Wednesday Night Gathering

Series: Acts

Teacher: Zach Martin

🐑 Watching and Waiting for a Shepherd | Christmas Message 2025

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Join us as we explore the beautiful and profound title of Jesus the Good Shepherd and its connection to the Christmas story.The Christmas season is a time to celebrate and remember the first coming of Christ—God becoming flesh to save sinners. This event is described as humble majesty. The title "Good Shepherd" encapsulates this concept of humble majesty, combining gentleness and care with divine authority and royalty.We connect the dots between the Old Testament prophecies and the New Testament fulfillment by studying three key passages:John 10:11: Jesus proclaims, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep". This title conveys humility, gentleness, and care, but also divinity and royalty, referencing the Messianic imagery throughout the Old Testament.Jeremiah 23: We examine the failure of earthly shepherds, God's promise to personally intervene and gather His flock, and the prophecy of the coming righteous King—a "righteous branch" from the line of David. This coming Shepherd-King would be called "The Lord is our righteousness".Luke 2: The narrative of Jesus's birth in Bethlehem—the city of the shepherd-king David—screams the "aesthetic of shepherd," with the manger and the angels appearing to shepherds. The angelic announcement to the shepherds proclaims Jesus's humility (born this day) and his majesty (Savior, Christ the Lord, rightful heir to David's throne).The prophecy that "The Lord is our righteousness" is fulfilled in the Good Shepherd, who lays down his life so that His righteousness becomes ours, giving us peace with God.We are urged to respond this Christmas season by proclaiming the humble majesty of the Good Shepherd, worshipping what He has done, and sharing the need for Jesus Christ with others.Sermon Scripture Passages:John 10:11 Jeremiah 23:1-8 Luke 2:1-20 If you've been blessed by this message, please subscribe and share it with a friend!

The Faithfulness of God | Vernon Smith at Heritage Baptist Church

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Join Vernon Smith as he delivers a powerful message on the profound and unchanging Faithfulness of God.

Drawing from personal experiences as a missionary in Arusha, Tanzania , and tracing God's promises from Abraham to the New Testament , Vernon Smith affirms that God is eternally faithful.

• God is Faithful The central, simple truth is that God is faithful. This faithfulness was demonstrated generationally, fulfilling promises from Abraham and Sarah having a son in their old age (Isaac) , to David's everlasting ruler , and ultimately to the lineage of Jesus Christ.

  
  

• The Big Idea: God's faithfulness motivates believers' faithfulness for His purposes.

  
  

• A Deeper Understanding of Blessing: God blesses in order to fulfill His purposes. The overwhelming evidence in Scripture is that believers are blessed to be a blessing for the sake of the Gospel.

  
  

• What God's Faithfulness Doesn't Mean: It does not mean He is faithful to give us what we want, but rather to orchestrate things for His own will and purposes. It doesn't mean He will answer every prayer exactly the way it's prayed. Instead, even when we don't understand His hand, we can trust His heart.

  
  

• Motivation for the Christian Life: God's faithfulness, especially in providing salvation and forgiveness , motivates believers to live a faithful Christian life of Christian morals and ethics.

  
  

"Even if we are unfaithful, God remains faithful because he cannot deny Himself." (Referencing 2 Timothy 2)

Vernon and his wife Mary have served the Lord as global workers for all their adult lives. They send greetings from Arusha, Tanzania, and share an encouraging word of God's provision and greater plan.

• Learn more about the issues facing the African church: The Africa Statement on the Prosperity Gospel and the Word of Faith Theology.

  
  

• Website: www.africastatement.org

Scripture References: Genesis 12:1-7 , Genesis 21:5-7 , Genesis 24:27 , Exodus 34 , 2 Samuel 7:28 , Zechariah 8 , 1 John 1:8-9 , Romans 10:9-13 , John 3:16 , Romans 5:8 , 2 Peter 3:9 , Hebrews 13:5 , Matthew 28:20 , Isaiah 55:8 , Hebrews 11:6 , 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

The Marks of Christian Maturity | Philippians 3

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In this sermon, we explore the essential marks of a mature Christian as laid out in Philippians chapter 3. Before diving into Philippians, we take a moment to reflect on the foundational truth of our salvation in Christ, remembering that we are saved by grace through faith, not by works, as taught in Ephesians 2.

The sermon focuses on the way a mature Christian thinks, drawing directly from Philippians 3:15: "Let those of us who are mature think this way".

