in this moment, we hang on every word that Jesus says. He says, "Do you understand what I have done to you?" (Jn. 13:12). He has gave an example for us to follow (Jn. 13:15). He calls us to serve like him. Wash feet. Take the low place. The Sovereign King sends us to serve.

Sermon By: Matthew Poole, Lead Pastor

In John 12:36-50, we are forced to answer this all-important question: What will we do with God’s Word? For what we do with God’s Word reveals our hearts and determines our future.

In John 12:20-36, we see that Jesus' "hour" has come. There is a heaviness to this text. The long-awaited hour has come. As J.C. Ryle writes, "Our Lord...came to carry a cross, and not to wear a crown...The kingdom he came to set up was to begin with a crucifixion, and not with a coronation" (Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John Vol. 2, p. 242).

The reason that he laid aside glory, took on flesh, and dwelt among mankind is clear: "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified" (12:23). But how is he to be glorified? He is to be glorified through his death. And how does his death bring him glory? His death draws all mankind to himself. His death was the seed that died to produce the harvest.

And how do we respond? We believe in him. We believe in the Light, and no longer walk in darkness (12:36).

Blake Hickman, Guest Preacher

In John 12:12-19, we see the triumphal entry and are confronted with a penetrating question: Who is wearing the crown in your life? You or Jesus? Our hearts naturally resist Jesus’ kingship as we grasp for control, glory, and our own way. We want to wear the crown.

We are not unlike the crowd in John 12. In fact, the same crowds who welcomed Jesus with shouts of “Hosanna!” would soon shout “Crucify him!” Why? Because Jesus was not the king they wanted or expected- he did not come to serve their agenda.

Jesus came as the sin-battling, sin-bearing, sin-conquering King who was victorious by his death on the cross and resurrection. He is a good King and can be trusted with our lives. He is worthy of the crown.

Sermon by: Matthew Poole, Lead Pastor

In John 11:55-12:11, we consider how we see Jesus affects how we respond to Jesus. If he is the Son of God then he is to be worshiped and our worship of him is not waste. More personally, if he is your treasure then your worship of him is not waste- it is faith-fueled response to who he is.

Sermon by: Matthew Poole, Lead Pastor

We all want to experience unending joy. It is a lived reality common to every living person, so much so that we spend every waking moment in pursuit of pleasure. But the greatest obstacle to unending joy is death, another reality common to every one of us.

In John 11:1-54, we see that Jesus not only gives resurrection and life, but is resurrection and life. He is life and gives that life to us through his own death. He died that we might live.

Sermon by: Matthew Poole, Lead Pastor

Matthew Poole, Lead Pastor

In John 10:22-42, we see Jesus make one of the most astonishing claims in the entire Bible: “I and the Father are one.” With this claim, Jesus is not simply a man making himself to be God. He is God taking on flesh in human form. C.S. Lewis famously suggests only three options for interpreting Jesus’ claim to be God - he is either a liar and therefore not trustworthy or good, a lunatic who is disconnected from reality, or he is Lord.

The Pharisees picked up stones to kill Jesus. This is blasphemy.

Jesus responds not with condemnation, but with an invitation to believe- “even if you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father."

He gives an invitation that can transform a blasphemer into a worshiper. He gives that invitation still today.