The speaker identifies three core marks of a mature Christian based on the passage:

• 1. The mature Christian relinquishes all self-righteousness.

  
  

  • This is the way of thinking that puts no confidence in the flesh or our own ability to appease or earn favor with God.

    
    

  • Paul, despite his impressive religious credentials (circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, a Pharisee, blameless under the Law), counted all of it as loss and rubbish for the sake of knowing Christ.

    
    

  • Religious acts like Bible reading, serving, and giving are good and should be part of a follower's life, but they do not make us right with Jesus or make God love us more.

    
    

• 2. The mature Christian believes that their righteousness comes through Christ alone.

  
  

  • Our righteousness, or right standing before God, comes through imputed righteousness by way of faith in Christ alone, not by our works.

    
    

  • This belief means that our regular wrestling with sin, doubts, and fears does not remove our right standing with God, as we have been given all of Christ.

    
    

  • Christian maturity is a growing understanding that there is no greater love God can show us than what has already been given in Christ.

    
    

• 3. The mature Christian is primarily motivated by the world to come.

  
  

  • We press on toward the goal of the "upward call of God in Christ Jesus," forgetting our former self-righteousness and sinful pursuits.

    
    

  • Followers of Christ are compared to those who walk as "enemies of the cross," whose minds are set on earthly things, whose god is their belly, and whose end is destruction.

    
    

  • By contrast, our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our bodies to be like His glorious body.

    
    

A key takeaway is that the growth process takes a lifetime—even Paul admitted, "Not that I have already attained it or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own".

Ultimately, a key mark of Christian maturity is a growing and deepening faith in Christ. This faith transforms our engagement with spiritual disciplines: we read the Bible to know the God who loves us, we pray because we truly believe He hears us, and we serve passionately because we have tasted His goodness.

Scripture References:

• Philippians Chapter 3

• Ephesians Chapter 2

• Galatians 2

Wednesday Night Gathering

Series: Acts

Teacher: Dr. Gnanakan

A continued study of Jesus as the Good Shepherd from John 10. Graphic Outline

Join us as we explore John chapter 10, a profound passage that reveals not just the power of Jesus, but the beauty of His heart.

While Jesus has many great titles, the name Good Shepherd is the most beloved because it shows His loving actions and character.

In this teaching on John 10:14-21, we uncover four key truths about Jesus:

1. The Good Shepherd is Beautiful (John 10:14)Jesus calls Himself the "good shepherd". The Greek word for "good" (kalos) means He is of superior quality and is truly beautiful. His goodness is seen in His gracious acts, like seeking out the man born blind (John 9) and giving abundant, overflowing life. We are encouraged to woo people to Christ by showcasing His loveliness.

2. The Shepherd's Relationship is Intimate (John 10:14-15)Jesus says, "I know my own, and my own know me, just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father". This relationship is elevated to the same level of intimacy that Jesus shares with the Father. The ultimate proof of this love is that He chooses to "lay down my life for the sheep". This is an act of pure sacrifice—He values His named sheep more than His own life.

3. The Shepherd's Mission is Global (John 10:16)Jesus declares: "I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also... So there will be one flock, one shepherd". The "fold" is Israel, and the "other sheep" are the Gentiles—people from every tribe and nation. Jesus' mission is a personal endeavor to draw all His sheep together under one Savior.

4. The Shepherd's Sacrifice is Complete (John 10:17-18)Jesus lays down His life because His relationship with the Father is defined by love, obedience, and submission. He had the authority and choice to die—no one took His life from Him. Furthermore, He laid down not just His body (bios), but His very soul (psyche)—His fundamental inner being—opening it fully to God's wrath to pay our debt of sin completely.

🐑 Jesus: The Good Shepherd (John 10)

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Dive into one of the most beloved and enduring images in church history: Jesus as the Good Shepherd. This passage from John 10 reveals not just what Jesus is (Creator, Son of God), but who He is—a humble, hardworking, gentle, and intentional Shepherd.

• A Beloved Image: The image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd has been popular and enduring throughout the ages, often appearing in Christian art and even early Christian tombs.

  
  

• The Person of Christ Over Abstraction: The imagery puts "flesh and blood" on the idea of Jesus, reminding us that He is not an abstract notion, but a living, breathing person with whom we have a personal relationship. The goal of teaching the Word is always to get to Jesus, the person, and his work, not just to focus on action points or theological concepts as ends in themselves.

  
  

• The Parable of the Sheepfold: Jesus uses the common illustration of the shepherd, the sheepfold, the door, and the thieves/robbers to teach an important truth.

  
  

  • The Door: Jesus explicitly states, "I am the door". This means He is the only lawful access point to life, salvation, and the knowledge of God.

    
    

  • The Shepherd's Call: The shepherd knows his own sheep by name and leads them out to abundant life. The sheep follow Him because they know His voice, and they will flee from the voice of a stranger.

    
    

  • The Threat: The flock faces real threats from wild animals (like wolves and lions) and thieves/robbers who seek to steal, kill, and destroy. The hired hand flees, but the Good Shepherd stands His ground.

    
    

• Life Abundant: Jesus came so His sheep "may have life and have it abundantly". This "abundant life" is not just everlasting (life without end), but qualitative life—limitless in scope and depth, which is participation in the very life of God.

  
  

• What Makes Jesus the Good Shepherd?

  • He calls His own by name.

  • He is the only lawful access to life (the Door).

  • He gives abundant life.

  • He stands guard against the enemy.

  • He lays down His life for the sheep.

    
    

• John Chapter 9: Chapter 10 explains the previous events. The fold is Israel, and the man born blind (and healed) is a lost sheep pursued and found by the Good Shepherd. The Jewish authorities, who should have been the under-shepherds, acted as thieves and robbers by rejecting the true Shepherd and casting out the healed man.

  
  

• Old Testament Imagery: The shepherd imagery carries royal undertones in antiquity (Pharaohs and kings claimed the title). Most importantly, it overtly "screamed of biblical imagery" , as the title was most often applied to Yahweh (God) Himself in passages like Psalm 23 and Ezekiel 34.

  
  

Scripture Reference: John 10:1-18 (Focus on verses 1-14)

If you have not believed, why not believe today? Put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone, He alone who is Savior, so that you might have life and life abundantly.

In this special podcast, Pastor Kent shares the story of his 27 years on staff at Heritage and how the Lord is now guiding he and Tara to pursue new ministry ourside of our church. We are so very thankful for the faithful ministry of Pastor Kent and Tara over their time at Heritage. Join us in praying for them as they take a step of faith into a new season of ministry together.

Wednesday Night Gathering

A Study in the Book of Acts

Pastor Dave Ashburn

💡 A Living Parable: Spiritual Sight and Blindness (John 9)

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Join us as we dive into John chapter 9, exploring the dramatic story of Jesus healing the man born blind, which the sermon frames as a "living parable". This passage beautifully illustrates profound spiritual realities, God's sovereign grace, and the stark contrast between true spiritual sight and wilful blindness.

• Inconvenient Compassion: Discover how Jesus, amidst hostility and danger (they had just picked up stones to throw at him), went out of his way to show compassion to the blind man. Compassion often requires self-sacrifice and is rarely convenient.

  
  

• Providence in Brokenness to Display Glory: Jesus explains that the man's blindness was not a result of his own sin or his parents' sin, but rather so "that the works of God might be displayed in him". The brokenness in our lives can become a showpiece for God's grace and healing work, like the Japanese art of Kintsugi, where broken ceramics are mended with gold to highlight—not hide—the cracks.

  
  

• Salvation Imaged: The healing process—Jesus making mud with spit, anointing the man's eyes, and sending him to wash in the Pool of Siloam ("which means sent") —is a powerful image of salvation. It reveals both sovereign grace (Jesus pursuing the man who didn't ask) and human responsibility (the man's obedience/belief to wash).

  
  

• Grace on Trial: See the tragic and unbelievable response of the neighbors and the Pharisees who, instead of celebrating a great miracle, put grace on trial by focusing on religious standards and questioning if Jesus broke the Sabbath.

  
  

• The Power of Fear: The parents' fear of being "put out of the synagogue" (ostracized from the community) led them to deflect and refuse to confess Jesus as the Christ. We are challenged to consider what fears keep us from unrestrained obedience.

  
  

• He Who Believes Truly Sees: After being cast out by the religious leaders, Jesus "found him" and revealed his identity: "You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you". The man's response—"Lord, I believe. And he worshiped him" —is the final validation of true spiritual sight.

  
  

Scripture Reference: John 9:1-41

This sermon was given on Nov 2, 2025

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